State Theatre
212 S. Michigan Street,
South Bend,
IN
46601
212 S. Michigan Street,
South Bend,
IN
46601
14 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 50 comments
April 17th, 2026
State Theatre Apr 17, 2026 The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana) Newspapers.com
October 29th, 2025 article:
Once operated by Publix.
Once operated by ABC Great States Theatres and finally Plitt Theatres. The State Theatre closed as a movie theater on November 3, 1977 with “A Piece Of The Action”.
The State Theater fully remains standing. The city of South Bend is considering buying the State per South Bend Tribune article: https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-bend-may-buy-historic-190002509.html
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.
A recent photo can be found here https://www.flickr.com/photos/37640374@N04/51706530301/in/feed-37608235-1637952842-1-72157719988212419
Facebook post with a 1933 photo during interior renovations. Credit Northern Indiana Historical Society.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10225159939055248&set=gm.3738466246247579
I recently visited the State Theatre. Check out a short write up and some photographs at After the Final Curtain
This theatre built in the 20s needs to be saved and restored.
This reopened as State on December 25th, 1929. Grand opening ad posted.
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 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
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.
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
nice profile on the latest efforts at the State Theater. http://www.southbendtribune.com/entertainment/inthebend/spotlight/article_87168eee-581b-11e3-8ca6-0019bb30f31a.html
Last night 6/8 the State had it’s first film showing in a number of years. The Rocky Horror Picture show was screened at 9p.m. followed by a second showing at midnight; the midnight show was sold out! There is a story on this at WNDU.com
The State Theater has been cleaned up and the owners are planning to host events as soon as possible. A group called Ignite Michiana held the first event there March 28th. An article in the Preface, I.U. South Bend’s student newspaper, on April 3rd; it gives more details about the State Theater and Ignite Michiana.
New owner, and plans are explained on here, I am trying to help them out, so fingers crossed. http://www.thestatesb.com/
You can pitch any idea you might have for this theater by this website:dtsbpitch.com. Also , on this website it lists the State (Blackstone) architect as Henry Newhouse from Chicago.
WNDU ch 16 in South Bend reported today that the State theater owners are going to have a contest to decide what they will do with the landmark theater. You can view the report on WNDU.com Perhaps they might include a theater organ?? (hint!) :–) == Sam ==
http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-state-theatre-in-south-bend-sold-to-local-company-20120113,0,2231042.story?track=rss
Oops . I just remembered this! :–)I had visited my mom in a nursing home recently, then went to lunch. I ran into two of her cousins, who also had just been there just before me. One of them recalled being a girl of 15, during WWII, and taking the bus from her small town to South Bend, where they went to the State. While they were in the theatre, they heard a bunch of noise outside the theater. They eventually went outside to see what the noise was. There were hundreds and hundreds of people all up and down Michigan st, cheering and holding up signs— WWII had ended!! They thought they might miss the bus home, but her aunt found her in the crowd, and they stayed there for the celebration in front of the State! She ended up getting a hugs ( and some kisses too!) from quite a few servicemen in uniform! She said that is one memory she will never forget of the State theater!
The State theater has another new owner.A group called Banko Investement intends to announce further plans for the building in about 11 weeks. This will follow the completion of a study of the theater just started today by students from the Illinois Institute of Art Chicago. There is more on this as reported today on WNDU ch.16. ( see WNDU.com) for complete story. This theater is also a near twin to the Capitol theater (1921-1970), in Cincinnati. Will post further updates on this as I become aware of them.
The State could make a great home for a theater organ. I believe the stage are would be large enough to accommodate such a unit. I am not sure if there are organ vaults in place, but if so, that much the better. I am thinking along the lines of the Senate theater in Detroit, home to the Fisher theater’s one of a kind Wurlitzer. After being in use in recent years, the State is at least in fair shape.