State Theater
20-24 E. 7th Street,
Chester,
PA
19013-4203
20-24 E. 7th Street,
Chester,
PA
19013-4203
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In the mid 70’s-earl 80’s it was a porn theater
Despite what was claimed in any article, the Islamic Center building was not the State Theatre. It was, indeed, the building next to the State Theatre shown in the old photo. The Islamic Center’s address is 14 W 7th. The new building after the vacant lot if 26 W 7th. Therefore 20-24 W 7th is the vacant lot which is where the State used to be.
Here is a November 1929 ad from the Chester Times:
http://tinyurl.com/yet4nmq
Architect was indeed John Eberson.
(Chester Times, Friday, December 2, 1938)
WARNER BROS. TO BUILD NEW THEATRE HERE
State Theatre, Closing Tonight, Will Be Demolished
Delaware County’s finest motion picture theatre soon will be a reality, upon the site of the present State Theatre, on Seventh Street, beween Sproul Street and Edgmont Avenue.
Announcement of this was made this afternoon by A. J. Vanni, zone
manager of the Warner Brothers, who came here from Philadelphia to
consult with local Stanley-Warner officials.
The State Theatre will close tonight. Demolition of the famous showhouse, which in turn was first Hargreaves Grand Opera House
then Washburn’s Theatre, then the State Theatre, will begin immediately.
Architects already are at work on the plans and construction will be
rushed to permit the formal opening of the showhouse in the spring.
According to the Warner Brothers announcement, the new movie theatre
will represent the last word in motion picture showhouses. The
building with a balcony will accommodate 1400 patrons; it will be
fireproof, air-conditioned, and will have accommodations found only in New York and other metropolitan theatres.
The Warner Brothers hold title not only to the present State Theatre
site but the extensive plot in the rear, now used as a parking lot. This lot extends from Wood Street to the building of R. Chester Spencer, on East Eighth street, and is one of the most valuable midtown sites.
Entrance to the new theatre will be on East Seventh street. At the
present time there is an alleyway between Wood and Sproul streets, separating the State Theater site from the parking lot, but it is believed little difficulty will be encountered in securing this area for private use.
Announcement by the Warner Brothers of the new theatre verified
rumors which have been heard for some months that a new theatre
would be built on that site. It was felt that the present times were
propitious for such a venture and after some conferences several weeks ago in New York, it was decided to go ahead.
Famous Theatre
The State Theatre is one of the best known showhouses in this section
of the country. When Thomas Hargreaves built the Grand Opera House, stock companies played there. Middle-aged men and women remember dainty little Irene Myers, Chester deVonde and other stalwarts of the stock companies. Musical comedies starred there.
Actors and actresses who gained high fame later on played here; Powell, the Magician; Houdini and hundreds of others famous in American stage annals were seen there.
When Leon Washburn gave up his Uncle Tom’s Cabin road shows and settled down to the show business in a theatre, the place operated first for vaudeville and for a while, for traveling shows. Later motion pictures were secured and eventually the Warner Brothers took over.
The building was erected in 1890 and was on the site of a skating rink. The opening date was October 20 1890, with John A. Stevens presenting “Wife for Wife”. No building in city perhaps has more memories than the old Opera House, as it is remembered by many thousands. In its place will be the modern showhouse of the cinema, of a grandeur and comfort never dreamed at the turn of the century.
Here is a March 1970 ad from the Delaware County Daily Times:
http://tinyurl.com/oaogfv
Well, I reread the “Source” again, and somehow I missed that it pretty clearly says “the State Theatre currently houses the Islamic Center of Chester”. So I guess in Chester’s eyes, it’s still standing.
I was wrong,(a lot today), in that the picture above the Islamic Center in the “Source” link, is from the another angle. And the two rooflines are not as easily comparible.
It is the very top Old Chester PA link that has the `60’s photo with roofline.
I personally am still suspect that the Islamic Center is actually in a/the old neighboring building. But the Chester website folks should definately know better than I.
I think it’s time for my nap.
Though to perpetuate the confusion, the Islamic Center is also pictured within the same link that says the theatres are all gone except two.
