State Theatre

The address for the State theatre is 212 South Michigan, South Bend, Ind.

The State Theatre in Downtown South Bend, IN is now closed. It has gone through foreclosure and is availible for sale through Prudential One Realty Commercial Division. E-mail Bill Hunt for listing at Bill.Hunt@prudentialonerealty.com

Bill Hunt

On June 30, 1934 John Dillinger and his gang robbed their last bank in the same block where the State stands. A shootout with the Police took place in the street. It's said that some of the bullets hit the upper facade of the State. I've stood in front of the State and with the aid of binoculars, I saw what could be patched bullet holes. I don't know for sure, but I can't rule it out.

My friend & colleague, the late Brother Andrew Corsini, one of the founders of the Theatre Historical Society, indicated to me that the State originally opened as the Blackstone and was designed by the architectural firm of Newhouse & Bernham. It opened on January 29, 1921. On opening it had a Kimball 2 manual organ.

STATE THEATRE UPDATE!
My friends, the State has been purchased (July 2006) and will reopen to the public for one day, September 7th during ArtBeat 2006 for a grand estate sale. All proceeds will go to the renovation of the State Theatre which has lost its lustre over the years of neglect, abuse and water damage. You can keep up with its progress, read press releases, news stories plus view photos at www.LifeAtTheState.com

The South Bend Tribune had two articles about the State Theater today. Reportedly, it'll be a cultural center with a Christian influence. It should be interesting to see if it works in the downtown setting. South Bend has made a concerted effort to revitalize the downtown and this could be the acid test. Take a look at http://www.bendareablog.com for a little more info and links.

Not relating to the State, I wanted to mention that Brother Andrew was a good man.

http://www.realst8.com/blog/?p=56

after restoration, the State was a great movie experience. Took the family to see Independence Day . Beautiful restoration. Hope they re-open as a classic movie theater. Like to see some of my old favorites on the big screen. Bogart, John Wayne, Hitchcock Jim Stewart and so on.

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1985

Blackstone-State Theater (added 1985 - Building - #85001204)
212 S. Michigan, South Bend
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Newhouse,Harry
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use

A Kimball theater organ was installed in the Blackstone (State) Theater in 1920.

The State Theater now serves at the Life Church:
http://www.lifeatthestate.com/LifeChurch/Life_Church.html

Here is an updated link for the church website.

This is a 2008 photo. Is the building only used as a church or does it have another function?

The link from two messages above is incorrect. Here is the correct link:

http://www.lifeatthestate.com/Life_Church.html

Sorry for my goof -- Lost Memory's link IS correct.

The link posted on July 18, 2008 is correct. Do you mean the link posted on April 30, 2008?

Early View

While I was a student at Notre Dame (1951-1955), the State had fallen on hard times. Of the five operating movies then in "downtown" South Bend -- the Avon, Colfax, Granada, Palace, and State -- the State showed the poorest selection of second-run films, and the building's condition was sad -- damp, musty, dingy, and generally unkempt. As I recollect, the place did not get its share of business from ND, even though it was closer to the bus stop (from campus) than any of the other theaters.

Thanks to the attempt to bring the theater back to life in the 90's and then as a night club - the building got a lot needed attention. Unfortunately now - the church that uses the building only appears to use the small lobby up front - not the auditorium. I really love this theater, but with the beautifully restored Morris Civic (Palace) a few blocks away, the Avon (one block away) still boarded up, and the state of South Bend's and the nation's economy - I fear for the State Theater. I took some pictures which I will post a link to very soon.

I finally got a few of my snapshots up:
http://jimvid.smugmug.com/gallery/6793528_N2xGS#434138992_x9JH7

The year given for this photo is 1968.

For sale on loopnet:
http://snipurl.com/gjp3r

Here is a recent photo.

The State Theater in South Bend is up for sale again. An auction will be held July 16 - 30, 2009. I believe that the South Bend religious organization, LeSea, currently owns it.

I hope that a group interested in preserving classic movie houses will buy it. It would be an excellent venue for showing classic films, teaching and discussing movie history, and housing a classic films museum. It is located in revitalized Downtown South Bend, near fine hotels, restaurants and retail stores, and just a block from the College Football Hall of Fame and the impressive Center Center
convention facilty, which sits on the scenic St. Joseph River.

According to the 12 June 2009 "South Bend Tribune", the State Theatre us up for auction. The evangelical community that claimed it failed to meet its goals. Details may be found at URL: http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090612/NEWS01/906120339

The State Theatre is up for auction July 16th-30th, 2009. Visit www.publicenemies.us for details, a video tour and more.

2009 photo of the State Theatre courtesy of rexp.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14643312@N02/3750497021/

I remember going to the State a few times as a kid in the mid-60s. I saw Mary Poppins, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, The Singing Nun, Walt Disney's Cinderella and Yellowstone Cubs and The Trouble With Angels there (although one or two of those may have played at the Granada.

It's one of the few remaining buildings downtown that I still remember from when I lived in South Bend.

Nice 1968 photo posted of the State.

A couple more photos of the State Theatre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/732mpd/3508850876/in/pool-cinemasignage/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/732mpd/3508037641/in/pool-cinemasignage/

Nice 2010 B&W photo of the State Theatre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14841959@N06/4313189998/sizes/o/in/pool-53328547@N00/