The Blobosphere
The official blog of The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The Colonial is an historic, single-screen theatre that presents art and independent films, classic films, children’s programs and live concerts. The Colonial is also the theatre featured in the 1958 sci-fi classic, The Blob, starring Steve McQueen.
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007
In need of a Spirited Away Poster
Posted by Kirsten at 6:25 pm
We're screening Spirited Away on Saturday,October 13 at 2pm and I would love to put a poster for the film in our poster case on Bridge Street. Unfortunately, English versions of the poster are hard to come by and all I can find is the French version — which will do in a pinch. If anyone has an English poster that we can borrow for a month or so, I would be much obliged.
Friday, August 10th, 2007
Radio Paradise
Posted by at 5:03 pm
For those of you who may be growing weary of WXPN's programming changes over the last few years, give Radio Paradise a listen.
Wednesday, June 13th, 2007
Check out trailerspy.com
Posted by Kirsten at 11:01 pm
Check out trailerspy.com's page of the Top 15 Trailer Remixes of All Time. I haven't watched them all, but I can say that the remixes for Top Gun and The Shining are awfully good. Enjoy!
Thursday, May 17th, 2007
8th Annual BlobFest
Posted by Kirsten at 3:00 pm
When last we left the Blob, it was caged and under close surveillance by the authorities. But as the intense heat of the summer of 2007 approaches, chances are that the monster will return to terrorize Phoenixville once again. BlobFest is set for Friday, July 13th and Saturday, July 14th. In celebration of the movie’s 50th anniversary of filming, cast and crew members will reunite for a public discussion of their memories of The Blob. Friday night’s festivities will feature the Running Out, a crowd favorite, as well as the Scream Contest and the new Tin Foil Hat Competition. Also new for this year’s BlobFest is an Amateur Film Competition, open to both children and adults. Winners will be announced Friday and will receive “Shorty” awards in honor of the film’s late director, Irvin “Shorty” Yeaworth. The rockabilly band The Rivers returns, providing a soundtrack for the evening, as well as for Saturday’s StreetFair. In addition to the StreetFair, Saturday will feature multiple showings of The Blob plus several other classic horror flicks. Special celebrity guests will be on hand during the weekend as well. Mark your calendars now so you’re sure not to miss a minute of the Colonial Theatre’s eighth annual BlobFest. Check out the Colonial’s website for more details, including film competition information, at www.thecolonialtheatre.com. Once there, click on The Blob in the bottom right corner.
Thursday, May 17th, 2007
Next Guerilla Drive-In
Posted by Kirsten at 2:53 pm
It's the 1979 Bill Murray classic Meatballs at the Northbrook Canoe Company in West Chester on Sat, May 19 at 8:15pm. Visit the Guerilla Drive-In website for more info. And if you don't get enough Bill Murray this weekend, we're showing Caddyshack and Groundhog Day at the Colonial in July (on Sun, Jul 1 at 2pm and Sun, Jul 22 at 2pm respectively).
Friday, April 13th, 2007
Guerilla Drive-In
Posted by Kirsten at 8:39 pm
It's the first guerilla drive-in event of the season, and call me an indolent gadabout if you will, but it sounds like a great way to spend a chilly April evening. (Due to the ridiculous weather, this one's going to be indoors). Visit the Guerilla Drive-In website for more info.
Monday, April 2nd, 2007
Bacon Brothers at the Colonial
Posted by Kirsten at 4:21 pm
The Bacon Brothers concert and fundraiser last week was fantastic! Their band is great and the audience loved it. Kevin and Michael were very gracious, spending time before and after the show meeting with our guests and sponsors, taking pictures and signing autographs. The Colonial and the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust will split the proceeds of the event. The Colonial will use it’s portion towards the renovation of the third floor of the theatre. Our intent is to use the space as a community room in which we can have additional film screenings (including 16mm and dvd projection), lectures, classes and special events. Thanks to all who came out to support culture and conservation!
