Magic lantern

Magic Lantern Theater is a local movie theater and community entertainment venue in Bridgton, Maine. Its history reaches back to 1929, when the original building opened as the New Meserve Theater. Over the following decades, the venue operated under several names, including The Mayfair and The Brookside, before entrepreneur Tom Goodman adopted the Magic Lantern name in 1977. The original theater became associated with Bridgton's civic and cultural life. One of its most notable events was a benefit screening connected with The Shining, the film adaptation of Stephen King's novel. Stephen King helped arrange access to a print for a worldwide-premiere benefit screening supporting the local hospital. The theater also became the first in Maine to install Dolby Stereo Surround sound, giving the independent venue a technological distinction within the state's exhibition market. The original site experienced serious structural problems. The theater closed in the late 1980s and was operated for approximately a year by the town's recreation department. The Howell family subsequently acquired the building. Their company, Down East, Inc., had long occupied the ground floor, while the theater was located upstairs. The family reopened the cinema to restore regular movie exhibition to Bridgton and, in 1990, divided the single auditorium into two screens to offer a broader selection of films. The building, locally known as the Brookside Building, continued to deteriorate because of unstable soil conditions. Sloping floors, cracked foundations, freezing pipes, and the eventual presence of a sinkhole made continued operation impractical. The building was demolished on February 7, 2006. Down East, Inc. then proposed a redevelopment of the site that included a new commercial building and a replacement Magic Lantern theater. Construction of the replacement venue began on March 1, 2007, and the new theater reopened on February 8, 2008. The new complex expanded the operation from the former single- and later twin-screen format to four screens. Three auditoriums incorporate old-fashioned balcony features and are named after earlier Bridgton theaters: The Meserve, The Mayfair, and The Brookside. Their interior designs draw on different historical themes, including 1920s, Victorian, and nautical motifs. The fourth auditorium is integrated with a pub and café space that was originally called The Tannery, a reference to the Gibb's Tannery formerly located on the site. The largest auditorium includes a stage and has supported live programming in addition to film exhibition, including comedy events such as the Brews and Belly Laughs series. The former Tannery space, later known as Web's Common, ceased operating as a pub and café in February 2025 according to the referenced account. It has since been used for community events, live music, comedy shows, birthday parties, and other gatherings, while also remaining available as a fourth theater space. Magic Lantern therefore combines conventional cinema operations with local cultural programming and place-based historical design.

Magic Lantern Theater originated in a 1929 movie house opened under the name New Meserve Theater in Bridgton, Maine. The venue later changed names several times, becoming The Mayfair and then The Brookside before entrepreneur Tom Goodman gave it the Magic Lantern name in 1977. The theater's changing names reflected both local ownership and the continued importance of cinema exhibition in the town. During the Goodman period, the theater secured a significant special screening connected with Stephen King's The Shining. King assisted in obtaining a print for a benefit screening supporting the local hospital, giving the Bridgton venue an unusual connection with a major film and a prominent Maine author. The theater also installed Dolby Stereo Surround sound, becoming the first cinema in Maine reported to have adopted that system. The original building closed in the late 1980s. Bridgton's recreation department operated the theater for about a year, after which the Howell family purchased the building. The family's business, Down East, Inc., had occupied the ground floor for many years, with the cinema on the second floor. The family reopened the theater in an effort to bring regular movies back to the town. In 1990, it converted the single-screen operation into a two-screen venue, allowing more films to be offered at the same time. The building's physical condition ultimately made continued operation impossible. It stood on poor soil and developed sloping floors, foundation cracks, freezing pipes, and other structural problems. A sinkhole on the property further contributed to the decision to remove the building. The original structure, commonly called the Brookside Building, was demolished on February 7, 2006. Down East, Inc. presented a redevelopment plan for the site that included a new building for its operations and a replacement Magic Lantern theater. Construction began on March 1, 2007. The new venue opened on February 8, 2008, with four screens rather than the two screens of the final version of the old building. Three auditoriums use old-fashioned balcony elements and preserve the names of earlier Bridgton theaters: The Meserve, The Mayfair, and The Brookside. Each has a distinct visual identity: The Meserve draws on 1920s design, The Mayfair uses Victorian styling, and The Brookside has a nautical theme. The fourth screen was designed in association with a pub and café known as The Tannery, named for the Gibb's Tannery that once occupied the site. Its medieval European décor and menu references to Monty Python and the Holy Grail extended the venue's emphasis on themed entertainment. The largest auditorium includes a stage and has hosted live performances and comedy programming, including the Brews and Belly Laughs series. The Tannery later operated under the name Web's Common. According to the referenced account, it stopped operating as a pub and café in February 2025, after which the space was used for community events, live music, comedy, private parties, and theater-related activity. The rebuilt Magic Lantern consequently functions as both a cinema and a flexible local gathering place.

