State Theatre

Chuck1231 on December 1, 2004 at 2:06 am

History of the State:

The State Theatre originally opened on October 15th, 1938. It was built by John Hamilton Henzey for RCA Films at a cost of $70,000.

Two theatres that had been built in the grand style (the Nittany and Cathaum) provided movies in State College until The State Theatre – a newcomer with a new concept – joined them in October 15, 1938.

“Warner Bros. announces with pride the opening of Central Pennsylvania’s newest and finest theatre,” read an October 15 advertisement in the Centre Daily Times.

Warner Bros. paved the way the previous day in a special Times' supplement that announced, among other things: “Hot off the enormous Warner Bros. lot in Hollywood come Errol Flynn and Bette Davis in Myron Brinig’s ‘The Sisters’ which is the opening attraction at The State.”

The very first showing at The State Theatre was at 1:30 p.m. “The Sisters” – from “the best-selling novel” – was accompanied by “The Outstanding Short Subject of the Year: ‘The Declaration of Independence.'” The State, said Warner Bros., was one of only three theatres “in the United States to premiere” the new featured film.

The State Theatre opened with a general admission price of 30 cents for matinees, 35 cents after 5 p.m; children were admitted for 15 cents “at all times.” The film schedule to be followed would provide patrons with four different offerings each week.

This new movie house at 128 West College Avenue had been “Built in Record Time,” it was reported. General contractor John H. Henszey of State College had “received the final plans on June 16, completing the theatre in less than four months.”

Pressure to do so is implied in another news item: “Under the direct supervision” of Warner Bros.‘ zone manager, The State “has been rushed to completion as one of the most modern theatres in Pennsylvania and marks many departures in theatre construction and decoration from the older style theatre.”

A “Colonial Motif” graced The State. “The general architecture of the building and front is of colonial style in keeping with the architectural scheme of State College, but the interior is markedly modern and simple with pastel colors, [rich] drapes, and a unique lighting system.”

“…Patrons who enter the theatre will become aware of a soft golden glow whose source is not apparent…Light is projected from tiny, practically invisible holes in the ceiling and it’s all done with mirrors. Back of these tiny apertures in the ceiling is an elaborate reflecting apparatus.”

“Everything,” said the news from Warner Bros., “has been created with the sole purpose of making the viewer unconscious of his surroundings the moment the picture flashes on the screen.”

Suggesting that the opulence of older theatres detracted from the film itself, one of the news stories proclaimed: “The day of the over-bedecked, gilded and ornate theatre palace that was the high point of its day, ten years ago, has given way to the functional theatre. That is a theatre whose beauty is designed to further the requirements of sound, projection and comfort.”

Managing the new State Theatre was Carl Bechdel, a 1932 State College High School and 1936 Pennsylvania State College graduate. He had previously been assistant manager at the grand Cathaum Theatre, a few doors east on West College Avenue.

For the most part, local businesses – some of them a short walk away – supplied the new theatre’s construction necessaries: O.W. Houts Lumber Company, H.L. Harpster plastering, Harry J. Behrer Hardware, Bruce Horner Plumbing and the Electric Supply Company.

teecee on August 3, 2005 at 6:27 am

Centre Daily Times (State College, PA) 2005

Jun. 24—STATE COLLEGE — Renovation of the shuttered State Theatre will begin in late July or early August, project organizers announced Thursday, setting next summer as the theater’s opening season.

More than $3.55 million in construction will restore the 1938 movie house at 128 W. College Ave. as the nonprofit community-arts center first envisioned in 2001, organizer Mike Negra said. He said it’ll house 560 seats and could host more than 280 attractions a year.

Inside, Negra said, the new State Theatre will be comfortable, high-tech and subdued, with lighting and acoustics to accommodate cinema, live acting, concerts, lectures and other events.

“The theater has never been one with angels hanging from the ceiling,” said Negra, who leads the board of State Theatre Inc. “We want the wow factor to happen inside the audience chamber.”

Thursday’s announcement capped months of speculation and concern about the project, which lost its executive director in April. Renovation had been scheduled to begin in October 2004, but initial construction bids dealt the group a substantial setback, well exceeding the $3 million budget plan. The first bid was $5.5 million, Negra said.

“Did the concept of us not being able to make it ever enter my mind?” Negra said. “Probably about two seconds after I heard the $5.5 million number. Absolutely.”

Since then, State Theatre advocates have worked to trim construction costs — “to look for waste” — and keep the project viable, Negra said. They’ve rearranged some technical aspects of the design. For instance, they scrapped early plans for a walk-up ticket window, opting instead for a walk-in-only box office beside the theater’s front entrance.

The cost cuts and a recent spurt in fundraising pushed organizers to Thursday’s turning point, Negra said, when they could finally announce a firm timetable. They plan to sign a statement of intent today with Poole Anderson Construction, the project’s general contractor.

Poole Anderson and State Theatre Inc., a nonprofit organization, are expecting to formalize a contract in July, Negra said.

He said the project has received hundreds of private donations, ranging from $5 to $100,000, in addition to a state grant of $1.5 million. It still needs to raise slightly less than $2 million.

Bruce A. Lingenfelter, development chairman, said the group plans to take out a mortgage to cover the funding gap. But “we don’t expect to have the mortgage long,” he said.

Now that the project has gotten this far, Lingenfelter said, he expects fundraising will become easier. “Getting people to buy into the project” has been a hurdle, he said.

Once it opens, Negra said, the theater should be self-sufficient and could employ five or six full-time workers, plus part-timers and interns.

“It’s part of the quality of life, lifestyle, entertainment — creating this environment downtown to encourage people to live here,” said Teresa Sparacino, executive director of the Downtown Improvement District. She said businesses have already seen an economic uptick from the 150-seat Penn State Downtown Theatre, which opened in 2003.

“You can just imagine the impact the State Theatre is going to have,” Sparacino said

lostmemory on February 12, 2007 at 6:18 pm

This theater is open again. The State Theater is “a non-profit performing arts center for theater, dance, film and music”. If you have a calculator handy, this is the seating:

571 Total Seats – 472 permanent seats, 99 removable
Orchestra level: 430 total seats – 368 perm., 62 removable
Balcony: 141 total seats – 104 perm., 37 removable (16 in boxes).

sguttag on July 21, 2007 at 9:21 pm

Yes the State Theatre is definately open and worth visiting. The current decor looks great to me. For a multi-purpose venue, the State Theatre can put out exceptional film presentations for both image and sound (with genuine projectionists). It has 2K video projection as well (not DCinema…A/V grade.

I have no doubt that their live events are exceptional too. The room has a really great feel to it.

If I lived closer, I know I would catch as many events there as possible. So if you do live near it…please support it.

lostmemory on July 24, 2009 at 12:53 pm

The State Theater can be seen in this 2009 photo.