I truly hope another company seizes the opportunity to acquire this move theatre, which has suffered badly in the past few years from lack of maintenance (inadequate heating, broken seats, no ADA womens' bathroom on the first floor, etc.) and a hostile manager who treated patrons like dirt. Despite the discount cost of movies, why would anyone want to go to this theatre under such conditions? that's the main reason for its inability to turn a profit, and I know many who would agree with me. There is great potential to make this a "boutique" movie theatre that shows independent films and re-releases of classic films in this area, and hope a better owner steps up and keeps this an anchor in the Cedar Lane Business District.

A agree Barbara. I would have patronized this theatre plenty had it been comfortable to sit in the seats. Instead, I may have gone there once or twice.

I hope there is a big movement in Teaneck to reopen the Cedar Lane Cinema and keep it open. Having a "neighborhood" movie theatre is so important for a community, and to have that included in a town's way of life!! We need it as a home also for the so wonderful and important Teaneck International Film Festival, and for other community events.

I third that motion. A boutique art house theater, the only one in the area, has real potential (perhaps Blast would have survived if it was in or adjacent to such a place?). The first such cinema opened in Soho and was not only successful, it spawned several others, including the conversion of a first run house to a specialty house. A similar theater in Pleasantville, NY has become a major film center (the Jacob Burns) and not only attracts people from the area, but as far away as NYC. It helped boost the entire downtown and has built a film school nearby. A similar facility in Teaneck, working with the Teaneck International Film Festival, could draw visitors from around the region who want an alternative to blockbusters at the Garden State. It will need new acoustics, seating, comfort systems, and state of the art film and digital projection/sound systems, but what a great opportunity for our town.

I hope it does re open soon. However with 35mm film becoming a thing of the past as digital becomes standard
In ALL MOVIE THEATRES by DEC 2013, the cost to convert to digital projection will be $300,000.00 plus fixing
The heat and plumbing problems.
This is a roadblock to another operator taking over the cinema.

I only visited the theater twice and each viewing was cut short by a mechanical breakdown

Absolutely true. When we moved to Teaneck with our children 40 years ago, one of the best things about Teaneck was Cedar Lane and that the kids could walk to the movies. Aside from the restaurants, there's not much there anymore.

I hope not been going there over 40 years

Thats a shame not that I saw a lot of movies there but it was nice to have as an option.

Polish it up and make it the Diamond of Cedar Lane. We should as a community work to get this theater back up and running. I like the idea of going to the movies in my own hometown. I would pay to have that small town theather feel again.

Very valid points, Barbara. I have my fist movie going expeerience memories dating back to this theater in the 1950's. Remember seeing Davie Crocket there. Admission was fifty cents, popcorn was fifteen cents, a cup of soda was a dime. I won a Frisbee (my first) there in 1956 in between two Saturday afternoon movies; they pulled numbered tickets out of a box to match the stub the patrons kept. I guess this movie relic has finally gone the way of Hackensack's Oritani & Fox, (where we first saw 007/Goldfinger!).
Today's newer much more comfortable theaters have modern HVAC systems, digital multi directional sound, IMAX and 3-D capability, stadium seating with higher chair backs, modern restrooms and provide full handicap accessibility. Most are in mall type environments with extensive free parking and many now offer meals during the show...not my idea of fun entertainment or luxurious dining. This closure is just another piece of local economic change creating new downtown landscapes in America's suburbia. Not sure if can be termed progress though.
Doubtful the return on investment can sustain a "classic movies" operation; most of them can be borrowed from BCCLS libraries and viewed on flat panel HD TV in the comfort of home.

it is sad in many ways but i dont see how much a movie theater could last today with all the mega plexes on Rt. 4 and in Ridgefield Park. Sad to see another store go empty in teaneck... things are looking very bad!! What can be done???

Someone could start a Kickstarter.com project to turn this into a new arthouse theater....

This is truly upsetting.
Is there some way to start a petition to the Teaneck gov. that ensures that the next business to open there will be a theatre and not just another (redundant) restaurant? I'd hate to see the historic space rid of its charm and used for a different business venture.

Speechless...sad. RIP.

I was the Manager there for numerous owners from 1993 until 2000. It was a nice old theatre!

This would be a wonderful idea!

http://venturebeat.com/2012/08/19/fundrise-crowdfunding-for-real-estate-looks-like-the-real-deal/#bmb=1

I second the idea of a Green Bay Packers movement of ownership by the local town and that could lead to the movie-house remaining on Cedar Lane-however the cost of tech stuff could be a major problem.

Brookline MA Had an old down-on-its-luck theater, the Coolidge Corner Theater,Click here: Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation. A number of years ago, a group of inbtereested citizens, headed by Teaneck native Betty Liben Goldstein, began a massive effort to renovate the theater and rebuild it as a non-profit arts theater. The effort has been spectacular! Someone interested in following up should get in touch with Betty (Perry St. Brookline, MA) to see what Teaneck can learn from Brookline's success.

