State Theatre

Theatre opened in 1921. The State was designed by Weeks & Day, the same firm that designed the FOX in Oakland, CA. The State seats about 2380 people. The State showcased for many years the same shows that play The Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

I have a lobby flyer from one of Buster Keaton "Go West" It's about a 6x5 folded flyer that has Buster on the front with more information on the inside. And on the back has in Red lettering (Rubber Stamped) Loew's State Theatre Week Starting Saturday No 21st. My Grandmother grew up in the Los Angeles area in the 1920's when she was just a little girl. My Great Grand Father was a big fan of the Picture Shows and this flyer was in her belongings.

Is it is o is it ain't open!!!!!!!!

This was the grandest of all the Loew's theatres. The mezzanine level leading to the huge balcony was more ornate than the long narrow lobby.

The marquee in the picture is the second marquee that was installed in around the 1939. When this theatre opened it had two marquees , one on Broadway and one around the corner on 7th. Also it had a large neon display signage that ran outside the entire building.

The Loew's State can be seen on the right side of this photo dated 1955 showing Broadway and 7th.

This was never the "flagship" of the Loew's theater chain. That honor went to Loew's State in Times Square, NYC, which was adjacent to the executive HQ of Loew's, Inc., at 1540 Broadway. Loew's also operated the famous Capitol Theatre in NYC, but that was kept separate from the circuit and never had the Loew's name attached to it until the last years of its existence...I suppose that you could say that the L.A. State was the "flagship" of Loew's West Coast theatres, which wouldn't be saying much because the circuit had only one other, the Warfield in San Francisco. And I believe that both of those theatres were actually operated for Loew's by Fox West Coast Theatres.

Two comments about your post Warren. I noticed it odd in the second marquee photo from 1955 its says The State and not Loews. Was Fox west coast now the owner? Also why did the Capitol not have the Loews name on it until later on? I would think they would be proud of one of New Yorks great palaces.

Loew's Inc. operates several theatres in association with United Artists Theatre Circuit and Fox West Coast Theatres (Wesco).
During the 30's The State (LA) and Warfield (SF) was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres. In the mid 40's United Artists Theatre Circuit directly and through subsidiary companies is financially interested in the theatres listed below.
Chinese (Hollywood) with Fox West Coast Theatres
Four Star (Los Angeles) with Fox West Coast Theatres
Loew's State (Los Angeles) with Fox West Coast Theatres
United Artists (Los Angeles) with Fox West Coast Theatres

You will see United Artists Theatres had theatres in Inglewood, Pasadena, Capital(in Glendale), UA Long Beach, UA East LA (Alameda) and a few others. These theatres were operated by Fox West Coast Theatres (Wesco).

When Loew's "acquired" the Capitol, it was only a part interest previously owned by Goldwyn Pictures, a company that Loew's, Inc. purchased to form part of MGM Pictures. The Capitol was then incorporated into a company that still had some of the theatre's original owners, who wanted it to keep a separate identity from the Loew's circuit. As the original owners died off, Loew's bought their shares and eventually made the Capitol part of the Loew's circuit...I don't know enough about the history of the L.A. State to say whether it was ever "owned" by Fox West Coast. But I think that Loew's got rid of it to comply with the Federal anti-trust decree against the company. I believe that the State was being run by Metropolitan Theatres when it was converted to a Spanish-language house.

Fox West Coast Theatres and United Artist Theatres had partnerships in ownership in select theatres around the country. Like the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood was owned by Fox West Coast Theatres (Wesco) and United Artists Theatres, till Joseph M. Schenck (President UA Theatres) sold his companies interest in the Chinese to Fox (Wesco). Joseph M. Schenck was also the Executive Head of Production at 20th Century Fox.

Loew's Theatres was one of the last theatre chains to comply with the anti-trust decree. They did so sometime in the early to mid 50's.




Fox West Coast Theatres operated in the 40's in the Downtown Los Angeles area.

Loew's State Theatre (First Run District)
Los Angeles Theatre (First Run District)
United Artists (First Run District)
Orpheum Theatre (First Run District)
During the 30's they operated these theatres in the Downtown Los Angeles area.

Loew's State Theatre
Palace Theatre
Tower Theatre
Cameo Theatre
United Artists Theatre
Criterion Theatre
President Theatre


Metropolitan Theatres pickup the leases on many of the Broadway theatres when other major chains left the Downtown movie district area for Hollywood, Beverly Hills areas.

Joseph Schenck was the brother of Nicholas Schenck, CEO of Loew's, Inc. (parent company of MGM Pictures and Loew's Theatres). It would be hard to say which of the two brothers was the most unscrupulous, but Joseph Schenck was the only one to serve time in prison (for tax evasion and pay-offs to union officials).

