Plenty to see and do this Summer at The Colonial Theatre.
BlobFest
$5-10
Jul 13–15
The Colonial Theatre's 13th Annual Blobfest is a kitschy, family-friendly event saluting the 1958 classic sci-fi movie The Blob, filmed in and around Phoenixville, PA including inside the Colonial Theatre. For complete schedule and ticket information visit www.TheColonialTheatre.com.
Harry Potter Marathon
Tickets: $10 - $20 per day.
Sat, Aug 4, 10:00 am
Sun, Aug 5, 1:45 pm
Eight films. Two days. One boy wizard. Join us for our annual summer marathon – this year it’s all eight Harry Potter films spread out over two days. On Day 1 (Sat, Aug 4) we’ll show the first five films, and on Day 2 (Sun, Aug 5) we’ll show films 6-8. Costumes are strongly encouraged!
Schedule:
Saturday
10:00 – Sorcerer’s Stone
15 min break
12:45 – Chamber of Secrets
75 min break
4:40 – Prisoner of Azkaban
10 min break
7:10 – Goblet of Fire
15 min break
10:00 – Order of the Phoenix
12:15 – End
Sunday
1:45 – Half Blood Prince
10 min break
4:30 – Deathly Hallows Part 1
60 min break
8:00 – Deathly Hallows Part 2
10:10 – End
Sponsored by: Nationwide – The John Carroll and Wit Hastie Agencies
John Carroll
Office Phone: 215-779-4846
Email: carroj2@nationwide.com
Wit Hastie
Office Phone: 484-744-0807
Email: hastiek1@nationwide.com
TEDxPhoenixville Salons
$5
Tue, Jul 17 @ 7PM and Tue, Aug 21 @ 7PM
As we gear up for our third annual live TEDxPhoenixville event on Oct 6, we’d like to share some of our favorite TEDTalks with you. Join us each month for a different program of compelling and inspiring talks. Each evening’s program will consist of pre-recorded TEDTalks plus one live performance. The salons will continue once per month thru August and will take place in the theatre's third floor screening room. Seating is limited to 50 people.
Jorma Kaukonen with very special guest Loudon Wainwright III
Tickets: $29.50 - $40.
Fri, Sep 14, 8:00 pm
Old friends Jorma Kaukonen and Loudon Wainwright III share the evening on the Colonial stage. The Hot Tuna/Jefferson Airplane guitarist and Grammy winner/actor have performed together many times and we’re certain the two will treat us to a collaborative evening of blues, humor and the amazing songwriting that has made them both legends.
TOSDV Debut Pipe Organ Concert
Sun, Sep 15, 7:00 pm
After 6 years of tremendous restoration and installation work and 2 years of “shake down” presentations, we are now ready for the formal debut of The Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley’s 3/24 Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. We are very excited not only by the event, but also because of the performer. Mark Herman, an extremely talented and young fellow from Indianapolis, Indiana will be presenting a fabulous concert of theatre organ music. Mark will also accompany a short silent comedy movie as part of his program. A special occasion not to be missed!
City Rhythm Orchestra: Jump, Jiva and Wail!
Sun, Sep 30, 7:00 pm
$5 - $25
City Rhythm Orchestra presents “Jump, Jive and Wail!” with special guest Ray Gelato. The 15-piece big band will have you dancing in the aisles to the thrilling sounds of classic swing music, including hits from the big bands, exciting vocals from Steve Ritrovato and Vicki Woodlyn, and a dazzling performance by Ray Gelato. Ray has been a successful performer in Europe for more than twenty-five years. He is an acclaimed singer and saxophonist based in London. His approach to music is full of fun, yet he never stops displaying his serious jazz talent. He can fire up an audience with the vocal stylings of singers like Louis Prima and Dean Martin, then captivate them with a ballad played on his lush sounding tenor sax. Highly regarded by critics all over the world, Ray is recognized for his reverent approach to the standards and the distinct imprint he leaves on the classic jazz tradition.
Al Stewart
Tickets: $22 - $42.50.
Fri, Oct 26, 8:00 pm
With a career that spans four decades, his songs are uniquely his and impossible to mistake. ”Year of the Cat,” “Time Passages,” “On The Border” …all his great songs and great stories, told with Al’s inimitable sense of humor.
Dr. Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys
Tickets: $ $27.50 - $42.50.
Sat, Nov 10, 8:00 pm
The Philadelphia Folksong Society welcomes Dr. Ralph Stanley to the Colonial. Since the 1940s, Stanley has been an icon of country, bluegrass and American music. A multiple Grammy winner and recipient of the Living Legend Award from the Library of Congress, Stanley’s music has impacted not only his listeners, but also his former band mates who include Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley and more. His contributions to the O, Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack brought Stanley’s music back to the forefront of popular music where he has stood strong since.
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine
Norman Taurog. US. 1965. G. 88 min. MGM. 35mm.
Sun, Jul 8, 2:00 pm
Taking us “from the sublime to the ridiculous,” in terms of robots and androids, we bring you Vincent Price in one of his campiest”roles, as a mad scientist bent on taking over the world by means of his beautiful female robots, who are tasked with seducing all the rich and powerful leaders. Really. Even more engagingly, the film combines stars and settings from the popular “Beach Party” films of the time (Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman, Annette Funicello, Harvey Lembeck, etc.) as well as riffs on Price’s The Pit and the Pendulum and other AIP films of the era. And yes, that is the Supremes, singing the inane title song! For a wild, camp-filled summer matinee movie, this one can’t be beat.
The Blob
Shorty Yeaworth, US, 1958. 82 min. 35mm.
Sun, Jul 15, 2:00 pm
“Whatever its flaws as a film, a none-too-scary monster chief among them, The Blob is a uniquely compelling monster movie. The decision to shoot in Technicolor, largely on real locations in Pennsylvania, invests it with a high-’50s feel money couldn’t buy. The remarkable seriousness the actors, particularly method disciple McQueen, bring to the material makes the film difficult to dismiss as mere camp. So does a finale that unites the entire town, teens and grown-ups alike, in an all-metaphors-aside fight against an alien threat, a moment that seems to confirm historian Bruce Eder’s description of The Blob as “like watching some kind of collective home movie of who we were and who we thought we were.” Or maybe it’s simply the best film ever to pit hot-rodding teens against a mass of silicone. It delivers the goods any way you look at it.” (Keith Phipps, The Onion A.V. Club)
The Secret Secret Cinema
R (some nudity). 100 min. 35mm.
