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Harbor Theater
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185 Townsend Ave #G
Boothbay Harbor ME
(207) 633-0438
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| Record #27180 |
Opened: 1985
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Capacity: 194 seats
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):
National Register:
Current Organ: none |
| Also Known As: Harbor Lights Cinema |
Information for this tour was contributed by Jason Sheckley. The Harbor Theatre was reopened on August 14th, 2004 in space formerly operated as "Harbor Lights Cinema". This 194 seat, single screen theatre was built in Boothbay Harbor's only strip mall, and replaced The Strand Theatre, which was a free stranding structure that burned in the 1970s.
The Harbor Theatre is a labor of love by longtime projectionist and photographer Jason Sheckley, the theatre runs on a 1950s model of "what theatres used to be", and as such, is one of the last single-screen, two projector carbon arc theatres in the State of Maine. With a population of just over 5000 off-season, The Harbor Theatre struggled to break even during the first four years of operation.
In January of 2007, "Friends of The Harbor Theatre" was formed, to "... keep big-screen entertainment in the Boothbay region year-round". Headed by one of the theatre's projectionists, Bob Devine, a retired executive and Chief Projectionist in the armed services 53 years ago, the group has received 120 donations to date, and recently replaced the theatre's original, curved sheetrock screen with a 26-foot soundscreen, motorized curtain and masking.
Presently, the theatre seats 194, but plans are underway to replace the 1960s-era American Steller seats, with a newer, more comfortable model. The theatre "circuits" prints with the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor and the Levitt Theatre in Ogunquit in the summer, allowing the presentation of brand new releases. Off-season, the Harbor Theatre runs films that are usually 3-4 weeks old.
As Boothbay Harbor is a popular vacation destination in season (the population swells to 40,000), the Harbor Theatre has been able to host several special events, including presenting several filmmakers who have hosted and introduced their films, and the recent presentation of "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1962), hosted by the present day captain of the Bounty, about to relaunch and make a world tour. Photos
Photos remain the property of the Member and may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Member. |
Photos from the Jason Sheckley collection.
78 KB · 625x417 |
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Last featured 5/28/2007. Last edited 11/28/2019.
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