SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL BLOBFEST SET FOR  FRIDAY, JULY 8th, THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 10TH

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL BLOBFEST SET FOR FRIDAY, JULY 8th, THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 10TH

June 27, 2016

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL BLOBFEST SET FOR FRIDAY, JULY 8th, THROUGH SUNDAY, JULY 10TH

 Marta Kristen, Judy Robinson from TV’s Lost in Space, is Special Guest

 

PHOENIXVILLE, PA – The Colonial Theatre’s seventeenth annual BLOBFEST will take place Friday, July 8th, through Sunday, July 10th,  at the theatre in Phoenixville, PA. This year’s theme is ‘60s Sci-Fi – The Vinyl Frontier. Marta Kristen, Judy Robinson from TV’s Lost in Space, is special guest. The kitschy, family-friendly event salutes the 1958 classic sci-fi movie The Blob which was filmed in and around Phoenixville. The Colonial Theatre plays a key role in the film.

BLOBFEST is sponsored by Riverworks Phoenixville and the Mainstay Inn.

DR FRANK HEAD SHOTThe event begins Friday, July 8th, with a Stage Show and “Run Out” reenactment at the theatre hosted by BLOBFEST’s own Dr. Frank N. Stone. Horror host Mr. Lobo will emcee. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the evening features an appearance by special guest Marta Kristen, a Lost in Space B9 Robot replica, audience participation, live music by Dr. Q and the Satellites and a special dance performance by Phoenixville’s Feet First dancers. Dash Daring, Dr. Ima Hack and The Patient Creature characters will be on hand as well.  Friday evening culminates with the crowd favorite, the reenactment of the “Run Out ” scene from the movie, at approximately 9 p.m.

Tickets for this event are sold out, but fans are encouraged to gather across the street from the theatre to watch the Run Out.

BLOBFEST continues Saturday, July 9th, at 11 a.m. with a free Streetfair featuring live music by rockabilly band Dibbs Preston and the Detonators. At noon the Fire Extinguisher Parade takes place as a tribute to the humble piece of firefighting equipment that saved the world from the Blob. All are invited to join in the parade. The Streetfair then shifts into high gear with music sets by the band throughout the afternoon. A Costume Contest for fabulous cash prizes will take place at 1 p.m. on the Streetfair stage, with contestant registration beginning at noon. Registration is $5 per person or costume group entry.

At 2 p.m. The Olde City Side Show will perform death defying acts such as sword swallowing and fire eating on the Streetfair stage. An all-day hot rod car show and food and merchandise vendors round out the event, which ends at 6 p.m.

Multiple showings of The Blob, plus two classic sci-fi movies, will take place inside The Colonial Theatre on Saturday. Throughout the day on the theatre’s third floor, Marta Kristen will greet fans and sign autographs. She will be joined by the B9 Robot replica and its builder, Craig Reinbrecht.

While admission to the Street Fair is free, wristbands must be purchased for access to the special guests, displays and vendors on three floors of The Colonial Theatre. The wristband purchase also includes a seat for either the 11:30 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. double feature, The Blob (1958) and This Island Earth (1955).

The Saturday Late Show double feature includes The Blob followed by Queen of Blood (1966). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show. BLOBFEST 17 concludes Sunday, July 10th, at 1:30 p.m. with a Q and A by Marta Kristen who played Judy in TV’s Lost in Space, a screening of the The Blob and a showing of The Late Night Double Feature (2014) by Christopher Mihm, a double bill of 1950s-style B-movie shorts — X: The Fiend from Beyond Space and The Wall People. Mihm will be on hand Sunday to discuss his films following the screening. Ticket prices for the Saturday and Sunday afternoon and Saturday evening double features are $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and $7 for theatre members and children 12 and under. All available BLOBFEST tickets can be purchased through the theatre’s website at www.thecolonialtheatre.com. For additional information, call 610-917-1228.

