State-Lake Theatre

190 N. State Street,
Chicago, IL 60601

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Showing 1 - 25 of 163 comments

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 7, 2023 at 11:20 pm

Hachidan8, “The Exorcist” played at the State-Lake 2/15/74-6/13/74, and again 4/20/79-5/24/79 as a second run. “Papillon” preceded it 12/21/73-2/14/74. The Gateway Theatre featured it at the time of it’s release too. All films that played at the State-Lake 1964-1980 are listed by dates on page 5 in a 2007 comment. As are most of the other downtown theatres.

Hachidan8
Hachidan8 on November 7, 2023 at 5:47 pm

I came here every weekend on the train to watch the same movie over and over. This theater held the honor of premiering the movie “The Exorcist” Dec. 26th 1973. It played at this theater for the next year and ten months straight. All the hype, the lines, the ambulances, the fainting, all happened here from 73 to 75. What a time to be alive.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on January 3, 2023 at 2:44 am

11 seconds of marquee footage from 6/15/73-6/28/73.

https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/item/219786010-chicago-1973street-view-chicago-theater-and-iconic-chicago-s?fbclid=IwAR3bZJNMx6QrLjJr_hlF1adckBq58qGDazZqW0MkM8BBa4fSFYIMOp__TAU

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on June 8, 2022 at 2:01 am

1972 photo with top of marquee. Image will enlarge within Flickr link.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/photosarchive/50224056926/

Broan
Broan on April 6, 2022 at 9:56 pm

Early lobby view https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=osu.32435022587802&view=1up&seq=28&skin=2021&q1=rapp

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 11, 2021 at 3:36 am

Paul Dimler photo.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37640374@N04/6287620225?fbclid=IwAR1sjFPLlENa-LqXr23Rv48fIMKbwm708R5PE_u9HB_qV8va6RyPJSZCbYI

plugai
plugai on September 22, 2021 at 10:27 pm

The State Lake is the only Chicago theater I never saw a movie in. My Dad would drive our family in his 1966 Chrysler Newport “downtown” in the evenings and I do recall seeing outside the State /Lake one evening quite large advertising for One Million Years B.C. in 1966 with a life size cardboard cut out of Raquel Welch dressed in fur skins standing outside the glass doors! Years later, my friend who worked with me in theater, invited me across the street from the Chicago Theater we were working a theatrical play to visit with her husband who worked for Channel 7 for a tour of the Channel 7 facilities. The former State/Lake theater is still preserved in the Channel 7 facilities. From the news studio, to Oprah’s former studio. One could see evidence of the former theaters self. I’m glad I was able to observe architecture of the former theater.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on December 30, 2020 at 5:33 am

1939 marquee photo credit Charles Dunlap via Flickr.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vincentnip/4572457477/in/photostream/

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on June 21, 2019 at 2:15 pm

Saul Smaizys 9/30/77-10/20/77 photo via Flickr. (misdated originally) Will enlarge in link.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ceebop/23970597550/in/album-72157662523920010/

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 17, 2019 at 3:19 am

100th anniversary piece for tomorrow.

https://abc7chicago.com/society/state-lake-theater-home-of-abc-7-celebrates-100-years/5195875/?fbclid=IwAR35rodItdxdIxdcGpj7JssI-Il_QTpBMYKMoLKLe9RPaLNm8eW6PJ6dYg0

larrynow
larrynow on February 3, 2019 at 1:15 am

I wonder why there is so little photo documentation of the lobby or auditorium? I found 1 grainy pic of the interior…that was it!!!!!

Tim O'Neill
Tim O'Neill on August 21, 2018 at 2:08 am

The State Lake Theatre showed its last movie on Thursday, June 28, 1984.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 1, 2018 at 4:36 am

9/12/51 photo added credit Larry Nocerino (Vintage Tribune).

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on February 26, 2018 at 10:25 pm

1953 photo added credit Bettmann/Getty.

alansafe
alansafe on December 10, 2017 at 9:21 pm

Its not it’s

“The Rapp & Rapp designed exterior was restored to it’s 1920s appearance…”

JAlex
JAlex on September 5, 2017 at 5:00 pm

The architect of the theatre was G. Albert Lansburgh.

Rapp & Rapp designed the office building which housed the theatre.

Tim O'Neill
Tim O'Neill on April 8, 2017 at 4:24 am

THE EXORCIST didn’t open at the State-Lake on December 26, 1973. It started showing at the State-Lake in February, 1974. The big 1973 Christmas attraction at the State-Lake was PAPILLON.

Hachidan8
Hachidan8 on April 8, 2017 at 4:12 am

Dec.26th 1973. A friday. Blowing snow. Cold. I stood with my Mom in a long long line stretched around Lake st. The line inched. I could see the movie title, “The Exorcist”. Inched again. Twirling red lights.Christmas lights? No. Ambulance. Then another one. Fire? No. Sick people coming out crying and throwing up. People were cheering. Some kissing crosses on a necklace. I looked at my mom. I was not ready to see this film. All happened here from 73 to late 75…The Exorcist.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 11, 2015 at 12:52 am

December 1954 photo added, photo and caption credit Chicago Transit Authority Historical Collection.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 7, 2015 at 7:57 pm

06/12/64-07/02/64 photo added courtesy of the AmeriCar The Beautiful Facebook page.

bbollinger
bbollinger on September 17, 2015 at 7:00 am

Saw the bubble 3d in late 60s

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on August 4, 2015 at 9:19 pm

February 11th-15th, 1982 photo added, courtesy of the John Chuckman Collection. Mayor Byrne’s “Loop Alive”.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 23, 2015 at 2:40 pm

This link has photos of a dual premiere at both the Chicago and State-Lake Theatres in 1940. Copy & paste to view.

http://www.vintag.es/2015/01/old-photos-of-chicagos-first-hollywood.html

gordonio
gordonio on August 26, 2013 at 6:15 pm

Jeez, Louise! I SAW Cleopatra at the State-Late Theater! (We teenagers called it the “State and Lake”)

TechnicolourYawn
TechnicolourYawn on April 23, 2013 at 4:19 pm

Thank you Broan, much appreciated.