State Theatre
212 S. Michigan Street,
South Bend,
IN
46601
212 S. Michigan Street,
South Bend,
IN
46601
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The last I saw of the State was during the auction of pieces left by the bar that was there. It had an updated sound system and a very good projector(ready to run). If the new owners are looking for a projectionist, contact me ()
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State Theatre finds buyer
Identity, planned use still not revealed.
Heidi Prescott
Market Basket
5:18 a.m. EDT, March 20, 2011
SOUTH BEND — What served as a landmark theater for decades, and is situated among downtown restaurants, stores and offices on Michigan Street, ended up unoccupied and in the hands of a bank.
Rather than announce movie showings or upcoming special events planned inside the historic building, the marquee outside the South Bend State Theatre has twice publicized public sales and auctions, attempting to create an interest from potential investors.
A recent February auction resulted in an undisclosed buyer signing a purchase agreement with Rose Acceptance Inc., a subsidiary of First National Bank of America. The company foreclosed on the State Theatre after a local group’s failed attempt in 2006 to turn the State Theatre into a Christian-focused cultural events center.
The theater had been listed for sale at $599,900.
“The transaction is not complete, but we’re moving toward a closing,” says Chris Patterson, real estate salesman at Rose Acceptance in East Lansing, Mich. “We’re excited for the buyer to take over possession and make it a thriving part of downtown South Bend.”
Possible plans for the State Theatre, which opened in 1921 as the Blackstone Theatre Vaudeville House, and contains bullet holes from a 1934 shootout between police and John Dillinger, whose gang robbed their last bank in that block, have not been disclosed.
But South Bend city officials reveal that the hopeful buyer has invested in a safety-and-systems study to be completed on the theater to ensure the neglected building meets various building department, fire inspection and other codes.
The study, which is currently under way, signals the strongest interest the city has seen from a potential buyer since the building went into foreclosure. But what could become of the structure remains unknown.
“The use of the building is up to the buyer. We do not have a say in the future potential use,” Patterson says.
“I do know the potential buyer will be eager to share with you what the future use will be when the time is right,” he adds. “The future owner wants the building to be a positive presence in the South Bend area.”
This sounds encouraging, especially seeing as South Bend will lose the College Football Hall of Fame to the north of the theater in the coming years and is searching for an adaptive reuse for that building, too.
The State Theatre purchase could be completed within a month or so, at which time area residents may know much more about its redevelopment and reincarnation, which city officials believe could involve a hybrid of an educational center during the day and theater concept at night.
In the daytime, a local college or university could use the theater space and stage for rehearsals or as an extension of its music school, department or program. And on weekend evenings, the State Theatre could turn into a brew-and-view concept, says Tamara Nicholl-Smith, director of downtown business recruitment, Downtown South Bend Inc.
A brew and view is a combination movie theatre-restaurant complex. Food and drink are offered at tables, as opposed to traditional theater seating, while the movie is showing. This concept has not only proven popular among movie-goers in cities across the country, including Chicago, but it also has been known to revitalize older buildings and shopping plazas.
Nicholl-Smith believes such uses could generate income with which the potential purchaser could invest in longer-term theater restorations.
The city has invested more than $250,000 toward the upkeep of the theater’s façade as well as improvements to the theater awnings, marquee and roof since the late 1990s. In addition, the Christian nonprofit, Way of Life, said it raised more than $250,000 that was invested in the building before the economic downturn that ultimately led to the bank foreclosure.
“It’s a fact that buildings that are in use and are used by people don’t decay as quickly as buildings that are empty,” Nicholl-Smith says. “So even if someone purchased the State Theatre and couldn’t do a big restoration right away, they could do enough to get in the door and use a percentage of the income generated to renovate piece by piece.”
Opening the doors is the important thing here.
And if this particular purchase agreement or deal does not happen, she is hoping for a community discussion about the theater’s future.
“There ought to be a roundtable, an exploratory roundtable with anyone who has ever been interested in owning or being part of the theater,” said Nicholl-Smith. “Communities have been known to rescue their theaters.
“There are those people in South Bend who fondly remember being in the State Theatre and would love to see it come back to life,” Nicholl-Smith says, “and others have never been inside and want to see it. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like the building and doesn’t want to go in. It’s beautiful and historic and harkening a grand era.”
The theatre is back up for auction in alittle over 5 days from now.
This property was recently listed for $599,000.00, but it’s price has been drastically reduced for this auction.
