Netflix did not invent movies.

A hundred years ago people loved movies as much as they do today. Maybe more. But then, you had to go out to a movie, to your neighborhood movie house. It might be a grand opera house overlooking the town green or a sleek Art Deco theater downtown. Either way, the movie house in town was a big deal, the place where everybody went to be entertained and to feel part of the community.

Maine is a place that values history and community, so it’s no surprise that a fair number of beautiful old movie houses or theaters have been preserved – and in some cases saved from demolition and restored to past glory, often by nonprofit groups. Venues that have shown or still show movies can be found around southern, central and coastal Maine, stretching from Ogunquit to Skowhegan to Ellsworth and Bar Harbor.

On Saturday, the group restoring the Augusta Colonial Theater will be holding a silent film festival at Johnson Hall Opera House in Gardiner from noon to 4 p.m., to draw attention to the theater. “Dog Day Afternoon” features seven silent films starring dogs, including America’s first dog film star, Jean the Vitagraph Dog. Jean was a Collie from Eastport who became a star with the help of her owner Larry Trimble, from the Down East town of Robbinston.

The Johnson Hall Opera House is itself one of Maine’s most historic performance venues, originally opened in 1864 and reopened after renovations in 2024. It hosts mostly live events and some films.

Here’s a list of  13 of Maine’s historic movie houses, when they were built and what they offer.

Augusta Colonial Theater, 1913

139 Water St., Augusta

The Colonial, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hasn’t been a regularly operating theater since 1969. The nonprofit Colonial Theater Inc. has spent more than $2 million on restoration in recent years, including replacing the roof, rebuilding a large portion of the floor and restoration of the facade. The goal is to eventually re-open the venue, with 1,000 seats, for film, theater, dance and music.

Criterion Theatre, 1932

35 Cottage St., Bar Harbor

This Art Deco theater’s restoration and renovation, ongoing over the past decade, is nearly complete. The work includes reupholstered seats, repainting the ceiling, a digital projector, and other period details. The theater hosts national and local music acts, dance, theater and both recent and classic movies.

Colonial Theatre, 1912

163 High St., Belfast

Easy to find because of the elephant on top of the roof, this colorful downtown theater offers a mix of first-run Hollywood blockbusters, foreign films, indie and art house movies and classic films. Additional entertainment at the theater includes live music, comedy and community events.

Alamo Theatre, 1916

85 Main St., Bucksport

This red brick theater is home to Northeast Historic Film, an organization that collects and preserves film and video, with a focus on Northern New England. The theater shows a range of independent films, documentaries and occasional new Hollywood fare, like “Superman” Aug. 29-31.

Lincoln Theater, 1876

2 Theater St., Damariscotta

This historic theater began playing silent films in 1924 and offers about 500 events a year, including first-run films, HD opera and theater broadcasts, in-house produced plays and educational programs.

The Grand, 1938

165 Main St., Ellsworth

This Art Deco movie house in downtown Ellsworth is run by a nonprofit group and hosts mostly concerts, musicals and live events. Noel Paul Stookey of  Peter Paul and Mary fame plays Aug. 9.

Leavitt Theatre, 1925

259 Main St., Ogunquit

Starting out as a silent movie house, the Leavitt still hosts silent films today, including Harold Lloyd’s “The Freshman” on Aug. 13 and more recent movies too.  The lineup at the theater includes live music, comedy, drag, burlesque, jazz and free screenings of iconic films like “Jaws” and “Dirty Dancing.”

State Theatre, 1929

609 Congress St., Portland

This Portland landmark was built as for movies and vaudeville, with ornate Art Deco and European-influenced details throughout. The 1,900-seat theater has been resorted and today hosts mostly live music, including top national acts.

Strand Theatre, 1923

345 Main St., Rockland

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the nonprofit Strand offers current first-run and independent films, live musical concerts and comedy, simulcasts of the Metropolitan Opera and captured-live broadcasts from London’s National Theatre and community events and fundraisers.

Strand Cinema, 1929

19 Court St., Skowhegan

This theater originally had one auditorium seating 1,000, but now has three theaters screening films. Operated by Spotlight Cinemas, the theater shows first-run and family fare, including “Smurfs” and “Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

Stonington Opera House, 1912

1 School St., Stonington

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this venue is home to Opera House Arts, and functions as a performance space and civic gathering space. The venue’s schedule includes classical music, theater, juggling, music, children’s shows and film.

Waldo Theatre, 1936

916 Main St., Waldoboro

After being renovated and re-opened in 2021, the Waldo has hosted nationally known speakers and musicians, including John Waters, Patty Griffin, 10,000 Maniacs, Judy Collins and Henry Rollins. The nonprofit running the theater also brings in live music, theater, movies, dance and educational programs.

Waterville Opera House, 1902

1 Common St., Waterville

The historic opera house is part of the group Waterville Creates, and helps form a cultural center downtown, along with the Maine Film Center. The venue’s schedule includes musicals and theater productions and live bands and musicians, and it is a primary venue during the Maine International Film Festival.