State Theater
20-24 W. 7th Street,
Chester,
PA
19013-4203
20-24 W. 7th Street,
Chester,
PA
19013-4203
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 33 comments found
Here is a November 1929 ad from the Chester Times:
http://tinyurl.com/yet4nmq
Should also have an aka of Washburn Theater.
Architect was indeed John Eberson.
(Chester Times, Friday, December 2, 1938)
WARNER BROS. TO BUILD NEW THEATRE HERE
State Theatre, Closing Tonight, Will Be Demolished
Delaware County’s finest motion picture theatre soon will be a reality, upon the site of the present State Theatre, on Seventh Street, beween Sproul Street and Edgmont Avenue.
Announcement of this was made this afternoon by A. J. Vanni, zone
manager of the Warner Brothers, who came here from Philadelphia to
consult with local Stanley-Warner officials.
The State Theatre will close tonight. Demolition of the famous showhouse, which in turn was first Hargreaves Grand Opera House
then Washburn’s Theatre, then the State Theatre, will begin immediately.
Architects already are at work on the plans and construction will be
rushed to permit the formal opening of the showhouse in the spring.
According to the Warner Brothers announcement, the new movie theatre
will represent the last word in motion picture showhouses. The
building with a balcony will accommodate 1400 patrons; it will be
fireproof, air-conditioned, and will have accommodations found only in New York and other metropolitan theatres.
The Warner Brothers hold title not only to the present State Theatre
site but the extensive plot in the rear, now used as a parking lot. This lot extends from Wood Street to the building of R. Chester Spencer, on East Eighth street, and is one of the most valuable midtown sites.
Entrance to the new theatre will be on East Seventh street. At the
present time there is an alleyway between Wood and Sproul streets, separating the State Theater site from the parking lot, but it is believed little difficulty will be encountered in securing this area for private use.
Announcement by the Warner Brothers of the new theatre verified
rumors which have been heard for some months that a new theatre
would be built on that site. It was felt that the present times were
propitious for such a venture and after some conferences several weeks ago in New York, it was decided to go ahead.
Famous Theatre
The State Theatre is one of the best known showhouses in this section
of the country. When Thomas Hargreaves built the Grand Opera House, stock companies played there. Middle-aged men and women remember dainty little Irene Myers, Chester deVonde and other stalwarts of the stock companies. Musical comedies starred there.
Actors and actresses who gained high fame later on played here; Powell, the Magician; Houdini and hundreds of others famous in American stage annals were seen there.
When Leon Washburn gave up his Uncle Tom’s Cabin road shows and settled down to the show business in a theatre, the place operated first for vaudeville and for a while, for traveling shows. Later motion pictures were secured and eventually the Warner Brothers took over.
The building was erected in 1890 and was on the site of a skating rink. The opening date was October 20 1890, with John A. Stevens presenting “Wife for Wife”. No building in city perhaps has more memories than the old Opera House, as it is remembered by many thousands. In its place will be the modern showhouse of the cinema, of a grandeur and comfort never dreamed at the turn of the century.
Here is a March 1970 ad from the Delaware County Daily Times:
http://tinyurl.com/oaogfv
Well, I reread the “Source” again, and somehow I missed that it pretty clearly says “the State Theatre currently houses the Islamic Center of Chester”. So I guess in Chester’s eyes, it’s still standing.
I was wrong,(a lot today), in that the picture above the Islamic Center in the “Source” link, is from the another angle. And the two rooflines are not as easily comparible.
It is the very top Old Chester PA link that has the `60’s photo with roofline.
I personally am still suspect that the Islamic Center is actually in a/the old neighboring building. But the Chester website folks should definately know better than I.
I think it’s time for my nap.
The only thing that I am sure of is the above address is incorrect. I honestly cannot tell you if the Islamic Center is the same building as the State theater. The Islamic Center is still located at 14 East 7th Street. They have a website which is here. I don’t see any mention on their website that they are located in a former theater.
Though to perpetuate the confusion, the Islamic Center is also pictured within the same link that says the theatres are all gone except two.
Other than a perfect example of the two rooflines pictured above each other, I’m still confused. Is there a reason the Islamic Center isn’t included in “beautifully utilized as churches”? Or is it an admission that it is indeed not the same building, only pictured with it.
Lost Memory’s “Source” link is still the BEST source, for what was and is now. I defer to Lost Memory for the final determination, if the status should be changed from Religous Services to Demolished. The wrong address is a given. Especially since the town of Chester seemed to change things around at one point or another.
