Seventy-five years worth of hopes, fears and dreams live within the walls of the Magic Lantern movie theater in Bridgton. This weekend, it all ends.

There’s hardly anything as sad as a picture palace shuttered and down on its luck. Fortunately, this theater won’t sit empty long.

Down East Inc., which owns the place, plans to build a new Magic Lantern just off Main Street. It will demolish the old one.

Yes, that’s hard to accept, but it’s for the best. Put the old place out of its misery.

Lewiston residents will remember forever the painful sight of the old Empire Theater on Main Street sitting vacant year after year. First, its marquee went. Then the roof fell in. Then trees began sprouting from its walls. It was a disgrace.

Fortunately, the Magic Lantern will live again.