Always fun to wander into this theatre during the Los Angeles Conservancy's "Last Remaining Seats" Broadway tour on Sundays, but they'll chase you out right quick if you let slip that you aren't really there because of the Jesus. It's in beautiful shape on the inside, though...this may also be the same Iglesia Universal outfit that runs the old Granada Theatre on Avalon Boulevard.

This theatre is one of some 200 that could be described as "Skouras-ized For Showmanship" which is the title of the ANNUAL of 1987 of the Theatre Historical Soc. of America. In the late 1930s through the 1950s, there occurred on the west coast of the United States a phenomenon known as the 'Skouras style' in recognition of the oversight of the Skouras brothers in their management of several cinema chains. They employed a designer by the name of Carl G. Moeller to render their cinemas/theatres in a new style best described as 'Art Moderne meets Streamlined.' The then new availability of aluminum sheeting at low cost was the principal material difference to this style allowing for sweeping, 3-dimensional shapes of scrolls to adorn walls and facades in an expression that would have been much more expensive and not at all the same in plaster. With the use of hand tinted and etched aluminum forms, the designers could make ornaments in mass production that allowed much greater economies of scale. The ANNUAL also show in its 44 pages how some 20 theatres were good examples of this combining of aluminum forms with sweeping draperies heavily hung with large tassels, and with box offices and facades richly treated with neon within the aluminum forms. Few of these examples survive today, but it was a glorious era while it lasted, and this collection of crisp b/w photos is a fitting epitaph by the late Preston Kaufmann.
PHOTOS AVAILABLE:
To obtain any available Back Issue of either "Marquee" or of its ANNUALS, simply go to the web site of the THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA at:
www.HistoricTheatres.org
and notice on their first page the link "PUBLICATIONS: Back Issues List" and click on that and you will be taken to their listing where they also give ordering details. The "Marquee" magazine is 8-1/2x11 inches tall ('portrait') format, and the ANNUALS are also soft cover in the same size, but in the long ('landscape') format, and are anywhere from 26 to 44 pages. Should they indicate that a publication is Out Of Print, then it may still be possible to view it via Inter-Library Loan where you go to the librarian at any public or school library and ask them to locate which library has the item by using the Union List of Serials, and your library can then ask the other library to lend it to them for you to read or photocopy. [Photocopies of most THSA publications are available from University Microforms International (UMI), but their prices are exorbitant.]

Note: Most any photo in any of their publications may be had in large size by purchase; see their ARCHIVE link. You should realize that there was no color still photography in the 1920s, so few theatres were seen in color at that time except by means of hand tinted renderings or post cards, thus all the antique photos from the Society will be in black and white, but it is quite possible that the Society has later color images available; it is best to inquire of them.

Should you not be able to contact them via their web site, you may also contact their Executive Director via E-mail at: execdir@historictheatres.org
Or you may reach them via phone or snail mail at:
Theatre Historical Soc. of America
152 N. York, 2nd Floor York Theatre Bldg.
Elmhurst, ILL. 60126-2806 (they are about 15 miles west of Chicago)

Phone: 630-782-1800 or via FAX at: 630-782-1802 (Monday through Friday, 9AM--4PM, CT)

A circa 1950 photo of this theater is available at this site.
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics08/00013793.jpg

A 1921 Photo of theater under construction.
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015586.jpg

The main comments about this theatre are wrong. It was still showing English language films up to the 70's. Some films I remember there were "The Legend of Lylah Clare", "Two Mules for Sister Sara", "What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice". It was the Warren that became a Church, before it became a jewelry mart.

It was the first to convert to Spanish films in 1963, under Metropolitan Theatres. But as Metropolitan took over other theatres from other chains. Like the Los Angeles from Fox, United Artists and the State from UA, Warner Downtown from Warner and the Hillstreet from RKO. Once they found which house did well with Spanish films vs. English films. The State theatre was built at the busiest cross streets in Los Angeles. When it closed it became a church. The people that took the lease over had been leasing the Million Dollar Theatre. The State was always a good action/horror house for the company. And ran most of the time as a triple bill
house. The United Artist Theatre was many a Spanish house till it became a church. The Los Angeles Theatre was a action house and ran double feature action/horror mix. The Orpheum Theatre ran English films with Spanish subtitles on a double feature bill. The Hillstreet Theatre only lasted till around 1963 and was english features. With the theatres along Hill Street being just one block west of Broadway. People tended to stay on Broadway to see movies. Of the three main theatres along Hill Street only the Warner Downtown still stands. The Hillstreet was just built one block to
far west from Broadway to survive. The Warner only made it into the 70's as an action house and then Metropolitan Theatres closed it. It became a church for a few years and then closed and opened as a jewelry mart. They once had a Burger King in the basement area of the theatre. No one was ever given a chance to run the Paramount Downtown Theatre, Paramount closed and was torn down. The theatres that became churchs were The State, Million Dollar, United Artists and the Tower. The small Olympic Theatre on 8th Street, around the corner from both the Globe and the Tower Theatre and the once standing Hillstreet Theatre. Did well with Spanish features but they tried budget admissions and the theatre failed. It closed soon after that.

