I realize I’m lucky living just up the street from a great single screen movie theater ( The Colonial – Home of The Blob – in Phoenixville PA) – I commented as much to Retro Roadhusband as we were sitting there this afternoon, sharing a bag of popcorn and waiting along with the nicely sized crowd, to see the classic “Singing In The Rain” on the big screen.
Now I know that many of you might not live close to a movie house like we do, but please, if you ever have the opportunity, you owe it to yourself to see some of these old classics (and some new ones too!) on the big screen.
The colors, choreography, everything was meant to be seen bigger than lifesize, and in my mind nothing compares to that sense of camaraderie you feel with complete strangers when you’re all sharing the same experience at the same time. Case in point today was the wonderfully spontaneous burst of applause we all gave to Donald O’Connor’s wonderful “Make ’em Laugh” acrobatic display, and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one humming the title tune and trying a little tap-dancing on the way home.
Do yourself a favor and scout out the places near you to see the classics on the big screen. Let me know about them and I’ll post ’em on Retro Roadmap so other folks can find ’em too. It really is a great experience, and nice to be in the audience with other folks who feel the same way too.
Now pardon me but I gotta….DANCE! Won’t you join me?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCpOKtN8ME]
Jenn V.
January 10, 2010 at 8:48 pmGene Kelly is my favorite dancer of all time. Prefer him to Fred Astaire. I think it’s because Kelly has a lower center of gravity when he dances. Astaire dance more upright.
One of the fabulous pieces of trivia about Singing in the Rain and the scene with the same name (as you so graciously included in this blog) is that Kelly was running a fever (I believe w/ a temp of 102!) when he filmed that scene.
Another piece of trivia I love about the movie is that 19 year old Debbie Reynolds said that the kiss that Kelly laid on her at the end of the movie was so “passionate” and she had never been kissed like that before!
Wonderful film. Wish I had been there today to see it on the big screen.
/J
Mod Betty / Retro Roadmap
January 10, 2010 at 9:19 pmJen- there are a number of great classics coming up at The Colonial ( I should know, I just added them to their FB page-!) hope to see you at one soon! I’m torn btw Gene and Fred, myself- who doesn’t love a guy who can dance. Retro Roadhusband is exempt of course 🙂
rick
January 10, 2010 at 10:11 pmThere’s a blurb about your “Blob” theater in the upcoming SCA newsletter…
Mod Betty / Retro Roadmap
January 11, 2010 at 8:36 amooh good to know! Give me a heads up if you see it before I do – I’ll alert The Colonial!
CJ
June 28, 2010 at 10:47 pmI discovered your blog when I was searching for information on “The Blob!” I am writing a blog post about one of the inspirations for the film, and the film itself, which we just rented from Netflix. I had, of course, seen clips of the crowd running from the theater, but I don’t think I had ever seen the entire movie before.
I will publish my “Blob” post within a few days.
You have a great blog here —enjoyed reading your retro posts. I wish I had known about the upcoming Blobfest sooner, so I could attend. It sounds like great (although slightly weird) fun.
There used to be an old theater in my area that showed classic movies, but once just about everyone had a VCR, it closed down. The last time I saw “Singin’ in the Rain” was there. I had a history teacher in high school who was a dead ringer for Gene Kelly and I had an unrequited crush on him. (Sigh!) Since I grew up in Pittsburgh (Gene Kelly’s hometown, I was convinced it really was his brother, but that Kelly had changed his last name for show business.
Mod Betty / Retro Roadmap
June 29, 2010 at 6:57 amCJ- thanks for checking in! Yes The Blob and Blobfest are a fun way to let folks know about The Colonial Theatre and also Phoenixville. It happens every year at the same time, so plan on next year! I have become very fond of the movie because of its local connection.
Funny you mention Singin In The Rain – I just saw it for the first time at The Colonial a few months back- LOVE seeing the cool old movies on the big screen, the way they were meant to be seen.
Thanks for swinging by the Retro Roadmap, Stop by again!
CJ
October 15, 2018 at 8:57 pmI discovered your blog when I was searching for information on “The Blob!” I am writing a blog post about one of the inspirations for the film, and the film itself, which we just rented from Netflix. I had, of course, seen clips of the crowd running from the theater, but I don’t think I had ever seen the entire movie before.
I will publish my “Blob” post within a few days.
You have a great blog here —enjoyed reading your retro posts. I wish I had known about the upcoming Blobfest sooner, so I could attend. It sounds like great (although slightly weird) fun.
There used to be an old theater in my area that showed classic movies, but once just about everyone had a VCR, it closed down. The last time I saw “Singin’ in the Rain” was there. I had a history teacher in high school who was a dead ringer for Gene Kelly and I had an unrequited crush on him. (Sigh!) Since I grew up in Pittsburgh (Gene Kelly’s hometown, I was convinced it really was his brother, but that Kelly had changed his last name for show business.
Mod Betty / Retro Roadmap
October 15, 2018 at 8:57 pmCJ- thanks for checking in! Yes The Blob and Blobfest are a fun way to let folks know about The Colonial Theatre and also Phoenixville. It happens every year at the same time, so plan on next year! I have become very fond of the movie because of its local connection.
Funny you mention Singin In The Rain – I just saw it for the first time at The Colonial a few months back- LOVE seeing the cool old movies on the big screen, the way they were meant to be seen.
Thanks for swinging by the Retro Roadmap, Stop by again!
rick
October 15, 2018 at 8:58 pmThere’s a blurb about your “Blob” theater in the upcoming SCA newsletter…
Mod Betty / Retro Roadmap
October 15, 2018 at 8:58 pmooh good to know! Give me a heads up if you see it before I do – I’ll alert The Colonial!
Jenn V.
October 15, 2018 at 8:58 pmGene Kelly is my favorite dancer of all time. Prefer him to Fred Astaire. I think it’s because Kelly has a lower center of gravity when he dances. Astaire dance more upright.
One of the fabulous pieces of trivia about Singing in the Rain and the scene with the same name (as you so graciously included in this blog) is that Kelly was running a fever (I believe w/ a temp of 102!) when he filmed that scene.
Another piece of trivia I love about the movie is that 19 year old Debbie Reynolds said that the kiss that Kelly laid on her at the end of the movie was so “passionate” and she had never been kissed like that before!
Wonderful film. Wish I had been there today to see it on the big screen.
/J
Mod Betty / Retro Roadmap
October 15, 2018 at 9:01 pmJen- there are a number of great classics coming up at The Colonial ( I should know, I just added them to their FB page-!) hope to see you at one soon! I’m torn btw Gene and Fred, myself- who doesn’t love a guy who can dance. Retro Roadhusband is exempt of course 🙂
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