ABOUT US
Harbor Theater is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 2017 to sustain and perpetuate motion pictures in the Boothbay Region. Harbor Theater’s program includes first-run releases, art and independent films, festival winners and classic revivals, plus live “Meet the Director/Film Maker/Producer” Q&A sessions. Harbor Theater is the only non-profit, independent cinema on the Boothbay peninsula.
HARBOR THEATER ACCESSIBILITY
At The Harbor Theater, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to see a movie the way it was intended – in a darkened auditorium on the big screen. That’s why we are equipped with state-of-the-art projection and sound which is operated by trained projectionists who take our audiences’ experience seriously. We are also pleased to provide assistance for people with mobility, hearing, and vision difficulties.
Mobility – Harbor Theater’s entrance is wheelchair accessible and wheelchair seating is available in the
auditorium.
Hearing – For audience members who are hearing impaired, assistive listening and closed caption devices
are available at the Concessions stand. There are headphones that allow you to select to hear the film soundtrack or hear a descriptive narrative, and headphones that have individual volume controls for each channel, allowing the user to mix soundtrack and narrative to both ears at the same time. We also provide closed caption devices that secure to your seat’s cup holder so that you can see captions on the display during the movie.
Vision – Audience members who have low vision can take advantage of our headphones for visual impairment which include a channel switch that allows the user to select to hear either the film soundtrack or a descriptive narration, or both.
Our QSL headphones come in two varieties:
1) The IRH-280i headphones include a channel switch which allows the user to select to hear either the film soundtrack (HI) or descriptive narration (VI-N) through both earcups.
2) The IRH-281i headphones have individual volume controls for each channel, allowing the user to mix HI and VI-N to both ears at the same time.
Our QSC CC-100 closed caption devices have a base that secures into your seat's cup holder.
When the switch on the right side is set to the RUN position, captions will appear in the display
during the movie (not during trailers).
HISTORY
In 1932, Boothbay Harbor’s first cinema, The Strand Theater, was built on property next to what is now the Opera House on Townsend Avenue. It was destroyed in a fire in 1982. After that, Harbor Lights Cinema operated a summer theater in the Meadow Mall from 1985 to 2002. Jason Sheckley bought that entity and operated it year-round as the Harbor Theatre from 2002 to 2017, when a non-profit organization, Friends of the Harbor Theater, bought him out.
The non-profit Harbor Theater, with a community-based board of directors, continues to show first-run films, but added art and independent films, documentaries, and special events such as Meet the Director nights and educational and cultural events sponsored by local groups.
The theater was closed from March 2020 to October 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, generous community support kept the theater going during that time. In the summer of 2020 and 2021 Harbor Theater ran drive-in movies in the mall parking lot and at neighboring hotels. More than 250 people enjoyed each of the six free outdoor shows during those two years.
The theater was renovated in the summer of 2021 with all-new paint, a new concession area, new acoustical tiles in the auditorium and a new laser projector. Community foundations and private donors funded these projects.
As a tax-exempt non-profit, the Harbor Theater relies on community support for almost 50% of its budget. All donations are tax deductible within the law. Please consider joining as a member or making a donation by going to SUPPORT US on this website.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF
Board of Directors
Jeff Long, President
Bob Reiser, Vice-President
Roger Matthews, Treasurer
Patricia Colhoun, Secretary
Marion Coleman
Bruce Harris
Nicci Kimball
Scott Larson
Kim Martin
Michael Tomko
Advisory Board
Robert Devine
Douglas Goldhirsch
Andy Hamblett
Steve Malcom
Penny Pollard
Mike Pollard
Theater Staff
Administration:
Lynn Thompson, Executive Director
Harolyn Hylton, Admin Assistant
Lisa Perry, Box Office & Database Admin
Robert Jordan, Technology Director
Jeniffer Cooley, Marketing & Publicity Manager
Projection:
Kim Bachelder
Joe Mackey
John McMullin
Mike Reynolds
Mike Thompson (volunteer)
Box Office & Concessions:
Diane Demetriades
Joe St. George, Concessions Manager