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The
Colonial Theatre's popularity waned over time mostly due to the growth of multi-screen movie theaters during the 1980s and 1990s. The building changed ownership many times but its dual use as both a movie house and live-show venue remained throughout. The Colonial Theatre was eventually purchased
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The
Colonial's expansion opened for business on May 12, 2017. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce was held on May 17, 2017. The new wing offers a 174-retractable seat stadium-style theatre, an intimate 65-seat screening room-style theatre, and a lobby that showcases a
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and other horror films. A film competition, scream contest, street fair, and live entertainment are scheduled throughout the weekend. A major part of the festival is a live reenactment of the famous scene filmed at the
Colonial, showing screaming movie patrons fleeing through the front doors of the
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348:(ACT), a nonprofit corporation committed to the full restoration of The Colonial as a cultural arts center. ACT purchased the theatre on December 8, 1996 and it reopened on October 1, 1999, featuring children's programs, art, and independent and classic films.
356:. The 1925 bank was purchased by ACT in 2011 with the intent of renovating it to provide two additional movie theatres and improved amenities for the theatre, while preserving the historic architecture of the bank building.
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baby grand piano and a 30-ft concession stand. The expansion also offers dressing rooms for performers, a concession stand for special events, a catering kitchen, and a second floor garden suite with outside deck access.
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On April 4, 2016, a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony was held in front of the theatre, commencing an $ 8 million expansion and renovation project that served to connect The
Colonial with its neighboring building,
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was featured in a pivotal scene of the movie as the creature starts to attack the town. A commemorative plaque is located on the rear wall of the balcony in honor of the film's projection-room scene, in which
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Current programming includes a variety of film genres including: first-run, independent, and classic, along with concerts, community events, The theater is also available for rent for private events.
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275:"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."
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held a performance, freeing himself from a safe in 1917. Silent films, usually accompanied by a live piano, were shown at the theatre from 1903 until 1928, when
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Originating as a Beaux-Arts style renovation by architect, Harry
Brownback in 1903, the Colonial Theatre was first home to traveling
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The
Colonial's current organ (Wurlitzer Opus 585) which debuted in 2012. It is similar to the theatre's original organ.
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acts, live stage shows and musicals. The first stage show, "The Beauty Doctor", debuted in 1903 starring,
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and replaced with a
Wurlitzer (Opus 585) pipe organ, which was originally installed in
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305:"Blobfest" is an annual 3-day event each summer, started in 2000, held in downtown
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344:. A local group, recognizing the Colonial's historical significance, created the
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was installed and used mostly for recitals before news reels. A restored 1929
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573:"Phoenixville's Colonial Theatre has groundbreaking for $ 8M expansion"
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in
Buffalo, New York in 1922. After years of restoration work by
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The
National Bank of Phoenixville, adjacent to the theater
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Buildings and structures in
Chester County, Pennsylvania
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oozes through the projection openings. The plaque reads:
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was installed in the theatre in 1975. Famous organist,
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Theater and movie theater in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
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The Colonial is the last remaining classic theatre in
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Tourist attractions in Chester County, Pennsylvania
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320:by a restoration group in the mid 1990s.
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461:"Philadelphia: The Blob movie theater"
288:made a cameo appearance in the movie,
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521:"Cinema Treasures - Colonial Theatre"
309:that features multiple screenings of
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710:I Married a Monster from Outer Space
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346:Association for the Colonial Theatre
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392:"The Colonial Theater - History"
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409:Wharry, Marcus (2014).
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411:"The Colonial Theatre"
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546:"Everfest - Blobfest"
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127:The Colonial Theatre
703:Binary large object
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487:"Downingtown Diner"
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45:General information
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501:October 23,
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251:Downingtown
192:In 1917, a
188:Pipe organs
172:the first "
157:. In 1915,
112: /
87:Coordinates
745:Categories
367:References
259:Royersford
176:" debuted.
151:vaudeville
100:75°31′03″W
97:40°08′03″N
436:"History"
316:theater.
241:starring
730:Category
675:The Blob
659:The Blob
643:The Blob
471:March 7,
312:The Blob
296:The Blob
268:The Blob
237:The Blob
225:The Blob
686:Related
582:July 4,
556:July 4,
530:July 4,
420:July 4,
398:. 2016.
302:scene.
145:History
78:Country
60:Address
54:Theater
713:(1958)
705:(BLOb)
678:(1988)
670:(1972)
662:(1958)
552:. 2016
291:Grease
261:. The
257:, and
174:talkie
651:Films
584:2016
558:2016
532:2016
503:2016
473:2017
444:2013
422:2016
50:Type
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