Idaho Falls Arts Council looks back at 100 years of the Colonial Theater

It has brought eastern Idaho 100 years of the arts and theater, and now the Colonial Theater in Idaho Falls is celebrating its centennial anniversary.

The Idaho Falls Arts Council is prepping for the 100th birthday with a list full of fall events; including a Kristen Chenoweth concert and a Centennial Ball.

After opening its doors on Nov. 10, 1919, the theater continues to bring entertainment to eastern Idaho.

The arts council is looking back at how the arts have changed throughout time.

“Whether you were one of the lucky ones that saw Taylor Swift here when she was 16, or if you’ve rocked out to the Oak Ridge Boys or if you’ve been able to witness the Idaho Falls Symphony do ‘The Messiah,'” said Brandi Newton, the executive director for the Idaho Falls Arts Council. “What we love is that all walks of life, all ranges of people get to come in and experience the theater.”

But at the same time, the arts council notes the little things that remain the same.

“There’s a cherub here in the front that is original from the 1919 architecture, along with some dentil moulding,” Newton said.

The Colonial Theater has been a staple in the lives of the people in the community. The arts council wants this celebration to be one that all can enjoy, so it is asking the public to share their own memories and art pieces.

“What I hope is that for the next 100 years, they can talk about, ‘Can you believe what they did on the stage however long?'” Newton said. “But it also continues to be a place of positivity, where people can learn, grow, entertain and interact.”

The deadline for the Colonial Theater Centennial Exhibition entries is Sept. 30. Anyone who is interested but cannot make that deadline may contact Georgina Goodlander at ggoodlander@idahofallsarts.org.