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The Colonial Theater represents an important piece of Augusta history - that of the early film (silent and sound) industry in the United States.
Opened in downtown Augusta in 1913 to plans by the Maine architect Harry S. Coombs, the building exhibits the lingering influence of Beaux Arts design, coupled with Georgian Revival details and a retrained, geometric patterning that anticipated the Art Deco style. The building suffered extensive damage in a 1926 fire, and the rebuilt theater, completed shortly thereafter, was larger than the earlier. It featured silent films with live music until sound pictures ("talkies") were introduced in late 1929. Many American theaters from the early 1900s were named "Colonial," perhaps to evoke a sense of national heritage and pride. The Augusta Colonial Theater (originally spelled Theatre) was representative of a group of Colonial theaters built between 1903 and 1924 throughout New England. Five of these have undergone restoration and exist today in Bethlehem, Keene, and Laconia, New Hampshire, and Boston (Emerson College) and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. In the beginning, the Colonial served as the center for the silent movie industry in Maine. In 1918, Edgar Jones Productions, Inc. opened a motion picture studio in Augusta, and in 1919, Mary Astor and Evelyn Brent made movies here. Maine writer and film producer Holman Day made a number of films in the Augusta area and premiered them at the Colonial. In its heyday, the Colonial was a primary site for entertainment for residents. The Colonial was one of two theaters in Augusta; its competitor, the Capitol Theatre, was at the other end of Water Street. The Capitol was demolished in 1983 after a major fire, the third in the building’s history, leaving the Colonial as the only remaining historic movie theater in Augusta. |
The Colonial closed for business in February 1969 and was purchased by a private individual in 1970, to be used as business storage for many years. In addition to general neglect, leaking roof drains and a hole in the roof allowed water and birds into the building, causing significant damage. In the early 1990s when the storage business moved operations, the neglected and empty building was slated for demolition.
In 1995 a nonprofit group, Colonial Theater, Inc., was founded to save the building. They acquired the property in 1997. Since then, several individuals and developers have expressed interest in rehabilitating the theater; in each case, however, the project never got off the ground. The building continued to be a safety concern. Faced with the necessity to decide the building’s future, Colonial Theater, Inc., began to pursue historic designation in order to save the building. In 2011, the Colonial was listed on Maine Preservation's annual list of endangered historic resources. After a structural assessment, the building was determined generally sound, but in need of repairs to ensure its continued preservation and reuse potential. In 2014, the Colonial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This affirmed the significance of preserving the theater as well as providing for a certain level of protection and financial opportunities. In early 2014, successful local businessman and developer, Richard Parkhurst, took over as chair of the board at Colonial Theater, Inc. and soon a clear vision for the future emerged. This renewed effort shifted the focus from merely saving the building, but to restoring the Augusta Colonial Theater as part of a vibrant performing arts and cultural center in downtown Augusta. |
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