The Last Picture Show Plays Out in Chester

On Sunday afternoon, movie goers in Chester saw their last images on the big screen at their local theater, Clearview Cinemas.  The theater, in operation for 30 years, closed at the end of business. 

Some of the patrons had no idea of the closing while others came for the final time.

"We understand why it is closing, but it has been great for the community and we are sad to see it go," said Chester resident Debbie Foster.  "We've had a good time here growing up going to the movies; we are going to miss it."

In the Subway shop, Dakesh Patel hoped it wouldn't impact the shopping center or his business. 

"The closing will effect us until something else opens up, we will have to see what the foot traffic for the gym is going to be," said Patel. He also said the Game Stop store was also closing Sunday.

The staff and employees were not allowed to talk to Patch at the direction of Clearview's management, but last week Chester Cinema 6 manager Katrina Streisguth said the staff was hoping the sale of the theaters to Bow Tie Cinemas of Ridgefield, Conn., would have offered Chester a reprieve.

Cablevision bought the cinemas in 1998 and put the chain up for sale last year; Clearview currently has 26 theaters in New Jersey and Bow Tie snapped them up as part of a deal that included 41 Clearview Cinema theater locations.

"We were hoping," Streisguth said."We just didn't get enough people in here."

The current staff was looking into possible transfers to other theaters still in operation like Mansfield, Ledgewood or Parsippany. The Morristown Clearview Cinema at Headquarters Plaza was also scheduled to close on May 19. However, a last minute stay was granted for the Morristown Theater which will stay open for a few more weeks.