Saco Cinema
280 Main Street,
Saco,
ME
04072
280 Main Street,
Saco,
ME
04072
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Closed on August 29, 1985 with “Goonies”.
I recall going to the Saco as a kid with my Dad during our annual summer Vacations to Old Orchard Beach in 1983, 1984, and 1985. Saco was the closest theatre to Old Orchard Beach and the films I specifically remember seeing were Krull in 1983, Top Secret! in 1984, and probably a tad before they closed Rambo:First Blood Part II in 1985 (my first R rated film thanks to Dad, I was 10 at the time). It was a big single screen neighborhood theatre that was never carved up into multiple screens. The auditorium sort of looked liked the Coolidge Corner theatre in Brookline Mass. minus the balcony, but unlike the Coolidge Corner, it was never kept up well and I recall the seats were old, the sound was never good, and it smelled like a basement. I also recalled the print of Rambo: First Blood Part II broke during the screening but they did get it back up after 5 minutes or so. Regardless good times and memories with Dad and with it’s close proximity to Old Orchard Beach it’s a shame it couldn’t get spiffed up and remain a neighborhood theatre.
This opened as the Mutual theatre on November 26th, 1927, and became the Saco Cinema on March 16th, 1972, and closed in 1985. 1927 ad posted.
According To The Biddeford-Saco Journal Of Biddeford, Maine; The Mutual Theatre Changed Its Name To Saco Cinema In 1972.
Thhe Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Mutual; it’s Card # 441. Address is Main St. There is an exterior photo dated March 5, 1941. Condition is Good. The report says it opened in 1927, was not showing MGM movies, and had 630 seats. 1940 population was 8,600.
A postcard view from the 1940s of the Mutual Theater and Main Street in “Sacco” Maine.