State Theater
1217 State Street,
Santa Barbara,
CA
93101
1217 State Street,
Santa Barbara,
CA
93101
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State Theatre in 1980: View link
No photos? Man there must be hundreds of STATE THEATRES, I know LOEWS had many named STATE>
Southwest Builder & Contractor’s issue of June 23, 1939, carried an item saying that Clifford Balch was preparing plans for a remodeling and expansion of the State Theatre at Santa Barbara. Work was to include a 57 foot extension at the rear of the building.
The August 29, 1941 issue of SwB&C mentioned that the owner of the State Theatre was, at that time, Earl O. Calvert. Calvert was also the owner of the Lompoc Theatre in the Santa Barbara County town of Lompoc, and a few years later opened the La Mesa Theatre there, as well.
For those interested I have a photo the State Theater taken around 1964. If you wish a copy, just let me know and I shall email to you.
my email address is
I worked at the State Theater from 1961-1965 and it was a great part time job while attending Brooks Institute of Photographer. While I worked there they ran the same movie for weeks. I remember working late one night, Fess Parker (Disney’s Davy Crocket) attended a movie.
During its time as a video arcade in the early 1980s, the moderne styled marquee with abundant neon remained intact.
A Unity Shoppe thrift store now resides at this address.
City directory lists it first in 1942, at 1219 State Street (but you know how malleable these street addresses were over time). It closed around 1981. The Rose Theatre was at 904 State Street and was last listed in 1931.
The State Theatre seated 685 people.
The State Theatre was located at 1217 State Street. This theatre may date back to being called the Rose Theatre from the early 30’s. which was one of four theatres that Warner ran in the city. The Rose was closed off and on during the 30’s and disappeared around the late 30’s about the time the State opened. The first listings for the State is from around 1940.