State Theater
515 E Street,
Marysville,
CA
95901
515 E Street,
Marysville,
CA
95901
2 people
favorited this theater
Opened as the National Theater in 1927. This large theater has been vacant since 1999, and in pretty bad shape. The facade is either baroque or mission, and painted in unsightly browns. It is interesting for the number of niches along the upper story, which may have held statues in the past. The street level is boarded up, and has tacky tile from the 1970’s. The marquee is similarly ugly.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 29 comments)
Here are some 1986 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Photo3
I’m not sure about a remodel, but the last day an advertisement ran in the Appeal-Democrat for the National Theatre was August 27, 1936, and the first day the State Theatre advertised was August 28, 1936 (a Friday).
April 2009 photo of the State Theatre courtesy Jasperdo.
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2008 photo of the State Theatre courtesy Tom Spaulding
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Between 2003 and 2005 a partner and I restored the California Theatre in Dunsmuir, CA; and reopened it as a live stage venue and special movies.
She and I could not get along once it opened (she booked only live kids shows & movies) and I bailed.
I would love to take over the restoration and reopening of the State (especially with 1667 seats) and bring big name acts to the theatre (Bill Medley, BS&T, etc.). I would gladly head-up and manage a $ multi-million restoration of the theatre, holding events and using volunteers, to cut those $ millions way down.
If any of you would be willing to work with me on this project, please contact me; and we’ll see if we can’t get the City and Owners together, to agree to a restoration & our operating the State.
Don Kirk
i would volunteer to help with the restoration. that place has so much potential. it was a live vodville and movies house, with an orcestra pit. it has dressing rooms under the stage,and 6 offices. would love to see it up and running with music and movies again. my dad worked there in the 80’s. loved the cealing with all the charubs and decorations. it would be a great venue. would love to see it again as state was it was in the 40’s with all the neon and booth in middle. before 70’s restoration as per now. John Metcalf
The actual opening year of the National Theatre was 1927. This comment by tspauld on the Tower Theatre page says that the National on E Street was under construction when the Liberty Theatre, which replaced an earlier National Theatre at 1st and D Streets, opened on January 1 that year.
Indeed, the January 15, 1927, issue of Building and Engineering News ran an item saying that subcontracts had been awarded for work on the new theater being built on E Street between 5th and 6th in Marysville for the National Theatres Syndicate. That could only have been the National/State.
The item said that the new theater had been designed by the San Francisco architectural firm of Bliss & Fairweather.
Since my last posting, I have called and attempted to talk with Mr. Benny; but get only voicemail and no reply (to our buying the State for a live stage venue). I have also talked to and emailed Mr. Lamon about acquiring both the State and the Marysville Hotel. I’m currently in Medford, OR, working to acquire several buildings and land to open Phase I, of the new Medford Convention & Exposition Center; which we hope to open in the spring of 2012. After that, we will again attempt to purchase these two Marysville landmarks.
State Theater was the National Theater..
The original theater burned on the night of July 28, 1926 and was rebuilt bigger 11 months later on September 14, 1927 as the National Theater. Built by contractor I.C. Evans at a cost of $250,000. There was a temperary theater on the site during the construction. The National was a 1672 seat play and movie house, with an orchestra of 9 and a 90 by 40 foot stage. It also included 2 storefronts and 6 offices. Under the stage there are 11 dressing rooms. It was remodeled in Aug 1936 and changed its name to the State Theater. Remodeled again in the 1970’s when it was bought by United Artist. They turned the balcony into a double screen. Leaving it with the 3 screens it now has. CLosed in the late 1990’s. Fire took some of the concetion in 2005.
My dad worked there in the 1980’s when i was a kid under manager Joe Serry. I remember taking an elivator into the basement and seeing a bunch of old costums and tophats. And being in the projection booth, with a toilet next to a fruit drink fountain. It brings good memories and I would love to see it restored. •John Metcalf
We are also having trouble contacting the owner of the Capitol Theatre in New London, CT. It was bought from the city for $1. Plus back $20,000. property taxes; with the agreement to restore the theatre (over 1700 seating capacity). The 2 owners there have also done nothing; and refuse to answer inquiries from anyone including the city. We want both of these thetres (and the Hotel Marysville); and will keep working to acquire all of these. With a 90' wide stage, we could produce any type of show. We’d love to bring the current version of Lord Of The Dance and other show of that calliber to Marysville’s State Theatre.