Colonial Theatre

During the 50's the Colonial Theatre seated 496 people.

Is there a new link to the Colonial Community Thetre Group, Inc. the above link is no longer valid.

I'm not sure if that group is still in charge of the theater, Charles. Since the website is not active, we're going to remove the link.

The Canaan Colonial Community Theatre group was never in charge of the theatre. They did have a plan to purchase it and restore it, and they even had an agreement with the town of how to do this. However, last year the private owner of the theatre suddenly sold it out from under the noses of this group to Mr. David Ohler who is currently renovating it into a cinema cafe.

Here are a couple of photos of the Colonial taken during the summer of 2004.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/italiangerry/Cinemas/ColonialCanaanCT-11-GD.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/italiangerry/Cinemas/ColonialCanaanCT-GD-2.jpg

Here is another photo of the Colonial Theater in Canaan.

Anyone know how the renovations are progressing?

As of October 28 the theatre is renovated, its terriffic! And it its open for business again!!

Marshall, where is your source for this? I cannot find mention of the theatre opening anywhere.

I am the source! I rent the two storefronts in the theatre! A video arcade and a video cafe! Its showing flightplan thru Thursday, and Elizabethtown starting on Friday!

Marshall is correct in saying the Colonial Theater in Canaan is now open! As he does rent two storefronts, I know my son enjoys putting his quarters into those aracade games! And it's great! I can back up Marshall as I am one of the employees there. Just having started last week. The food is excellent, the theater is totally renovated, and the service is terrific. Having lived in Canaan for 31 years and having seen movies in this theater as a young teenager, it's incredible what they have done with the place. I think they haven't fully advertised as they were letting their new staff get adjusted. The doors open Tues - Sun starting at 5:30 for dinner and the show is at 7:00. Yes, a dinner theater is a small country town with lots of potential. The box office number is 860-824-4488!
Nikki

This theatre should be listed as open. It is a movie theatre cafe. The former ballroom upstairs is now a second screen as well. Their website is http://www.canaancolonialtheatre.com/ .

There's an article about the theatre at http://www.countytimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15763428&BRD=2303&PAG=461&dept_id=478976&rfi=6

I went to this theatre to take photographs today. I was astouded at how wonderful the theatre looks. i could not ever have pictured such beauty inside when I first saw this theatre. The original auditorium downstairs has been painstakingly renovated. Murals and curtains provide a sense of elegance while tables with plush new theatre seats as well as benches are available on multiple tiers for eating and viewing the film. The former ballroom upstairs is now a small auditorium with shiny hardwood floors and the same cushy chairs and tables as the downstairs auditorium has. The theatre is doing very well right now selling out often. Congratulations to the theatre owners who have renovated this former qreck and turned it into a true cinema treasure.

By the way, the video arcade that was mentioned above as being in the storefronts has apparently already gone out of business.

Excellent, I'm glad it looks good, sounds like fun, I may visit this spring. Arcades don't last too long, unless they're in a mall or amusement park. I remember when my mother lived in an apartment right next door to the theater, I went in there before the renovation to see The Sandlot and that place was a sorry sight.

by the way the storefront out front one has opened back up so it's not gone out of business

My photos of the renovated Colonial are at http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/440.html

Status and number of screens still need updating.

Here is another article from 2004 about this theater.

They are starting to have dinner theater shows now and will be presenting bands too. My favorite CT band, Max Creek will be playing there on June 10 (www.maxcreek.com) and the owner of the theater posted on their message board about their new offerings. They said it will only hold 250 patrons so people will have to get them ahead of time. I can't wait to see a show in this theatre.

Dinner theater! Yes! Is there a site yet, say like auditions?
Now it really looks sweet! I remember the back was dilapitated before the renovations. Nice pictures RK and LM.

I'm new to the area.... recently moved to Hillsdale, NY. Some local friends took me to see a band at the Colonial. I was knocked out at what they did to the theater. And so great that the place was packed with people dancing up a storm.

I lived in Westchester County my whole life. Saw so many wonderful old theaters there, in NYC, lower CT, and NJ decline and fall into disrepair. Many suffered the wrecking ball. It's wonderful to see this local jewel of a theater so beautifully restored!

Great that the Colonial is back in business and playing movies... as it did for decades. Good that the memories people have experienced there are still alive... and continue to thrive... when they see the building. I'm sure many more lasting memories will be made at that theater... over the combination of dinner and a movie.

But, I have to say this. One of the owners of the legendary Bottom Line, a club that was in NYC, is a friend of mine. He's looking for a new location now, albeit still in NYC. Every time I walk into The Colonial I can't help but think what he would do with the place in terms of presenting live music. The Theater could be such a great music venue, but it's so underutilized in that area. If they got the right acts, they could do an amazing live music/dinner business.

I'd love to see the theater reach it's potential as a live music venue too. And, the profits from that would help with the upkeep of this historic building.

Definitely go to any show or movie that attracts you in terms of this theater. Highly recommended in my book!

I'm wondering where the message board is for the theater. I don't see a link to it on the Colonial website. I'd love it if shoeshoe would provide us with a link to it. Thanks in advance.

Rose

I'm glad I happened onto this page-For years, I'd been saying that I have to go to this theater whenever I passed it. I thought it was totally closed down. Hope to plan a visit soon!

Just want to put the word out there, that the Colonial Theatre in Canaan, CT is now for sale as of February 2008. I am a Realtor for Portfolio Properties Group in Canaan, CT. I am looking for a buyer of course, this place has lots of potential. Soon I will have a website just for the sale of the Colonial. If anyone knows of anyone interested in owning their own Theatre in the NW corner of Connecticut, please contact me at nikkib@ppgrealtors.com or at my office (860) 824-5100.

Rose, I saw your comment from 2006 about a friend in NYC....might be looking for a new location. Please feel free to contact me anytime.

Nikki

This Historic Cinema circa 1920's has just been made available. For Sale - The Colonial Theatre offers seating on two levels. The theatre is currently being used as a dinner/movie theatre, comedy theatre, auditorium, and so much more. The sale includes all fixtures, furniture and equipment. Please contact Nikki Blass at nikkib@ppgrealtors.com or at (860) 824-5100, 824-0088, or (860) 671-0592. The website created for the sale is -

http://www.canaanctcolonialtheatre.com/ for further pictures and information be sure to check out this site.

The latest issue of Theatre Historical Society's MARQUEE MAGAZINE features a photo and short bio of this theater in a travel feature spotlighting the Berkshires.

Go to www.historictheatres.org to join THS or order back issues.

This theater is for sale. Asking price is $1,395,000. Details and photos are here.

1981 Photo

1985 Photo

Here is a nice 2009 photo.