Sun, Jul 22, 2:00 pm
The Secret Cinema will return to the Colonial to screen a unique program culled from the Secret Cinema’s private film archive, The Secret Secret Cinema. Like most Secret Cinema programs, this one strives to expose forgotten delights from the often-overlooked annals of motion picture ephemera, films which would be difficult to experience in any other way. The program of forgotten advertising films, theatrical short subjects, clips and trailers will include La Danse A-Go-Go, a 1964 short about twisting discotheque go-go dancers; A Touch of Magic, a surreal Technicolor musical promoting Populuxe cars and kitchens; Mexican Rhythm, a 1953 one-reeler starring “Mexico’s Jazz King” Luis Arcaraz; network TV promos; ads for long-gone local businesses; and original previews for such offbeat classics as Groupies, Hells Angels ’69, Bummer, Mondo Mod…and more!
Westworld
Michael Crichton. US. 1973. PG. 88 min. Warner Bros. 35mm.
Sun, Jul 29, 2:00 pm
For our final robot-themed film of the month, we bring you the baddest android of the bunch – portrayed with silent, austere menace by Yul Brynner. The plot, written and directed by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, Coma, Andromeda Strain), is a simple one: Richard Benjamin and James Brolin go on an outing to a western-themed adventure park, to spend a day living out their fantasies, including having gun-fights with android baddies like Brynner (togged out like his character in The Magnificent Seven). However, as they say, “things go terribly, terribly wrong.” The androids go haywire and stalk the park’s visitors, and the tension and excitement mounts from there. If you haven’t seen this one, don’t miss it! (And even if you have, come and enjoy the thrills on our big screen. Brynner plays a really good baddie – sort of a cowboy prototype for Schwartzenegger’s Terminator.)
Advise and Consent
Otto Preminger. US. 1962. NR. 139 min. Academy Archive. 35mm.
Sun, Aug 12, 2:00 pm
With the advent of this year’s political campaign (which, word has it, started somewhere around 2009), we’re proud to bring you a month of filmdom’s finest movies with themes of political intrigue. Starting out the group, we have a film with an all-star cast, including Henry Fonda, Charles Laughton, Don Murray, Franchot Tone, Lew Ayres, Burgess Meridith, and Peter Lawford (who, ironically, was at the time the brother-in-law to then-President John Kennedy.) Based on the best- selling novel by Allen Drury, this tense drama plays off Fonda, as a liberal (you should excuse the expression!) politician who has been nominated to be Secretary of State, but whose appointment is challenged by a very strong-willed Southern senator (Laughton, in his last screen role). Considered shocking in its day due to the use of homosexuality as a plot device, the film still has a strong effect, due to its revelations of the types of machinations and chicanery that takes place behind the scenes in our nation’s Capitol. Watch closely for a quick glimpse of a quite young Betty White, in a minor role. This film was restored by the Academy Film Archive in 2006 with funding from the Andrew J. Kuehn Jr., Foundation.
The Best Man
Franklin Schaffner. US. 1964. NR. 102 min. MGM. 35mm.
Sun, Aug 19, 2:00 pm
In this film, based on the stage play by Gore Vidal, we again have Henry Fonda heading up a top-flight cast. This time, Fonda is pitted against a ruthless Cliff Robertson, but both men have deep, dark secrets, in a close contest for their party’s presidential nomination. Lee Tracy, after over thirty years as a film character actor, was deservedly nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this, his final role, playing a dying president who has to decide which man to endorse. Vidal, who also wrote the screenplay, provides intense and often witty dialogue, in what has been described by the London Radio Times as, “a scabrous look at the underbelly of Washington.” Watch it and get a sense of what might easily be taking place behind all those political ads that currently fill the airwaves.
The Candidate
Michael Ritchie. US. 1972. PG. 110 min. Warner Bros. 35mm.
Sun, Aug 26, 2:00 pm
Robert Redford turns in one of his best screen portrayals, as an idealistic young lawyer, the son of an ex-governor (Melvyn Douglas), who is pressed to run for senator from his state. As he gets mired in the politics and campaigning, Redford (along with the audience) becomes more aware of the potential for deceit and moral duplicity that lurks behind the public facade. More than just a movie about politics, this Academy Award-winning film (for Best Adapted Screenplay) is also a cogent commentary on the subject of “winning,” and its meaning within our society. This is a film that has become increasingly relevant with each passing year. Come see it and find out why.
Laura
Otto Preminger. US. 1944. NR. 88 min. Fox. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 2, 2:00 pm
As you may know, “film noir” is a French phrase that refers to films, primarily those made in the U.S. in the late 1940s, which manifest a certain style (often in black and white, with atmospheric shadows and effects) and an attitude of cynicism and, sometimes, hard-boiled criminal activity. Another characteristic of many films noir is the tendency to use of flashbacks to move the story along or provide exposition. One of the most effective and memorable of this type of film is Laura, based on the best-selling novel by Vera Caspary. As the London Radio Times has summarized this flashback-filled movie, “This adult, sophisticated, witty thriller encapsulates what film noir is all about; a taut, romantic mystery featuring New York detective Dana Andrews falling in love with the painting of a murdered woman. As good as they get, this one, with Otto Preminger’s moody, stark direction greatly helped by the casting of beautiful Gene Tierney in the title role, a southern-accented Vincent Price as a smarmy gigolo, and the incomparable Clifton Webb as cynical columnist Waldo Lydecker. A rattling good thriller that bears watching time and time again.” Once seen, you’ll never forget Laura.
