If you're looking for something to do on a rainy day on the Outer Banks, when the beach is out of the question for all but the most dedicated fishers and surfers, the Pioneer Theater in Manteo, NC, is a great day trip to the west side of the Outer Banks. It is the oldest continuously owned family movie theater in the United States.
The price of the tickets are usually $4 less movies in a multiplex charges today, and can be picked up at the quaint ticket booth at the front of the building: a small wooded structure, centered on doors that open into the lobby.
The lobby is small and a bit cramped, but the smell and sound of popcorn popping fills the space with the heady aroma of butter and salt. The price of concessions at Pioneer Theater is about half - or less than half! - of what you can expect to pay at most movie theaters.
This is what all movie theaters were like at one time: a place in the heart of the downtown district surrounded by shops a restaurants. It is smaller than the theaters of major cities as it only seats around 300 - 400 people, but in every other way it is what going to the movies was all about 40 or 50 years ago.
In 1934, George's son, Herbert Sr., moved the theater from Sir Walter Raleigh Street to its current location on Budleigh Street.