Friday, March 9th, 2007
Oscar Party photos
Posted by Kirsten at 10:35 pm
Here are a few photos from our party. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any of Diane as Olive in the bunch! We do, however, have video of that and the rest of the party, so one day we’ll get that up on our website.
Monday, March 5th, 2007
Oscar Party
Posted by Kirsten at 8:21 pm
Thanks to all who braved the winter weather and came out to our 3rd Annual Oscar Party on February 25th. The storm kept about 2/3 of our expected audience away, but the crowd we had was enthusiastic, dressed up in pajamas, formal wear and costumes, and killer at the trivia contest! Kudos to our hosts Rob Bender, Diane Canney, Shane Stone and Joan Kelly for keeping the crowd entertained during the commercial breaks in the Oscar broadcast. And, an extra thanks to Diane who opened the show with her own tribute to Olive in Little Miss Sunshine dancing to Superfreak. I’ll add photos soon so you can see for yourselves. So, for those of you who missed it, remember there’s always next year — but you’ll have to be a member of the theatre to come!
Friday, January 19th, 2007
Groundhog Day
Posted by Kirsten at 7:39 pm
This Groundhog Day (Friday, February 2) we’re going to show the Bill Murray film for the first time (why didn’t we think of this before?!) We’re going to show it non-stop throughout most of the day, taking a break at 7pm to show our weekly feature film. You only have to buy one ticket and then you can come and go all day, to all of the screenings. It’s also First Friday in Phoenixville that night, so it should be a fun night to be here. I might see if aI can rustle up an actual groundhog…
Friday, January 19th, 2007
David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson
Posted by Kirsten at 7:33 pm
Bordwell and Thompson are two professors of Cinema Studies at the University of Wisconisn – Madison and have written, among many other things, a book called “Film Art” that is THE book used in most intro level classes. They have a great website and blog about cinema.
Friday, January 19th, 2007
David Denby article
Posted by Kirsten at 7:16 pm
In the New Yorker a few weeks back, David Denby wrote a worthwhile essay on the future of Hollywood. Take a look if you’ve got the time.
Friday, November 3rd, 2006
Fluido Mortale
Posted by Kirsten at 4:12 pm
Last weekend, I was in Torino, Italy for Salone del Gusto — the biannual Slow Food festival. On Sunday, I took a break from the food and went to the National Cinema Museum, also in Torino. And it was there, in the gift shop, that I bought a Blob t-shirt! As it turns out, the Blob is pretty well entrenched in Italian popular culture. One of the installations on the relationship between cinema and television included video loops running on various television sets dedicated to different decades. Amazingly, the loop dedicated to the 80′s includes the scene from The Blob when that oozing mass of fluido mortale overtakes the projection booth and the balcony! Apparently, in the 80′s, a satirical news show (think Talk Soup meets The Daily Show) called The Blob debuted on Italian television. And, it’s still on! Unfortunately the show’s website does not have an English version, but you can visit it, nonetheless, by clicking here. You can watch clips of the show on the Italian televison network’s site.
The cinema museum is housed in an extraordinary building called La Mole Antonelliana that was built in the 1870s. The architect had intended the building to be used as a synagogue, but before construction was completed the local government purchased the building with the intent of using it for some civic and national purpose. In 1941, historian Maria Adriana Prolo donated her collection to create the national cinema museum which was moved into La Mole Antonelliana in 2000. National Cinema Museum in Torino.
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006
Comments on World 3-D Expo II by Jeff Joseph
Posted by Kirsten at 5:26 pm
Thoughts on the World 3-D Film Expo II, September, 2006 (held at the
Egyptian)
Sorry for the late posting on this; we’re just now coming up for air.The two questions that get asked more than any other are: Was the show a success and when are you doing Expo III?