Marta_Kristen_Lost_in_Space_1965BLOBFEST special guest Marta Kristen, in the proud style of Hollywood, was “discovered” while eating a hamburger with a boyfriend at a drive-in restaurant in Santa Monica. Producer/Director/Writer James B. Harris approached her and asked if she would like to try out for Lolita. She read for the part, but “My mother thought the role was not for me, so I withdrew,” she says. Lolita was made with Harris as producer and starring James Mason and Shelly Winters. The title role went to Sue Lyon instead. Harris can still take credit with starting Marta’s career. He made arrangements for her to acquire an agent, who immediately got her a featured role in The Loretta Young Show. During the next eighteen months, Marta co-starred in two Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes (including one directed by Hitchcock himself and starring future co-star Billy Mumy), two segments of the My Three Sons series with Fred MacMurray (a third one would follow in 1964), a Leave it to Beaver episode and an appearance on the Shirley Temple Show. She had just finished an episode of The Greatest Show on Earth and was filming the role of Lorelei the mermaid in Beach Blanket Bingo when she was called in to meet with director/producer Irwin Allen. After meeting Marta, Allen was determined to have her play the role of Judy Robinson in his new series, Space Family Robinson. Marta initially refused the part, fearing (correctly) the character would be underutilized. Allen pitched several potential script ideas for the character, and Marta agreed to the role of Judy Robin in the series, now renamed Lost in Space. The rest is science fiction history. When the series ended, Marta raised a family and continued to work, making over 40 TV commercials as well as guest starring inTV shows such as Mannix, Remington Steele, and Trapper John MD. Her first love, however, is the theater, in which she has been very active on the West Coast. She received kudos for her performance as Emily Stilson in Arthur Kopit’s award-winning play about a stroke victim, Wings. Other appearances include Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Harvest of Fire with Patty Duke, Body Count with Alyssa Milano, Battle Beyond the Stars, and of course, 1998’s Lost in Space.

BLOBFEST’S Stage Show emcee Mr. Lobo is the mysterious host of the late night movie program CINEMA INSOMNIA — a cult sensation for 15 years and counting and stars as The Amazing Criswell in the 2015 film Plan 9, a remake of Ed Wood’s Plan 9 from Outer space (1959), on Amazon VOD now and Blu Ray this summer. His show is nationally syndicated on AMGTV affiliates, seen on ROKU and other streaming devices and channels, and NOW on his own free internet-based channel, OSI 74 (osi74.com). He lords over late night slumber party fun with his patented blend of humor and satire proving that “They’re not Bad Movies — Just Misunderstood.” Mr. Lobo has been a special guest and emcee for BLOBFEST since 2010. He has also hosted many live events and film festivals and provides background on the films with comedy, games, and prizes. He recently hosted Bride of the Monster at the Anthony Wayne Theater in Wayne, PA, and will be participating in RETRO CON in Oaks, PA, September 24th and 25th. He has been in dozens of film documentaries, has had many cameos in genre films, is a returning guest on national radio talk shows including Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, provided commentary for Mystery Science Theater box sets, has been featured on TMZ, and was parodied on Scooby-Doo. Last year he released a hot selling Halloween album called Horrible Noises of Mr. Lobo’s Very Bad Manor and a Cinema Insomnia: Haunted House DVD. Episodes of Cinema Insomnia are showing now on his website, CinemaInsomnia.com and on his new channel OSI 74 (OSI74.com).

“We’re excited to welcome fans to BLOBFEST 2016,” said Colonial Theatre Executive Director Mary Foote.  “We have a great lineup of films and fun, and we’re looking forward to having Marta Kristen and the B9 Robot replica, plus Christopher Mihm as part of the ‘FEST.”

The mission of the Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT), a not-for-profit organization, is to enhance the collective well being of our region by restoring the landmark Colonial Theatre and promoting cultural, economic and civic life. To that end, ACT presents film, live theatre, music, dance and other community events in the heart of Phoenixville’s historic business district.

 

BLOBFEST 2016
July 8th, 9th & 10th

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY

7:00 p.m.          Doors open for stage show and Run Out
7:30 p.m.          Stage show begins
9:00 p.m.          Approximate time for Run Out

SATURDAY

11:00 a.m.        Street Fair begins; Dibbs Preston and the Detonators begin first music set on the street
11:30 a.m.        First matinee double feature (The Blob and This Island Earth)
12:00 p.m.        Registration for Costume Contest begins
12:00 p.m.        Fire Extinguisher Parade
1:00 p.m.          Costume Contest; Street Fair stage
2:00 p.m.          The Patient Creatures Storytelling
4:00 p.m.          The Patient Creatures Storytelling
3:45 p.m.          Second matinee double feature (The Blob and This Island Earth)
6:00 p.m.          Street Fair ends
7:30 p.m.          Doors open for Late Show
8:00 p.m.          Late Show double feature (The Blob and Queen of Blood)

SUNDAY

1:00 p.m.          Doors open for Marta Kristen Q & A and matinee screenings
1:30 p.m.          Marta Kristen Q & A
2:00 p.m.          Screening of The Blob
3:30 p.m.          Screening of The Late Night Double Feature
5:00 p.m.          Christopher Mihm Q & A

 

The Preceding Press Release was sent to the Chamber by the Association For the Colonial Theatre.