Business & Tech

Morristown Theater to Close Despite Bow Tie Cinema Efforts

Local theater will close May 19, despite attempts from Bow Tie Cinema to extend the lease with the landlord.

Those looking to catch a movie in town will need to look elsewhere. Clearview Cinema Headquarters will close on May 19, an announcement that comes on the heel of Cablevision selling its Clearview Cinema Theaters chain.

Last week, Bow Tie Cinemas of Ridgefield, Conn., announced it has purchased 41 Clearview Cinema theaters from Cablevision. Cablevision bought the cinemas in 1998 and put the chain up for sale last year; Clearview currently has 26 theaters in New Jersey. 

"Bow Tie Cinemas will be acquiring substantially all of Clearview Cinemas movie theaters, however the Morristown theater is not being acquired," said Kelly McAndrew, Cablevision's spokeswoman. "The lease on that facility is expiring and will not be renewed. May 19 is the last day the theater will be open." 

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However, according to Christopher Beattie, Bow Tie spokeman, this quick closure of Clearview Cinema Headquarters is not what the company hoped for.

"The lease on the Morristown theater ends shortly, and it is up to the landlord to decide what he wants to do," said Beattie. "We have made extensive efforts to negotiate with the landlord and extend the lease, but we have been unsuccessful to-date. We are still in discussions with the landlord and hope to be able to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement that will allow Bow Tie to serve the Morristown community."

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This 10-theater cinema is home to many screenings, such as film Girl Rising which will be shown on Wednesday night as part of a fundraiser by the NY Film Critics Series. Girl Rising spotlights the stories of nine unforgettable girls born into unforgiving circumstances. Following the screening, film critic Alison Bailes—of WOR radio and MORE magazine—will moderate a discussion and Q&A with Academy Award nominee and director Richard E. Robbins. Fifty percent of ticket sales will support girls' programs worldwide.

The NY Film Critics Series has also hosted similar film discussions in the past at Clearview such as The Perfect Family's director Anne Renton and actress Kathleen Turner as well as The Fitzgerald Family Christmas' filmmaker Edward Burns.

With this closure, we'll also be saying goodbye to another familiar face. Cleaview Cinemas is home to Eric Glover, more commonly known as "Fluffy" or "The Ticket Taker Guy," for his antics at Clearview Cinemas. Glover has taken tickets from people with the now-famous cash-register noise and smile since 1993.

In 2011, Morristown Autobody was going to fix Glover's 1987 Cadillac, as part of his present for turning 50 years old. 

Where will you go now to catch a flick?


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