The Lost Weekend
Billy Wilder. US. 1945. NR. 101 min. Universal. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 9, 2:00 pm
Another film that made most effective use of flashbacks is The Lost Weekend, which won Academy Awards for Best Film, Director, Screenplay (Wilder and Charles Brackett), and Best Actor (Ray Milland). The story, of a struggling writer who becomes increasingly addicted to alcohol, is told through vivid imagery and excellent, atmospheric photography, and the scenes depicting Milland going through the DTs are truly frightening. As film critic Leonard Maltin has so concisely put it, this is truly “a landmark of adult film-making in Hollywood.” Watch, especially, for the excellent performances by such fine character actors as Howard Da Silva (as a sympathetic bartender) and Frank Faylen (as a male nurse with a very nasty attitude.) This is one film that takes a very serious approach to the issue of problem drinking, while providing a fascinating and spellbinding scenario.
The Killers
Robert Siodnak. US. 1946. NR. 103 min. Universal. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 16, 2:00 pm
Based upon the short story by Ernest Hemingway, this was the first film to star Burt Lancaster, here in the role of Swede, the ex-boxer who is stalked by professional killers. Though the original story gave no explanation for why the killers are after Swede, this film provides a credible and exciting back-story, told largely by means of flashback. Featuring Ava Gardner, in a “career-defining” role as the femme fatale, The Killers has been accurately described by the London Radio Times as “one of the most powerful and influential thrillers ever made, with director Robert Siodmak’s bleak and pessimistic tone virtually defining the term film noir.” Featuring a cast of some of the finest character actors of its time – including Edmund O’Brian, Sam Levine, Charles McGraw, and William Conrad – this is a film worth watching again and again. If the musical themes by Miklos Rosza sound a wee bit familiar, that’s because they were used to great effect some years later on the TV series, Dragnet. “Dum de dum dum.”
Out of the Past
Jacques Tourneur. US. 1947. NR. 97 min. Warner Bros. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 23, 2:00 pm
If you ever want to show a friend a nearly perfect example of what a film noir is (or can be), bring him/her to see Out of The Past. It’s got everything: crime, seduction, betrayal, vengeance, great dialogue, and shadowy people in shadow-filled places. And flashbacks. Boy does this movie have great flashbacks. Starring Robert Mitchum, in one of his best laconic good/bad guy roles, a young Kirk Douglas exuding a palpable menace under a civilized surface, and Jane Greer as the femme fatale, almost the whole film is told as a flashback. What can we say? This is not only a fine film noir, it is a really great film. As for the 1984 remake, Against All Odds, it had a nice Phil Collins title song. But Jeff Bridges is no Bob Mitchum.
Sorry, Wrong Number
Anatole Livak. US. 1948. NR. 84 min. Paramount. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 30, 2:00 pm
Once upon a time, back in the 1930s and 40s, in the days before Facebook, video- games, computer generated scenery, or even television, the American public entertained itself by listening to live radio dramas, letting their imaginations conjure up imagery that often thrilled and frightened them much more than pictures ever could. One of the best remembered, and most unsettling, of these radio dramas (and one of the most popular shows ever produced), Sorry, Wrong Number was made into this excellent film. The story is a simple one – a woman, home alone and bed-ridden, overhears a phone conversation about a murder that will soon take place, and realizes that she is to be the victim. Starring Barbara Stanwyck as the “whining, domineering, paranoid hypochondriac” whose only contact with the outside world is her phone, this is a story that will really grab you, as she becomes increasingly desperate to avoid her impending doom. Watch this exciting thriller and see why Stanwyck was nominated for an Academy Award for her obnoxious, but fascinating, character.
Segal Puppet Theatre Presents Cowboy Capers
Tue, Jul 10 • 10:30am • Ages 2+
Bring the whole family down to the farm for this 40-minute interactive puppet show for children ages 2 through 7 and their families to help Sheriff Sam and his sidekick Ranch Hand Slim get the animals back in the barn. Then stick around down at the “Double-P Puppet Ranch” because you just might help uncover a long lost buried treasure. Full of song and down home country mayhem, this little prairie recipe will keep you belly laughing the whole day through. Dave Fiebert of Segal Puppet Theatre and Co. has been performing at the Colonial for 10 years!
Michael Boudewyns Presents Once Upon a Time
Tue, Jul 17 • 10:30am • Ages 4+
You’re invited to Once Upon A Time: a vaudeville-inspired, playfully presented, plucky performance of picture books, performed by Michael Boudewyns; actor, storyteller, fan of Butser Keaton and Harold Lloyd, but most of all, an avid reader and life-long lover of kids books. For 15 years, Michael’s solo storytelling has been a hit. The Philadelphia Inquirer calls him “a great storyteller,” and praises his signature style as “simplicity as a form of genius.” As a member of Really Inventive Stuff, he co-creates fully staged presentations of classic stories and performs them with theatres, schools, libraries and orchestras around the country. Michael has been a frequent guest artist with the Philadelphia Orchestra’s popular Family Concerts, presenting vaudeville-inspired performances of works such as Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Poulenc’s The Story of Babar, George Kleinsinger’s Tubby the Tuba and Robert Kapilow’s Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham.
The Plants
Tue, Jul 31 • 10:30am • Ages 4+
The Plants are a four-piece Philadelphia based band for kids with an eclectic style that traverses musical genres while exploring the potential of the imagination. Each song is specifically written to spark new ideas, evoke different emotions, and encourage creativity. From a snake wearing flip-flops to intergalactic insects, the lighthearted music of The Plants is catchy, often times silly, and fun for children and adults alike. Find out more on Facebook. This will be The Plants first show at the Colonial and we’re super excited!
Balloon Freak John Cassidy
Tue, Aug 7 • 10:30am • Ages 4+
John Cassidy, our most popular kids performer at the Colonial, is an eccentric comedian whose bizarre antics have earned him widespread acclaim as one of the most original and unique performers today. He has also made numerous television appearances having appeared on such popular shows as Live with Regis and Kelly, NBC's Today Show and Martha Stewart Living and regularly plays Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York City and his native Philadelphia. John also holds several Guinness World Records for speed in balloon sculpting. You can learn more about John and check out some amazing videos and photos online at johncassidy.com.
