Ely's Historic State Theater

50sSNIPES on October 4, 2026 at 10:35 am

The State Theatre building itself measures 110x50ft and originally housed 630 seats when it first opened as a single-screener on October 11, 1936 with Francis Lederer in “My American Wife” (unknown if extras added). Some original features include a 19ft silver screen with sound boxes located on a 14ft curved stage, a 32x10ft foyer, and RCA Photophone sound.

• NOTE: The State Theatre originally planned to open as the Rio Theatre, but that name never made it by the time of opening, as it opened as the State.