The Varsity Theater, which has been in operation under different names on Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street for more than 80 years, will go dark this Friday.
Owner Bruce Stone wouldn’t directly confirm the theater’s closing, but when asked if the fact that the Indy had not been provided with movie listings for the Varsity meant there would be no movies there, he replied, “That would be a correct inference.”
Stone said he would make a formal announcement about the Varsity’s operations on Thursday or Friday. Stone’s other theater, the Chelsea, which is located in the Timberlyne shopping center, will remain open.
The Varsity’s closing has been long-rumored, and earlier this month I wrote a story about the financial realities of the business of running a specialty movie house.
For the record, the Varsity is currently showing The Brothers Bloom and The Hangover. The final screening for the former film is 9:20 p.m., while the final screening for the latter is 9:30.
