Curtain Closes on Morristown's Clearview Cinema

Although you could smell the popcorn, all was quiet at Clearview Cinema Headquarters Wednesday, 26-year-old theater’s last day of operation.

Morristown residents William Hernandez and his son Christopher stopped by to see "Monsters University."

“We didn’t know it was going to close. I said, ‘Let’s go see a movie tonight,’” said Christopher Hernandez, who just graduated from Alexander Hamilton School.

“We didn’t know. We just found out right when we got the tickets,” said William Hernandez. “I don’t know where we’d have to go now to see a movie. I hope a new theater comes in.”

When Bow Tie Cinemas of Ridgefield, Conn., announced it purchased 41 Clearview Cinema theaters from Cablevision, area cinema-goers were let down to hear that Clearview was not part of that acquisition.

"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." 

With its original close date on May 19, Bowtie was able to extend the lease after extensive efforts to negotiate with the landlord, according to Christopher Beattie, Bow Tie spokeman.

"Clearview Cinemas and the landlord have agreed to continue to operate the Headquarters 10 Theatre in Morristown for the next several weeks," said McAndrew.

However, the day had come for the theater to finally close.

Employees said that, “another theater company may be moving in. They say they will be opening in about two months after they do renovations, but I’m not sure the exact date.” They added that their job will end on Wednesday or transfer to another Clearview theater.

Many movie-goers say who they will miss is Eric Glover, more commonly known as "Fluffy" or "The Ticket Taker Guy" for his antics at Clearview Cinemas. 

Related Patch Posts:

• 'Ticket Taker Guy' Says Goodbye to Clearview, Morristown
• Theater's Closing Postponed for a Few Weeks
• Morristown Theater to Close Despite Bow Tie Cinema Efforts
• Bow Tie Cinemas Agrees to Purchase Clearview