Colonial Theatre
912 Peach Street,
Erie,
PA
16501
912 Peach Street,
Erie,
PA
16501
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Shea Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Nearby Theaters
This theatre was one of several on Peach Street in Erie. It was a conversion of a church building and opened on May 10, 1909 with vaudeville. The Colonial Theatre was operated by Shea Theatres from 1953, and was closed June 1, 1958, and was undoubtedly a casualty of television.
It was demolished later in 1958.
Contributed by
Ronald Stier
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
It’s not a church now. It was converted to a theater from a church building in 1909.
Current function is unknown.
Right. I didn’t ask for it to be changed. I pointed out that the theater building was originally a church and was converted to a theater.
This is from Boxoffice in June 1958:
ERIE, PA.-The Colonial Theatre, one of four major theatres here, built early in the century for a vaudeville house, closed its doors for the last time Sunday night, June 1. A leading motion picture theatre for many years, the Colonial had been operated by Shea’s circuit since September 1953. Closing of the theater was attributed to a loss of its lease and the decline of business “which doesn’t justify continued operation in the summer.”
Before Shea’s, the theatre was managed for many years by Vic Weschler, owner of the property. The Shea organization continues operation of its A-house here, Shea’s Theatre. Weschler is working out conversion plans for the building.
Ken MC or Anyone…
My father gave me a beautiful, if somewhat worn, tapestry he said used to hang in the lobby of the Colonial. It is almost as large as a standard room door. If you have any pictures depicting tapestries of women I would be interested in seeing them. Any pictures that may contain all or part of the tapestries would be great in helping me date the item.
Thank you
When I first went to this theater in the late 1940’s it was the only downtown theater without a snack bar. This was corrected in the early 1950’s. This theater showed double features tons of Martin & Lewis, Abbott & Costello, news and cartunes. A real family place and I miss it so.
A Twentieth Century History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, by John Miller, didn’t cover much of the twentieth century, as it was published in 1909, but it was able to note the origin of the Colonial Theatre, which opened that year:
Although it was mentioned in The Moving Picture World at least as early as July 31, 1915, the Colonial sometimes offered two-a-day vaudeville shows for many years. Variety of September 20, 1918, reported:There were listings in Variety for vaudeville shows at the Colonial at least as late as 1923.List of Owners:
1940-1955 Warner Brothers Circuit
1955 Jamestown Amusement Co.
Opened as Colonial on May 10th, 1909. Grand opening ad and article posted.
Current status?