William, did it quickly convert back to English-language or what? I remember it showing English-language films (and saw many there) up till at least 1970 or 71. I remember that that this time there were several theatres showing Spanish-language films, and these theatres included the Orpheum, United Artists, California, Million Dollar, and others. The Warren, Los Angeles, and State showed English-language films, as did the Tower when it changed to films after a remodelling. Most of these were very beautiful theatres.

The Broadway Theatre District changed alot during the early 60's. Many of the once major chains that operated these houses, would soon drop them from their rosters.

In 1955, Metropolitan Theatres operated:
Orpheum Theatre
Palace Theatre
Newsreel Theatre (aka: Tower)
Rialto Theatre

While in 1955, Fox West Coast Theatres operated:
Los Angeles Theatre
Globe Theatre

RKO Theatres had the Hillstreet Theatre.

Stanley Warner Theatres Corp. operated the Downtown Theatre.

United Artists Theater Circuit operated the Loew's State Theatre &
the United Artists Downtown Theatre.

Paramount Pictures Theatres Corp operated the Paramount Downtown.

But by 1960, Metropolitan Theatres along Broadway would look like:
Orpheum Theatre
Palace Theatre
Hillstreet Theatre *added
Newsreel Theatre
Rialto Theatre
Globe Theatre *added
Olympic Theatre *added
Downtown Theatre *added
Broadway *added

In 1962, they added the Los Angeles Theatre from Fox West Coast Theatres.

And by the end of 1963, they added the State and United Artists Theatres to their listings.

They would later add the Million Dollar Theatre, Roxie, Arcade and California, Cameo to their Downtown Los Angeles operations.
The Cameo and Tower Theatres would be sub-leased to Pacific Theatres for a time in the 80's and then to return back to Metropolitan Theatres till they closed them.
With a large Spanish speaking population in the area. Metropolitan Theatres tried different formulas till they found which one work best for the size of the theatre. Like the State Theatre, it turned Spanish language for a time. By that time the Paramount Theatre was being razed and the Hillstreet Theatre would be soon closing. The State Theatre would be the biggest theatre along Broadway and at the busest intersection in the city at one time. It became a major action house from that time till it closed to become a church.

Loew's State was the most successful movie palace on broadway. It was located on the busiest intersection and was home to M-G-M films until the early 1960's. Loew's State reverted to spanish and then back to english a few times.The United Artists was the least successful movie palace on the street. It was closed many times and would reopen until it went Spanish language and then became a Church. The Orpheum and United Artists are the best maintained movie palaces on Broadway. The Los Angeles is the most beautiful and is begging to be restored. If I had to pick one theatre the City of LA should put money into it would be the Los Angeles. A lot of location filming keeps the Los Angeles going and the bills paid. It still irks me today that the City of LA poured a great deal of money into converting a bank into a theatre on Spring St downtown in the 1980's only to go bust when they had the Palace on Broadway which would be a superb legit house for the spoken word.Its time that the City of LA start focusing on Broadway and Spring St instead of Bunker Hill.brucec

Yes! Los Angeles is lucky to have so many great theatres still standing -- in New York, most are gone. What a waste if the L.A. movie palaces are eventually lost!

About 1970, I drove an elderly ex-vaudevillian down Broadway in L.A. because I remember them saying they had played the L.A. Orpheum in the 1920's. So, I drove past the new Orpheum and pointed it out. They said, "That doesn't look anything like the Orpheum I played. That's not the Orpheum." At that time I didn't know the Palace had been the Orpheum, and just thought their memory had failed them.

I saw English language movies at the State many times in the early-mid 1960s. At that time, the only big downtown theaters regularly showing movies in Spanish were the Million Dollar, United Artists and California. Even most of the small theaters on Broadway were still showing movies in English.

