State Theatre

Here is a photo of the exterior of the State Theatre dated 1949.

Old photos of the Daffin:
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc04120.jpg
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc04139.jpg

Old photos of the State:
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc12720.jpg
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc13691.jpg

Remodeled State opened on September 27, 1934 at the new location after the original one burned on December 5, 1933.

I liked this one better than the Florida after the fire.The "new"Florida was painfully plain.I remember going to the State in 60 or 61 and watching Gone With The Wind.It used to be re-released every few years.It had a great balcony.Living in Tal.for 3 years in my formative early 60's time frame was a fun experience.It was user friendly for a kid with a bike.There was a large Black theater on w.Tenn.St.that reallt did a land-offices business till the late 60's.

This is a photo of the State Theater sign being removed in 1988.

This is a late 1930s program for the State Theater and here is another from 1939.

I took a single slide photo of the State in 1981. It was closed, but looked in reasonable shape. The vertical sign was indeed the one shown in the historic photos (and the color photo of it being removed). I hope it was saved. The deco facade was completely painted white, and a pale green trapezoid marquee had replaced the moderne one in the old photos. It had reader boards on its angled sides, and "STATE" in block letters had been on the side paralleling the street, but the letters had been removed, leaving outlines where the green paint had not faded.

The State Theater had 1,348 seats in 1955.

I explored the State several times while it was still operating as a movie theatre. It had quite impressive stage facilities, and there was a basement under the stage which contained several dressing rooms. In fact, new managers would live there from time to time until they found permanent housing. I remember seeing a sign there reading "All good show folks eat at the (name forgetten) restaurant." It was a grand old theatre with a rich vaudeville history. Tallahassee oldtimers told me they saw Harry James and his band perform on that stage. As the theatre was being razed, I managed to save a small piece of the screen.

Here is another vintage photo.

Just before the State Theater was demolished, it looked like this and like this.

1981 Photo

1988 Photo