Colonial Theater
601 Princeton Avenue,
Bluefield,
WV
24701
601 Princeton Avenue,
Bluefield,
WV
24701
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 36 of 36 comments
I passed by and photographed the Colonial right after Christmas. It is closed and vandalized and, according to what is left of the marquee, for sale. It appears to have been used as a thrift store before it closed
Just curious, who owns the theatre now and what is going on inside/around it?
I once played an old theater in Bluefield With my band, it must have been in the late 80’s. It wasn’t a club at the time, it was more like a one-night gig that someone had set up. The theater was beautiful, very ornate, but very run-down. I think there were a couple of opera boxes on the wall either side of the stage. The stage area was wooden, with heavy curtains hung all around the back walls. During a set that night, there was a loud crash and lots of dust, we had to stop playing until the air cleared. The vibrations had brought one of the walls behind the curtains down! Gave us a scare, but the person in charge told us to keep going.
So much of that time is a blur, and I can’t remember the name of the theater. I’m obsessed with older buildings, and I can’t get this one out of my mind. Can anyone tell me if this is the theater I remember? Anyone have photos?
The other theater that You are speaking of is the Granada which closed about the same time as the Colonial. However it was re-opened as Bo’s of Bluefield. It has never done well since it was reopened as a night club. And has recently been sold again to reopen as another night club. I will be posting what people can do to contribut to the opening of the Colonial in the next week. So keep your eyes peeled.
This is a fantastic looking theater,from my memories of seeing it about 12 years ago.Is there anyway to get interior shots posted?When possible,please update any way to contribute.I remember a 2nd old theater nearby.What is it’s state?
Greetings Billy. Thankyou for your interest in efforts to restore and open the Colonial Theater. I can be contacted at the following number 304-960-1489 or you can e-mail me at Currently I have been in touch with the 2 sign companies in the area about restoring the current theater sign. And Mr Tibbs, the current owner has expressed a desire to assist with it’s restoration as well. I have been attempting to contact the National Register for Historic Places regarding getting grants for restoration. So far there has been no responce from either place. Just thought I would keep you updated with things thus far.
Greetings, Get It Open. I am local to you and would be interested in assisting your efforts to revive the Colonial Theater. I remember visiting it as a child and marveling at the intricacy of it’s decor. The movies shown on it’s screen are secondary to the building itself in my memory. Please provide me with contact information so that I may join in the fight. Thank you.
My dear friends. It is my desire to purchase the Colonial Theater in Bluefield and get it reopened. I would hope that the people in the Bluefield area will take advantage of this Grand Historic Building that Graces the downtown area. We are currently appealing to local business as well as individuals to assist in its restoration. We did it once with the Greater Bluefield Community Center, let’s do it again.
I travel through the Bluefield W VA area enroute to NYS each fall and spring so may just stop and take a look at this art deco theater.
When the Colonial Theatre was a movie theatre it seated 1200 people.
I worked at the Colonial Theater in Bluefield, WV from 1955 to 1960. This theater was owned and operated by Newbold Kessling at that time. I started working part-time as an usher while attending Bluefield High School. The projectionists, Rufus French and Charlie Brewer taught me how to run the Super Simplex Projection machine. I later became the manager. This grand old theater holds many, many great memories for me. While there, I explored every corner from top to bottom. I live in Florida now but have friends and family there and always make time to go by the theater when I am there. Ben McGraw