My copy of the Los Angeles Times movie listings of February 10th, 1971, shows English language movies playing at the following Broadway theaters: Cameo, Roxie, Tower, Arcade, Los Angeles, Palace, and State, plus the Warrens (Warner Downtown) on Hill Street and the Olympic on 8th Street. With the exceptions of the Cameo, Arcade and Roxie, all these theaters were showing new or recent mainstream Hollywood films. Spanish language movies were being shown at these theaters: Astro, Broadway, Globe, Orpheum (American movies dubbed into Spanish) Rialto and United Artists. The Million Dollar had a "Call theatre for program" notice, but the movie was undoubtedly in Spanish, that theater having shown no English language movies at all since at least 1960.

A copy of the Los Angeles Times Calendar section has listings for only eight Broadway theaters, and none on any other downtown street. Of those eight, the Million Dollar was showing movies in Spanish, the Orpheum was showing a double feature of recent American releases dubbed into Spanish, the Rialto, State, Tower, Los Angeles and Palace were all showing triple features of action or horror movies in English, and the Cameo was showing four features of the same sort of fare, in English. Apparently, the market downtown for movies in Spanish had just about collapsed by that time.

But the Corwins maintained a first-run or second-run policy at most of the surviving big theaters on Broadway and at the Warrens as well, clear through the 1960s. The Globe began showing Spanish language movies before the end of the decade, and the Palace did for a while, but then returned to second-run Hollywood films. The Orpheum began running mostly American movies dubbed into Spanish (or sometimes subtitled in Spanish) about the middle of the decade, and kept that policy pretty much until it closed. Interestingly enough, in the early 1980s, the Palace went back to a first run policy for a while, but ended it after a Laemmle fourplex opened on Figuroa Street near the Bonaventure Hotel.

But I do remember the Broadway theatres of the 1960s as mostly still being fairly popular, well-maintained houses showing first run American movies. The serious decline in their fortunes didn't set in until the 1970s.

My previously important and insightful post seems to have vanaished so here it is again: A photo of this theater is on the DVD of "The Beach Girls and the Monster" displaying a double bill of that film and "War of the Zombies". You just know that show filled 2300 seats nightly.

I see on the 'offical' photo taken during construction (posted by J.F. Lundy July 18. 2004) the the architects credited are Weeks & Day - Reid Brothers.

"Of the three main theatres along Hill Street only the Warner Downtown still stands."

The Mayan and Belasco are on Hill Street, and are still there.

"Of the three main theatres along Hill Street only the Warner Downtown still stands."

The Mayan and Belasco are on Hill Street, and are still standing.

Don S: The Belasco never ran movies. That's why it isn't even listed on this site. You're right that the Mayan is still standing, but being below Olympic Boulevard, it's kind of out-of-the-way for a major downtown theatre. That's probably why William didn't mention it. Its days of showing English language movies are so far in the past that I don't even remember them. By the time I first saw the place, shortly after 1960, it had already become a Spanish language house.

Joe, the Mayan ran English language porn flicks in the '70s. By the way, was there ever a theater in the L.A. area called the Empress?

That's right. I forgot about the porn era.

I checked the L.A. public library data base, and there is a card referencing a 1990 issue of Southern California Quarterly (the publication of The Southern California Historical Society) which mentions an Empress Theater in Los Angeles, but the card gives no indication of where exactly it was, or when it existed, or if it was an earlier name of some theater already listed here. The magazine itself is undoubtedly available at many L.A. area libraries, though. I think Alhambra's library used to have a subscription to it, back in the days when I often went there.

The L.A. library database also has a card for a book about Covina which mentions an Empress Theater opening in that city in September, 1911.

The balcony is impressive here and reminiscent of the Orpheum. The church has replaced all the seats in this theater and has built a large alter on the stage. Up at upper balcony level, portions of the roof have crumbled, but most of the theater seems intact. The projectionist booth has been boarded up and the figurine that sits above the stage (I forget what kind it was) has also been covered up and not removed. You can see where the old second entrance was walled up long ago.

To answer Barton's post from August 12th 2004.

The current Orpheum Theatre is the three Orpheum to operate in the city. The one that your friend played was the old Palace Theatre just down the street on Broadway.

Here is an old postcard of Broadway in the 1930s showing Loew's State on the left and the Palace on the right.

A marquee shot here
http://you-are-here.com/theatre/state.html

The USC Digital Archive says the theater in this picture was on the southwest corner of 7th and Broadway. Wouldn't that be the State Theater? The website says it is the Pantages.

http://digarc.usc.edu:8089/cispubsearch/sidview.jsp?object_name=chs-m824&ORN=CHS-6796

It is the Pantages, later Warner and Warren, now a jewelry mart. The caption should read 7th and S. Hill St.

Thanks for the correction.

