Boyertown Area Residents Advised to Lookout for The Blob

by Julie Cordingley

Do you know the difference between Joel Hodgins and Svengoolie? Me neither! But their claim to fame was promoting the B-movie, sci-fi horror genre of which The Blob is a four-star favorite. It holds a special place in B-movie fandom hearts.

This 1958 film featured a young Steve McQueen in his first featured role and was filmed in on a Valley Forge movie set. People living in the Boyertown area at that time felt lucky that the menacing ooze was only interested in terrorizing its Phoenixville neighbors, blissfully aware they were out of its man-eating range.

Did you know that the blob was very loosely based on a real-life event? Me neither! But readers of the September 27, 1950 edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer woke up to a headline that read: “Flying ‘Saucer’ Just Dissolves.” The article went on to explain that two Philadelphia police officers, Joe Keenan and John Collins, both spotted a “parachute-type object” falling from the sky. They followed its descent to 26th and Vare Streets, where they claimed to have seen a large, glittery mass they later described as a “pulsating, purple jelly, six feet in diameter, filled with a crystal like-substance, and letting off a vapor.”

Not knowing what they encountered, the pair called for backup. Office James Casper and Sergeant Joe Cook arrived and joined the first two law enforcement officials in corroborating this strange finding. Before leaving the scene, Collins made an impulsive decision to touch the peculiar substance. Tiny globules stuck to his hand but quickly dissolved. The FBI eventually was called in to investigate, but when Federal officials finally arrived all that was left was a spot on the ground.

Did you know this phenomenon has happened before? Me neither! But apparently the same type of oozy mass, falling from the sky has been recorded several times over many centuries. It was first described in the 1600’s and given the name pwdre ser (pronounced “poodra sair”) - Welsh for “the rot of the stars.” Eerily similar incidences of the blobs (aka star jelly, earth stars, star slime, moon spit) also happened in Tasmania (1996) and Scotland (2009). One theory suggested the slime is primarily liquified space rocks that come to earth during meteor showers. However, that was quickly dismissed by experts who assessed that when entering the earth’s atmosphere, this substance would burn up. But therein lies the problem: if it is not melted space rocks, what is it? Scientists have yet to offer a plausible explanation.

It is not too big of a stretch to imagine that the combination of the Inquirer story, together with the widely misunderstood nuclear experimentation taking place during the 1940s and 50s, would fuel people’s fear of creating mutated creatures. Add to that many Americans’ fears of an imminent “Red Invasion” and it’s easy to understand why eight years later these events motivated Pennsylvania local filmmakers Jack H. Harris and Irvine H. Millgate to make a memorable monster movie. They had more than enough inspiration.

Did you know that Phoenixville, since 1980, has honored its most gooey “son” by hosting an annual party in its honor, known as Blobfest? This one, I did know!

The 26th run of this truly unique festival will occur this year July 11 – 13. It features: a free and open to the public street fair, with over 70 vendors; a costume contest (a rare opportunity to witness the many different stylings of aluminum foil); a Fire Extinguisher Parade (turns out that the only way to stop the Blob…not kill it, mind you…is to use anything cold including extinguishers); and finally, varied kilometer races (as a means to gauge whether there is a running chance to escape the blob).

The most sought-after tickets during the Blobfest weekend is the “run-out,” a re-enactment of a scene from the movie that was filmed in Phoenixville’s movie theatre. During this iconic moment the blob enters a theatre, instigating mass panic as moviegoers attempted to flee the menacing monster. Participants in the reenactment similarly head for the exits, in a cheeky tribute to the original scene that helped cement Phoenixville’s role in Hollywood history.

All proceeds from Blobfest benefit the preservation of the Colonial Theater, the venue prominently featured in the movie, to ensure its continued success at programming and promoting the arts in the community…something fans are willing to run to!

IF YOU GO:

For tickets and information visit:

https://thecolonialtheatre.com/blobfest/

https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Phoenixville/TheBlobfest5k

Blobfest Schedule

Friday, July 11

• 7:30pm - Stage Show and Run Out (Sold out – but you can observe the panic from the safety of the sidewalk outside of the theatre.
• 1:30 pm -- Encore showing of the 1958 movie, “The Blob”
• 9:00pm - The Blob Ball, “a retro-dance” event, for which The Colonial’s lobby is transformed into a 1950’s rock n’ roll dance party featuring music, drinks, dancing, and dress up! Only those age 21 and older are admitted.

Saturday, July 12

• 11:00am, 4:00pm, and 6:30pm -- Showings of the 1958 movie, “The Blob” (the 6:30 program only includes a second run-out);
• 11:30am -- Showing of the movie “Harry and the Hendersons”
• 1:30pm -- Showing of the movie “Flash Gordon”
• 3:00pm and 6:30pm - Showing of the movie “La Masa Devoradora,” the Spanish-language title of “The Blob”
• 5:30pm -- Showing of the movie “Addams Family Values”
• 9:00pm -- Showing of the movie “Evil Dead 2”

Outside Stage show schedule for Saturday, July 12

• 11:00am -- Fire Extinguisher Parade
• 12:00pm -- DJ Shawn Cephas
• 1:00pm -- Costume Contest
• 2:00pm -- Beach Creeper
• 3:00pm -- UNCLE
• 4:00pm -- Street Beans

Sunday, July 13

• 4:00pm – Showing of Camp-O-Rama, the Matt McGinnis’ Movie Riffing Melee (features Matt McGinnis of “Mystery Science Theater 3000″ and his assistant, Roxie, presenting five campy shorts riffed live by the audience. The program ends with the campiest finale of them all: Blobfest’s first wedding!)
• 6:30pm – Encore showing of the movie “La Masa Devoradora,” the Spanish-language title of “The Blob”
• 7:30pm - Showing of the movie “Gremlins 2: The New Batch”

It has been over 40 years since a chemist job in Malvern lured Julie Cordingley away from her up state, New York home. She is a proud resident of Gilbertsville! Besides working in industry, at various times she has been a stay-at-home mom, and has just recently retired from Phoenixville Area School District as a (wait for it!) chemistry teacher. It has been a life-long dream to be a writer. She figures she can work at that craft while also traveling with her husband in their drivable RV… a retirement present to herself!

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