State Theater of Havre de Grace
325 St. John Street,
Havre de Grace,
MD
21078
325 St. John Street,
Havre de Grace,
MD
21078
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Related Websites
State Theater of Havre de Grace (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Durkee, F.H., Enterprises
Functions: Live Theatre
Previous Names: New Willou Theatre, Lafayette Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The New Willou Theatre was opened in 1908. In 1925 it suffered damage in a fire. It was taken over by F.H. Durkee Enterprises and was rebuilt, reopening as the State Theatre in 1927. F.H. Durkee Enterprises were still the operators in 1957 and it was closed in 1973. Renovations were carried out in 1982 and it reopened as the Lafayette Theatre, but this was a short-lived venture and it became a church, the Evangelistic Church of Deliverance until the late-2000’s.
It stood abandoned until 2020 when renovations began and it had reopened as a live theatre by September 2023.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
A neat little find in the Harbor of Grace. 2010 photos of the former State Theatre: 1, 2
This theatre was called the New Willou when it first opened in 1918 and was renamed the State during the 1930s.
A book called “Maryland’s Motion Picture Theaters”, by Robert K. Headley, says that the first Willou Theatre opened in a former harness shop in 1908, and that the Bijou was also in operation by that year. The 1918 opening date Jack Coursey mentions for the New Willou must be when the theater was renamed. Headley says that the State was opened by Durkee Enterprises in September, 1927.
Headley also says that the City Opera House, on Union Avenue, had exhibited movies by 1908; became a full time movie theater in 1917; burned and was rebuilt in 1921, and ran movies as late as 1929, when it was leased by Durkee.
Possibly, Durkee leased the rival house in order to shut it down and thus eliminate their State Theatre’s competition.
So Joe, the State is the only theatre on CT in Havre de Grace. From your research you have found additional venues which could be added.
The State has reopened! The website is State Theater of Havre de Grace.