1922, courtesy of the LA Library:

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics18/00028712.jpg

This photo is from around 1996.

After eating lunch across the street at Clifton's Brookdale Cafeteria (an amazing survivor of a more gracious era in Los Angeles history) the other day, I walked over to look at the State Theater. Of all the movie palaces on Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, this one may have the least impressive exterior, but a visit inside of what is now used as a church reveals hidden treasure. The interior is still incredibly ornate, and is surprisingly well-preserved.
And the folks there are friendly, particularly if you can manage at least a little broken Spanish, as I did to gain entry.

An interesting color photo from yesterdayla.com:

http://www.yesterdayla.com/Graphics/broadway.jpg

CALLING ALL THEATRE / MOVIE ENTHUSIASTS!!!

T'he Los Angeles Theatre' on South Broadway, LA is playing host to the UK television show 'Dead Famous LIVE'. We are currently looking for people who would like to come along as part of the studio audience.

'Dead Famous LIVE' is a studio entertainment show all about Hollywood History and the paranormal. We will be welcoming celebrity guests on to the show and investigating famous locations around Hollywood which are rumoured to be haunted including the Los Angeles Theatre itself.

This is an invaluable chance to get access to the Los Angeles Theatre, the place where Charlie Chaplin's 'City Lights' premiered in 1931 and to have a thoroughly great day out! (And its free!!)

We're transmitting 'Live' back to the United Kingdom so expect it to be exciting and fun!

We will be filming on three days from 11th - 13th November between 11.30am - 4pm. If you are interested in coming on one or all of these days then email me for tickets!

george.hughes@twofour.co.uk

I look forward to your responses!

A William Reagh photo:

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/reagh/1990-0838.jpg

Another Reagh photo:

http://helios.library.ca.gov/soca/reagh/1990-1352.jpg

1938 postcard, from the Pomona Public Library:

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/affiliates/images/cpom/kt6s2019xp/hi-res/B/B9114.jpg

I walked by the State yesterday. The resident church was having some kind of open house, with refreshments. I wanted to go inside, but I didn't want to hear the accompanying lecture on my salvation, so I wussed out. Maybe next time.

From the LA Library:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics26/00032683.jpg

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics26/00032685.jpg

1930:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics08/00013798.jpg

1950, from the same viewpoint:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics08/00013783.jpg

The L.A. Public Library's photo database includes a number of pictures of Loew's State under construction, including this one.

There are two more modern photos of the State Theater here and here.

Cinematours has a set of color photos that are worth a look:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2144.html

There's a "for rent" sign on this theatre recently.

Under the time the Loew's State Theatre was under operations of Fox West Coast Theatres, they did a remodel in 1945 and Skouras-ized the theatre.

On a recent visit to the official web site of the Los Angeles Theatre, when I clicked on the "Other Locations" link at the top of the page, I saw that the State Theatre was listed, along with the William Fox Building. Apparently, these two properties have been added to the holdings of Michael Delijani's Delson Investment Company. As the Delson Company has been doing an excellent job with the restoration of the Los Angeles Theatre, and has plans to restore the Palace Theatre as well, this seems a very hopeful sign for the State Theatre.

I thought this 1946 photo was interesting as it shows the theater as being open all night. As I have read, many theaters were open 24 hours during the war as the workers were on staggered shifts. This may have been a carryover:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics05/00022471.jpg

Here is a 1920s photo. The feature is "Cheaper to Marry". I don't know if I agree with that:
http://tinyurl.com/guvex

This is a recent close-up photo of the former State Theater.

This is V-J Day in 1945, via the LA Library:
http://tinyurl.com/glqhf

Robby the Robot made a personal appearance here in March 1956 to promote "Forbidden Planet", but to refer to him as a "monster" as it does in this L.A. Times ad is not only inaccurate, but more than a little insulting :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/billhuelbig/fp.jpg

Here is a 2007 close-up photo of the former State Theater building.

Isn't that the same photo posted above on 10/4/2006?

Those are two different photos from two different photographers taken on different dates, but thanks for following me around the website. I'm flattered!

Here is a larger version of the photo at the top of the page:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics32/00065592.jpg

I saw a couple of shows here in its very last days of movies, probably 1995, because the film was MONEY TRAIN with Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson. I think they were doing second run at that point. The second feature was ACE VENTURA: WHEN NATURE CALLS, which was so bad I walked out and had dinner at Clifton's.

I'm very upset that I didn't come down to downtown more often and take in some more shows while they were still going on. Now I live here, but at that time I lived in the Valley and it was somewhat of a trial to get down here.