Makin' Music Rockin' Rhythms
Tue, Aug 14 • 10:30am • Ages 2+
Get ready! The focus is on rhythm, music, and FUN as you stomp, clap, and sing your way through a rockin' good time with Makin' Music Rockin' Rhythms, a fun, interactive music enrichment program designed for young children. This award-winning program is a Delaware Valley institution and earns rave reviews from critics, parents, teachers, and children alike. Michael Kropp (or "Mr. Mike" as the kids know him) manages Makin' Music Gilbertsville. A local hit with his own classes, appearances at pre-schools, daycares, libraries, and other public events, Michael always puts on an upbeat show that combines a mix of traditional children's favorites and easy-to-follow Makin' Music original songs.
Gustafer Yellowgolf
Tue, Aug 21 • 10:30am • Ages 4+
Since his creation by Morgan Taylor in 2005, Gustafer Yellowgold has become an international phenomenon, acclaimed by The New York Times, which described Gustafer as "A cross between 'Yellow Submarine' and Dr. Seuss." Entertainment Weekly praised "…The most infectious original songs. It's like tapping into some pleasure center in the brain- both adult and kid…absurdly appealing. Grade: A." New York Magazine named Morgan Taylor "Best Kids' Performer" in a recent "Best of New York" issue. "Mint Green Bee" from Gustafer Yellowgold's Wide Wild World was a Grand Prize Winner in the Children's Category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Gustafer Yellowgold's show is a multi-media performance of live music, animated illustrations and storytelling. With its unique crossover appeal, the show has been the wild-card opening act for Wilco and The Polyphonic Spree. Gustafer made his off-broadway debut at the dr2 theatre in 2008 with Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Sensation, and has toured nationally to arts centers, children's museums, schools, libraries, cinemas, theaters and music venues, with additional performances in the UK and even Korea!
Nightmare on Elm Street 4 and 5 Double Feature
Renny Harlin, Stephen Hokins. US. 1988, 1989. R. 182 min. Warner Bros. 35mm.
Fri, Jul 6, 9:45 pm
4: “You can’t keep a good mass-murderer-from-beyond-the-grave down. Freddy returns once again to wreak havoc on poor, unsuspecting teenagers. Director Harlin would go on to direct the explosive Die Hard 2.” 5: “Freddy Kruger goes surreal. Freddy teams up with an unborn child to continue his murderous ways. Good visuals but not much more.” (TLA Film & Video Guide)
POLTERGEIST
Tobe Hooper. US. 1982. R. 114 min. Private Collector. 35mm.
Fri, Aug 3, 9:45 pm
“A classic horror story from director Hooper, this film owes much to its writer and producer, Steven Spielberg. When spirits from the “other side” kidnap their young daughter (the adorable Heather O’Rourke), an ordinary suburban family goes through Heaven and Hell to get her back. Jo Beth Williams and Craig T. Nelson offer the right blend of playfulness and seriousness s the hapless parents, and Beatrice Straight and Zelda Rubenstein are the best ghostbusters yet. This is the finest ghost story since The Haunting and the special effects are terrific.” (TLA Film & Video Guide)
PUMPKINHEAD
Stan Winston. US. 1988. R. 86 min. Private Collector. 35mm.
Fri, Sep 7, 9:45 pm
“Pumpkinhead found its audience almost entirely on videocassette, which seems appropriate, since the film’s strengths lie almost entirely in the niche worlds of FX and creature designs. Making his directorial debut, legendary effects and makeup artist Stan Winston (The Terminator, Jurassic Park, Aliens) doesn’t show much interest in the characters or the story, which pits a bunch of city kids against a vengeance demon conjured up by Lance Henriksen, a backwoods hick who blames them for his son’s death. But Winston and his tech crew heavily invest themselves in the expressively backlit gothic atmosphere and a throwback creature that subtly evolves into Henriksen’s eerie doppelgänger, his dark side made manifest. Had Pumpkinhead been made in the silent era, it might now be treated with the reverence granted Nosferatu.” (Scott Tobias, The A.V. Club)
DAZED AND CONFUSED
Richard Linklater. US. 1993. R. 102 min. Universal. 35mm.
Fri, Jul 20, 9:45 pm
“…The film is about throwaway moments: It orbits around a story that ends in nothing more consequential than some friends heading off for Aerosmith tickets. Dazed and Confused‘s enduring cult-classic status speaks to how simply and perfectly it evokes the last day of school in small-town Texas in 1976, not how it appeases the narrative gods. …but even for the sober, it’s a contact high, because it offers a world that’s easy and pleasant to inhabit without the taxing goal of, say, making it to White Castle.” (Scott Tobias, The A.V. Club)
MST3K: CAVE DWELLERS
Joe D'Amato. Italy. 1984. PG. 92 min. DVD.
Fri, Aug 17, 9:45 pm
Joel and the ‘bots are back at the Colonial with this absolutely delightful season three episode, Cave Dwellers. This Joe D’Amato directed, Italian sword and sorcery yarn contains more O’Keefe than you can shake a stick at (Miles O’Keefe!), wimpy swordplay, distressed damsels, a mute manservant and raucous riffing. Come enjoy this fun camp fest with the crew of the Satellite of Love and your friends at the Colonial for an evening of prizes, comedy and popcorn.
ROBOCOP
Paul Verhoeven. US. 1987. R. 102 min. MGM. 35mm.
Fri, Sep 21, 9:45 pm
“When officer Murphy (Paul Weller) of the Detroit police department (its services now subcontracted out to a large, faceless conglomerate) is brutally executed in the line of duty, his brain and other body bits become the unwitting components for a new kind of law enforcement robot. Director Verhoeven marshalls an exciting array of stunning special effects, exciting action sequences, and razor sharp wit in delivering this scathingly funny, yet nightmarishly believable, parable of corporate capitalism run amok.” (TLA Film & Video Guide)
CONCERTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
BlobFest
$5-10
Jul 13–15
The Colonial Theatre's 13th Annual Blobfest is a kitschy, family-friendly event saluting the 1958 classic sci-fi movie The Blob, filmed in and around Phoenixville, PA including inside the Colonial Theatre. For complete schedule and ticket information visit www.TheColonialTheatre.com.
