State Theatre
19 S. Fountain Avenue,
Springfield,
OH
45502
19 S. Fountain Avenue,
Springfield,
OH
45502
4 people
favorited this theater
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Here is the new Facebook page for the State Theatre, with new and up-to-date pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/SpringfieldStateTheatre
More shows happening at the State in 2011 –
Musical “The Last Five Years” in February.
An original film and play about Edgar Allan Poe in March.
Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus in April.
Dates and further details here:
www.springfieldstageworks.org
Here is my Flickr set of some State Theatre pictures.
More coming soon…
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Cool looking marquee.
alans613 – The State never had a balcony. It still has the original long, narrow projection booth with the original projectors and the old levers and pulls that used to control the lights.
The Mexican-themed club lasted only a few weeks in 2008. Before and after that unfortunate event, we had several film screenings, and Springfield StageWorks has been doing shows there since 2005. Now our entire theatre season takes place there.
Our production of The Taming of the Shrew opens this weekend:
www.springfieldstageworks.org
2009 photos of the State Theatre courtesy Alan C.
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Also to note: Yes, in fact the Chakeres Theatres home office WAS in the balcony until the State closed down. It’s now located inside the Lobby Shoppes about two miles away from the State. Following its closure, the State was occupied by “Arms of Love Bingo” for many years. It then sat vacant and was briefly a Mexican-themed nightclub in the Summer of 2008 when a fatal shooting took place in the basement, after which the nightclub shut down. Sometime in 2009 the building was taken over by Springfield Stage Works, which runs productions inside the building from time to time.
Some stats for the State Theatre/Cinema:
Final movie shown as a first run theatre in August, 1990 was “Darkman” starring Liam Neeson. That same month the State was “Closed For Remodeling” and reopened in early September, 1990 with a new policy-that they would show only second-run movies for $1.50 always. Not sure what the first movie shown under the new policy was. Some movies that were shown during this time included: “Problem Child”, “Narrow Margin”, “Taking Care of Business”, and “Pretty Woman”. The final movie shown at the State was “Jacob’s Ladder” starring Tim Robbins, which closed down the State following its 9:45 PM showing on December 3, 1990.
Springfield StageWorks presents THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES by Eve Ensler at the State Theatre.
Three performances only – Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 11th, 12th and 13th 2010.
8:00pm
Tickets -
$10.00 at the door
This production is directed by Liz Dillard and is being presented in association with Project Woman of Springfield and VDAY, the global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play.
http://www.springfieldstageworks.org
http://www.vday.org
http://www.projectwomanohio.org/
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NOSFERATU returns this weekend at the State Theatre:
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Thanks Chuck!
Here are more shots from HAMLET at the State:
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It is so great to see one of te old movie theatres given a new lease on life. Best of luck to the Springfield State Works.
Here are some pictures from the April 2009 production of HAMLET at the State:
www.myspace.com/springfieldstageworks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30977055@N04/
Next, the State will be holding a film tribute to the 40th Anniversary of the 1st lunar landing, then a production of Sweeney Todd in October, and the annual screening of NOSFERATU again near Halloween.
Another 1986 photo of the State Theatre.
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1986 photo of the State Theatre.
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Our local production of HAMLET opens at the State this weekend –
www.springfieldstageworks.org
This will be the first time in the State Theater’s history that a local group has produced a Shakespearian play there.
Accoring to Marquee Vol. 20:2 (put out by the Theatre Organ Society), Charles Dawley designed the theater based on a design by John Eberson. As of 1988, the theatre was still owned by the Chakeres chain.
Springfield StageWorks has just made the State Theatre it’s permanent home:
www.springfieldstageworks.org
This is a recent photo of the State Theater.
Here is a website for this theater.
Here is a very nice article about our screening tomorrow night of “Caligari” at the State Theater:
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SRCputt, the Regent is actually in far worse shape than the State, what with years of water damage, but there is some gradual repair work happening now. At least the State is in good enough shape to be legally open to the public. Looking forward to presenting Caligari in March and Murnau’s Faust later in 2008!
Thanks,
Larry Coressel
That story seems accurate to me. I was one of the people who attended Nosferatu, and 125 is what I had estimated for the crowd. I would not count this theater as open, as there have been no events since then. When the theater was a bingo hall, all of the seats were ripped out, and flat wood floors over the slight slope of the old floor (at Nosferatu, the audience sat on card table chairs). The walls remain the same, though in disrepair. And I toured the upstairs, so I can vouch that there is still a projector, though video projection was used for Nosferatu. Also, as mentioned in other posts, the organ is long gone. To truly renovate the place would be expensive, and I suspect the other closed downtown theater (Regent) is in better shape. The screen looked fantastic, though. I will be there for Caligari and any other silent films they choose to show.
Here’s more about the state of the State Theater from today’s Springfield News-Sun:
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