At that point, the only other operating theater in downtown was the Palace, who were showing English films with Spanish subtitles. I saw something there at least once, maybe it was "The Net" with Sandra Bullock? The subtitles were really distracting.

Clifton's is still open, I think. Their jello is top shelf.

Here is a 1966 photo. It's interesting because Loew's has been taken off the marquee, and it just says "The State". Perhaps a change of ownership:
http://tinyurl.com/ytgne9

Ken mc: By 1966 the State had been part of the Corwins' Metropolitan Circuit for at least a few years. The photo is interesting for other reasons too, though. Look how tidy the street and sidewalk are. There are a couple of scraps of paper in the gutter, but those white spots on the sidewalk are probably from dust specks on the photograph negative. That's how I remember Broadway and most of downtown being through the 1960s. When I returned in the early 1980s, after more than a decade's absence, the street was one long strew of trash, most of it from fast food places, and somebody had virtually paved the sidewalks with dried chewing gum.

I immigrated to LA from New Jersey in 1984. On my first night here, I stayed at a fleabag hotel at 13th and Olive, across from a fire station, which of course meant no sleep. The next morning, I perambulated down Olive to Broadway. It was appalling. I almost called a cab and went back to the airport.

Here is a blurb from the LA Times on the State's opening, dated 11/12/21:

DOORS TO OPEN TONIGHT.
State Theater Will be Honored by Presence of Many Stars of Stage and Screenland. STATE THEATER OPENS TONIGHT. Distinguished Guests, Will View First Program
Screen Stars to Appear in Impromptu Stunts
"Liliom" in Film Version is Headliner. Playing Leading Roles in Housewarming. STATE THEATER OPENS TONIGHT.

With Gov. Stephens in one box and Mayor Cryer in the other, and Marcus Loew, together with at least thirty noted motion-picture stars in the audience, Loew's State Theater will open its doors tonight. A feature program is announced, to be preceded by many clever impromptu stunts in which some of the most prominent members of the local theatrical world will appear.

The information accompanying this photo gives the date as 1955, but looking at the cars on the street I'd guess it's as much as a decade earlier- probably the early post-war years. Anyway, here's a view of Broadway with the Loew's State vertical sign prominently featured.

Here is another recent photo of the State Theater.

I was inside this theater today. I tried to ask permission to take photos, but no one spoke English. I took that as a negative affirmation. The theater is very well kept inside. My camera has a weak flash, but hopefully the pictures will be OK when I post them later.

Here is an article from the LA Times dated 11/13/32. Mr. Wright's age at his passing hit a little too close to home, for me at least:

Homer Wright, Former Theater Manager, Dies

Stricken with a sudden heart seizure and hour or so after he had retired for the evening, apparently in excellent health, Homer B. Wright, 46 years of age, former manager of Loew's State and Chinese Theaters, died early yesterday at his home. He was a Mason and a Shriner.

Here are some photos from July 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/2sdaop
http://tinyurl.com/2nwebk
http://tinyurl.com/2tkene
http://tinyurl.com/34jykn
http://tinyurl.com/2w8wbh
http://tinyurl.com/2l78bl
http://tinyurl.com/3389a5
http://tinyurl.com/2ohm5x
http://tinyurl.com/33xwjd
http://tinyurl.com/2lez2d
http://tinyurl.com/2rkq7k
http://tinyurl.com/37x9zy

Here is a 1937 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics21/00045320.jpg

Ken,
Spellbound was made in 1945. The photo has to be from at least 1945.

OK. There are some errors in the database.

I posted another comment today about trusting information found in libraries, especially dates. I have found a number of dates given with photos to be wrong and closing dates given for theaters are also wrong many times. When in doubt, check it out!

I heard it through the grapevine that when the Cult's, er, I mean Church's lease it up, the Owners do not intend to renew it. Rumor has it that the owners intend on a major restoration/renovation on this theatre to make it a major road house for touring musicals......
Hmmmm...............

It looked to be in good shape when I was in there last month.

Here is a July 1957 ad for the United Artists State from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2crl3l

A Moller theater organ opus 3140 size 3/18 was installed in the Loew's State Theater in 1921 at a cost of $9000.

Here is a 1953 ad showing the State as part of the UA chain:
http://tinyurl.com/265sz3

At different times during it's history the State Theatre was operated by different chains while being known as the Loew's State. Fox West Coast Theatres operated and booked other UA Theatres during the 30s & 40s till the 1950's. The United Artists Theatre Downtown was operated by Publix Chain.

In "the old days," the Loew's circuit, which headquartered in New York City, had only a few theatres on the West Coast, so it turned over the management to those that did. But Loew's got a percentage of the boxoffice takings, and the theatres were guaranteed a steady flow of MGM releases.

