State Theatre
609 Congress Street,
Portland,
ME
4101
609 Congress Street,
Portland,
ME
4101
6 people
favorited this theater
Showing 18 comments
In 1969 the State started to show adult movies including “I Am Curious (Yellow)” (Jag är nyfiken – en film i gult). The second screen opened on September 9th, 1970. Ads posted.
The State opened on the eighth of November 1929. ad:
State Theatre opening 03 Nov 1929, Sun Portland Press Herald (Portland, Maine) Newspapers.com
I added two photos I took today.
The Theatre Historical Society archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the State; it’s Card # 431. Address is 603 Congress St. There is an exterior photo taken May 1941. Condition is Good. The report says it’s over 15 years old (incorrect), was showing MGM movies, and had 2,041 seats.
4 images added to Photos Section.
I was there the other day on a bike trip. It was my last nite in town and I really wanted some interiors. The staff was nice enough to let me roam the place, even though a huge band was about to take the stage, and unaccompanied, no less. I got about 15 minutes of pix everywhere, including orchestra and both balconies. Upstairs is NOT ornate in the balconies at all. Love looking at atmospheric. No crazy ceilings or chandeliers. I’ll post pix sometime soon.
The state has reopened! According to their new website they have undergone extensive renovations and they have a variety of events coming up. Movies are included among their events – Dec. 3 has a special showing of the Wizard of Oz.
The State Theatre, photographed in the snow in January 2008;
View link
just watched the guster concert film ‘guster on ice’, which was filmed at this theatre in 2004.
sad to see that it is closed.
State Theater is currently owed by Stone Coast Properties, www.stonecoastproperties.com They own the entire Congress Building and have been making improvements and upgrades to the building since they bought it. They are currently looking for the right tenant for the State Theater, and if you are interested, you should call them. The State is a great place to see a show!
Could someone please update the status of The State Theatre? Is it still closed? Is it still up for sale? If it’s for sale, any idea on the asking price? How about the name of the brokerage company, if any, and if you know the owner’s name I would appreciate that as well. Thanks for any information you can share.
sad to say the state theatre is closed and up for sale.
Here are a few photos, circa 1930:
http://tinyurl.com/qv4qk
http://tinyurl.com/opzog
http://tinyurl.com/neqdv
http://tinyurl.com/mbar5
The State has a 2/8 Wurlitzer theatre organ, which is one of the few original installations remaining. I knew the manager back in the late 60’s to early 1970’s and used to enjoy playing there at times when the theatre was closed, usually early in the morning. The theatre was showing only pornography then and opened at 10 AM most days. The organ is still playable, although I understand that the console lift no longer works. The organ is almost never heard today and is never serviced. The last time I saw it was about 1976.
Opening night feature was Gloria Swanson’s first all talking film “The Trespasser”.
http://www.mainememory.net/bin/Browse
type in “state theater” in the search bar for some old photos.
official website [tickets etc] at http://www.liveatthestate.com/
In my thoughts this is one of they best places to go to a concert. I have seen lots of bands there like, George Clinton, Third eye Blind, System of a down, Black eyed peas(BEFORE they got big), and just verious others. It is just an all around good time.
HEATH