State Theatre
20 N. Robinson Avenue,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73102
20 N. Robinson Avenue,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73102
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Architects: W.T. Vahlberg
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Mar 18, 2013 — “South Pacific” 55th Anniversary – The Roadshow Engagements
- Dec 9, 2012 — Happy 50th, “Lawrence of Arabia”
- Oct 19, 2011 — Happy 50th, "West Side Story"
- Oct 24, 2010 — "The Alamo"...Happy 50th!
- Oct 13, 2010 — Happy 55th, Todd-AO & "Oklahoma!"
- Oct 30, 2009 — Happy 50th, "Sleeping Beauty"
Opened on March 5, 1937 with Grace Moore in “When You’re in Love”. The State Theatre was one of only a handful of theatres built to exclusively showcase Columbia Pictures. In fact, within the State’s logo design was the prominent slogan “HOME TO COLUMBIA PICTURES!”.
Architect W.T Vahlberg designed the State Theatre in a Streamline/Moderne style. At the far end of a Hollywood chic lobby was a dramatic, sunken lounge.
The auditorium carried a rust colour scheme, featured stadium style seating with gradual floor rake that became quite steep near the rear of the house, resulting in excellent sight lines. Gorgeous, heavy drapes adorned a fully curved screen. Indirect lighting throughout the interior bathed the space in soft hues.
Short sighted urban development caused the State Theatre to be razed in late-December 1971, a sad loss to downtown Oklahoma City.
Contributed by
Jeff Chapman
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 31 comments)
1965 Day Time Pic of State Theater added to Photo Section.
1971 Pic of State Finale added to Photo Section
1937 grand opening ad in photo section.
1930’s Pic of North Robinson Street with State Theater added to Photo Section.
Oops, technology glitch earlier uploaded wrong photo’s..these are correct State Theater Photo’s in Pic Section.
The last ever active listing for this theater was Tuesday, September 7, 1971, when it was showing MGM’s screen adaptation of John Herbert’s prison-set play FORTUNE AND MEN’S EYES. The next two day’s ads state “Temporarily Closed due to Storm Damage—OPEN SOON.” It never reopened. [Oklahoma Journal]
Yeah, the steep seating was way tooo comfortable for the period…My buddy and I spent late hours on a Fri. nite and would go the to State on Sat. afternoon but, fell asleep in those seats often after a fun nite…It wAS A FIRST CLASS theater with the most comfortable seating of any theater at that time in OKC….Thanks
Pic added to photo section of 1953 fire.
Pic added to Photo section of State Theater showing of 1937’s “DEAD END”
This opened on March 5th, 1937.