Colonial Theatre (Phoenixville, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colonial Theatre |
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The Colonial Theatre in 2023
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| General information | |
| Type | Theater |
| Address | 227 Bridge Street |
| Town or city | Phoenixville, Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 40°08′03″N 75°31′03″W / 40.1341°N 75.5175°W |
The Colonial Theatre is a historic movie theater and performance hall in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. It is located at 227 Bridge Street. Built in 1903, it was first known as the "Colonial Opera House." It became a very important place for movies, traveling shows, and live entertainment throughout the 20th century. Today, the theater has three screens. This includes the original large 658-seat hall and two newer theaters. These new screens are in the building next door, which used to be the National Bank of Phoenixville.
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A Look Back at the Colonial Theatre
The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, first opened its doors on September 5, 1903. It was designed in a fancy style called Beaux-Arts by architect Harry Brownback. At first, the theater showed live stage plays, vaudeville acts (like variety shows), and musicals. The very first show was "The Beauty Doctor."
Famous people visited the theater early on. In 1915, silent film star Mary Pickford came to the Colonial. In 1917, the amazing illusionist Harry Houdini performed there. He even escaped from a special safe in front of 300 people!
By December 1903, the Colonial started showing silent films. These movies usually had live piano music playing along. In 1917, a large Wurlitzer organ was added. It made the movie experience even better. The organ was often played before newsreels. The theater continued to show silent films until 1928. That year, it showed its first "talkie," The Jazz Singer. This was a big step into movies with sound.
Through the middle of the 20th century, the Colonial was a main entertainment spot for Phoenixville. It changed with the times, showing new kinds of movies and live shows. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, many new multi-screen movie theaters opened. This made the Colonial less popular. The building was sold several times but kept showing movies and hosting live events.
In the mid-1990s, a local group saw how important the theater was. They started working to save it. A nonprofit group called the Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT) bought the theater on December 8, 1996. They reopened it on October 1, 1999. Since then, it has shown children's programs, art films, independent movies, and classic films.
The Theater's Pipe Organs
In 1917, a Wurlitzer organ was put in the theater. It was mostly used for concerts before newsreels. Later, in 1975, a restored 1929 Kimball pipe organ was installed. A famous organist named Larry Ferrari once played this organ. He called it a "magnificent instrument."
In 2005, the Kimball organ was sold. It went to the Chicago Historical Society. A different Wurlitzer pipe organ (Opus 585) replaced it. This Wurlitzer was first installed in Shea's Hippodrome Theatre in Buffalo, New York, in 1922. After many years of restoration work, the first concert with the refurbished Wurlitzer organ was held at The Colonial. This special event took place on September 15, 2012.
The Blob Movie Connection
In 1958, a classic science fiction movie called The Blob was filmed nearby. It starred Steve McQueen. Parts of the movie were filmed in Phoenixville, Downingtown, Chester Springs, and Royersford. The Colonial Theatre was a key location in the movie. It was featured in a big scene where the creature starts to attack the town.
There is a special plaque on the back wall of the balcony. It honors the movie's projection-room scene. In that scene, The Blob oozes through the openings where the movie is projected. The plaque says:
"Through this wall in the year 1958 Shorty Yeaoworth's THE BLOB brought the monster into the movie theater and Phoniexville's COLONIALTHEATRE into the annals of film history."
The Downingtown Diner, where the final scene of the movie took place, is also still open today. In 1978, the Colonial Theatre even appeared briefly in the movie Grease. A trailer for The Blob was shown in a drive-in movie scene.
Blobfest: An Annual Celebration
"Blobfest" is a fun, annual three-day event held each summer in downtown Phoenixville. It started in 2000. The festival shows multiple screenings of The Blob and other horror films. There is also a film competition, a scream contest, a street fair, and live entertainment.
A very popular part of Blobfest is a live reenactment. People act out the famous scene filmed at the Colonial. Screaming moviegoers pretend to run out through the theater's front doors.
The 2024 Blobfest was extra special. It marked the 25th anniversary of the event. There were even two "run-out" reenactments. One was on Friday night and another on Saturday night. The Saturday event had a special guest. An original cast member from the 1957 filming came back. They even took part in the reenactment!
Restoration and Expansion Efforts
The Colonial is the last classic theater left in Phoenixville. It is also the last one in all of Chester County. A local group saw how important the Colonial's history was. They created the Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT). This nonprofit group is dedicated to fully restoring The Colonial. They want it to be a cultural arts center. ACT bought the theater on December 8, 1996. It reopened on October 1, 1999. It now shows children's programs, art films, independent movies, and classic films.
On April 4, 2016, a special ceremony took place in front of the theater. This marked the start of a big $8 million project. The project was to expand and renovate the theater. It connected The Colonial with its next-door building, The National Bank of Phoenixville. ACT bought the 1925 bank building in 2011. Their plan was to renovate it. This would add two more movie theaters and better facilities for the Colonial. They also wanted to keep the historic look of the bank building.
The Colonial's expansion opened for business on May 12, 2017. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on May 17, 2017. The new part of the theater has a 174-seat stadium-style theater. Its seats can be moved. There is also a smaller, cozy 65-seat screening room. The new lobby has a baby grand piano and a 30-foot concession stand. The expansion also includes dressing rooms for performers. There is a concession stand for special events and a kitchen for catering. On the second floor, there is a garden suite with an outside deck.
Today, the Colonial Theatre shows many types of films. These include new releases, independent movies, and classic films. It also hosts concerts and community events. The theater can also be rented for private events.
