State Theater

A 1952 photo of the State Theater in Elizabeth can be seen and purchased here.

The State made headlines in March, 1930, when it attemtpted to show the birth control movie, “No More Children.” Here’s a report from The New York Times datelined Elizabeth, N.J., March 21: “The police dispersed a crowd of 300, mostly women and girls, in front of the State Theatre here this afternoon and prohibited the management from showing ‘No More Children,’ a birth control picture. City attorney James R. Nugent served notice on the management several hours before the picture was scheduled to be shown that the police patrol would be called and arrests made if the picture was presented. About an hour before the doors were scheduled to open, a large crowd gathered in front of the theatre. The police, dispersing the crowd, told prospective patrons that the picture would not be shown. A police detail was then stationed at the theatre. The management announced that an injunction would be sought to restrain the police from interfering with the showing of the picture.” The NYT did not carry any further reports, so I don’t know if that happened or succeeded.