On Christmas Day in 1938, the State Theater opened with Alexander’s Ragtime Band starring Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, and Don Ameche. Charles Behrensmeyer was retained to design thetheater in 1927 and Leo Monckton erected the theater.
The State Theater was advertised as an attractive movie house, modern in every detail, including air-conditioning. It was a 500-seat theater with an Art Deco style The long,narrow design, sloping floor and Celotex material made the theater one of the most “sound perfect” buildings in the area.
The theater also had two innovations that had never been tried before in Quincy. The back row seats in the main section was fitted with acoustical devices for the hearing impaired. The other innovation was a “crying room†in the second floor where mothers could take their small children and still view and hear the
picture. The entrance to the theater on South Eighth street had a wide lobby. The ticket office was in the center and to the right as one entered was the men’s room and to the left was the powder room for women. The lobby was decorated in apple green and maroon
with silver stripes and a terazzo floor. In the auditorium, the seats were of the lastest style, self rising so that as soon as they were not in use they would fold up. The auditorium walls were a maroon finish to five feet from the floor, with a pleasing light color of Celotex material above that.
The last feature film at the State Theater was “Little Man Tateâ€. The State Theater closed in February 1992 after Kerasotes Theaters had operated the theater for several decades.
Does anyone know if the Sidney, Murphy (Wilmington, OH) and Regent (Springfield, OH) Theatres were related or just all got their signs produced at the same time by the same company? It seems more than coincidence that all three theatres had six letters in their names and signs of the same design.
That address (technically 100 N. Perry) jives with this former theatre / Gospel Light Baptist Church (photo April 2008): http://agilitynut.com/08/4/gospel.jpg
History from the State Room site:
On Christmas Day in 1938, the State Theater opened with Alexander’s Ragtime Band starring Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, and Don Ameche. Charles Behrensmeyer was retained to design thetheater in 1927 and Leo Monckton erected the theater.
The State Theater was advertised as an attractive movie house, modern in every detail, including air-conditioning. It was a 500-seat theater with an Art Deco style The long,narrow design, sloping floor and Celotex material made the theater one of the most “sound perfect” buildings in the area.
The theater also had two innovations that had never been tried before in Quincy. The back row seats in the main section was fitted with acoustical devices for the hearing impaired. The other innovation was a “crying room†in the second floor where mothers could take their small children and still view and hear the
picture. The entrance to the theater on South Eighth street had a wide lobby. The ticket office was in the center and to the right as one entered was the men’s room and to the left was the powder room for women. The lobby was decorated in apple green and maroon
with silver stripes and a terazzo floor. In the auditorium, the seats were of the lastest style, self rising so that as soon as they were not in use they would fold up. The auditorium walls were a maroon finish to five feet from the floor, with a pleasing light color of Celotex material above that.
The last feature film at the State Theater was “Little Man Tateâ€. The State Theater closed in February 1992 after Kerasotes Theaters had operated the theater for several decades.
Here’s some info about this theatre:
View link
Does anyone know if the Sidney, Murphy (Wilmington, OH) and Regent (Springfield, OH) Theatres were related or just all got their signs produced at the same time by the same company? It seems more than coincidence that all three theatres had six letters in their names and signs of the same design.
The theatre now houses the Watermark Community Church.
http://agilitynut.com/09/3/springst.jpg
An empty parking lot now.
From 2008:
http://agilitynut.com/08/8/presidio.jpg
It seems this building was constructed in 1912. Some nice vintage photos and info here:
View link
The theatre’s website puts the opening date as 1949 — and the original name as Aven (not Avon):
http://www.raventheater.org/about_history.aspx
Here’s a shot of the building and the new marquee:
http://agilitynut.com/08/8/thpub2.jpg
The sign at least was saved:
View link
That one’s broken. How about this one:
http://agilitynut.com/08/8/goldmedal.jpg
The concession stand is still there as of April 2008:
http://www.agilitynut.com/08/4/godi.jpg
That address (technically 100 N. Perry) jives with this former theatre / Gospel Light Baptist Church (photo April 2008):
http://agilitynut.com/08/4/gospel.jpg
Sorry to report that this one will be gone soon:
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8264228
Is this theatre really still there? I went looking for it at the above address and only found a vacant lot.
and a couple more photos at my website (thanks Lost Memory — damn, you’re fast!):
http://www.agilitynut.com/theatres/pa.html#Easton
Here’s a photo:
http://flickr.com/photos/jeanwilde/139769844/