‘Blobfest’ at Phoenixville’s Colonial Theatre

posted by btkrefft on July 13, 2007 at 8:00 am

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Nearly fifty years ago, the Blob literally appeared at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville (on-screen, at least), causing panic and terror as the gelatinous creature seeped into the movie house. The sci-fi classic was filmed in and around this Chester county town in 1957, bringing a little bit of Hollywood for a time to the Phoenixville area, including the film’s star Steve McQueen. The Colonial, which opened in 1903 as a legitimate and vaudeville house, later turned to movies, but declined in more recent decades. It was acquired by the Phoenixville Area Economic Development Corp. in 1995 and for the next several years, was closed for renovation and restoration. It was reopened in 1999, and today features independent and classic films as well as live entertainment. It has also, since reopening, been host to “Blobfest”, a yearly event honoring the film that made the Colonial and Phoenixville famous.

This year’s “Blobfest” is today and tomorrow, July 13th and 14th, and will include a scream contest, costume contest, street fair, live music, a “running out of the theater” reenactment, and of course, screenings of “The Blob” and other sci-fi films. Further information on “Blobfest” and other events at the theater can be found at the Colonial Theatre’s website.

See the related story in yesterday’s Philadelphia Inquirer.

Theaters in this post

• Colonial Theatre