The Expo was a success in every way except financially (very similar toExpo I in that regard). Though the crowds were smaller, they more than made up for that in their enthusiasm for the shows. I would say that to me, three days stood out among any others:
The opening night of the Expo with the Gala party in the courtyard of the Egyptian, followed by “Those Redheads From Seattle,” “Popeye,” and “Taza, Son of Cochise.” Rhonda Fleming was there for Redheads, as well as the Bell Sisters and Gene Barry and the composer, Ray Evans. In fact, it seemed that the entire family of the Bell Sisters was there as well! The Q&A with Leonard Maltin after Redheads was, I think, the first time the Bell Sisters had been in the public eye in quite some time and they gave us some marvelous stories about the film. Ms Fleming was, as always, beautiful and a terrific interview. A very emotional night for all.
But for a real emotional evening, nothing beat Friday, September 15. Firstly, we ran “Kiss Me Kate,” and for the first time in 50 years it was seen correctly: Wide screen, Technicolor, and magnetic stereo sound! Truly magnificent, and we had the Howard Keel family in attendance to make the evening just perfect. There were tears in many eyes at just being there for this presentation… and the theatre was packed!
The second show that evening was “The French Line,” which was attended by Jane Russell herself! I grew up in Los Angeles and am not easily star struck, but…Jane Russell! She had never seen the film when it was released (it had been condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency, so she did not attend the premiere). After the screening, I asked her what she thought of the film. She shrugged and said, “I don’t see what the big deal was.” But she’s wrong: She’s very sexy in the film and I can see why certain 1953 audience’s were put off by it.
The best moment for 3-D, I think, was Rarities II on Sunday, September 17. We promised to make some 3-D history, and I think we did. For those who have been asking for a list of what we ran, see the complete list, below.
There were other highlights: Christina Hart and Chris Condon attending the screening of the fully restored “The Stewardesses,” seeing “Diamond Wizard” and “Jivaro” for the first time ever in their original 3-D versions, and the huge crowds for the audience favorites such as “Creature From the Black Lagoon,” “House of Wax,” and “Dial M For Murder” come to mind. But finally, it was the event as a whole that did it for me. Just the idea that we’ve put on a great show and now we can….what? Is Expo III going to happen? Well, I’ve learned never to say “never” on this subject. There are still nine “Golden Age” films that have not been screened in over 50 years, so we still have quite a bit of work to do. But maybe someday Expo III will happen…just not now, please.
Thanks very much to everyone who worked on this; the “special thanks” web page is at:
http://www.3dfilmfest.com/key_people.html
And for those who would like information on the 3-D Film Preservation Fund: http://www.3dfilmpf.com
Thanks,
Jeff Joseph
SabuCat Productions
Rarities II, as seen on September 17, 2006:
1. “3-D Jamboree” Very special “Mickey Mouse Club” piece featuring Roy and Jimmy and Annette and all of the Mouseketeers. This had never been seen outside of Disneyland, and even then, not for many many years.
2. Original titles and end sequence for “New Dimensions” (1940); this footage had been cut from the 1953 re-release entitled “Motor Rhythm”.
3. Lumiere test footage (1934)
4. “Thrills For You” 1939 Pennsylvania Railroad short run at the 1939 San Francisco Exhibition and presumed lost since then.
5. Only surviving Vectograph 3-D footage
6. Crespinel test footage (1927)
7. Original dye transfer Technicolor print of “Third Dimensional Murder” (1941)
8. “New York City in 3-D” (2006) Short subject newly produced
9. “Carmenesque” (1953) New print of the only surviving footage from the unfinished Sol Lesser feature, “3-D Follies”; this footage was in 2-D.
10. “Day in the Country” (1953) This had been considered a “lost” film, until a very faded anaglyphic print surfaced. We digitally extracted the left and right eyes, then made new film elements in order to show the film (for the first time ever) in dual Polaroid projection.
