Colonial Theatre
163 High Street,
Belfast,
ME
4915
163 High Street,
Belfast,
ME
4915
2 people
favorited this theater
The Colonial Theatre opened on April 12, 1912, the same day the Titanic set sail. It was closed on September 19, 2022. The building was ‘For Sale’. New owners took over and it re-opened on November 17, 2023.
Contributed by
Michael Hurley
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
There is a great story about the current owners “discovering” a third, earlier screen during renovations, complete with ancient fire curtain, down underneath and behind the primary street-level original screen (which was split into two). Would have to get the real story from the owners but this screen was supposedly lost and forgotten since the ‘50s’.
Saw ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ on the “Dreamland” screen. This is the original front of the house theater. This theater also has a balcony. DLP conversion was completed for the opening of ‘Brave’. All 3 screen are now digital but no 3D.
Uploaded the enhanced street view image of the theatre. What’s with the elephant on the left?
1931 photo added courtesy of AmeriCar The Beautiful Facebook page.
The Theatre Historical Society on-line archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Colonial; it’s Card # 342. But no one filled out the form so there is no info, only an undated exterior photo.
The theater will be closing September 19, 2022, and is for sale:
Belfast, ME: Colonial Theatre Showing Free Movies Before Closing September 19 [Sep 12, 2022]
Belfast, ME: Colonial Theatre Closing September 19, 2022, For Sale [Sep 12, 2022]
The owners are really sweet people. After 27 years decided to retire. They had been trying to sell it since 2015. They said business has been very good right up until 2020 theaters had to shut down. They opened again and seem to be doing well the community very supportive. Hopefully somebody will buy the theater in the near future. It be a shame for her to continue to sit empty. Buildings don’t do well without having people inside them especially theaters. Hopefully the current owners are going into the theater and maintaining and making sure that everything is still working properly. Keep any kind of damage from not happening
Some good news with pictures here
NOW FOR SALE: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/12/arts/historic-maine-movie-theater-remains-shuttered-search-new-owner-continues/?event=event25&fbclid=IwAR2IYfGRQb0b-5W82dc3EK0ZLbwdrva_TuJUWXxV7pCDm-NYzyFLQG1sVPg
New owners have purchased this theatre and it reopens with movies on Friday, November 17, 2023. It will operate as a non-profit managed and owned by the Hawthorne Theatre & Arts Collaborative. Movies and other arts events are in the programming mix.