Colonial Theatre’s 21st century comeback

CANAAN — Back when movies were new, when a Saturday matinee or an evening show was an adventure for a rural town, Seth Moseley, a wealthy New Haven hotelier, built The Casino in Canaan as a fancy trinket for his young wife’s birthday.

The entertainment center, purchased by the Boscardin family in 1929 and renamed the Colonial, soon became the entertainment hub for the community, featuring the brand-new “talkies,” vaudeville shows, high school graduations, roller skating and community balls in the ornate upstairs ballroom.

In a day before cell phones, tablets and large-screen televisions, the theater was packed on Friday nights and Saturdays, and there was even a town meeting to discuss whether the sanctity of the Sabbath could be disturbed by Sunday screenings. But that was long ago, and movie theaters have struggled over the intervening decades. The Colonial, once virtually derelict, has been shuttered since 1997 except for an extensive refurbishment and brief revival in the early 2000s. 

Now the excitement is returning. In April, Lenore and Marc Mallett and David and Stacey Fiorillo, two Salisbury couples, purchased the old theater, rolled up their sleeves, and plotted a future designed to bring life and activity back to downtown Canaan.

The couples, all of whom have other “day jobs,” quickly fell in love with the theater when they first toured it. “They had just reduced the price and we decided to take a look,” said Lenore Mallet. “We just popped in and when we saw how beautiful the interior is, we said, ‘Oh, my God,’ and the wheels started turning. When we walked out the door, we knew we were going to buy it.”

They devised a plan to return the building to its status as a community hub, offering the space for events as varied as corporate meetings, charity events, birthday and anniversary parties, weddings, live performances, educational seminars, movies, and dances. “We’re really excited,” said Mallet. “It was a little slow at the beginning, but now our phones are ringing off the hook.”

Indeed, the neon marquee once again lights up Railroad Street, advertising events as diverse as a “Dragons” game-playing convention and sponsored movies, many of them free for patrons. In the coming weeks, area residents can expect to see classic holiday movies such as “Elf,” sponsored by SHG Event Planning; “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” supported by Rick and Sasha McCue; and the all-time favorite “It’s a Wonderful Life,” underwritten by the Community Health and Wellness Center. 

Sadly, the whimsical “Ratatouille,” the animated tale of a kitchen rat turned Parisian chef, and a corresponding food event by Tory Hill, is fully subscribed. 

Many events are sponsored by local businesses, whose names appear on the marquee in the week before the event. While sponsored movies have been free to date, Mallet said the theater may soon charge a nominal fee. “Because the movies are free, we have had a lot of no-shows,” she said. “We think if we charge something like $2 for kids and $5 for adults, it will encourage people to come.” Half the funds would be used for operational expenses and half would be donated to local charities.

For some children, the experience of going to the movies in a theater resurrects the excitement felt by children in the first decades of the 20th century. A small boy was seen sobbing in a seat when AHA sponsored “Legos II.” Concerned adults moved to console him, but soon learned his tears were tears of joy. “So excited,” he kept saying.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, two ski films were screened, the first from Teton Gravity Research titled “Legend Has It,” and the second, Warren Miller’s “All Time.” 

But it’s not all flicks — a comedy show is planned for Saturday, Dec. 1, when local comedian Ronnie Reed will host his comedically talented friends. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Canaan’s Fishes and Loaves. It will be followed Sunday,  Dec. 10, by a free book talk on “The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos” with author Mark Chiusano. The author will sign books available for purchase at the event, courtesy of Oblong Books. Attendees are asked to RSVP.

At the front of the venerable building are two retail spaces. One is occupied by a hair salon, while the other space will soon host pop-up store Hither Lane, a housewares store “somewhat like William Sonoma.” “She is testing the market to see where she wants to set up her business,” said Mallet. “We need retail on Main Street, so we are really excited.”

The two couples are also reviving another tradition — first jobs for young people. They recently interviewed high school students who would be tasked with running the concession bar and greeting patrons. “So many people have told us this was their first job,” said Mallet. “We want to offer that experience to a new generation.”

For more information, visit www.canaancolonial.com