The Oldest Operating Movie Theaters in Every U.S. State

Imagine being one of the first people to see a movie. Sure, it was nothing like the films we see on the big screen today, but it was such a unique and magical experience.

Film doesn't have a long history. The oldest surviving film we have is the "Roundhay Garden Scene," which is a short, less than three-second clip of people walking at Oakwood Grange in Roundhay, Leeds, in Yorkshire in 1888. Only about a decade or two after, and silent films were everywhere. Movie theaters were popping up all over the country, and some even continue standing today!

Would you watch a film in one of the oldest continuously-running movie theaters in your state? We've compiled a list of them, choosing one of the oldest (if not the oldest) movie theaters in each state, along with the address and the date it opened. To do this, 24/7 Tempo scoured the internet looking for each theater, using official movie theater websites and historical sources.

Note: While we've tried our best to find the oldest continuously-running movie theater in each state, there is no database with these numbers/names. Some of these theaters were closed for renovations or used for live performances before becoming a movie theater again.

Alabama

Movie Theater: The Capri Theatre (also known as the Clover Theatre)
Opened: 1941
Location: 1045 E Fairview Ave, Montgomery, AL 36106

Alaska

Movie Theater: Homer Theatre/The Pupcupine Theater
Opened: 1956
Location: 106 W Pioneer Ave, Homer, AK 99603

Arizona

Movie Theater: El Rio Theatre
Opened: 1915
Location: 15 W Main St, Springerville, AZ 85938

Arkansas

Movie Theater: The Scott Theater
Opened: 1930
Location: 281 S Main St, Waldron, AR 72958

California

Movie Theater: Minor Theater
Opened: December 3, 1914
Location: 1001 H St, Arcata, CA 95521

Colorado

Movie Theater: The Park Theatre/Historic Park Theatre
Opened: 1913
Location: 130 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517

Connecticut

Movie Theater: The Bantam Cinema/Bantam Cinema & Arts Center
Opened: 1927
Location: 115 Bantam Lake Rd, Bantam, CT 06750

Delaware

Movie Theater: The Clayton Theatre
Opened: 1949
Location: 33246 Main St, Dagsboro, DE 19939

Florida

Movie Theater: The Priest Theater (This place might be demolished soon, as the last time they played a film was in 2022. However, there are people working on finding funding and grants to renovate it.)
Opened: 1910
Location: 15 NW 1st St, High Springs, FL 32643

Georgia

Movie Theater: The Plaza Theatre
Opened: 1939
Location: 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Hawaii

Movie Theater: Princess Theatre Cinerama (Unfortunately, it seems like this location is permanently closed.)
Opened: 1929
Location: 1550 S. King Street, Honolulu, HI96826

Idaho

Movie Theater: The Panida Theatre (This community theater plays movies, theater shows, and music.)
Opened: 1927
Location: 300 N 1st Ave, Sandpoint, ID 83864

Illinois

Movie Theater: The Mar Theatre
Opened: 1937
Location: 121 S Main St, Wilmington, IL 60481

Indiana

Movie Theater: The Historic Artcraft Theatre
Opened: November 1, 1922
Location: 57 N Main St, Franklin, IN 46131

Iowa

Movie Theater: The State Theatre (This theater is also listed on the Guinness World Records as the oldest continually operating movie theater in the world.)
Opened: May 14, 1897
Location: 123 E Washington St, Washington, IA 52353

Kansas

Movie Theater: The Plaza Grill and Cinema
Opened: May 22, 1907
Location: 209 S Main St, Ottawa, KS 66067

Kentucky

Movie Theater: The Kentucky Theatre
Opened: October 4, 1922
Location: 214 E Main St, Lexington, KY 40507

Louisiana

Movie Theater: The Prytania Theatre
Opened: January 15, 1915
Location: 5339 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70115

Maine

Movie Theater: Northeast Historic Film / Alamo Theatre (This might not be the oldest as it was restored, but information is spotty.)
Opened: 1916
Location: 85 Main St, Bucksport, ME 04416

Maryland

Movie Theater: The Senator Theatre
Opened: October 5, 1939
Location: 5904 York Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212

