Business
Remembering J. Michael Cline
Explore the life and legacy of J. Michael Cline in this touching tribute. Learn about his impact and contributions to the world, and how he is remembered by those who knew him best.
J. Michael Cline, the visionary co-founder of Fandango, a groundbreaking online ticketing platform that revolutionized the movie-watching experience, tragically passed away this week. He fell from the twentieth floor of a Manhattan hotel, as reported by the authorities.
New York City police officers responded to a distress call at the Kimberly Hotel on Tuesday. They discovered an unconscious individual with injuries consistent with a fall from a height, later identified as Mr. Cline, who had jumped, according to the police statement.
Mr. Cline, aged 64, played a pivotal role in establishing Fandango in 2000 and departed from the company in 2011, as per his LinkedIn profile. The iconic orange “F” logo of Fandango became synonymous with convenient online ticketing services. The company was eventually acquired by Comcast and is presently under the ownership of NBCUniversal and Warner Bros.
Renowned for dominating the movie-ticket sales arena, Fandango facilitated ticketing for numerous major theater chains. Its revenue streams included processing fees for online ticket sales and advertising sales on its platform.
During the company’s inception, Mr. Cline succinctly explained the choice of the name, stating, “A Fandango is fast and fun.” He emphasized the alignment of the name with the service’s mission to enhance the movie-going experience.
Art Levitt, the co-founder and former COO of Fandango, fondly recalled Mr. Cline as a brilliant, creative, and dedicated individual who persevered through challenging times. Mr. Levitt also highlighted Mr. Cline’s adventurous spirit. Recognizing an untapped market opportunity, Mr. Cline invited Mr. Levitt to join him in managing this venture.