The Oldest Movie Theater In North Dakota Is A Gem

Historic Movie Theaters in North Dakota 

There was a time not that long ago when going to a movie was a given for most people just about every weekend. Whether it was a night out on the town with friends, going out with the family, or date night, it usually involved going to a movie.

Things of course have changed a lot since movies on demand became available, and streaming services like Neflix. Still, there's something about watching a blockbuster movie in the presence of others. It's truly a unique experience.

We have some old movie theaters in North Dakota, that have managed to stay in business while other theaters have gone the way answering machines and landlines. Remember when we had a movie theater in the Gateway Mall, and even Kirkwood Mall?

The Oldest Movie Theaters in North Dakota

According to North Dakota Tourism, they include:

The Fargo Theatre, which openend in 1926.

The Avalon Theater in Larimore, which was built in 1938 and still operates with its original projectors.

The Mystic Theater in Marmath, which opened in 1914, it was restored, and still hosts events.

The Bijou in Fargo, which was built in 1906, but no longer exists.

But, the oldest of them all is:

The Scenic Theatre in Lisbon, North Dakota, which openend in 1911.

According to North Dakota Tourism, the Scenic Theatre in Lisbon is the oldest continuously operating movie theater in North Dakota. It's often cited as the oldest in the United States. The movie theater faced potential closure in early 2025 due to owner retirement, but was later saved by the community.

Wikipedia disputes the Scenic Theater as the oldest continuously operating movie theater in America, saying that titles goes to the State Theatre in Washington, Iowa is recognized by Guiness World Records.