Harry Potter Marathon
Tickets: $10 - $20 per day.
Sat, Aug 4, 10:00 am
Sun, Aug 5, 1:45 pm
Eight films. Two days. One boy wizard. Join us for our annual summer marathon – this year it’s all eight Harry Potter films spread out over two days. On Day 1 (Sat, Aug 4) we’ll show the first five films, and on Day 2 (Sun, Aug 5) we’ll show films 6-8. Costumes are strongly encouraged!
Schedule:
Saturday
10:00 – Sorcerer’s Stone
15 min break
12:45 – Chamber of Secrets
75 min break
4:40 – Prisoner of Azkaban
10 min break
7:10 – Goblet of Fire
15 min break
10:00 – Order of the Phoenix
12:15 – End
Sunday
1:45 – Half Blood Prince
10 min break
4:30 – Deathly Hallows Part 1
60 min break
8:00 – Deathly Hallows Part 2
10:10 – End
Sponsored by: Nationwide – The John Carroll and Wit Hastie Agencies
John Carroll
Office Phone: 215-779-4846
Email: carroj2@nationwide.com
Wit Hastie
Office Phone: 484-744-0807
Email: hastiek1@nationwide.com
TEDxPhoenixville Salons
$5
Tue, Jul 17 @ 7PM and Tue, Aug 21 @ 7PM
As we gear up for our third annual live TEDxPhoenixville event on Oct 6, we’d like to share some of our favorite TEDTalks with you. Join us each month for a different program of compelling and inspiring talks. Each evening’s program will consist of pre-recorded TEDTalks plus one live performance. The salons will continue once per month thru August and will take place in the theatre's third floor screening room. Seating is limited to 50 people.
Jorma Kaukonen with very special guest Loudon Wainwright III
Tickets: $29.50 - $40.
Fri, Sep 14, 8:00 pm
Old friends Jorma Kaukonen and Loudon Wainwright III share the evening on the Colonial stage. The Hot Tuna/Jefferson Airplane guitarist and Grammy winner/actor have performed together many times and we’re certain the two will treat us to a collaborative evening of blues, humor and the amazing songwriting that has made them both legends.
TOSDV Debut Pipe Organ Concert
Sun, Sep 15, 7:00 pm
After 6 years of tremendous restoration and installation work and 2 years of “shake down” presentations, we are now ready for the formal debut of The Theatre Organ Society of the Delaware Valley’s 3/24 Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. We are very excited not only by the event, but also because of the performer. Mark Herman, an extremely talented and young fellow from Indianapolis, Indiana will be presenting a fabulous concert of theatre organ music. Mark will also accompany a short silent comedy movie as part of his program. A special occasion not to be missed!
City Rhythm Orchestra: Jump, Jiva and Wail!
Sun, Sep 30, 7:00 pm
$5 - $25
City Rhythm Orchestra presents “Jump, Jive and Wail!” with special guest Ray Gelato. The 15-piece big band will have you dancing in the aisles to the thrilling sounds of classic swing music, including hits from the big bands, exciting vocals from Steve Ritrovato and Vicki Woodlyn, and a dazzling performance by Ray Gelato. Ray has been a successful performer in Europe for more than twenty-five years. He is an acclaimed singer and saxophonist based in London. His approach to music is full of fun, yet he never stops displaying his serious jazz talent. He can fire up an audience with the vocal stylings of singers like Louis Prima and Dean Martin, then captivate them with a ballad played on his lush sounding tenor sax. Highly regarded by critics all over the world, Ray is recognized for his reverent approach to the standards and the distinct imprint he leaves on the classic jazz tradition.
Al Stewart
Tickets: $22 - $42.50.
Fri, Oct 26, 8:00 pm
With a career that spans four decades, his songs are uniquely his and impossible to mistake. ”Year of the Cat,” “Time Passages,” “On The Border” …all his great songs and great stories, told with Al’s inimitable sense of humor.
Dr. Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys
Tickets: $ $27.50 - $42.50.
Sat, Nov 10, 8:00 pm
The Philadelphia Folksong Society welcomes Dr. Ralph Stanley to the Colonial. Since the 1940s, Stanley has been an icon of country, bluegrass and American music. A multiple Grammy winner and recipient of the Living Legend Award from the Library of Congress, Stanley’s music has impacted not only his listeners, but also his former band mates who include Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley and more. His contributions to the O, Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack brought Stanley’s music back to the forefront of popular music where he has stood strong since.
CLASSICS ON SUNDAYS: ROBOTS & ANDROIDS
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine
Norman Taurog. US. 1965. G. 88 min. MGM. 35mm.
Sun, Jul 8, 2:00 pm
Taking us “from the sublime to the ridiculous,” in terms of robots and androids, we bring you Vincent Price in one of his campiest”roles, as a mad scientist bent on taking over the world by means of his beautiful female robots, who are tasked with seducing all the rich and powerful leaders. Really. Even more engagingly, the film combines stars and settings from the popular “Beach Party” films of the time (Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman, Annette Funicello, Harvey Lembeck, etc.) as well as riffs on Price’s The Pit and the Pendulum and other AIP films of the era. And yes, that is the Supremes, singing the inane title song! For a wild, camp-filled summer matinee movie, this one can’t be beat.
The Blob
Shorty Yeaworth, US, 1958. 82 min. 35mm.
Sun, Jul 15, 2:00 pm
“Whatever its flaws as a film, a none-too-scary monster chief among them, The Blob is a uniquely compelling monster movie. The decision to shoot in Technicolor, largely on real locations in Pennsylvania, invests it with a high-’50s feel money couldn’t buy. The remarkable seriousness the actors, particularly method disciple McQueen, bring to the material makes the film difficult to dismiss as mere camp. So does a finale that unites the entire town, teens and grown-ups alike, in an all-metaphors-aside fight against an alien threat, a moment that seems to confirm historian Bruce Eder’s description of The Blob as “like watching some kind of collective home movie of who we were and who we thought we were.” Or maybe it’s simply the best film ever to pit hot-rodding teens against a mass of silicone. It delivers the goods any way you look at it.” (Keith Phipps, The Onion A.V. Club)
The Secret Secret Cinema
R (some nudity). 100 min. 35mm.
