Beverly's Cabot Theater To Reopen For First Film In 15 Months

BEVERLY, MA — The Cabot Street Cinema might need a bigger boat to contain all the enthusiasm over what will be the historic theater's first movie screening to a live audience in nearly 15 months.

The Cabot revealed on Wednesday that it will host a two-day showing of the 1975 classic thriller "Jaws" on Memorial Day weekend. It will be the first movie shown at the theater — which celebrated its 100th anniversary with a virtual extravaganza in December — since the onset of the coronavirus health crisis in March 2020.

“While it goes without saying that closing our doors was one of the most difficult decisions we've ever had to make here at The Cabot, it did come as a blessing in disguise in that we've made absolutely incredible strides as far as our renovations," Cabot Executive Director Casey Soward said. "Our crews have worked tirelessly to both upgrade our beloved theater and give special attention to the historical elements that make this place so breathtaking, and we're not done yet."

The public screenings will be May 29 and May 30 with coronavirus-related protocols. Tickets can be purchased here starting Friday morning.

A private screening will be held May 28 following a ribbon-cutting to celebrate its reopening and the major renovations done to the lobby — courtesy of the Anne and Steve Dodge family, the Cabot Board of Directors, Beverly's Community Preservation Act, donors and neighbors.

The $1 million in renovations included the lobby renovation to make visible the arched ceiling and other previously hidden historic elements, as well as a new box office, and concession area and bar counter.

The HVAC system is being enhanced to improve air quality and a renovation to improve access to The Cabot's Streetside Bar will be completed next month.

"While we still have some work to do, we're thrilled that we're in a position to be able to safely open our doors over Memorial Day weekend," Soward said. "Jaws has been a yearly tradition here at The Cabot and it feels too perfect that it will be our first event back."

The first shows will be capped at 250 people with socially distanced seating and contactless concessions. Staff and patrons will be required to wear masks when entering and exiting the building and moving about the theaters. Masks may be removed when eating or drinking.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)