Current website for the church renovating the theatre is:
http://www.questdirect.com/QD/QuestDirect.com.html
The renovations have begun! Their webpage has a photo of the auditorium which shopws the interior decor to be in excellent (and unaltered) condition!
Nice 1968 photo posted of the State.
I remember going to the State a few times as a kid in the mid-60s. I saw Mary Poppins, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, The Singing Nun, Walt Disney’s Cinderella and Yellowstone Cubs and The Trouble With Angels there (although one or two of those may have played at the Granada.
It’s one of the few remaining buildings downtown that I still remember from when I lived in South Bend.
The State Theatre is up for auction July 16th-30th, 2009. Visit www.publicenemies.us for details, a video tour and more.
According to the 12 June 2009 “South Bend Tribune”, the State Theatre us up for auction. The evangelical community that claimed it failed to meet its goals. Details may be found at URL: View link
The State Theater in South Bend is up for sale again. An auction will be held July 16 – 30, 2009. I believe that the South Bend religious organization, LeSea, currently owns it.
I hope that a group interested in preserving classic movie houses will buy it. It would be an excellent venue for showing classic films, teaching and discussing movie history, and housing a classic films museum. It is located in revitalized Downtown South Bend, near fine hotels, restaurants and retail stores, and just a block from the College Football Hall of Fame and the impressive Center Center
convention facilty, which sits on the scenic St. Joseph River.
For sale on loopnet:
http://snipurl.com/gjp3r
I finally got a few of my snapshots up:
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Thanks to the attempt to bring the theater back to life in the 90’s and then as a night club – the building got a lot needed attention. Unfortunately now – the church that uses the building only appears to use the small lobby up front – not the auditorium. I really love this theater, but with the beautifully restored Morris Civic (Palace) a few blocks away, the Avon (one block away) still boarded up, and the state of South Bend’s and the nation’s economy – I fear for the State Theater. I took some pictures which I will post a link to very soon.
While I was a student at Notre Dame (1951-1955), the State had fallen on hard times. Of the five operating movies then in “downtown” South Bend — the Avon, Colfax, Granada, Palace, and State — the State showed the poorest selection of second-run films, and the building’s condition was sad — damp, musty, dingy, and generally unkempt. As I recollect, the place did not get its share of business from ND, even though it was closer to the bus stop (from campus) than any of the other theaters.
Early View
Sorry for my goof — Lost Memory’s link IS correct.
The link from two messages above is incorrect. Here is the correct link:
http://www.lifeatthestate.com/Life_Church.html
The State Theater now serves at the Life Church:
View link
after restoration, the State was a great movie experience. Took the family to see Independence Day . Beautiful restoration. Hope they re-open as a classic movie theater. Like to see some of my old favorites on the big screen. Bogart, John Wayne, Hitchcock Jim Stewart and so on.
http://www.realst8.com/blog/?p=56
Not relating to the State, I wanted to mention that Brother Andrew was a good man.
The South Bend Tribune had two articles about the State Theater today. Reportedly, it’ll be a cultural center with a Christian influence. It should be interesting to see if it works in the downtown setting. South Bend has made a concerted effort to revitalize the downtown and this could be the acid test. Take a look at http://www.bendareablog.com for a little more info and links.
STATE THEATRE UPDATE!
My friends, the State has been purchased (July 2006) and will reopen to the public for one day, September 7th during ArtBeat 2006 for a grand estate sale. All proceeds will go to the renovation of the State Theatre which has lost its lustre over the years of neglect, abuse and water damage. You can keep up with its progress, read press releases, news stories plus view photos at www.LifeAtTheState.com
My friend & colleague, the late Brother Andrew Corsini, one of the founders of the Theatre Historical Society, indicated to me that the State originally opened as the Blackstone and was designed by the architectural firm of Newhouse & Bernham. It opened on January 29, 1921. On opening it had a Kimball 2 manual organ.
On June 30, 1934 John Dillinger and his gang robbed their last bank in the same block where the State stands. A shootout with the Police took place in the street. It’s said that some of the bullets hit the upper facade of the State. I’ve stood in front of the State and with the aid of binoculars, I saw what could be patched bullet holes. I don’t know for sure, but I can’t rule it out.
The State Theatre in Downtown South Bend, IN is now closed. It has gone through foreclosure and is availible for sale through Prudential One Realty Commercial Division. E-mail Bill Hunt for listing at
Bill Hunt