State Palace Theatre
1108 Canal Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
1108 Canal Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
10 people
favorited this theater
Built in 1926 for the Loew’s circuit, the State Theatre was designed by the prodigious theater architect, Thomas W. Lamb. Around the same time that Loew’s opened the State Theatre, the Saenger circuit opened their theater directly across Canal Street.
Originally seating 3,335, and designed in a mix of Renaissance motifs, the State Theatre also contained a 3/13 Robert Morton organ similar to that installed at the same time in the Saenger. Unfortunately, unlike the Saenger’s the State’s did not survive, being heavily damaged during a flood and left to fall into disrepair in the ensuing decades.
In 1976, the State Theatre was tripled. After closing as a movie house in the late-1980’s, the partition was removed, and the State Theatre was restored and renamed, as the State Palace Theatre, screening classic movies and offering concerts.
Today, the State Palace Theatre is primarily used a a concert venue, featuring mostly techno and electronica bands, with the occaisional rave. Big-name rock and punk bands often make appearances, and the State Palace Theatre also hosts local talent nights as well.
Though it is somewhat rough along the edges, the State Palace Theatre still has a definite faded elegance that adds to its atmosphere, as well as excellent accoustics, making it one of New Orleans' enduring entertainment destinations.
Sadly, the State Palace Theatre has been closed since February 2007.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 71 comments)
Don, your original posting on August 6 was correct – it is Loew’s State.
A 1955 photo of the theater: View link
Thanks for the photo CWalczak.
“and the chain is unknown!"
I think they are talking about the present owners are unknown. Loews hasn’t owned this theatre for many years.
This theatre owns the whole block meaning all of the stores around the base of the theatre are leased. To rehab this whole thing you would have to get rid of all tenents and completely remodel everything including the electrical for the theatre which doesn’t meet code. Rewiring electric from basement location would cost over 1 million alone. Present owners would like to sell the property, but whoever buys the theatre would have to have deep pockets and not want an immediate return on their investment. Could take years to make your money back.
Still… Restored this theatre could be a showplace.
Photos of the Loew’s State/Palace Theatre.
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Thanks for posting,Chuck one of my favorite theatres.
Tisloews,some of those pictures are great!Suitable for a frame.The real theatre business that you and I got in on the tail end of.
This reopened with 3 screens on March 5th, 1976. The ad is in the photo section.
A March 2010 Photo I took of the State Palace (Loews) Theatre..
Randy A Carlisle — Historical Photographer
I’ve been hearing a lot of rurmors that more than one party is interested in buying the building. Rumor is that one of these suitors has the idea of converting the Loew’s into a bowling alley and music venue.
It appears that the New Orlens Downtown Development District, the quasi-public agency responsible for the the redevelopment of Canal Street, may be once again on the brink of dropping the ball (bowling ball?). One would think that with the situation involving the LaSalle Hotel, a property immediatly adjacent to the historic Saenger Theatre, the Development District would be working harder not to appear so very inept. The Saenger is undergoing a 50 million dollar historic restoration that is partially govenment funded. Along the way it was reported in the local paper that other developers have gotten partial govenment funding to turn the LaSalle Hotel into low income housing. What a debacle, low income housing immediatly adjacent to the crown jewel of New Orleans theatres. That ought to pack-em into the theatre!
Now we hear of the Loew’s State situation. Is a bowling alley really appropriate in a Thomas Lamb theater from 1926? This building is in very workable condition an should be returned to commerce as some type of theatrical venue. A bowling alley in this building would not only be disgraceful but an awful addition to the 1100 block of Canal Street – bowling alley, a low income housing development, and the historic Saenger Theatre. If the City is really commited to creating a theatre district utilizing the the existing historic theatres in this two block area they are certainly making a mess of it.