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Closing-weekend party planned at Clova Cinema

CLOVERDALE - The Clova plans to go out with a party.

The long-established movie theatre is closing this summer, and operators have announced a couple of closing-weekend events for Aug. 1 and 2. Cult-classic film Rocky Horror Picture Show will be shown at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 and again early Saturday at 12:30 a.m., followed later that day (at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2) by a concert featuring AbraCadabra, a local ABBA tribute band."We are slowly announcing all the events taking place that weekend," Clova operators wrote in an email to subscibers."We will be adding more events as they come."Tickets for all events are on sale now at our box office any time we're open."For the Rocky Horror screenings, costumes are highly encouraged and prop bags will be sold at the theatre for a minimum donation of $5. Event details are at Theclova.com.In March, Crossridge Church announced that it had taken ownership of the landmark building that houses the movie theatre. Lead pastor Lee Francois indicated that operators of the church are leaning toward having the theatre operate as something of a community venue when not being used for church-related functions.Over the past couple of years, Clova operator Craig Burghardt and his Clova "family" haven't had much success raising the tens of thousands of dollars needed to upgrade the theatre to digital film technology."Sometime this year, the curtain will draw and the show will end for good," Burghardt wrote in a message to customers on the Clova's Facebook page in early March.For the past six years, Burghardt has been on a month-to-month lease of the building that houses the theatre."We have made several attempts to secure a mutually agreeable, long-term agreement with the owners which we felt was important to have before spending $60,000+ on a new projector," Burghardt wrote. "I say 'attempts' because we have failed."The Clova has shared the building with Crossridge Church for the past three years.Burghardt has owned and operated the Clova for the past 17 years; the theatre first opened in the 1940s."It has been a wonderful and joyous 17+ years, with many memories, thanks to all of you supportive patrons," Burghardt wrote in his message to customers in March.with Now files


Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news stories for the Surrey Now-Leader, where I've worked for more than half of my 30-plus years in the newspaper business.
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