There's Much More to Phoenixville's Colonial Theater than Just 'The Blob'

It is perhaps the most recognized landmark in Phoenixville. The Colonial Theater is at the center of the action at the center of town, just where she’s been since the first stage show opened on Saturday, September 5th, 1903, bringing Harry Brownback’s dream to life.

110 Years later, Colonial Theater Executive Director Mary Foote tells Patch there’s still a lot of things going on here in the historic building.  “Yeah, 360 days a year we’re open.  We do concerts, classics, horror films, Art Films, kids’ shows, the whole bit.”

In 1957 The Colonial Theater not only showed movies, it starred in the one that most people associate with the Colonial. That was the year that Good News Productions produced The Blob starring Steve McQueen. Scenes from the movie were filmed at the Colonial and other spots in and around Phoenixville. It was in the movie that the marquee proudly announces that the theatre is “healthfully air conditioned.” That banner hung on the marquee for a few weeks earlier this month as it does during the celebration that has evolved into “Blobfest.”

What makes The Blob such an enduring movie Icon?

“It’s good clean family horror,” Foote explains. “There’s no blood, really but there is suspense and we do have sometimes six or seven year olds come out because they might be either too bored and haven’t waited long enough or two, they actually do get scared,” Foote tells Phoenixville Patch. 

Is the Colonial the only theater in America that still plays The Blob?

“I don’t know,” Foote says.  “Once in a while I get a call from somebody asking who owns the rights because you have to pay for the rights to screen a movie.”

Does the Colonial own a copy of The Blob?

“We do not. Sony has it in their archives,” Foote explains.

 How big a part of your work life is ‘The Blob?’

 “Well there’s a committee of volunteers who work on it. That’s really, really important.  The weekend of Blobfest there’s probably 60 to 70 volunteers participating,” Foote explains.

Planning for next year’s Blobfest will begin in November. In the meantime planning work is underway on an expansion into the bank building that sits to the north side of the building on Bridge Street.   According to the Colonial’s website “we are currently engaged in a Campaign Planning Study with The North Group to determine our timeline for raising the funds necessary to complete this project. If you would like to hear more don’t hesitate to contact Mary at 610.917.1228.”