Sun, Jul 22, 2:00 pm
The Secret Cinema will return to the Colonial to screen a unique program culled from the Secret Cinema’s private film archive, The Secret Secret Cinema. Like most Secret Cinema programs, this one strives to expose forgotten delights from the often-overlooked annals of motion picture ephemera, films which would be difficult to experience in any other way. The program of forgotten advertising films, theatrical short subjects, clips and trailers will include La Danse A-Go-Go, a 1964 short about twisting discotheque go-go dancers; A Touch of Magic, a surreal Technicolor musical promoting Populuxe cars and kitchens; Mexican Rhythm, a 1953 one-reeler starring “Mexico’s Jazz King” Luis Arcaraz; network TV promos; ads for long-gone local businesses; and original previews for such offbeat classics as Groupies, Hells Angels ’69, Bummer, Mondo Mod…and more!
Westworld
Michael Crichton. US. 1973. PG. 88 min. Warner Bros. 35mm.
Sun, Jul 29, 2:00 pm
For our final robot-themed film of the month, we bring you the baddest android of the bunch – portrayed with silent, austere menace by Yul Brynner. The plot, written and directed by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, Coma, Andromeda Strain), is a simple one: Richard Benjamin and James Brolin go on an outing to a western-themed adventure park, to spend a day living out their fantasies, including having gun-fights with android baddies like Brynner (togged out like his character in The Magnificent Seven). However, as they say, “things go terribly, terribly wrong.” The androids go haywire and stalk the park’s visitors, and the tension and excitement mounts from there. If you haven’t seen this one, don’t miss it! (And even if you have, come and enjoy the thrills on our big screen. Brynner plays a really good baddie – sort of a cowboy prototype for Schwartzenegger’s Terminator.)
CLASSICS ON SUNDAYS: POLITICAL INTRIGUE
Advise and Consent
Otto Preminger. US. 1962. NR. 139 min. Academy Archive. 35mm.
Sun, Aug 12, 2:00 pm
With the advent of this year’s political campaign (which, word has it, started somewhere around 2009), we’re proud to bring you a month of filmdom’s finest movies with themes of political intrigue. Starting out the group, we have a film with an all-star cast, including Henry Fonda, Charles Laughton, Don Murray, Franchot Tone, Lew Ayres, Burgess Meridith, and Peter Lawford (who, ironically, was at the time the brother-in-law to then-President John Kennedy.) Based on the best- selling novel by Allen Drury, this tense drama plays off Fonda, as a liberal (you should excuse the expression!) politician who has been nominated to be Secretary of State, but whose appointment is challenged by a very strong-willed Southern senator (Laughton, in his last screen role). Considered shocking in its day due to the use of homosexuality as a plot device, the film still has a strong effect, due to its revelations of the types of machinations and chicanery that takes place behind the scenes in our nation’s Capitol. Watch closely for a quick glimpse of a quite young Betty White, in a minor role. This film was restored by the Academy Film Archive in 2006 with funding from the Andrew J. Kuehn Jr., Foundation.
The Best Man
Franklin Schaffner. US. 1964. NR. 102 min. MGM. 35mm.
Sun, Aug 19, 2:00 pm
In this film, based on the stage play by Gore Vidal, we again have Henry Fonda heading up a top-flight cast. This time, Fonda is pitted against a ruthless Cliff Robertson, but both men have deep, dark secrets, in a close contest for their party’s presidential nomination. Lee Tracy, after over thirty years as a film character actor, was deservedly nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this, his final role, playing a dying president who has to decide which man to endorse. Vidal, who also wrote the screenplay, provides intense and often witty dialogue, in what has been described by the London Radio Times as, “a scabrous look at the underbelly of Washington.” Watch it and get a sense of what might easily be taking place behind all those political ads that currently fill the airwaves.
The Candidate
Michael Ritchie. US. 1972. PG. 110 min. Warner Bros. 35mm.
Sun, Aug 26, 2:00 pm
Robert Redford turns in one of his best screen portrayals, as an idealistic young lawyer, the son of an ex-governor (Melvyn Douglas), who is pressed to run for senator from his state. As he gets mired in the politics and campaigning, Redford (along with the audience) becomes more aware of the potential for deceit and moral duplicity that lurks behind the public facade. More than just a movie about politics, this Academy Award-winning film (for Best Adapted Screenplay) is also a cogent commentary on the subject of “winning,” and its meaning within our society. This is a film that has become increasingly relevant with each passing year. Come see it and find out why.
CLASSICS ON SUNDAYS: FLASHBACK NOIR
Laura
Otto Preminger. US. 1944. NR. 88 min. Fox. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 2, 2:00 pm
As you may know, “film noir” is a French phrase that refers to films, primarily those made in the U.S. in the late 1940s, which manifest a certain style (often in black and white, with atmospheric shadows and effects) and an attitude of cynicism and, sometimes, hard-boiled criminal activity. Another characteristic of many films noir is the tendency to use of flashbacks to move the story along or provide exposition. One of the most effective and memorable of this type of film is Laura, based on the best-selling novel by Vera Caspary. As the London Radio Times has summarized this flashback-filled movie, “This adult, sophisticated, witty thriller encapsulates what film noir is all about; a taut, romantic mystery featuring New York detective Dana Andrews falling in love with the painting of a murdered woman. As good as they get, this one, with Otto Preminger’s moody, stark direction greatly helped by the casting of beautiful Gene Tierney in the title role, a southern-accented Vincent Price as a smarmy gigolo, and the incomparable Clifton Webb as cynical columnist Waldo Lydecker. A rattling good thriller that bears watching time and time again.” Once seen, you’ll never forget Laura.
