Colonial Theatre (Phoenixville)

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The Colonial Theatre is located in the heart of Phoenixville at 227 Bridge Street. Built in 1903 as a Vaudeville House, the "Colonial Opera House" brought professional shows and live entertainment to Phoenixville for the first time. Since then, the Colonial Theatre has played a significant role in the lives of many people in our community. When the former owner decided to sell, it was time to forever protect the legacy of the Colonial for future generations.

The Colonial Theatre is owned and operated by the Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT), a nonprofit corporation. ACT is committed to the full restoration of the Colonial as a cultural arts center. The Colonial reopened in 1999, showing art and independent films as well as classics and children’s programs.

1 History
- 1.1 Timeline
2 External Links
3 References

[edit] History

Opened in 1903, the Colonial is the last surviving of four theatres once existing in the borough. It is the only theatre of its kind in Chester County. The Colonial was first home to live stage shows, vaudeville acts and musicals. World famous entertainers such as Harry Houdini and Mary Pickford performed here and the first stage show, The Beauty Doctor, starred internationally known actor Fred E. Wright.

In 1903, the first silent movie debuted, and in 1928, the first talkie, The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson. Real movie buffs know that the Colonial was featured in the classic 1958 science fiction movie, The Blob, starring Steve McQueen and filmed around Phoenixville, Downingtown Chester Springs and Royersford. Most recently the Colonial was home to a Kimball pipe organ installed in 1975 and used for silent movies and pre-show recitals. The organ was sold to the Chicago Historical Society, but we are currently working to install an organ in the theatre and to once again have live organ concerts in Phoenixville!^[1]

[edit] Timeline

1903: The first stage show is held on Saturday night, September 5th. Internationally-known actor, Fred E. Wright, stars in the musical extravaganza, The Beauty Doctor.

The first movie presentation, a series of four one-reelers lasting 40 minutes, is shown on Saturday, December 19th.

1915: D. W. Griffith's famous and controversial two hour civil war movie, Birth of a Nation, plays at the Colonial.

Mary Pickford, on her way to the Rajah theater in Reading, PA, visits her friend Harry Brownback and the Colonial Theatre.

1916: Another of Brownback's friends, Thurston, the world-famous magician, appears at the Colonial.

1917: The Great Houdini appears at the Colonial and, before an audience of 300, frees himself from a burglar-proof safe.

The Colonial Theatre puts together its own orchestra lead by Fred Neiman, Phoenixville's local mortician, as well as an excellent violinist.

The Colonial gets a Wurlitzer theatre organ. Twenty minute organ recitals are presented just before the "Fox Movietone News" and before the standard two "short" films. A piano accompaniment for the silent features continues.

1918: By now, Phoenixville has three downtown theatres. Sample fare: Theda Bara in The Forbidden Path, at the Colonial; Kitty Gordon in Divine Sacrifice at the New-Phoenix at Main and Hall Streets, and William S. Hart in Dusty Trails, a western, at the Savoy on North Main Street.

1922: Coane and Pizor take over ownership of the Colonial Theatre.

1925: The Colonial presents its last stage show, the pre-Broadway production of Very Good Eddie, which goes on to enjoy success in New York City and Boston.

1928: The first talkie, The Jazz Singer starring Al Jolsen, is shown at The Colonial.

1929: The Phoenixville Kiwanis club puts on The Mikado. It runs for two nights and stars George Andrews, the president of the Kiwanis Club.

1945: Coane and Pizor sell the Colonial to George Silverman and his associates.

1958: Major restoration begins on the theatre. Good News productions produces The Blob with Steve McQueen. Scenes from the movie are filmed at the Colonial and other spots in Phoenixville.

1965: After the Rialto theater is torn down to make way for the new YMCA, it becomes clear that older movie houses are in trouble. Within the next few years Silverman and associates sell the Colonial to local Phoenixville merchant, Walter Straub.

1975: Walter Straub, after years of struggling to pull the theater out of its financial hole, offers a lease-for-purchase contract to Eric Knudsen. He then offers space in the theatre to a Philadelphia accountant, Jim Breneman, to keep his twenty ton Kimball theater organ, purchased in 1967.

1979: Knudsen works hard to restore the theater but lacks the financial backing needed to keep going. He sells the Colonial to James Breneman. Jim's own dream, along with that of his friend and master organ restorer Sam LaRosa, was to use the theater to stage organ recitals.

1980: Don Kinnier of Ephrata is hired as organist for Sunday afternoon recitals. The recitals share a program of silent films, sing-alongs, stage shows and occasional vaudeville.

1995: After the death of his partner, Jim Breneman, Sam LaRosa purchases the Colonial and the Kimball organ; but, unable to support the theater with receipts from feature films, sells the organ and puts the Colonial up for sale.

1996: On December 8th, the Phoenixville Area Economic Development Corporation (PAEDCO) purchases the Colonial Theatre with an eye toward historic preservation. At the same time several community leaders form the Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT). Their goal is to preserve the thatre as a community resource.

1997: The Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT) signs an agreement with PAEDCO to purchase the Colonial. The next year is spent organizing a board, developing a business plan, doing market research and working toward the goal of re-opening the Colonial Theatre.

1998: ACT hires Carnevale - Eustis Architects, develops a capital campaign and begins work on Phase I of the restoration of the Colonial Theatre.

1999: ACT takes title to the Colonial Theatre and construction is underway.

On October 1st the Colonial Theatre opens, programming art and independent films, children's programs and classics.

2002: ACT refurbishes the façade of the Colonial Theatre in a style reminiscent of the 50’s when The Blob made the theatre famous. With grants from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau and the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation the marquee was relit in December, 2002. ACT experienced a 28% jump in attendance.

2003: The Special Events Committee organizes a series of live events to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Colonial Theatre. The Phoenixville JayCees make the Colonial the center of the Dogwood Parade by incorporating the theme “Meet Me at the Movies” as a nod to the theatre’s long and important history in the community. Wes Shank, caretaker of “The Blob” and “The Original Blob” are appointed Parade Marshals.

2003: Phase III fundraising begins. A roof is put on to insure any future water problems. Restrooms are expanded as ACT anticipates a growing audience with the planned expansion of programming to begin in the fall of 2004. The “Take a Seat” campaign is launched in August to help pay for new seats. The Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau, The William Penn Foundation, The Arcadia Foundation, The Claneil Foundation and Phoenixville Community Health Foundation come on board to support this phase of restoration.

2004: 92,000 patrons have visited the Colonial Theatre for a variety of programs under ACT’s stewardship.

2005: ACT begins work on a Strategic Plan with the support of the William Penn Foundation and the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation. A premier Annual Report is developed reflecting the first five years of ACT’s operating the Colonial.

That same year ACT raises funds for much needed renovations in the second and third floors above the lobby in order to accommodate a growing staff and develop additional programming. The Phoenixville Community Health Foundation, The William Penn Foundation, Claneil Foundation, The Chester County Conference and Visitor’s Bureau, The Chester County Department of Community Development and an Anchor Building Loan from the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Development are part of the funding for this phase of work.

Programming expands to include live concerts. Johnny Winter, Tommy Emmanuel, Richie Havens and others perform at the Colonial, many to sold out audiences.