Phoenixville, PA’s Historic Colonial Theatre Begins ‘Bank on the Arts’ Expansion Campaign

posted by ThrHistoricalSociety on April 14, 2016 at 10:33 pm

The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, PA, which gained cultural significance when it appeared in the 1958 Steve McQueen movie The Blob, started a new chapter in its storied history last week, when the Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT), a non-profit organization that operates the local landmark, held the groundbreaking ceremony for their ‘Bank on the Arts’ project.

Said project involves the renovation of the old, disused Phoenixville National Bank building into an expansion of the original Colonial Theatre, tripling the amount of events they can host as well as the number of people who can attend.

Ever since its founding in 1903, the Colonial Theatre has always been a centerpiece for downtown Phoenixville. Famous performers like magician Harry Houdini and actress Mary Pickford have graced its stage, and the first ever sound film, The Jazz Singer, was projected onto its silver screen way back in 1928. Through the recent years, they’ve received donations to help restore the century-old venue, from replacing all the old seats to installing a digital projection system.

Read the article on the PV Voice: http://pvvoice.com/2513/arts-and-entertainment/historic-colonial-theatre-begins-bank-on-the-arts-expansion-campaign/

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ABOUT THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Founded by Ben Hall in 1969, the Theatre Historical Society of America (THS) celebrates, documents and promotes the architectural, cultural and social relevance of America’s historic theatres. Through its preservation of the collections in the American Theatre Architecture Archive, its signature publication Marquee™ and Conclave Theatre Tour, THS increases awareness, appreciation and scholarly study of America’s theatres.

Learn more about historic theatres in the THS American Theatre Architecture Archives and on our website at historictheatres.org

image by Ken Roe and Cinema Treasures