Other than a perfect example of the two rooflines pictured above each other, I’m still confused. Is there a reason the Islamic Center isn’t included in “beautifully utilized as churches”? Or is it an admission that it is indeed not the same building, only pictured with it.
Lost Memory’s “Source” link is still the BEST source, for what was and is now. I defer to Lost Memory for the final determination, if the status should be changed from Religous Services to Demolished. The wrong address is a given. Especially since the town of Chester seemed to change things around at one point or another.
Thank you both. And thank you David for admitting to your confusion as well, at least i wasn’t the only one! : )
Thanks Lost. I still was, until I read the link you posted as “Source” completely to the very bottom.
It ends with the quote: “All the theaters are gone now, but the Boyd and Roxy are beautifully utilized as churches.”
Since the State Theater is not included as one of the two theaters remaining, we can assume it was torn down. And that Ken Mc’s link of the vacant Islamic Center is most likely the building next door to where the State Theater was, and is not the former State Theater itself. Regardless of address. Given the identical roofline in the `60’s picture and the Islamic one.
??? Please forgive me if i am being dense here….!! Maybe it’s just me. So we have established that the address in the header is incorrect? If so, then has the building been demolished? (We went by the address listed here and found what appeared to be a vacant lot. But if the address is wrong, then we wasted an opportunity to check it out.)
Hmmm. I think you are right. A possible mix up on the East/West address distinction.
However, NOW I notice that the roofline of the vacant Islamic Center in Ken Mc’s Dec.19th post, mirrors that of the building NEXT to the State Theatre in the `60’s photo from the Old Chester PA— “New” State Theatre link. Under the very top description. (The photo with the construction equipment parked in the middle of the street in front of Henry’s.)
Maybe the marquee/entrance and auditorium were in neighboring buildings. Or it could just be coincidence, and the marquee helps hide the roofline we need to distinguish. Beyond any wrong addresses.
Hope I didn’t confuse things worse.
Correction, silly me.
“New building on the site of the old State Theatre & Washburn, etc.”. As referenced in the Old Chester PA link under the State’s description.
Oh, I get it. Thanks for the clarification Lost Memory.
Seems the Chester Time’s folks tried to throw a curve back in 1939, by posting the words “Old & New” in reverse order, over the Newest & Old State Theatre pictures. So whether they were built on the same site or not remains a mystery, no?
Though the architecture appears similar, the 1939 picture & vintage 1890-ish website picture is clearly a 2 story or better building.
The recent shot of the vacant Islamic Center, is that of only a one story building. With a similar type of ornamentation across the top. Coincidence most likely due to like construction styles in the area at the time.
Sorry if this analogy is redundant.
I don’t see it clarified as two different buildings though, in previous posts.
Address is wrong, as the building is on E. 7th. Doesn’t look as if the building is occupied at present, but it’s still standing.
I made out most of it but am still confused… is the building demolished or not? Is the address at the top of this page wrong?
That’s agreed, Lost Memory.
The opening of the new State Theater was featured in the Chester Times on 8/15/39:
http://tinyurl.com/9mp7fz
I figured it out. The State was at 14 E. 7th. Here is a picture when it was an Islamic Center. It looks like the building is now vacant but still standing. The building to the right of the theater matches the one in the vintage photos at the top of the page.
http://tinyurl.com/4fraw7
Under Chester PA in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide there is a Grand Opera House, managed by Thomas Hargreaves. It had 1,200 seats and was located on the ground floor. There are no street addresses in this Guide. But it seems likely that it is the Hargreaves Opera House/Washburn Theatre/(old) State Theatre.
There is a good-sized church at 10 W. 7th, then the vacant lot, then a bridge. I suppose the theater would have been in that lot next to the church. There’s not much space there, though, for a 1000-seat theater.
Thanks Warren – this theater bears a familial resemblance to the Schine Auburn in Auburn NY – but only in various design elements, a few patterns here and there. You can tell they are “cousins” but certainly not twins, as someone else suggested to me. It just breaks my heart further to know that the Auburn theater continues to languish and lose more of its unique outer space elements every day.
So i guess we have confirmed that the State was actually torn down? Pity.
On a recent trip through Chester PA with friends, we were surprised to find a vacant lot where 20-24 should have been. Did I miss the memo?
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