Massachusetts

Movie Theater: The Somerville Theatre
Opened: 1914
Location: 55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144

Michigan

Movie Theater: The Michigan Theater
Opened: January 5, 1928
Location: 603 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Minnesota

Movie Theater: The Comet Theater
Opened: 1939
Location: 102 S River St, Cook, MN 55723

Mississippi

Movie Theater: Hattiesburg Saenger Theater
Opened: 1939
Location: 201 Forrest St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401

Missouri

Movie Theater: Hi-Pointe Theatre
Opened: 1922
Location:

Montana

Movie Theater: The Roman Theater
Opened: 1917
Location: 120 Broadway Avenue, Red Lodge, MT 59068

Nebraska

Movie Theater: The Dundee Theater
Opened: 1925
Location: 4952 Dodge St, Omaha, NE 68132

Nevada

Movie Theater: Fallon Theatres
Opened: 1920
Location: 71 S. Maine St., Fallon, NV 89406

New Hampshire

Movie Theater: The Colonial Theatre
Opened: 1915
Location: 2050 Main St, Bethlehem, NH 03574

New Jersey

Movie Theater: Dunellen Theatre (It seems to now be a music venue.)
Opened: 1911
Location: 458 North Ave, Dunellen, NJ 08812

New Mexico

Movie Theater: Fountain Theatre
Opened: 1905
Location: 2469 Calle De Guadalupe, Mesilla, NM 88046

New York

Movie Theater: The Manlius Cinema
Opened: December 6, 1918
Location: 135 E Seneca St, Manlius, NY 13104

North Carolina

Movie Theater: The Gem Theatre in Kannapolis
Opened: December 31, 1936
Location: 111 Laureate Wy., Kannapolis, NC 28081

North Dakota

Movie Theater: The Scenic Theatre
Opened: 1911
Location: 419 Main St, Lisbon, ND 58054

Ohio

Movie Theater: The Athena Cinema
Opened: 1915
Location: Athena Theater, 20 S Court St, Athens, OH 45701

Oklahoma

Movie Theater: The Liberty Theatre
Opened: 1917
Location: 9 W Main St, Carnegie, OK 73015

Oregon

Movie Theater: The Avalon Theatre
Opened: 1912
Location: 3451 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214

Pennsylvania

Movie Theater: Shankweiler's Drive-In Theatre
Opened: 1934
Location: 4540 Shankweiler Rd, Orefield, PA 18069

Rhode Island

Movie Theater: The Avon Cinema
Opened: 1938
Location: 260 Thayer St, Providence, RI 02906

South Carolina

Movie Theater: The Sylvia Theater
Opened: 1939
Location: 27 N Congress Street , York, SC 29745

South Dakota

Movie Theater: The Strand Theatre
Opened: December 23, 1916
Location: 703 Main St, Britton, SD 57430

Tennessee

Movie Theater: The Strand Theatre
Opened: 1915
Location: 222 Church St, Tiptonville, TN 38079

Texas

Movie Theater: The Cliftex Theatre
Opened: 1916
Location: 306 W 5th St, Clifton, TX 76634

Utah

Movie Theater: The Casino Star Theatre
Opened: 1912
Location: 78 S Main St, Gunnison, UT 84634

Vermont

Movie Theater: The Playhouse Movie Theatre
Opened: 1913
Location: 11 S Main St, Randolph, VT 05060

Virginia

Movie Theater: The Byrd Theatre
Opened: 1928
Location: 2908 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221

Washington

Movie Theater: The Ruby Theatre
Opened: 1914
Location: 135 E Woodin Ave, Chelan, WA 98816

West Virginia

Movie Theater: The Robey Theatre
Opened: 1911
Location: 318 Main St, Spencer, WV 25276

Wisconsin

Movie Theater: The Oriental Theatre
Opened: July 2, 1927
Location: 2230 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Wyoming

Movie Theater: The Cody Theatre (While this theater used to play films, it is now mainly a performing arts center.)
Opened: 1936
Location: 1171 Sheridan Ave, Cody, WY 82414