Magic Lantern (theater) facts for kids

The Magic Lantern is a popular movie theater located in Bridgton, Maine, United States. It's a place where people go to watch the latest films. The original theater building was taken down because of problems with the ground it was built on. A new and improved Magic Lantern opened its doors on February 8, 2008, in a different spot.

The First Magic Lantern Theater

The very first Magic Lantern theater opened way back in 1929. It had a beautiful Victorian-style lobby, which is like the entrance area. Over the years, it had a few different names, starting as the "New Meserve Theater." Later, it was called "The Mayfair" and "The Brookside." In 1977, a businessman named Tom Goodman renamed it "The Magic Lantern."

Special Movie Premiere

Tom Goodman managed to get a very special movie premiere for the Magic Lantern. It was for the film The Shining, based on a book by famous author Stephen King. Stephen King helped arrange for the movie to be shown first at the Magic Lantern. This special screening was a fundraiser to help the local hospital. The Magic Lantern was also the first movie theater in Maine to get Dolby Stereo Surround sound, which made movies sound amazing.

Why the Old Theater Closed

The original Magic Lantern theater closed in the late 1980s. For about a year, the town of Bridgton's recreation department ran it. The next year, a local family, the Howells, bought the building. Their family business, Down East, Inc., had been on the first floor for many years. The theater was on the second floor. The family decided to reopen the theater and bring movies back to Bridgton.

In 1990, the theater was changed to have two screens, giving people more movie choices. However, the building, known as "The Brookside Building," was getting old and damaged. The ground underneath it was not stable. This caused the floors to slope, the foundation to crack, and pipes to freeze. The building was slowly sinking, which meant it had to be taken down.

On February 7, 2006, the old theater building was torn down. Down East, Inc. then shared a plan with the town of Bridgton. They wanted to build a new building for their business and a brand new Magic Lantern theater on the same site.

The New Magic Lantern

Construction on the new Magic Lantern officially began on March 1, 2007. It opened its doors to moviegoers on February 8, 2008. This new theater is much bigger and more modern.

Features of the New Theater

The new Magic Lantern has four movie screens. Three of these screens have old-fashioned balconies, which are special seating areas above the main floor. The fourth screen is unique because it's also a pub and café. This area, called the Tannery, can show live events on its screen, like sports games.

The largest theater screen also has a stage. This stage is used for live performances, including comedy shows.

Themed Screens and Pub

Three of the new screens are named after the old Bridgton theaters: The Meserve, The Mayfair, and The Brookside.

• The Brookside screen has a fun nautical theme, like a ship.
• The Meserve screen is decorated with a 1920s theme.
• The Mayfair screen has a general Victorian theme, similar to the old lobby.

The pub area, the Tannery, is named after Gibb's Tannery, which used to be on that land. It has a Medieval European theme. Even the dishes served there are named after the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail.