Teaneck’s Lone Movie Theater Closes

UPDATE: Landlord Hopes to Keep Theater on Cedar Lane

Teaneck’s only movie theater, the Cedar Lane Cinemas, has closed, company representatives confirmed Friday.

Majestic-Star Entertainment, which operated the theater, posted a message on its website saying that the cinema was closed as of Monday. Two company representatives reached Friday morning said Majestic-Star would no longer be running the cinema and a final screening was held Sunday.

A sign on the building’s marquee said the theater was closed for renovations, and the future of Teaneck’s decades old movie house remained unclear.

“It has ceased operation. It will not reopen under our company,” one company representative said.

Nelson Page, the president of Majestic-Star, could not be immediately reached for details. The high cost of converting to the new digital projectors soon required by the film industry forced Page to shut down the theater, according to a report on northjersey.com. 

A man who answered the door at the building Friday morning said he wasn’t sure if another owner had taken over or if a movie theater would reopen at the location.

In town for more than 50 years, the theater was a local fixture offering tickets at significantly less than large national theater chains and hosting community events. The cinema was built around 1936 and is listed on the Teaneck Historic Sites Survey, according to the library website. 

A posting on the Teaneck film festival Facebook page signaled efforts were underway to save the theater. 

"Although the theater is currently not open, good things are brewing, and we're looking for a happy ending!" the message said. "The Teaneck International Film Festival had its best year ever with wonderful Teaneck venues - other than the theater - but is certainly interested in "Saving the Cinema," and is involved with folks who are exploring all options with a very helpful landlord and input and assistance from the Puffin Foundation."

The theater’s closure is the latest well-known Cedar Lane business to shutter in Teaneck’s central shopping district. 

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First published 10:34 a.m. Friday. Last updated 5:20 p.m.