Is this small-town theater in Maine really the best in the state?

The last few years have been really tough for the cinema industry. Not just because of the pandemic. Theaters were struggling before the first positive cases reached the United States.

For decades, the prices for cinema tickets and cinema concessions had risen steadily. But despite the ever-increasing costs, nothing new was offered to moviegoers. A ticket gave them a cramped seat in a darkened room that often smelled of stale popcorn and the chance to see the film.

But a few years before the pandemic hit the United States, movie theaters underwent a major shift. They began changing their seating from simple seats to seats that resembled a recliner. Some of them even have LARGE, super comfortable reclining style seats built in. Some theaters not only changed their seating, but also expanded their food offerings.

Most, if not all, theaters in Maine have adopted these changes.

But would you believe that a theater in Maine, located in a very small town, has offered this experience for the last 15 years?

The Magic Lantern Theater on Depot Street in Bridgton offers premiere performances and has an attached pub. As far as we can tell, it was one of the first places in Maine (if not the first) where you could get a meal and an adult beverage with your movie.

The theater, which opened in its current building in 2008, is now owned by the Maine 4-H Foundation. For this reason, it should come as no surprise that the theater does a lot for the western Maine community. They offer free family movies and support local nonprofits.

Ticket prices are on par with most other theaters, and Wed’s Pub offers typical bar fare like chicken fingers, fries, and burgers.

You can find out more about this amazing theater HERE