Here is a 1954 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/25mvlx

Here is a close-up view from October 2007.

In the current issue of Reminisce there is a letter on the Reminisent page that talks about this theatre. It reads as follows: "Clayton Durbin, a Los Angeles native now living in Wichita Kansas, added that the Loew's State Theatre on the left of the photo (photo in the Aug/Sept issue) and the KRKD radio tower on the right are still on Broadway. He noted that many dignitaries were honored in parades through that intersection."

It's a convention here at Cinema Treasures to list a theater by the name by which it's currently, or was most recently, known. (Not everyone agrees with the sensibility of this policy; a post on the Loew's Capitol page points out, for instance, that it was known simply as the Capitol for most of its life until the final few years.)

Consistency, though, would seem to suggest that this theater be listed here as "The State" and, secondarily, also known as "Loew’s State." It passed into Metropolitan's hands nearly 50 years ago, after all, and at that time all indications of the former association with Loew's were removed. Signage from that point forward read "The State," and -- so far as I am aware -- it became generally known thenceforth as "The State."

While those who share our special interest know this theater was once Loew's State, there are generations of people now who never knew it by that name and quite possibly never even heard it referred to as such.

Here is a January 1935 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/23sge8

Forsaking All Others was released in December of 1934.

Why is it that whenever "ken mc" posts an ad or image, "Lost Memory" seems to follow almost immediately with a comment? Are they a team? Perhaps they should be nominated in the current poll about favorite funsters.

Yeah, were a tag team. Is that a problem for you?

Like he said.

Here is a March 2008 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yqczk2

ken mc's photo of 3/23 seems to show a grey metal vertical sign, apparently blank, hanging on the very edge of the building at Seventh and Broadway. I don't recall seeing that before, and am guessing that it's connected with the "Catedral" in some way.

What does it -- or did it -- say?

This was another case of "r" before "e" in the last two letters of the "t" word-- Loew's State Theatre (not Loew's State Theater). The more famous Loew's State Theatre in Times Square, New York City, also used "re" at the end of the "t" word.

It would be great for entertainment to return to the Loew's State. The emphasis on spelling of theater vs theatre is annoying.

stevebob, that small vertical sign before it was blanked out said "Seiko" and was blue in color for the watch store at the corner at one time. The store was LeRoys. The State has not had any other signage other than the marquee for decades on the building. When it had a Big A feature playing the companies sign department put up a large display above the marquee.

Ken, thanks for taking those photos last summer. In January I walked down Broadway and saw the outsides of all the great theaters, but was too scared to actually try going inside any of them. Maybe I should have, if you got into the State. Anyway, thanks again for posting pictures of where "Forbidden Planet" opened in 1956.

If you can't tell the diffrence between between a theater and a theatre you've got not class that's all I can say.

You're welcome, Bill. You can easily go inside and walk around as long as you don't start taking pictures. Then you get chased out.

Ken: with the big camera I had around my neck that day. I'd surely have been chased out. If I ever go back, I will take your advice. Thanks again.

You can see the marquee in the film "Action Jackson" (around 51 minutes in). The film takes place in another city, but they used Downtown Los Angeles for select location shots.

Here is a screen shot from the 1988 film "Colors":
http://tinyurl.com/yv95ju

Here is an April 2008 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/5kabsm

Thats a great shot!

That was with a cell phone. OK for closeups, but not much good long range. I had to toss some other Broadway shots I took today.

Today, sadly, the website dropped the historic Loew's from the theater's name, to be consistent with this site's overall policy.

Here is a 1938 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/6bfksx

Sally, Irene and Mary was released in March of 1938.

"Ken mc," why don't you put specific dates on your ads? They must appear somewhere on the newspaper pages that are copied from. That would stop "Lo Mem" from trying to have the last word all the time.

What is your problem "Warren"? What is wrong with me putting dates on those ads? And if you call me one more name, I will return the favor!

I usually put the dates on. I was working and doing this at the same time, so I wasn't being thorough.

I think that mentioning a year is quite sufficient. Contributing a release date for the movie doesn't mean that the ad was published at that precise time. I don't know where the self-confessed amnesiac gets the release dates from, but they are often dates when the movie was first reviewed somewhere and not necessarily being exhibited yet. Recently at the listing for the ex-Loew's Paradise, he posted a release date for "Butterfield 8" that was several months before the actual publication date of the ad, which was in the following year!

