State Theatre
740 Main Street,
New England,
ND
58647
740 Main Street,
New England,
ND
58647
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Arvid Wiklund and Arnold O. Lona took over Guss Freed’s Grand and Philip B Pietz’s Rialto theaters, locally, and merged them into the State Theatre in the existing W.L. Gardner Block at 740 Main Street. It opened December 30, 1927 with Richard Dix in “Knockout Reilly.” On February 27, 1930 the venue was equipped with sound with “The Rainbow Man.”
The operators announced an August 16, 1981 closure with “Cannonball Run” selling out. But the theatre reopened one more time by Gottschalk Theatres before closing permanently November 4, 1984 with “Flash Point.” The theatre was offered for sale in the classifieds thereafter. It was demolished on March 21-29, 2001.
1935 photo added credit Dickinson Museum Center.
The State Theatre opened in 1931 with seating at that time given at 250. Prior to 1931 New England had two other theatres, the Grand Theatree and the Rialto Theatre.
My great-grandfather in the later years was the movie camera operator for the State and because of it we had no problem getting in free to the movies. Saw Annie in the State because we missed it at Cine 3 in Dickinson.
It was a Erickson Theatre in the late 50’s operated out of Hettinger.ND.
Nice little theatre.
Yes,that would have been great place. I would rather have 100 State theatres than one 20 plex.
I think so. The introduction should be updated and status changed to closed/demolished.
I guess they finally decided to tear it down. I wasn’t paying much attention the last time I was down there two years ago. So we can say it was torn down maybe about 2007 or so.
I think this one is gone. Take a look at the small building next to the theater in 1987 and a few years ago. The newer photo is around the 700 block of Main Street.
http://tinyurl.com/yc76sf4