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Home » Theater Guide » Location » United States » Michigan » Bay City » State Theatre
Also known as Bijou Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, Bay Theatre

State Theatre

Bay City, MI
913 Washington Avenue
, Bay City, MI 48708 United States
(map)
989.892.2660
Status: Open
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Art Deco, Mayan Revival
Function: Live Performances, Movies, Special Events
Seats: 600
Chain: Unknown
Architect: C. Howard Crane
Firm: Unknown
State Theatre
Night-time view of the State Theatre's exterior and marquee
Photo courtesy of Nick Suchyta
Built as the Bijou Theatre in 1908, this former vaudeville palace added movies to its programming and by 1921 it had been renamed the Orpheum Theatre.

In 1930, C. Howard Crane was hired to gut and rebuild the interior of the theater which he did in an Art Deco/Mayan aesthetic. When it reopened under the W.S. Butterfield chain, the theater was renamed again as the Bay Theatre and it had 710 seats. By the 1950's, the Bay was renamed again as the State Theatre and received a new marquee.

The theater was later saved by the Friends of the State and is currently owned by the Bay City Downtown Development Authority.

The theater's new owners embarked on a massive renovation, with over $2 million in funds raised for the project, it was completed by early 2006.

Related Websites

State Theatre, Bay City (Official)
Contributed by Nick Suchyta, Dennis Atkinson

YOUR COMMENTS

 
I have worked at the State Theatre in Bay City, MI and can get you more info on it. It was actually opened in 1908 as the Bijou, then became the Bay later, renovated in 1930 by C. Howard Crane,(Fox Theatres, Detroit and St. Louis.)
posted by kfbudzin on Nov 29, 2001 at 11:17am
I was just inside the State Theater on Sunday 4/19/05. The rennovations are looking great. The entire interior should be restored by sometime in September '05. Future plans include restoring the '30's mayan style marquee outside as well. inside, the Theater looks like a miniture version of the Egyptian in Hollywood (excpet, of course in Mayan theme, versus Egyptian) I spent many hours in the state as a kid in the 60's and 70's, with no idea the history that lay beneath a few coats of "Butterfield green and beige" paint.
posted by Jeff Coryell on Apr 20, 2005 at 2:40pm
It's glad to learn that the beautiful theatre can be renovated and open to business.
posted by Suwanti on Jun 22, 2005 at 11:09pm
This is a link to some history and an old photo of the State Theater in Bay City.
posted by Lost Memory on Sep 6, 2005 at 1:30pm
Color photo of the State Theatre.
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/6/bcstate2.jpg
posted by Chuck1231 on Sep 27, 2005 at 9:38pm
I'm sure the Mayan marquee will be cool. But that well-maintained 50's marquee with it's tracers is cool too. If they have other projects they might spend money on, I say leave the marquee alone!

posted by Life's too short on Apr 13, 2006 at 5:25pm
This is a recent photo of the State theater.
posted by Lost Memory on May 1, 2006 at 3:58pm
Here's a few photos of the State Theatre after the renovation.
Click on the thumbnails for larger pic.

http://baycityforums.com/StateTheatre/Gallery/index.htm
posted by BayCityJohn on Oct 12, 2006 at 5:09pm
The State Theatre website has changed to:

http://www.statetheatrebacity.com
posted by BayCityJohn on Oct 12, 2006 at 5:15pm
I made a video of the histor of theatres in Bay City for the State Theatre. It's on YouTube, in 2 parts.

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv2CPixKFx0

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5TWis42r0o
posted by BayCityJohn on Oct 12, 2006 at 5:51pm
BayCityJohn! I enjoyed your video very much and wanted to share the fact that my beloved Capitol theatre in London Ontario was also a C Howard Crane Masterpiece.
posted by vic1964 on Apr 12, 2007 at 2:22pm
A Barton theater organ was installed in the Orpheum Theater in 1921 so it was named the Orpheum by that time.

posted by Lost Memory on Aug 29, 2007 at 9:04am
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/28ogp2
posted by ken mc on Dec 17, 2007 at 5:14pm
The Related Websites link needs to be updated. This is the correct link. In addition to movies, this is also a performing arts theater. 600 seats.

posted by Lost Memory on Dec 17, 2007 at 8:13pm
This website has a number of photos of the State Theater including the Bay and the Bijou.

posted by Lost Memory on Dec 20, 2007 at 7:21pm
Cool stuff! Thanks for posting and sharing it. Wish I could've seen what the inside of the theatre looked like, but I wasn't able to link onto that particular link. It looks like a gorgeous theatre, though.
posted by MPol on Sep 16, 2008 at 8:30am
Anyone take any photos of the new marquee??? please post. thanks
posted by Twistr54 on Sep 16, 2008 at 11:34am


posted by BayCityJohn on Sep 16, 2008 at 12:15pm
Beautiful ! Very nice.
posted by Twistr54 on Sep 16, 2008 at 2:45pm
This was the old marquee as it looked in February 2007.



posted by BayCityJohn on Sep 17, 2008 at 4:52pm
Unveiling of the New Marquee at the State Theater in Bay City, MI on 9/11/2008


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0Oxz-fgwHg

posted by BayCityJohn on Sep 23, 2008 at 7:28pm
August 15, 2008 -- The State Theater Marquee in Bay City, Michigan was torn down to make way for a new digital Marquee. (Video by Julie McCallum of MyBayCity.com)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liGEpoxYFac&feature=related
posted by BayCityJohn on Sep 23, 2008 at 7:28pm
Where is Joe Vogel? See Joe, many people embed photos. In case your wondering what I'm talking about, read the comment on the Wiltern Theater listing dated Sep 23, 2008 at 4:38pm.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 23, 2008 at 7:35pm
Well, I'd remove the post but there doesn't seem to be a way to do it. I'll just use links from now on.
posted by BayCityJohn on Sep 23, 2008 at 7:47pm
You can't remove them. Don't worry about it. If management feels that they are a problem, they will remove them.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 23, 2008 at 7:49pm
If the image is located in a Photobucket account and you rename, move, or delete it, the photo will no longer appear here. Just a box will appear stating that the image has been moved or deleted. If you choose to do that, you could post the link in a new comment. It's up to you if you want to go that route.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 23, 2008 at 8:17pm
More State Theater photos here:

http://bbmfoundation.org/State/thumbnails.php?album=1
posted by BayCityJohn on Sep 24, 2008 at 12:25am
Re: the new marquee............
Really would have loved to see a closer replica more true to the old "Bay" marquee, than this flashy digital animated thing. Yes, I'm a purist, but I really think this missed the mark.
posted by Shemp on Sep 24, 2008 at 9:44am
Here are some photos of the marquee coming down from the Bay City Times in August 2008:
http://tinyurl.com/9zj3r4
posted by ken mc on Jan 6, 2009 at 4:43pm
Sorry, but I think the original marquee was much nicer and historically significant. the new one is flashy but too plastic.
posted by Archie D'Amico on Feb 2, 2009 at 7:17pm
Here is a 1985 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cjazsg
posted by ken mc on Apr 30, 2009 at 6:39pm
1985 Night Photo

posted by Lost Memory on May 5, 2009 at 7:42pm
This is a nice 2009 photo.

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 30, 2009 at 6:38pm
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