Colonial Theatre Restoration Effort
An initial effort in 1984 to preserve the theatre prior to its conversion to a five screen multiplex fell short. A few years after the multiplex closed, a new effort began to restore the theatre that was led by the Colonial Cultural Arts Center, Inc. In April of 2010, the City of Laconia purchased an 18-month option to buy the Colonial Theatre. In October of 2010, the theatre was listed by the NH Preservation Alliance as one of NH’s most important historical treasures. In early 2012, the effort to purchase the Colonial Theatre failed. But the effort was revived in 2015, and the theatre was finally restored, reopening in 2021.
Below is list of newspaper articles that describe the restoration efforts that occurred between 2007-2010. All of the articles are unavailable online. The Laconia Citizen newspaper, after a 90 year run, went out of business on October 1, 2016, and took down their web site permanently. The online archive for the Laconia Daily Sun only goes back to 2014. The Laconia Public Library is now the only source for these articles. The library has every issue of the Citizen available on microfilm.
Laconia Citizen Article, October 14, 2007: Laconia Eyes Reviving Downtown Theater
Laconia Citizen Article, December 11, 2007: Council Sets Up Fund for Arts Center
Laconia Citizen Article, February 14, 2008: Study to Test Arts Center Potential
Laconia Citizen Article, February 15, 2008: Performing Arts in the City?
Laconia Citizen Editorial, February 15, 2008: A Cultural Opportunity Worth Pursuing
The Laconia Daily Sun, February 15, 2008: Performing Arts Center Could Be Economic Dynamo
Laconia Citizen Article, Wednesday, July 16, 2008: Performing arts effort refocusing
The Laconia Daily Sun, August 4, 2008: Consultant’s cautious optimism for Colonial Cultural Arts Center not shared by committee
Laconia Citizen Article, Tuesday, April 27, 2010: Colonial Breakthrough Announced
Laconia Citizen Article, Wednesday, April 28, 2010: Decision Won’t Be Rushed
Laconia Citizen Article,Wednesday, April 28, 2010: Save the Colonial – Light the Marquee
Laconia Citizen Article, Saturday, May 1, 2010: Interested Parties Come Forward
Laconia Citizen Article, Wednesday, October 20, 2010: Colonial Theater Named to the ‘Save’ List
Laconia Daily Sun Article, Wednesday, October 20, 2010: Colonial Theater Given ‘Seven to Save’ Status by NH Preservation Alliance
The fire curtain at the Colonial Theatre depicted a tranquil scene of Venice.
