State Theatre
212 S. Michigan Street,
South Bend,
IN
46601
212 S. Michigan Street,
South Bend,
IN
46601
14 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc.
Architects: Henry L. Newhouse
Firms: Newhouse & Bernham
Styles: Beaux-Arts
Previous Names: Blackstone Theatre
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News About This Theater
- Jul 7, 2009 — State Theatre up for sale
- Sep 6, 2006 — State Theatre estate sale & walk through
- Aug 9, 2006 — New Life at the State Theatre
- Dec 29, 2005 — Buy the State Theatre in South Bend
The Blackstone Theatre opened on January 29, 1921 with Dorothy Phillips in “Once to Every Woman”. It was equipped with a Kimball organ. On December 25, 1929 it was renamed State Theatre, but was listed as (Closed) in 1932. Still (Closed) in 1933 it was listed as being part of the Paramount Pictures Inc. circuit managed by their subsidiary John Balaban. They had reopened it by 1934. It was still open in 1956, but it had closed by 1957. This attractive, ornate and good-sized theatre was converted to a nightclub by levelling the orchestra level after its movie house days came to an end.
Closed again in 2005, the State Theatre was sold in July 2006 to a group which plans to renovate and reopen the theatre as a cultural center. Renovation began in October 2010, and it reopened in 2012, but sadly closed in 2016.
It was demolished in June 2023, only the facade would be retained.
Contributed by
Juan-Miguel Gallegos
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Recent comments (view all 45 comments)
From 2012 a little self guided tour of the building.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.645833773755.2073590.197403080&type=1&l=461f9b0300
Unfortunately, the State Theater recently closed again, according to an article in The Preface (I.U.S.B. student newspaper). It may need a group of people with combined resources (or a willing financial donor interested in preserving this facility) to break it out of it’s closed-open-closed cycle it seems trapped in.
This opened as the Blackstone theatre after 16 months of construction opening on January 29th, 1921.
Blackstone theatre opening announcement Thu, Jan 27, 1921 – 12 · The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States of America) · Newspapers.com
Grand opening ad
Blackstone theatre grand opening Sat, Jan 29, 1921 – 7 · The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Saint Joseph, Indiana, United States of America) · Newspapers.com
This reopened as State on December 25th, 1929. Grand opening ad posted.
This theatre built in the 20s needs to be saved and restored.
I recently visited the State Theatre. Check out a short write up and some photographs at After the Final Curtain
Facebook post with a 1933 photo during interior renovations. Credit Northern Indiana Historical Society.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10225159939055248&set=gm.3738466246247579
A recent photo can be found here https://www.flickr.com/photos/37640374@N04/51706530301/in/feed-37608235-1637952842-1-72157719988212419
I didn’t realize that most of the State had been demolished last year. I remember seeing “The Poseidon Adventure” and “House of Wax”, which starred Vincent Price at the State.