Colonial Theatre (Pittsfield, Massachusetts) facts for kids
The Colonial Theatre is a very special and old building located at 111 South Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. You can find it in the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. This amazing theater was built way back in 1903. Many famous performers from the past, like George M. Cohan and Sara Bernhardt, once entertained crowds on its stage!
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The Colonial Theatre: A Historic Stage
The Colonial Theatre was designed by Joseph McArthur Vance, an architect from Pittsfield, along with J.B. McElfatrick. The inside of the theater looks just like it did at the start of the 1900s. It has been kept in great condition by its different owners over the years.
A Look Back in Time
When it first opened, the Colonial Theatre was a popular spot for many big stars. Famous people like John Barrymore, Eubie Blake, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and Billie Burke performed there. Even the famous bandleader John Philip Sousa and the exciting Ziegfeld Follies shows visited this stage. However, the theater closed its doors in 1951.
Saving a Special Place
Even after it closed, the theater's beauty was protected for many years by George Miller and his son, Steven. They turned the theater into Miller's Art Supply Store. But they were careful to keep many of the Colonial's original features safe. This made it possible to bring the theater back to its original amazing look later on. A photographer named Nicholas Whitman even wrote a book about it called The Colonial Theatre: A Pittsfield Resurrection.
In 1998, First Lady Hillary Clinton called the Colonial Theatre a National Historic Treasure. She later visited the theater again in 2000 when she was a U.S. Senator. After this important announcement, the community worked together. They spent more than $22 million to fix up the 100-year-old Colonial Theatre. It is one of the only theaters left from the Vaudeville age, a time when many different acts performed. People say it has "one of the finest acoustical theaters in the world." This means the sound inside is incredibly good!
Back in the Spotlight!
The big restoration project for the Colonial Theatre finished in 2006. Now, it is open to everyone again! Since then, many well-known performers have come to play here. These include musicians like James Taylor and the Lovin' Spoonful, along with other great music and theater shows.