• 2025

  Former pub space repurposed for community use

  [1]Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org

  The Tannery, later called Web's Common, reportedly stopped operating as a pub and café in February and became a flexible community and entertainment space.

• 2008

  Four-screen venue reopens

  [1]Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org

  The replacement Magic Lantern reopened on February 8 with four screens, themed auditoriums, and space for live events.

• 2007

  Replacement theater construction begins

  [1]Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the new Magic Lantern began on March 1 as part of a broader site redevelopment.

• 2006

  Original building demolished

  [1]Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org

  The deteriorated Brookside Building was torn down on February 7 because of structural and soil problems, including a sinkhole.

• 1990

  Original theater converted to two screens

  [1]Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org

  The single-screen theater was twinned to increase the number of films available to patrons.

• 1977

  Magic Lantern name adopted

  [1]Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org

  Entrepreneur Tom Goodman renames the venue Magic Lantern after earlier periods as The Mayfair and The Brookside.

• 1929

  New Meserve Theater opens

  [1]Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org

  The original theater building opens in Bridgton under the name New Meserve Theater.

• Theater hosts The Shining benefit premiere

  [1]Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org

  Stephen King helped arrange a print for a benefit screening connected with The Shining and supporting the local hospital.

• Dolby Stereo Surround installed

  [1]Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org

  The venue became the first theater in Maine reported to install Dolby Stereo Surround sound.

A locally rooted independent cinema that combines mainstream film exhibition with historic theatrical themes, live entertainment, food-and-beverage facilities, and community programming.

• Cinema exhibition · 2008

  Movie screenings

  The theater's core offering is public film exhibition across four screens in the replacement venue. The expanded layout followed the original building's conversion from one screen to two in 1990 and was designed to provide Bridgton audiences with more simultaneous movie choices.

• Venue experience · 2008

  Themed auditoriums

  Three auditoriums preserve the names of earlier Bridgton theaters: The Meserve, The Mayfair, and The Brookside. Their designs use historical and location-based motifs, including 1920s styling, Victorian décor, nautical elements, and old-fashioned balcony features.

• Entertainment programming · 2008

  Live events and community programming

  The largest auditorium includes a stage and can support performances beyond conventional film screenings. Reported programming has included the Brews and Belly Laughs comedy series, while the former pub area has hosted or supported comedy, music, parties, and other community activities.

• Food and beverage and event space · 2008

  The Tannery / Web's Common

  The fourth-screen area was associated with a pub and café originally called The Tannery, referencing the Gibb's Tannery formerly located on the site. It later operated as Web's Common. Its pub and café function reportedly ended in February 2025, after which the space was used for community events and theater-related purposes.

• 2025

  Repurposing of the pub and café spaceStrategy

  Background

  The Tannery / Web's Common space reportedly stopped operating as a pub and café in February 2025.

  Action taken

  The space was redirected toward community events, live music, comedy shows, parties, and use as a theater space.

  Aftermath

  The venue retained a flexible non-cinema function while supporting the theater's broader local-entertainment role.

  Source

• 2008

  Launch of the four-screen Magic LanternProduct launch

  Background

  The replacement venue was intended to restore and expand cinema service after the original theater's demolition.

  Action taken

  A new four-screen complex opened with themed auditoriums, a stage-equipped large screen, and a pub/café-linked event area.

  Aftermath

  The venue broadened its role from movie theater to a combined cinema, performance venue, and community gathering place.

  Source

• 2006

  Redevelopment after demolitionStrategy

  Background

  Poor soil, a sinkhole, sloping floors, foundation cracks, freezing pipes, and broader structural deterioration made the original building unsuitable for continued use.

  Action taken

  Down East, Inc. proposed rebuilding its operations and the Magic Lantern theater on the same broader site.

  Aftermath

  The replacement four-screen theater opened in February 2008.

  Source

• 1990

  Conversion from one screen to twoGeneration change

  Background

  The reopened original theater was expanded to offer more movie choices in a small local market.

  Action taken

  The single-screen theater was divided into two auditoriums.

  Aftermath

  The twin-screen format continued until the deteriorating building was demolished in 2006.

  Source

1. 1Magic Lantern (theater)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Magic Lantern Theater official websitemagiclanternmovies.com