The Lost Weekend
Billy Wilder. US. 1945. NR. 101 min. Universal. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 9, 2:00 pm
Another film that made most effective use of flashbacks is The Lost Weekend, which won Academy Awards for Best Film, Director, Screenplay (Wilder and Charles Brackett), and Best Actor (Ray Milland). The story, of a struggling writer who becomes increasingly addicted to alcohol, is told through vivid imagery and excellent, atmospheric photography, and the scenes depicting Milland going through the DTs are truly frightening. As film critic Leonard Maltin has so concisely put it, this is truly “a landmark of adult film-making in Hollywood.” Watch, especially, for the excellent performances by such fine character actors as Howard Da Silva (as a sympathetic bartender) and Frank Faylen (as a male nurse with a very nasty attitude.) This is one film that takes a very serious approach to the issue of problem drinking, while providing a fascinating and spellbinding scenario.
The Killers
Robert Siodnak. US. 1946. NR. 103 min. Universal. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 16, 2:00 pm
Based upon the short story by Ernest Hemingway, this was the first film to star Burt Lancaster, here in the role of Swede, the ex-boxer who is stalked by professional killers. Though the original story gave no explanation for why the killers are after Swede, this film provides a credible and exciting back-story, told largely by means of flashback. Featuring Ava Gardner, in a “career-defining” role as the femme fatale, The Killers has been accurately described by the London Radio Times as “one of the most powerful and influential thrillers ever made, with director Robert Siodmak’s bleak and pessimistic tone virtually defining the term film noir.” Featuring a cast of some of the finest character actors of its time – including Edmund O’Brian, Sam Levine, Charles McGraw, and William Conrad – this is a film worth watching again and again. If the musical themes by Miklos Rosza sound a wee bit familiar, that’s because they were used to great effect some years later on the TV series, Dragnet. “Dum de dum dum.”
Out of the Past
Jacques Tourneur. US. 1947. NR. 97 min. Warner Bros. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 23, 2:00 pm
If you ever want to show a friend a nearly perfect example of what a film noir is (or can be), bring him/her to see Out of The Past. It’s got everything: crime, seduction, betrayal, vengeance, great dialogue, and shadowy people in shadow-filled places. And flashbacks. Boy does this movie have great flashbacks. Starring Robert Mitchum, in one of his best laconic good/bad guy roles, a young Kirk Douglas exuding a palpable menace under a civilized surface, and Jane Greer as the femme fatale, almost the whole film is told as a flashback. What can we say? This is not only a fine film noir, it is a really great film. As for the 1984 remake, Against All Odds, it had a nice Phil Collins title song. But Jeff Bridges is no Bob Mitchum.
Sorry, Wrong Number
Anatole Livak. US. 1948. NR. 84 min. Paramount. 35mm.
Sun, Sep 30, 2:00 pm
Once upon a time, back in the 1930s and 40s, in the days before Facebook, video- games, computer generated scenery, or even television, the American public entertained itself by listening to live radio dramas, letting their imaginations conjure up imagery that often thrilled and frightened them much more than pictures ever could. One of the best remembered, and most unsettling, of these radio dramas (and one of the most popular shows ever produced), Sorry, Wrong Number was made into this excellent film. The story is a simple one – a woman, home alone and bed-ridden, overhears a phone conversation about a murder that will soon take place, and realizes that she is to be the victim. Starring Barbara Stanwyck as the “whining, domineering, paranoid hypochondriac” whose only contact with the outside world is her phone, this is a story that will really grab you, as she becomes increasingly desperate to avoid her impending doom. Watch this exciting thriller and see why Stanwyck was nominated for an Academy Award for her obnoxious, but fascinating, character.
PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Segal Puppet Theatre Presents Cowboy Capers
Tue, Jul 10 • 10:30am • Ages 2+
Bring the whole family down to the farm for this 40-minute interactive puppet show for children ages 2 through 7 and their families to help Sheriff Sam and his sidekick Ranch Hand Slim get the animals back in the barn. Then stick around down at the “Double-P Puppet Ranch” because you just might help uncover a long lost buried treasure. Full of song and down home country mayhem, this little prairie recipe will keep you belly laughing the whole day through. Dave Fiebert of Segal Puppet Theatre and Co. has been performing at the Colonial for 10 years!
Michael Boudewyns Presents Once Upon a Time
Tue, Jul 17 • 10:30am • Ages 4+
You’re invited to Once Upon A Time: a vaudeville-inspired, playfully presented, plucky performance of picture books, performed by Michael Boudewyns; actor, storyteller, fan of Butser Keaton and Harold Lloyd, but most of all, an avid reader and life-long lover of kids books. For 15 years, Michael’s solo storytelling has been a hit. The Philadelphia Inquirer calls him “a great storyteller,” and praises his signature style as “simplicity as a form of genius.” As a member of Really Inventive Stuff, he co-creates fully staged presentations of classic stories and performs them with theatres, schools, libraries and orchestras around the country. Michael has been a frequent guest artist with the Philadelphia Orchestra’s popular Family Concerts, presenting vaudeville-inspired performances of works such as Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Poulenc’s The Story of Babar, George Kleinsinger’s Tubby the Tuba and Robert Kapilow’s Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham.
The Plants
Tue, Jul 31 • 10:30am • Ages 4+
The Plants are a four-piece Philadelphia based band for kids with an eclectic style that traverses musical genres while exploring the potential of the imagination. Each song is specifically written to spark new ideas, evoke different emotions, and encourage creativity. From a snake wearing flip-flops to intergalactic insects, the lighthearted music of The Plants is catchy, often times silly, and fun for children and adults alike. Find out more on Facebook. This will be The Plants first show at the Colonial and we’re super excited!
Balloon Freak John Cassidy
Tue, Aug 7 • 10:30am • Ages 4+
John Cassidy, our most popular kids performer at the Colonial, is an eccentric comedian whose bizarre antics have earned him widespread acclaim as one of the most original and unique performers today. He has also made numerous television appearances having appeared on such popular shows as Live with Regis and Kelly, NBC's Today Show and Martha Stewart Living and regularly plays Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York City and his native Philadelphia. John also holds several Guinness World Records for speed in balloon sculpting. You can learn more about John and check out some amazing videos and photos online at johncassidy.com.
