The Little Theater That Could! (In-person)
Summer 4 to 8.5 hours | Available (Membership Required)
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.
- Optional Book:
- The Concord Theatre - Paul Brogan (ISBN-13: 978-1732364844)
Paul Brogan
Paul Brogan loves sharing stories of his 27 years (1967 - 1994) working at the Concord Theatre. It was the topic of his second best-selling book, which reached number one in 2019. When he’s not writing, he can be found hosting a television show, playing the piano or sharing his knowledge with Osher members. He lives in Concord, where he grew up and where he is writing a fourth book, this time a mystery.