East side of South Burdick Street, north of South Street (143 South Burdick Street).
Opened by W.H. Johnson and operated as a film theater from 24 August 1907 until 2 April 1916. Remodeled in 1912 at a cost of $4,000. Manager then was Col. William H. Johnson.
By 1914 the Colonial was controlled by Kalamazoo Amusement Company; L.C. Barnes, Managers and Proprietors. (Proprietors of Elite, Lyric, Orpheum, and Colonial theaters.) Claimed to seat 270.
“Colonial Theater to be Neatest Ever.
The Olympic, high class vaudeville theater; the Colonial, moving picture theater, and the Wonderland Arcade form a trio of local amusement enterprises that will cater to the theatergoing public of Kalamazoo the coming season and draw their full share of patronage.
They are the outgrowth of the highly successful Wonderland arcade and moving picture theater and will all be under the management of Col. W.H. Johnson, who is already well and favorably known to the people of this city from his connection with the Wonderland.
The Wonderland arcade is now in operation, the Colonial moving picture theater is nearing completion and the wall of the Olympic are up and enclosed. This last named playhouse however, will not be finished until about the first of November
A Winning Trio.
The Olympic-Colonial-Wonderland trio, when in full operation, will be a distinct and marked addition to the amusement places of Kalamazoo and in every department will furnish a high and wholesome class of entertainment.
The Colonial theater is located two doors south of the Wonderland arcade on S. Burdick St., taking in the entire building at No. 143, formerly occupied by the New Process laundry. Its dimensions are 80×22 feet, exclusive of the stage, which increases the length to nearly 100 feet. The stage is 12 feet in width, the flooring being of hard wood and the proscenium and other embellishments ornate and highly artistic.
The color scheme employed in the interior decorations is red, white and gold, with green burlap dado, the effect being harmonious and restful.
Excellent View of Stage.
From the lobby to the stage the floor has a three-foot fall, giving every person in the audience a fine view of the stage.
The colonial will seat 200 persons, leather upholstered opera chairs of the latest design being used.
One thing that will especially recommend this pretty playhouse will be the ventilating arrangements. Above and at each side of the stage if a ‘port hole’ in which is an electric fan. The same arrangement obtains in the front of the theater. On the ceiling in the center of the room are a couple of big Westinghouse paddle fan.
This absolutely insures fresh air at all times, adding much to the comfort of the patrons and making it the best ventilated theater in the city. Under the stairs at the left of the stage is a Westinghouse motor, which operates a big iron fan and carries out every particle of foul air in the house. The Colonial might well be named ‘the airy playhouse.’
Beautiful Chandeliers.
Three handsome colonial chandeliers will add much to the beauty of the interior and each will be a blaze of light. The stage will be encircled by incandescent light s and nothing in this particular will be neglected.
Instead of a drop curtain, a pair of beautiful silk draped curtains will grace the stage.
The dressing each side of the stage will be roomy and fully equipped with toilet accessories, etc.
Fireproof Machine Room.
If there is one feature more than another that the Colonial management is proud of and points to as the acme of perfection in its line it is the machine room just inside the entrance of the theater and over the box office. It is 5×8 feet in size and in it is situated the moving picture machine.
It was constructed under the supervision of the fire department and has been pronounced absolutely fireproof. Metal laths were first used, then rock plaster and to cap the climax the whole was lined with asbestos, making it proof against flames to the last degree.
Now if a film should catch fire the spectators could remain in their seats with perfect safety and enjoy the pyrotechnics, as it would be impossible for the flames to get beyond the confines of the machine room.
In front of the box office will be a big brass railing, while the tickets will be passed out to the buyer under a large and ornate brass gate.
An iron railing will separate the lobby from the theater proper.
An Attractive Front.
Perhaps the most attractive point about the Colonial will be the front, which will exceed in beauty anything of the sort in Kalamazoo or the state, so the management asserts. The outer front will all be in white upon a specially constricted background.
At each side of the entrance will be a 15-inch mahogany pillar, while above, in electric lights, will appear the blazing sign, ‘5-Cent Theater.’
The dimensions of the entrance will be about 7×18 feet, width tile flooring and entire mahogany background. The effect will be rich and pleasing to the eye and will entice thousands of pleasure-seekers to the finest moving picture show in the state of Michigan.
Will Open Next Saturday.
Next Saturday night at 7 o’clock the doors of the Colonial will be thrown open to the public.
The personnel of the Colonial staff is as follows:
Co. W.H. Johnson, manager; Miss Freda Meier, illustrated songs; Miss Muriel Meier, pianist; Ray Earle, electrician; Miss Grace W. Gregory, treasurer.”
—Kalamazoo Gazette, 18 August 1907, p.9