The Colonial Theatre

The Colonial Theatre — Phoenixville’s 1903 Vaudeville House, Rescued from Demolition and Running Better Than Ever

Indie Films, Classic Cinema, Live Music, Comedy, and the Annual Blobfest — All in Chester County’s Last Surviving Historic Theatre

There are old movie theaters, and then there are movie theaters with actual stories. The Colonial Theatre in downtown Phoenixville has a story that involves Harry Houdini escaping from a burglar-proof safe in 1917, a Wurlitzer pipe organ from a Buffalo hippodrome, and a 1958 science fiction film in which Steve McQueen watches a giant gelatinous creature ooze through the projection booth openings — at this exact building. Most theaters settle for having good popcorn.

The Colonial Theatre is open Wednesday through Sunday. Box office and building hours are approximately Wednesday–Friday, 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday, 12:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.

The theatre is closed on Monday and Tuesday.  

Always check thecolonialtheatre.com for the current film schedule and event listings, as programming varies weekly.

Ticket pricing varies by film and event. The Colonial accepts cash and major credit cards. Beer and wine are available at the concession stand. Free parking is available in downtown Phoenixville within walking distance.

The History: From Vaudeville House to Nonprofit Cultural Anchor

The Colonial Theatre was originally constructed in 1902 and opened its doors on September 5, 1903, as the “Colonial Opera House,” designed in the Beaux-Arts style by architect Harry Brownback. The inaugural production was “The Beauty Doctor,” starring Fred E. Wright — a detail that has not aged as gracefully as the building itself.

In its early days, the Colonial was home to live stage shows, vaudeville acts, and musicals, including appearances by Harry Houdini and Mary Pickford. In 1917, a Wurlitzer organ was installed and used mostly for recitals before newsreels. The theatre functioned as a central entertainment hub for Phoenixville through the mid-20th century before declining alongside the broader collapse of the independent movie theater business in the 1980s and 1990s.

A local group recognizing the Colonial’s historical significance created the Association for the Colonial Theatre (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.

On April 4, 2016, a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony was held in front of the theatre, marking the start of an $8 million expansion and renovation project that would connect The Colonial with its neighboring building, The National Bank of Phoenixville. This expansion created a three-screen venue comprising the original 658-seat vaudeville house and two additional theaters in the converted bank building — including what is now known as the Berry Theatre.

The Colonial is the last surviving of four theatres once existing in the borough and is the only theatre of its kind in Chester County.

Trivia: In 1958, the classic science fiction movie The Blob, starring Steve McQueen, was filmed in Phoenixville, Downingtown, Chester Springs, and Royersford. The Colonial Theatre was featured in a pivotal scene when the creature began attacking 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 The Blob oozes through the projection openings. The film was shot on a budget of approximately $110,000. It grossed over $4 million. Steve McQueen’s salary was $3,000, or a 10% ownership stake in the film — he took the cash. He probably regretted that.

The Programming

The Colonial’s programming is one of the most eclectic in the Philadelphia region:

Independent and Art Films

The core of the Colonial’s film calendar — art house releases, foreign language cinema, and films unavailable at the suburban multiplex 10 miles away.

Classic and Cult Cinema

Regular screenings of classic films, cult favorites, and genre programming. The Colonial’s Fright Night series brings horror classics to the big screen with the atmosphere a streaming service simply cannot replicate.

Live Concerts and Comedy

The main theatre’s stage hosts touring musicians, comedy shows, and performing arts events throughout the year.

Silent Films with Live Organ Accompaniment

A restored Wurlitzer (Opus 585) pipe organ — originally installed in Shea’s Hippodrome Theatre in Buffalo, New York in 1922 — was installed at the Colonial and restored by The Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley, with the first concert held September 15, 2012. Silent film screenings with live organ accompaniment are an occasional and unforgettable specialty.

Blobfest

The Colonial’s annual Blobfest — typically held in July — is one of the great grassroots celebrations of regional film history in the mid-Atlantic. The centerpiece event recreates the famous scene from The Blob in which panicked moviegoers flee the theatre onto Bridge Street. Thousands of people line the street and the sidewalks to watch costumed participants pour screaming from the Colonial’s front doors. It is simultaneously ridiculous, charming, and genuinely fun.

Blobfest events sell out well in advance. Check thecolonialtheatre.com for dates and ticket availability.

The Colonial in the Phoenixville Context

The Colonial sits in the center of downtown Phoenixville, on Bridge Street in the heart of one of Chester County’s most vibrant small-city dining and arts districts. The theatre is within walking distance of restaurants, breweries, and independent shops. For visitors combining the Colonial with other Chester County attractions: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is about 12 miles north, Valley Forge National Historical Park is about 8 miles southeast, and French Creek State Park adjoins Hopewell Furnace to the north.