I very rarely see a movie in the theater. When I was a stay-at-home mom, I either had a baby with me all the time or, even when she started preschool, I only had three hours of alone time. Going to the movies at night requires a babysitter and staying up late, which is hard when you have kids waking you up at 6 am.
Soon, seeing a movie when it first comes out will be easier for Montclair area parents.
The Matinee Club (TMC) is coming to the Claridge in Montclair starting in January. The club was started by Summit moms, Catherine Lyness and Helene Hulse, who wanted to catch a movie but none were playing early enough so they could pick up their kids from school. They started asking around and realized that many moms felt the same way. Long story short–they signed a contract with Clearview and started The Matinee Club in Summit and Madison in 2006. In January, they are offering the club in Montclair and Ridgewood.
Here’s how it works:
Sign up for a five month movie series for $48. Once a month, at 11:30 am on Wednesdays, catch a movie with friends and get out with plenty of time to pick up the kids. It’s like a Girls’ Night Out during the day. About a week before the movie date, they give members a choice of two first-run movies. The winning movie is shown.
I have a feeling TMC will be very popular, so if you want in, sign up now!
The Matinee Club
Who: Parents who want to catch a first-run movie while the kids are in school.
What: A movie club with monthly matinees.
Where: The Claridge Theater, 486 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Monthly starting in January. Sold in a 5 month series (January 12 – May 4) on Wednesday at 11:30 am.
Cost: $48. Sign up here!
I’d be first in line if they started the shows at 9:30 AM. I guess I’ll have to wait a few more years until the kids are in Kindergarten…if we have one then!
Huh? I rarely go to a movie that starts later than 11am (just got back from the 10:55 showing of “Hereafter”- terrific).
And looking at the start time at the AMC in Clifton, early showings are not a problem. Essex Green didn’t have it’s info available, but I’ve been there in the morning… Granted the selection at the Claridge is very different than Clifton or Essex Green, but the idea that “moms can’t find movies” is wrong.
(It’s also more expensive… But me thinks this is more about “Moms having time to hang out with other moms, catch a movie, eat lunch, shop, walk Church St., and be done by the time school’s out…”