Makin' Music Rockin' Rhythms
Tue, Aug 14 • 10:30am • Ages 2+
Get ready! The focus is on rhythm, music, and FUN as you stomp, clap, and sing your way through a rockin' good time with Makin' Music Rockin' Rhythms, a fun, interactive music enrichment program designed for young children. This award-winning program is a Delaware Valley institution and earns rave reviews from critics, parents, teachers, and children alike. Michael Kropp (or "Mr. Mike" as the kids know him) manages Makin' Music Gilbertsville. A local hit with his own classes, appearances at pre-schools, daycares, libraries, and other public events, Michael always puts on an upbeat show that combines a mix of traditional children's favorites and easy-to-follow Makin' Music original songs.
Gustafer Yellowgolf
Tue, Aug 21 • 10:30am • Ages 4+
Since his creation by Morgan Taylor in 2005, Gustafer Yellowgold has become an international phenomenon, acclaimed by The New York Times, which described Gustafer as "A cross between 'Yellow Submarine' and Dr. Seuss." Entertainment Weekly praised "…The most infectious original songs. It's like tapping into some pleasure center in the brain- both adult and kid…absurdly appealing. Grade: A." New York Magazine named Morgan Taylor "Best Kids' Performer" in a recent "Best of New York" issue. "Mint Green Bee" from Gustafer Yellowgold's Wide Wild World was a Grand Prize Winner in the Children's Category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Gustafer Yellowgold's show is a multi-media performance of live music, animated illustrations and storytelling. With its unique crossover appeal, the show has been the wild-card opening act for Wilco and The Polyphonic Spree. Gustafer made his off-broadway debut at the dr2 theatre in 2008 with Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Sensation, and has toured nationally to arts centers, children's museums, schools, libraries, cinemas, theaters and music venues, with additional performances in the UK and even Korea!
FIRST FRIDAY FRIGHT NIGHT
Nightmare on Elm Street 4 and 5 Double Feature
Renny Harlin, Stephen Hokins. US. 1988, 1989. R. 182 min. Warner Bros. 35mm.
Fri, Jul 6, 9:45 pm
4: “You can’t keep a good mass-murderer-from-beyond-the-grave down. Freddy returns once again to wreak havoc on poor, unsuspecting teenagers. Director Harlin would go on to direct the explosive Die Hard 2.” 5: “Freddy Kruger goes surreal. Freddy teams up with an unborn child to continue his murderous ways. Good visuals but not much more.” (TLA Film & Video Guide)
POLTERGEIST
Tobe Hooper. US. 1982. R. 114 min. Private Collector. 35mm.
Fri, Aug 3, 9:45 pm
“A classic horror story from director Hooper, this film owes much to its writer and producer, Steven Spielberg. When spirits from the “other side” kidnap their young daughter (the adorable Heather O’Rourke), an ordinary suburban family goes through Heaven and Hell to get her back. Jo Beth Williams and Craig T. Nelson offer the right blend of playfulness and seriousness s the hapless parents, and Beatrice Straight and Zelda Rubenstein are the best ghostbusters yet. This is the finest ghost story since The Haunting and the special effects are terrific.” (TLA Film & Video Guide)
PUMPKINHEAD
Stan Winston. US. 1988. R. 86 min. Private Collector. 35mm.
Fri, Sep 7, 9:45 pm
“Pumpkinhead found its audience almost entirely on videocassette, which seems appropriate, since the film’s strengths lie almost entirely in the niche worlds of FX and creature designs. Making his directorial debut, legendary effects and makeup artist Stan Winston (The Terminator, Jurassic Park, Aliens) doesn’t show much interest in the characters or the story, which pits a bunch of city kids against a vengeance demon conjured up by Lance Henriksen, a backwoods hick who blames them for his son’s death. But Winston and his tech crew heavily invest themselves in the expressively backlit gothic atmosphere and a throwback creature that subtly evolves into Henriksen’s eerie doppelgänger, his dark side made manifest. Had Pumpkinhead been made in the silent era, it might now be treated with the reverence granted Nosferatu.” (Scott Tobias, The A.V. Club)
CULT AND MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000
DAZED AND CONFUSED
Richard Linklater. US. 1993. R. 102 min. Universal. 35mm.
Fri, Jul 20, 9:45 pm
“…The film is about throwaway moments: It orbits around a story that ends in nothing more consequential than some friends heading off for Aerosmith tickets. Dazed and Confused‘s enduring cult-classic status speaks to how simply and perfectly it evokes the last day of school in small-town Texas in 1976, not how it appeases the narrative gods. …but even for the sober, it’s a contact high, because it offers a world that’s easy and pleasant to inhabit without the taxing goal of, say, making it to White Castle.” (Scott Tobias, The A.V. Club)
MST3K: CAVE DWELLERS
Joe D'Amato. Italy. 1984. PG. 92 min. DVD.
Fri, Aug 17, 9:45 pm
Joel and the ‘bots are back at the Colonial with this absolutely delightful season three episode, Cave Dwellers. This Joe D’Amato directed, Italian sword and sorcery yarn contains more O’Keefe than you can shake a stick at (Miles O’Keefe!), wimpy swordplay, distressed damsels, a mute manservant and raucous riffing. Come enjoy this fun camp fest with the crew of the Satellite of Love and your friends at the Colonial for an evening of prizes, comedy and popcorn.
ROBOCOP
Paul Verhoeven. US. 1987. R. 102 min. MGM. 35mm.
Fri, Sep 21, 9:45 pm
“When officer Murphy (Paul Weller) of the Detroit police department (its services now subcontracted out to a large, faceless conglomerate) is brutally executed in the line of duty, his brain and other body bits become the unwitting components for a new kind of law enforcement robot. Director Verhoeven marshalls an exciting array of stunning special effects, exciting action sequences, and razor sharp wit in delivering this scathingly funny, yet nightmarishly believable, parable of corporate capitalism run amok.” (TLA Film & Video Guide)
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