State Theatre
College Avenue,
Tallahassee,
FL
College Avenue,
Tallahassee,
FL
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Nancy T: I also played in the FSU Bands 1957-1961. What was your name at that time? I’m Irv Lipscomb.
I am an “oldtimer” per “irvl” comments here on Jan 16, 2009; I saw Harry James perform at the State Theatre either Fall 1956 or Winter 1957. I was a freshman clarinetist in the FL State Univ bands. I also sat through 2 Louis Armstrong performances in Tallahassee around the same time. Thanks for jogging my memory.
Florida Memory says that the State Theatre was on the north side of College Avenue between Adams and Monroe. That’s the 100 E. block, and the historical photos show that it was on the lot west of the alley between those two streets. Today the lot is occupied by a tall office building called Highpoint Center, for which LoopNet gives an address of 106 E. College Avenue. That must have been the theater’s address as well.
Florida Memory also says that the second State Theatre opened on September 27, 1934. From the old photos it looks like the Daffin Theatre had actually been next door to the new theater’s site, so it probably had an address of 104 E. College. Now there’s a parking structure on that lot.
The state theatre was always advertised as “A first Run Theatre'.July 20 1950,"GUY WHO CAME BACK”. is playing. Irv,I saved a piece of screen from my old theatre in town,National Hills Theatre.
1981 Photo
1988 Photo
Just before the State Theater was demolished, it looked like this and like this.
Here is another vintage photo.
I explored the State several times while it was still operating as a movie theatre. It had quite impressive stage facilities, and there was a basement under the stage which contained several dressing rooms. In fact, new managers would live there from time to time until they found permanent housing. I remember seeing a sign there reading “All good show folks eat at the (name forgetten) restaurant.” It was a grand old theatre with a rich vaudeville history. Tallahassee oldtimers told me they saw Harry James and his band perform on that stage. As the theatre was being razed, I managed to save a small piece of the screen.
The State Theater had 1,348 seats in 1955.
I took a single slide photo of the State in 1981. It was closed, but looked in reasonable shape. The vertical sign was indeed the one shown in the historic photos (and the color photo of it being removed). I hope it was saved. The deco facade was completely painted white, and a pale green trapezoid marquee had replaced the moderne one in the old photos. It had reader boards on its angled sides, and “STATE” in block letters had been on the side paralleling the street, but the letters had been removed, leaving outlines where the green paint had not faded.
This is a late 1930s program for the State Theater and here is another from 1939.
This is a photo of the State Theater sign being removed in 1988.
I liked this one better than the Florida after the fire.The “new"Florida was painfully plain.I remember going to the State in 60 or 61 and watching Gone With The Wind.It used to be re-released every few years.It had a great balcony.Living in Tal.for 3 years in my formative early 60’s time frame was a fun experience.It was user friendly for a kid with a bike.There was a large Black theater on w.Tenn.St.that reallt did a land-offices business till the late 60’s.
Remodeled State opened on September 27, 1934 at the new location after the original one burned on December 5, 1933.
Old photos of the Daffin:
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc04120.jpg
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc04139.jpg
Old photos of the State:
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc12720.jpg
http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/reference/rc13691.jpg
Here is a photo of the exterior of the State Theatre dated 1949.