What a shame, I too spent many a Friday & Saturday night going to movies at the Teaneck theater. It was so much more pleasant than dealing with the cold and generic multiplexes on the highway. I hope the closure won't have a ripple effect on the local restaurants.

The Cedar Lane Cinema is where my wife I went during the recent power outage to get warm and watch a movie. We are at a critical moment with the poor economy, the apparent failure of the Cedar Lane Streetscape to spark an economic Renaissance, and the need for improved projection equipment, we face an even weaker Cedar Lane. We need to support the businesses of the Lane and the Cinema until it can reopen.

This is just another nail in the Teaneck coffin and more stores are going to follow. This was a big draw to the town. We are running out of "places of interest". We can eat and get out nails done on Cedar Lane, but shopping is almost gone. People need to get out and support the local businesses.

This is so sad. I used to walk there almost every weekend as a pre teen to see the same movies over and over and I also worked there as a teenager and Glenn (above) was my manager. Lots of memories of that theater. :-(

So we all agree that it is very sad the theater is closing, however what are we going to do about it? Do we form a committee to meet during the next couple of days in order to brain storm ideas or do we just remember what a great place it was?

More thoughts: Other nearby towns have similar entertainment venues: Ridgefield Park; Englewood; Bergenfield; Tenafly. None of these theaters are in malls. Perhaps we need to look to previous neglected assets to raise awareness of Teaneck. One is the Indian/Slave/European Burial Site near the Hackensack River - a unique destination. Perhaps others know of others.
I am miffed at the failure of the TEDC (Teaneck Economic Development Commission) and the Streetscape to truly lift the activity level at Cedar Lane. Millions of our tax dollars were invested in these organizations by the Township but they have achieved meager results. We don't even have bus shelters on the Streetscape. True, we have been hit by economic hardship but things were tough on the Lane even when the economy was good (pre-2008). Perhaps as a starting point, we should look at the demographics of Teaneck realistically. Which businesses are prospering and which ones are struggling?

This is very sad indeed and I would love to see the community come together and save the theater. A question though..I think the overall look of Cedar Lane is just awful. The landscaping is horrible...brown colorless bushes...everything looks dead and uneven. The town needs to do something about it. I grew up on Cedar Lane...the theater....Bischoff's...Pioneer. Pizza...and Igor Records...all part of my weekends as a kid. Something has to be done.

How about converting it into a live theatre venue?
Keswick Theatre outside of Philadelphia is exactly that and it draws many established smaller venue music acts and touring productions. I believe Teaneck and surrounding towns could suppoort that thype of venue.

John Schick

No one has mentioned the organ, which I believe is still functioning! Let's keep it open! Definitely start a committee, with some of the great ideas listed here!

I am so happy to see it called a 'historic' in the headline and not an "iconic'' movie theater. I can't wait for the New Year, maybe the words 'icon' and 'iconic' will stop being misused and other words will take their place.

On a visit to Key West, I had the pleasure to attend a small film festival at the Tropic Cinemas. It was a beautifully run and well maintained old movie house that had a few screens. It is community run in the sense that it has membership of varying financial levels, as well as open to the public. Modern seating, wine & beer at the concession stand - a friendly and dedicated staff of volunteers, etc. A great model for a NEW Teaneck Cinema. tropiccinema.com

Has anybody contacted Leonard Maltin? This was the theater which gave him his start. He and I used to go (separately -- I didn't know him) to the Saturday matinees. 25 cents, 10 cent popcorn -- later increased to 15 cents --, an hour of cartoons, and two features. ALL of us were there in the 1950s.

Film Critic Leonard Maltin was born in NYC on Dec 18 1950 but he grew up in Teaneck and published a digest sized film mag, Film Fan Monthly there for about 9 years. He took over this magazine as a teenager from the founder who lived and died(result of a home robbery) in Vancouver/Canada.

Maybe an Indiegogo or Kickstarter campaign to re-open the theater might be an idea? Anyone? I'd be happy to start it. What the final amount should be, the goal, I'm not sure. But $300,000 might not be out of the question if the page is spread out to enough (and the right) people in Bergen county (think about it, there is now not ONE independent theater, at least that I can think of, everything is AMC or Clearview). And if it's ambitious enough - let's say not just movies, but if like the middle theater, the one that had the most seats and the stage, could be used for live theater, or if there are memberships to the theater, classic revival screenings, the film festival of course - it could be better than ever.

Had my first date there with my (now) wife, so I'll miss it. Stopped going though because the copies of the films they ran were often badly damaged. One time the first 10 minutes of a major release was projected totally out of focus, just a blur, so I asked for a refund and was told the house policy was "NO refunds after the show starts". That was enough to keep me away.

