Colonial Theatre

This theater was originally built in 1849 as the First Methodist Episcopalian Church. The church was a simple but large structure with a peaked roof, small shallow wings at the front, and a steeple offset to the right corner.

Sometime after 1909 (and likely after 1914-15, as it is not listed in that year’s American Motion Picture Directory) the church was modified into a theatre by the addition of a wide but not very deep transverse auditorium at the rear. The stage was at the western end, and was equipped with a large fly tower. The balcony was a squared-off ‘C’.

The conversion had certainly taken place by 1920, when that year’s Sanborn shows it as the Auditorium Theatre, offering vaudeville and movies. The theatre may have closed briefly during the Depression, as it is not listed in 1932, but is listed from 1933 forward. Sometime during the late-1930’s, the capacity was reduced to 500. In 1939, the theatre was renamed to the Colonial Theatre. This operated at least until 1954. It is not listed in 1955, but appears in 1956 with no capacity listed.

At least through the 1942 map, the building retained its steeple. This has now disappeared. The building was converted to apartments immediately after closing, and today it appears to be in very good shape.

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