Beleaguered Magic Lantern Theatre reopening with plans to eventually offer drinks

Good news independent movie fans: The Magic Lantern Theatre is set to reopen, and soon thereafter, offer beer and wine, too.

After months of closed doors and relative silence from its previous owner, the beleaguered theater at 25 W. Main Ave. is reopening Dec. 1.

“We are really excited to get started,” said Katy Sheehan, the executive director of the Community Building Foundation and daughter of the theater’s new owner, Jim Sheehan.

In early August, the previous owners, Up All Night Media, closed the theater. According to people close to the situation, the Magic Lantern was struggling financially, as it has in the past, and its owners let the business license expire Aug. 31.

But on Oct. 25, Jim Sheehan, who owns the Saranac Building where the theater is located, applied for and was granted control of the Magic Lantern. He and his daughter also applied for a liquor license Tuesday.

“We’ve kind of been imagining what’s possible, and the liquor license if part of that,” Katy Sheehan said.

Unfortunately, alcohol won’t be available when the theater opens, since the application was just submitted, but eventually will be sold at the concession stand along with popcorn and other refreshments, Katy Sheehan said. She wasn’t sure if the new operators would eventually follow the example of Regal Entertainment Group’s Cinebarre or the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, where patrons can order food and drinks from their seats.

“We’re still working out the arrangements,” Katy Sheehan said.

As far as hours of operation, the theater likely will be open Wednesday through Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday possibly being reserved for live community events, similar to the theater’s old schedule of being closed Mondays.

Katy Sheehan also said the theater’s previous manager, Jonathan Abramson, will be back to run things, and staff from the Community Building Foundation could help where needed until more positions are filled.

In terms of the theater’s past financial struggles and its long history of closing for weeks, months and years at a time, Katy Sheehan said they listened to input from moviegoers – specifically regarding the lack of special events and alcohol – and she hopes the resulting changes will bring back longtime patrons and attract new fans.

“Just judging from the response of when it was closed, people really want this theater to be here,” she said. “Now, more than ever, it feels like a time to support the arts.”