In 1936, the Waldo Theatre opened in Waldoboro, Maine. Snowflakes fluttered in the air as families piled out of their cars and into the warm glow of the foyer, eager to see Bing Crosby’s comedy, Pennies from Heaven.
Legendary theater architect Benjamin Schlanger, who would go on to be involved in projects including the Sydney Opera House and Metropolitan Opera House, designed the theater. Schlanger designed the space to celebrate the big screen, with seating that gently sloped back, providing excellent viewing for every audience member. Removing decorative elements from around the focal point, Schlanger wanted people to celebrate watching films.
“He was all about the person sitting in the seat and not being distracted,” says Barbara Boardman, head of the building committee for the theater’s restoration project. “And he was all about exploring the edge of the screen. He wanted it to be more like you’re in the world of the movie, rather than looking at a box with an image.”
The outside of the building was designed in a Greek Revival style, while inside, it was minimalist and functional with occasional nods to Art Deco. For decades, the Waldo provided the midcoast community with a space for what the Waldo Theatre Executive Director Susan Hodder calls “a third place.”
“The home is your first place,” she explains, “Work is your second place, and people used to have a third place where they could gather, a place they could feel at home and comfortable and socialize that wasn’t centered around a meal necessarily.”
With the advent of television, families began to stay home instead of going out to the movies. A few revivals took place over the 20th century, but by 2017, the building had suffered significant water damage and was named one of Maine’s Most Endangered Historic Places.
That’s when a newly formed Board of Directors began their work to restore the building. The water damage meant a full restoration was required and extensive groundwork was needed to reroute water and prevent further damage. With fundraising projects and the help of locals who could offer their skills in restoring the building, the new Board has brought the theater back from the brink of extinction.
“One of my goals for 2024 is to start the next level of work,” says Susan Hodder. “Which would involve adding space for classrooms and meeting rooms. We hope to renovate and expand the concessions area.”
In its heyday, the theater hosted star-studded acts, including Judy Collins and John Waters. Today, musicians who perform at the Waldo remark on its acoustics, which many have said are the best they’ve ever performed with. The first live performance since the remodel took place in 2021, and in 2023, attendance doubled from the previous year with acts such as the returnWaing Judy Collins and Patty Griffin.
“We are very proud of the fact that we’re sparking an economic renaissance in downtown Waldoboro,” Hodder adds. The town, divided by Route One on the way up the Maine coast, is now home to a successful microbrewery, a cafe, an inn and wine bar, and more expanding businesses.
As it did in 1936, the renovated Waldo Theatre is once again creating a gathering place for citizens and visitors of Waldoboro.
