Colonial Theater
611 Main Street,
Laconia,
NH
03246
611 Main Street,
Laconia,
NH
03246
2 people
favorited this theater
Yet another “Colonial” in NH… but this one is haunted. From the Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society…
“The Colonial Theater, on Main Street in downtown Laconia operated for 86 years. It was, at the time ‘One of the handsomest play-houses to be found in New England and far ahead of anything which the average city of Laconia can boast’, reported the Laconia Democrat in 1915, when the Colonial Theater opened. It presented movies and vaudeville shows, the world premiere of "Return To Peyton Place” and the music of John Phillip Sousa. It was operating as a movie house into the 2000’s. In 2017 it was being renovated to creat a 750-seat multi-purpose theatre.
Interesting fact: The Colonial Theater is said to be haunted. Reported incidents include: footsteps heard and lights go on and off, and doors open and close when no one’s around. Visitors get a strange feeling that they should leave as soon as possible. A figure of a man has been seen".
Contributed by
John Elwood
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Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
Does the city own it or is it privately held? I’d like to get some more information on this theatre. Guess a drive up to Laconia is in my future. :)
Just an update for those interested: I’ve been in the theatre twice in the last few weeks and just today got a copy of the original blueprints from the owner. The building is indeed for sale but would require significant work to return it to a live performance space. This should be done and I hope to be the one to do it. If you are interested, contact me through http://www.colonialnh.com
I meant to post this a while ago…I was unable to close a deal with the current owner. As far as I know, it is still for sale or lease. I am still looking for a project, my preference is something that has a decent stage for live performances.
This beauty need to start showing first runs again. I’m pretty sure this is what the owner would prefer. Would be a huge boon to the downtown area when downtown’s are the future of brick and mortar consumerism. Leaving a movie or eating establishment and then your first and only site being a drab parking lot just isn’t doing anymore. Bad economy or not, business better get a clue.
I wish something could be done to save this grand old theatre. I grew up in Laconia and spent many Saturday afternoons there.
LACONIA — The city, in partnership with the Belknap Economic Development Council (BEDC), has committed itself to arranging a financial package of $15 million to acquire and renovate the long-closed Colonial Theater along with the commercial and residential units on the lot at 609-621 Main St.
Randy Eifert, chairman of BEDC, announced the pending transaction at Wayfarer Coffee Roasters yesterday afternoon to a packed house of more than 50 people who, upon hearing the news, burst into a spirited ovation of clapping and cheering.
I read somewhere very recently that the BEDC will purchase the Colonial and then lease it to the City for 7 years for use as a municipal auditorium.
Uploaded pictures from the single screen days and postcard images.
GENERAL CINEMA operated this wonderful so beautiful theater, as a young asst. was sent there give the manager a two week vacation, what a nice two weeks I had always remember how I fell in love with this theater it is special, and now I read the community spending much to bring her back, great news she then always be there.
This item from the March 22, 1913, issue of Engineering Record is probably about the Colonial Theatre, which opened in April, 1914:
The Colonial Theatre is undergoing restoration and will be a multi-use theater of 750 seats, as noted in this weblog post. Fundraising for the project continues as well. A web site about the restoration includes this page of “before” photos.