(Sorry, didn't see the previous comment about Kickstarter in the comments - but maybe a page for, say, a pledge drive, or if it's a non-profit theater that's not a business in the same way as a for-profit theater - it's just the same as when like WNYC has its pledge drive, no?)

Someone has to volunteer to be a point person! There are SO many great ideas! Maybe a cottage party at someones house? I'd volunteer my house, but can't be the "point person".

I think the live theater would be amazing. Perhaps some family oriented programs so our youth could appreciate and develop an interest in theater and art.

Last time I went, it was below 30 degrees outside and theater had no heat. Since that time, wife and friends wanted to go elsewhere.

It would be great, but a little dose of realism: A reasonable figure for renovation cost would be about $1 M. That would include upgrades to SOTA projection equipment and sound for multiple auditoriums, acoustic isolation, seats, comfort facilities, new silent heat & a/c, ADA accessibility and architecture/consultant fees. then figure another $600,000-$1M for initial capitalization (start up) for operating expenses (manager, projectionist/tech, other staff, publicity, booking agent, travel to festivals for staff, rent, etc). Live shows would not make much sense, other than for community theater, and even that is unlikely since there may not be a deep enough stage and unless halls are recombined, seating is too limited. Also costs are higher and there is competition from facilities at FDU, Englewood and Hackensack. OTOH, A membership art movie house might make sense, but it would require a substantial investment from donors, as noted.

Has there been any headway on fundraising efforts lately? I would love to help out or contribute in any way.

How about this idea: If only 1000 Cedar Lane Cinema families bought two $10 tickets to a future showing at the Cinema, that would raise $20,000 toward the purchase of the new projection equipment. As there are about 12,000 residences in Teaneck, maybe we could raise more. It is really an advance purchase ticket. It would lower initial capital costs. Just shoot for two new digital projection screens as a start. Then, by Dec 2013, our beloved theater could be back. It's worth just to hear that jingle - "Let's all go to the lobby, let's all go to the lobby . . . " - again.

Art - these are owners that decided to pocket returns instead of investing in capital improvements.

You can feel free to "donate" capital to them all you want and I hope you're successful, but I'm willing to become a sponsor with equity, not a donor.

This place needs a viable business plan and capital investment from the neighborhood -- NOT donations.

@Keith: I can not believe that I am agreeing with you a 100%.......

@Keith: I would like to clarify that I am against any kind of financial investment/tax breaks from the township here. Let the people who feel strongly ... donate or acquire interest..... I just don't want the township to loose any money.... If this business cannot survive than let it die and lets have market forces shape the area..... I believe market can make the best decision rather than public employees or public assistance in this case.....

Tax incentives are generally not great investments, but are probably not even relevant here. The likely tenant would be a not for profit and as such, there is likely to be reduction in real estate tax revenue. In any case, there are many good opportunities for uses of a multi screen house beyond what mall theaters show. Foreign language films, including foreign language version of US films, retrospectives and other special film sereis with speakers, indie films that don't always make it to DVD or NetFlix. THere are many films that have not been converted to DVD and the Library does not get everything. THere is added value at a theater. In fact, keeping the 35mm projector may even be necessary for some older films. One need look no farther than Pleasantville, NY to see what an impact an art house theater can have on a community. I have connections there, as well as with the FIlm School at CCNY and would be happy to make a connection for TIFF or others involved in saving the theater.

I heard the was a group getting together to support some use of the theater. I'd be happy to work with them!

Theatre needs someone ready to put the money into upgrading to newest technology. How many screens were active when it closed? It was a great place to watch a movie when it was one big screen but awkward with odd angles when it became a multiscreen some time in the 80s.

Let's shoot for a non-profit arts theater, as Barbara Toffler, Michael Rogovin, and Liz Celotto suggested. The three theaters they cited are examples of thriving first-run non-profit arts theaters (see links below). We need one or more people to organize all of this and make sure it happens. If no one has already taken the reins, I'll do it. Email me at alison_mauro@hotmail.com.
http://www.burnsfilmcenter.org/
http://tropiccinema.com/main.html
http://www.coolidge.org/

Jack Gattanella gave us another example:
http://www.cinemaartscentre.org/about-us/

Is there's a basement or upstairs; why not make one floor a game hall? While pool tables might turn-off town folk, consider other games like shuffle board, ping pong tables, skee-ball, air hockey, maybe a walled-off chess and/or board game area. Have the same snack food as in the theater. If there is no upstairs/downstairs floor-through, use one theaters as a game room. Buy one digital projector to show new titles in one theater. Have one theater as a "theme night, week or month" theater for cult classics. The 4th theater can be for indy films, foreign films, and older films out of circulation (http://www.filmforum.org/about/category/general_information ). Not everyone wants to watch dvd's or netflix at home. Have prizes at the end of a show w/ ticket stub drawings; could be discounts or freebies at local businesses and/or music, electronics, gift baskets, etc. At $6.00-$7.00/admission, I think the theater will do fine.