State Palace Theatre
1108 Canal Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
1108 Canal Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
14 people
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“and the chain is unknown!"
I think they are talking about the present owners are unknown. Loews hasn’t owned this theatre for many years.
This theatre owns the whole block meaning all of the stores around the base of the theatre are leased. To rehab this whole thing you would have to get rid of all tenents and completely remodel everything including the electrical for the theatre which doesn’t meet code. Rewiring electric from basement location would cost over 1 million alone. Present owners would like to sell the property, but whoever buys the theatre would have to have deep pockets and not want an immediate return on their investment. Could take years to make your money back.
Still… Restored this theatre could be a showplace.
Thanks for the photo CWalczak.
A 1955 photo of the theater: View link
Don, your original posting on August 6 was correct – it is Loew’s State.
This theatre should really be saved. It’s rare today to find a house like this in such good condition. Someone should step up and get this started. I know it takes money and there has to be some kind of a plan for it’s use to warrent the expenditure but it would be a shame to see it fall into a wreck only to be torn down when it is now in such restorable shape.
Correction to above post. This is the Loewe'sState and Saenger Theatres in New Orleans.
From the early 1930s a postcard view of the Loewe’s State and Saenger Theatres on Canal street in New Orleans.
Very nice postcard Don.
From the 1930s a postcard view of Canal Street along with the Loew’s State and Saenger Theatres in New Orleans.
Yeah,that is hard to believe with the history Loews carries.
Just noticed on the header under chain it says unknown? Loews built and operated this theatre for many, many years, and the chain is unknown!
According to the March 2010 photo the Marquee still says Loews State, thats pretty wild.Maybe this theatre can be rehabed.
Announcing a book about New Orleans Movie Theaters
THEREâ€\S ONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
The History of the Neighborhood Theaters in New Orleans
is being written by 89-year-old Rene Brunet, the dean of the motion picture industry in Louisiana, and New Orleans historian and preservationist Jack Stewart. The 160-page,coffee table book will be released in November and is being published by Arthur Hardy Enterprises, Inc. Attention will be focused on 50 major neighborhood and downtown theaters, culled from a list of nearly 250 that have dotted the cityâ€\s landscape since the first “nickelodeon†opened in 1896 at 626 Canal Street. The book will be divided by neighborhoods and will open with a map and a narrative about each area. Each major theater will feature “then and now†photographs, historic information, and a short series of quotes from famous New Orleanians and from regular citizens who will share their recollections.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
We are trying to acquire memorabilia and additional photos of this theater for this publication. (deadline July 1.) You will be credited in the book and receive a free autographed copy if we publish the picture that you supply. Please contact Arthur Hardy at or call 504-913-1563 if you can help.
The ending scenes of “The Vampire’s Assistant” were shot in the Loews.
Coll 2010 photos Micheal looks much better than I thought it would.When to the LOEWS many times when I was a kid in New Orleans visiting my cousins every summer,took the train there and back with my grandmother.
Thanks for posting the photos! It looks a lot better on the inside than I was expecting based on what the exterior looks like. Hopefully someone will step in to save it before time begins to take it’s toll, such as what happened with the nearby Joy.
Here’s a link to the Stage and Curtain in 2010:
View link
Here’s a view of the box seats in 2010:
View link
Here’s a view of the 2 balconies as shot from the stage in 2010:
View link
Went inside of the Loew’s Theatre (State Palace) today (2/26/10). On the inside, you can still see the grandeur of the original theatre. Two balconies and box seats on the side. Definately needs renovation, but there is a grand theatre there for someone that will take on this project. It is currently for sale. The whole block is owned by the theatre group and all of the tenants in these business would have to thrown-out and the whole complex renovated to original stature.
I saw “Gone With The Wind” here for the first time. It’s sad to see it in this condition, but I have great memories. I took pictures but will have to lighten them up before posting. Even with lights on the place was still dark.
One of the problems is that since Katrina, the code has changed and electrical will have to be moved from basement to main level which could cost over a cool million. Not good.
If you know anyone with a few million to throw into the project, let me know. We can take it on.
Michael Flaherty
Lots of nice pictures I like the 2 marquees.
The State Theater has really deteriorated in the last 2 years. The place looks to be in near shambles on the outside. All the doors were boarded up, and the building seems to be slowly falling apart. Very sad.
Here’s a photo I took of the Joy Theater last week when I was in New Orleans, that has the marquee of the State in the background. Two very sad Theaters.
Click here for photo
The Loew’s State appears to be one of the filming locations for “The Vampire’s Assistant” opening today.
This will always be the “Loews” or “Loew’s State” to me. I saw “Gone With The Wind” there for the first time. The Saenger and the Loews were New Orleans two great movie houses.
That must be a different photo…the link has a different product ID#…they must have deleted the photo I originally linked to, as it used to work.
interested in saving the State Palace or performing there? drop me a line:
Here’s another image that shows the old marquee of the State, as well as the Saenger at night. That site has some beautiful images:
View link