11. “Kelly’s Plasticon Pictures: Thru’ the Trees Washington D.C.” (1922) This also recently surfaced, as a 35mm nitrate anaglyphic print. Again, the two eyes were digitally extracted and the footage was shown in dual projection. This footage (most of which was likely never publicly screened in 1922), is the oldest extant moving image footage. And by the way, it looks terrific.
Wednesday, September 27th, 2006
Simpsons Alert!
Posted by Kirsten at 2:53 pm
Apparently in this year’s Treehouse of Horror (Halloween) episode of the Simpsons Homer dresses up as the Blob! Set your Tivo’s to record this one — it’s sure to be a keeper! I think it will run on Sunday, October 28, but please check your local listings to be sure.
Thursday, July 27th, 2006
Film reviewers
Posted by Kirsten at 5:27 pm
These are my three current go-to reviewers; they’re smart, insightful, and downright funny:
Anthony Lane at the New Yorker
J. Hoberman at the Village Voice
Manohla Dargis at the New York Times
Thursday, July 27th, 2006
Ways to support the Colonial
Posted by Kirsten at 5:08 pm
As many of you know, the Colonial is a non-profit theatre which is important to know for two reasons. First, it allows us a level of flexibility in programming our schedule that for-profit theatres do not enjoy to the same extent. Secondly, it means that we rely greatly on your support! So, with that in mind, here are a few ways you can support the Colonial:
Become a member! The basic individual membership is only $40 per year and it gets you $4 admission (instead of $7) to all of our films.
Frequent the theatre
Buy a seat and get your name, or anything else you want, engraved on the arm rest.
Advertise on-screen, or tell the businesses that do that you saw their slide. They want to know that their advertising money is being well spent.
Sponsor one of our children’s programs or classic films
Volunteer your time and talents
Make an unrestricted tax-deductible gift
Remember the Colonial in your will
Thanks so much for supporting us however you can and we hope to see you at the theatre!
Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
More BlobFest 7 Photos
Posted by Kirsten at 10:30 pm
The hula hoop contest and classic cars at the Street Fair on Saturday, and The Rivers Rockabilly trio play outside the theatre. 
Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
BlobFest 7 Photos
Posted by Kirsten at 10:12 pm
The 2007 “running out of the theatre” re-enactment, the actual Blob with Wes Shank, keeper of the Blob, and the Blob balloon generously fabricated by Sky Signs Balloons, Ltd. 
Friday, July 21st, 2006
Mary and Kirsten are in LA
Posted by Kirsten at 5:36 am
Mary and I arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. We’re here for the annual conference of the League of Historic American Theatres. So far we have seen some amazing movie palaces in Hollywood including the El Capitan, Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre, the Pantages, and the Kodak Theater (the permanent home of the Academy Awards). I saw my first digitally projected film — Pirates of the Caribbean 2 at the El Capitain — and it was quite something. The picture was crisp and clear, very much like HDTV, and the sound was fantastic. Aside from seeing some beautiful theaters, we’re having a great time meeting our peers from around the country and sharing ideas. We’ll be back on Sunday — which is when I will be able to get those BlobFest photos I mentioned in my last post online. My intent was to get them up on Tuesday night before we left for LA, but as many of you well know, an incredible storm swept through Chester County and knocked out our power and internet service. So, please accept my apologies for not getting them up yet, but they will be soon!
Tuesday, July 18th, 2006
The Blobosphere has launched
Posted by Kirsten at 3:29 pm
Hello Colonial and Blob fans! Welcome to the new Colonial blog — an outlet for some of our more rambling thoughts about the Colonial, the Blob, and film in general. We are putting together some great contributors who will each offer their own slant on all things Colonial. And we welcome your comments as well — our members, patrons and volunteers come up with some of our best ideas! I’m headed into the theatre shortly to pick up a disc of pictures from BlobFest 7. I’ll post the best of the lot here asap. So check back soon and often — I have a feeling it’s going to take us a few days to really get up and running. Thanks for supporting the Colonial!