"A year is quite sufficient"? If I can narrow down the release date further, I will post it with or without your permission. I know that accuracy isn't very important to you "Warren". One example would be the address of the RKO Keith's Theater: "Folks, your quibbling over a "firm address" reminds of Cub Scouts getting ready for their first expedition. You need nothing more than north side of Northern Boulevard at junction with Main Street". Do you remember posting that on Sep 13, 2006? Many people still get a good laugh from that comment.

Here's a photo of the State being built from a Harold Lloyd movie. The photos are from the author of the amazing books named Silent Echoes (Keaton) and Silent Traces (Chaplin). He's currently writing a new book about all the locations from Harold Lloyd films...can't wait.

http://picasaweb.google.com/john.bengtson/NeverWeaken/photo?authkey=hajXZur1PO0#5161184316522954850

A recent shot of the State's marquee:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/achangeinscenerymovies/2787603908/

Here is a photo taken yesterday:
http://tinyurl.com/4x2rv9

It looks the same.

It doesn't look the same inside....that idiotic church painted white latex over everything.

Ouch!

They are really creepy also....they practically do a cavity search when you go inside to make sure you don't have a camera.

See post of 7/27/07. All things are possible, grasshopper.

lol....I guess you're brave. I was afraid they would suck my soul out and flush it down the toilet.

Here is a recent night view.

From Boxoffice magazine, January 1963:

LOS ANGELES-Metropolitan Theaters is taking over the lease on the State Theater, as of January 14. United Artists is dropping the theater, which it has operated since 1949. The house is owned by Loew's Theaters. The UA lease had until May to run, but arrangements were worked out for the earlier takeover. This gives Sherrill C. Corwin's Metropolitan circuit most of the downtown first-runs.

I use to love this booth. The State and Los Angeles were my two favorite boothes on Broadway. This was a long, narrow and a deco booth. It was just comfortable.

What was strange about State is you had to walk to the corner of the street, walk North to another business, take an elevator upwards, get out, and from there you would open a door to enter the projection room. Hey, that was nice. Nobody could bug you up in the booth.

Here are two photos taken today. I was trying to get a shot of the booth but the proselytizers were swarming today, so it's a little blurry.
http://tinyurl.com/bjps6b
http://tinyurl.com/bj24s4

That's funny Meredith, I would enter the building from the main doors to the office building which was one store south of the theatre marquee. (see ken mc's first shot above) The doors on the other side of Casa de Oro store. And then take the elevator to the 5th floor and walk down the hall to the second booth door.

For everyone else all theatres of the time when built had to have two exits to the booth for the projectionist. In case of fire. The other door to the booth was on the right side of the booth. (when your standing inside the booth) But that door was always bolted, because of the patrons inside watching the movies. It was not a very large booth as Meredith said. The Los Angeles's booth was a Nice large booth and one of my favorite one for the size.

Here is an August 1925 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/dmvrkr

Here is a March 1939 ad. Click on the ad for a closer view.
http://tinyurl.com/cpw83u

This photo is supposed to be at a theater in downtown Los Angeles. I thought the marquee most closely matched that of the State:
http://electricearl.com/dws/movie.html

Here is a night view from 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/c43ld4

It is the State theater,ken mc. That's from around December of 1957, when the double feature of Reform School Girl and Rock Around the World played there.

Thanks. I thought that was the case.

Here is a late 1930s photo from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/cm59wr

Here is an April 1970 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/qk35dt

Here are photos from 1980 and 1982:
http://tinyurl.com/qxeku6
http://tinyurl.com/pecfr3

ken mc your right that was the State's marquee in your Mar. 28th. 2009 post.

Here is a February 1937 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/my3hjb

Here is another 1939 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/l2f7dr

Here is part of an August 1963 article in the LA Times:

With the U.S. premiere if “Cielo Rojo” as the piece de resistance and an appearance by Latin movie queen Sonia Furio, plus young Rodolfo de Anda, the State Theater splashes into the Spanish-language film field. “Cielo Rojo”, filmed in what must be the best Eastmancolor photography yet applied to movies shot in outdoor Mexico, deserves some comparison to another Latin epic of recent years, “Black Orpheus”.

With Patricia Conde, Miss Furio and young de Anda as the stars, “Cielo Rojo” explores the lives of Acapulco’s world-famed divers. It peeks into their social drawbacks, the main theme being illegitimacy and the ultimate righting of same. In young de Anda’s acting, one sees the promise of excellent things to come.

So even if it's still in use as a church, we're qualifying it as "closed"? It's on the L.A. Conservancy Walking Tour every Sunday! I've seen it open many many times.

It is closed as a movie theater. Being open as a church is of no consequence for this web-site

Great old pictures, and chill out larry2 at least it has not been torn down.