Whether it's the marquee lights or the smell of fresh popped popcorn, the Kenmare Theatre is hard to miss.

The theater originally opened in the 1920s, on the south side of the downtown business square. At the time, it was known as the Lyceum Theatre. Of course, that was the silent movie era, which didn’t begin to transition to talking films until approximately 1926. Silent films such as, The Kid, Metropolis, and Sherlock Jr., played on the big screen. Couples, young and old, would bring their sweethearts on a date to the picture show. The popcorn was hot, the lights were low, and the music serenaded the romantic scene. The 1950s brought timeless films such as A Streetcar Named Desire and Singin’ in the Rain, which continued to attract locals to the Theatre.

Toward the end of the twentieth century, the community was faced with the prospect of losing its theatre due to needed equipment upgrades. Fully understanding the importance of this historical theater, the people of Kenmare committed to raising the necessary funds. In 1999, the new Kenmare Theatre reopened, in the same building that once held the Lyceum. Most of the old is gone, replaced with the new. The one exception to this is a painted mural from the original theater that has been restored and adorns one of the walls of the inner lobby. Once again, the Theatre became a destination, whether for a group of friends or for you and your special someone. One of the first movies shown after the reopening was October Sky–a film many teenagers during that time won’t soon forget. In 2012, another change was made when a digital 3D projector replaced the film reel projector. Movies are shown on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays with a new feature every weekend.

While technology has evolved and updates have been made, the ambiance of a dark theater, buttered popcorn, boxes of candy, and a movie with friends still remain in one of the nicest little theaters in the state.