Thank you both. And thank you David for admitting to your confusion as well, at least i wasn’t the only one! : )
Thanks Lost. I still was, until I read the link you posted as “Source” completely to the very bottom.
It ends with the quote: “All the theaters are gone now, but the Boyd and Roxy are beautifully utilized as churches.”
Since the State Theater is not included as one of the two theaters remaining, we can assume it was torn down. And that Ken Mc’s link of the vacant Islamic Center is most likely the building next door to where the State Theater was, and is not the former State Theater itself. Regardless of address. Given the identical roofline in the `60’s picture and the Islamic one.
The information available so far points to the address above being incorrect. The address given for the Islamic Center is 14 East 7th Street. That is the address that you want to check if you make another trip to Chester, PA. You can also enter that address into Google maps to see another photo of the building.
??? Please forgive me if i am being dense here….!! Maybe it’s just me. So we have established that the address in the header is incorrect? If so, then has the building been demolished? (We went by the address listed here and found what appeared to be a vacant lot. But if the address is wrong, then we wasted an opportunity to check it out.)
The front of the building could have been altered at some point. I think Ken MC is correct and the theater was located on East 7th Street. It appears that Sproul Street is the dividing line between East and West 7th Street with Edgmont Avenue being on the East side. Also if you scroll down near the bottom of the page on the link I posted five comments above, it states: “In August, the New State Theater opened on East 7th Street. On the same site had been the Grand Opera Company dating from 1890, which became the Washburn Theater and later the State Theater.”
Hmmm. I think you are right. A possible mix up on the East/West address distinction.
However, NOW I notice that the roofline of the vacant Islamic Center in Ken Mc’s Dec.19th post, mirrors that of the building NEXT to the State Theatre in the `60’s photo from the Old Chester PA— “New” State Theatre link. Under the very top description. (The photo with the construction equipment parked in the middle of the street in front of Henry’s.)
Maybe the marquee/entrance and auditorium were in neighboring buildings. Or it could just be coincidence, and the marquee helps hide the roofline we need to distinguish. Beyond any wrong addresses.
Hope I didn’t confuse things worse.
The site that I linked to in my previous comment gives the location of the Washburn Theater as 7th St. between Edgmont Ave. & Sproul St. That would place the old State Theater on East 7th Street according to Google maps. If both theaters were located at the same address, then the Islamic Center is the former State Theater building and the West 7th Street address above is incorrect.
Correction, silly me.
“New building on the site of the old State Theatre & Washburn, etc.”. As referenced in the Old Chester PA link under the State’s description.
Oh, I get it. Thanks for the clarification Lost Memory.
Seems the Chester Time’s folks tried to throw a curve back in 1939, by posting the words “Old & New” in reverse order, over the Newest & Old State Theatre pictures. So whether they were built on the same site or not remains a mystery, no?
Okay, there were two State Theaters according to the 1939 Chester Times article linked to above. The 1939 State Theater replaced the earlier State/Washburn Theater. The 1935 Film Daily Yearbook lists a State Theater with seating for 1,200. I assume that is the first State Theater. No address is given. In 1955 a 1,008 seat State Theater is listed with the same address given above. The address given in the 1955 Film Daily Yearbook could be incorrect. The website that is hosting the photo in the Related Websites link above, claims: “The State Theatre currently houses the Islamic Center of Chester.” Source
Though the architecture appears similar, the 1939 picture & vintage 1890-ish website picture is clearly a 2 story or better building.
The recent shot of the vacant Islamic Center, is that of only a one story building. With a similar type of ornamentation across the top. Coincidence most likely due to like construction styles in the area at the time.
Sorry if this analogy is redundant.
I don’t see it clarified as two different buildings though, in previous posts.
Address is wrong, as the building is on E. 7th. Doesn’t look as if the building is occupied at present, but it’s still standing.
I made out most of it but am still confused… is the building demolished or not? Is the address at the top of this page wrong?
That’s agreed, Lost Memory.
Too blurry to read.
The opening of the new State Theater was featured in the Chester Times on 8/15/39:
http://tinyurl.com/9mp7fz
I figured it out. The State was at 14 E. 7th. Here is a picture when it was an Islamic Center. It looks like the building is now vacant but still standing. The building to the right of the theater matches the one in the vintage photos at the top of the page.
http://tinyurl.com/4fraw7