About | United States | The Magick Lantern

Movies: As a community-operated movie theater, Magick Lantern screens recently released independent and international films, documentaries, and classic films in an effort to appeal to a wide range of community interests.

Programming: Magick Lantern staff screen films from current and past film festivals, as well as requests and suggestions made from patrons; program selections are made to be consistent with the educational mission.

Education/Mission: Filmmakers and film educators from the Bay Area and beyond are invited to lead audiences in pre- and post-viewing in the style of Q & A discussions. Media-literacy through the art of film is Magick Lantern's primary mission.

Community: Point Richmond as a destination town for viewing unique films, post-film discussion, and sharing of cultural values and ideas, all with people of the community that residents might otherwise may never get to know. Viewing recently released movies at home was considered a unique opportunity but ultimately it only serves to isolate us from the very people and organizations that create culture in our own town.

Sponsorship: Businesses and local organizations are offered the chance to participate and support the cultural activity of its residents through Magick Lantern's venue.

Artistic: Offer young and new filmmakers a place to showcase their work as well as site for other visual and performing artist to perform.

Location: Magick Lantern currently operates in Point Richmond's First United Methodist Church, 201 Martina Street (off West Richmond Ave) Point Richmond, since May 2022. We started out in the Pt Richmond Community Center from 2018-2020 but could not return after the pandemic as the City of Richmond's Recreation Department's new rules and regulations did not support our mission.

Goggle Map Confusion Continues: The first movie theater for profit was operated under the name of Magick Lantern on Park Place in downtown Pt Richmond but was quickly closed in 2013 and the owner returned to Nevada. As local residents we chose to use the same name for local recognition but operated as a non-profit organization instead since 2014. Goggle Maps shows Magick Lantern as a closed theater and has yet to respond to our multiple requests for an updated map location reflecting our current operation.

We Need Your Help

Why support Magick Lantern?

Point Richmond is a historic small town by the Bay with a large group of residents interested in a broad array of the arts, and many of them movie lovers. Until recently, a movie theater of the same name fulfilled the need for a movie alternative to the commercial movie-plexes with the driving, parking, and safety problems of cities in Marin, Berkeley, and Richmond. Unfortunately, the theater closed down. After researching the East Bay and Marin movie-going demographics and tastes, and after calculating costs, we believe we can make a go of it as a community endeavor.

We have formed alliances with the Point Richmond organizations and numerous local businesses have promised to support the opening of the Magick Lantern to make it a success.

How can you support Magick Lantern?

The Membership provides the basis for continued operation, to plan for future movies, and continue to meet our costs. Please check out the Membership page to support the viability of our programs continuing throughout the year.

We are always looking for volunteers to help with set up and take down along with small things during the film.