It survived the Great Depression, a World War, the arrival of television and drive-in theaters. The advent of multiplexes and video did not stop it. Not even the powerful Kennedy family of Massachusetts, who tried to close her down, could stop it. For 61 years, the Concord Theatre thrived thanks to the spirit of its owner, Theresa Cantin. No woman in history ever ran an independent, first-run movie theater for more than six decades. The story is filled with humor, intrigue, drama, and the magic of some of Hollywood’s best motion pictures. At the heart of the story is Theresa, who sold the tickets, made the popcorn, booked the films, and did the bookkeeping, sometimes into the wee hours. Her story and the story of her theater will inspire and move you. This course will combine lecture with class discussions. Image: “Capitol Theatre, Concord, New Hampshire in 1927 - Stage” by CharmaineZoe’s Marvelous Melange is licensed under CC BY 2.0.