Matinee Club Offers Retreat For Moms

Six years ago, Summit residents and neighbors Catherine Lyness and Helene Hulse were trying to plan a trip to the movies.  Both are mothers, though, and they had children to pick up at school around 3 o'clock.  After that, the kids had to be taken care of, dinner had to be made, and homework had to be completed - leaving little time to catch a flick.  The ladies looked up show times at the theaters and noticed there were no movies that ended before the 3 o'clock school pick-up. 

"We were so frustrated," Lyness said, "that we called Clearview (Cinemas)."  An 11 or 11:30 a.m. showing would do the trick, but there was nothing before one.  Both women thought there were a ton of stay-at-home moms that would love a day at the movies, and they turned out to be right.  In true grassroots fashion, e-mails were sent, phone calls were made, and contracts were signed: the Matinee Club was born.

"We sent out an email to our personal address books, signed a contract with Clearview, and we signed up 100 people for January-May," Lyness said of TMC's origins.  "It was so much fun that it kept on going."  In a few short years, what used to be a quick getaway for Summit moms turned into an expanding event than many look forward to. 

Here's how it works: There is a Summit Series and a Madison Series.  Summit's Clearview Beacon Hill 5 and Madison's Clearview Cinema host the ladies once a month for an 11:30 a.m. show time.  For Summit, there is a Tuesday and a Thursday series, and for Madison there is a Wednesday and Thursday series.  The doors open at 11a.m., and concessions are available.  There are more details available on their site at www.thematineeclub.com.

 Six seasons running, TMC is a hit - both of the Summit series that run October-May are sold out, but Madison is still open.  "Women thank us, and say, 'this is so great of you guys! ' " Lyness said.  "It's once a month, and about a week before, they'll tell you there's a choice of two movies.  It's really popular." 

In addition to providing a show time early enough for moms to get to, it gives women a chance to interact with predominantly females - though there are three male subscribers! 

"Women tell me, 'I feel so guilty,' " Lyness explained. "There's something about going to the movies that is such a treat. The big thing with women and going to the movies, is that they don't go with their husbands that often.  They might not like the same thing." 

Disagreements on movie critiques aren't just between men and women though, and the post-film discussions among female moviegoers got Hulse and Lyness thinking again. One of the newer TMC institutions are review cards. After the movie they are passed around the room, and attendees are asked to rate movies (in keeping with the cinematic theme) on a scale of one-to-five kernels. 

After the ratings are in, Lyness and Hulse head over to community television station, Hometowne TV.  So far they have taped two five minute segments of "The Matinee Club Presents" that are run on the news, broadening TMC's appeal even further. 

"Some go out to lunch afterward, but even if you come by yourself, it's a theatre full of women," Lyness said. "Everyone is laughing at the same place, everyone is crying at the same place. Even though we don't agree, it is great to be there together. It's something on their calender. They're going to get to do something."

After some creative innovations and a continuously swelling membership roster, Lyness and Hulse haven't halted TMC's growth yet. 

"We're thinking of continuing to expand," Lyness said in regard to TMC's future.  "We're thinking of going to Bernardsville soon."

Lyness also mentioned the impact it has on the town as a whole, that extends past the moms in attendance. "It's so great for the towns, Madison and Summit.  Restaurants, will approach us and offer discounts.  They want to make sure people come and shop.  We see it as good for the community."

In the meantime, look for both of them with some popcorn and maybe some Raisinets at an 11:30 a.m. show time Clearview in Summit.  They made it happen, and they'll keep it going with the rest of the ladies at The Matinee Club.

You can catch episodes of "The Matinee Club Presents" on Hometown Television news programs at 7 and 11 a.m and 7 and 11 p.m., where films are discussed and viewers' comments are read.