Ricou Browning, from The Creature from the Black Lagoon is Special Guest
PHOENIXVILLE, PA – Monster Mash is the theme of the 16th annual BLOBFEST, The Colonial Theatre’s kitschy, family-friendly event saluting the 1958 classic sci-fi movie The Blob. The event will take place July 10th through 12th at the theatre in Phoenixville, PA.
The Blob was filmed in and around Phoenixville, and The Colonial Theatre plays a key role in the film. BLOBFESTS’s Monster Mash theme is a salute to Universal Studios monster movies. Ricou Browning who played the underwater Gill Man in Universal’s The Creature from the Black Lagoon is special guest. BLOBFEST is sponsored by Mainstay Inn, with additional support from Salena Salon and Horizon Services.
The event begins Friday, July 10th, 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. for this weird and wacky night that features live music by iGor and the Borises, a performance by The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Act, plus the Shorty Awards recognizing the winners of BLOBFEST’s ninth annual amateur short film contest, a screening of the winning films, a special dance performance by Phoenixville’s Feet First dancers and audience participation. Ghoul A Go-Go and The Patient Creature characters will be on hand as well. Friday evening culminates with the crowd favorite, the reenactment of the “Running Out of the Theatre” 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 11th, at 11 a.m. with the Street Fair 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 Street Fair 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 Street Fair stage, with contestant registration beginning at noon. Registration is $5 per person or costume group entry.
The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Act will also perform on the Street Fair stage at 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Storytelling by The Patient Creatures will take place at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Steel City Coffee house. An all-day hot rod car show by the Dirty Devils Motor Club and food and merchandise vendors round out the Street Fair, which ends at 6 p.m.
Multiple showings of The Blob, plus two classic Universal Studios monster movies, will take place inside The Colonial Theatre on Saturday. Throughout the day on the theatre’s third floor, Ricou Browning from The Creature from the Black Lagoon will greet fans, as will, Kris Yeaworth, son of Blob director Shorty Yeaworth, characters from Ghoul A Go-Go, a New York-based children’s show, and The Patient Creatures.
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 12 noon or 3:45 p.m. double feature, The Blob (1958) and The Creature from the Black Lagoon 3D (1954). Browning will give a brief introduction to The Creature during each showing.
The Saturday Late Show double feature includes The Blob followed by Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for the 8 p.m. show. BLOBFEST 16 concludes Sunday, July 12th, at 1:30 p.m. with a Q and A by Ricou Browning, a screening of the The Blob and a showing of The Ghastly Love of Johnny X (2012), a truly mad concoction, blending 1950s juvenile delinquents, sci-fi melodrama, song-and-dance, and a touch of horror. Johnny X writer/director Paul Bunnell will be on hand Sunday to discuss his film 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.
BLOBFEST special guest Ricou Browning was born and raised in Florida and got a career start diving and springboard diving in local water shows. By the time he was in his early 20s he was producing underwater shows at Weeki Wachee Springs and topside water shows at Rainbow Springs and other locations. After playing the Gill Man in the underwater scenes of Universal Studios’ Creature from the Black Lagoon and its sequels, Revenge of the Creature and The Creature Walks Among Us 1956), he began working in film and TV production as a result of an encounter with producer Ivan Tors. Browning became president of Tors’ Florida studios and was involved in Tors’ Sea Hunt (1958), The Aquanauts (1960) and Flipper (1963) TV series. He has also worked as a director (above and below water), second unit director, writer, stunt man and stunt coordinator.
Mr. Lobo, emcee for the weekend, is making his fifth appearance at BLOBFEST. He is the host of the late night movie program Cinema Insomnia — a cult sensation for 14 years and counting. Mr. Lobo lords over late night slumber party fun with his patented blend of humor and satire. He sets out to prove that “They’re not Bad Movies–Just Misunderstood.” The show has been seen in hundreds of television and cable markets and has found a new audience on connected television via Zom-Bee TV, Red Eye, AMGTV, and Tesla Wolf Media and can be seen on Roku streaming devices and on Ustream. He has also been involved with documentaries centered on films, sub-genres, film hosts, and television shows, including American Scary, CitizenWood, and VirginiaCreepers. His distinctive voice can be heard on commercials and trailers, and he has a spoken word album available on CD and Download/MP3 called Horrible Noises of Mr. Lobo’s Very Bad Manor that was ranked by iTunes as one of the Top 40 Halloween Recordings. Mr. Lobo has made hundreds of live appearances all over the country and is a special guest at Wondercon and Monster Bash. Mr. Lobo will be on hand throughout the weekend to emcee events, judge the Costume Contest and greet fans. On Sunday he’ll moderate the Q & A session with Johnny X writer/director Paul Bunnell
As “The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Act,” Bill Riley and Joe Ziegler transform themselves into Bud Abbott and Lou Costello through vintage dress and an authentic recreation of the team’s mannerisms and vocal stylings. They perform with pinpoint accuracy many of the vaudeville and burlesque routines made famous by Bud and Lou on stage, screen, radio and television, including the classic baseball routine “Who’s On First?” They have performed as Abbott and Costello since 1994 for corporate functions, private parties, civic groups, fund raisers and on radio and television. They regularly appear aboard The John W. Brown/Project Liberty Ship “WW II Living History Cruises” in Baltimore and perform yearly at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s “WW II Weekend” in Reading, PA, and at Virginia Beach Airport’s “Warbirds Over the Beach.” In May 2004 it was their great pleasure to perform in Washington, D.C. at the Disabled American Veterans’ Dinner as part of the WW II Monument Celebration/Dedication Ceremony.
“This year’s BLOBFEST is shaping up to be our best one yet,” said Colonial Theatre Executive Director Mary Foote. “We have some wonderful guests joining us, and we’ll be showing some great films. I hope that everyone will come out for part or all of the festival.”
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 2015
July 10, 11 & 12
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
11:45 a.m. The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Act performance; Street Fair stage
12:00 p.m. First matinee double feature (The Blob and The Creature from the Black Lagoon)
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
1:30 p.m. The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Act performance; Street Fair stage
2:00 p.m. The Patient Creatures Storytelling; Steel City Coffee House stage
3:00 p.m. The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Act performance; Street Fair stage
4:00 p.m. The Patient Creatures Storytelling; Steel City Coffee House stage
3:45 p.m. Second matinee double feature (The Blob and The Creature from the Black Lagoon)
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 Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein)
SUNDAY
1:00 p.m. Doors open for Browning Q & A and matinee screening
1:30 p.m. Ricou Browning Q & A
2:00 p.m. Screening of The Blob
3:30 p.m. Screening of The Ghastly Love of Johnny X
5:15 p.m Paul Bunnell Q & A
The preceding was submitted to the Chamber by The Colonial Theatre.
