State Theater
108 E. San Antonio Avenue,
El Paso,
TX
79901
108 E. San Antonio Avenue,
El Paso,
TX
79901
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc.
Architects: Henry C. Trost
Functions: Retail
Previous Names: Wigwam Theater, Texas Grand Theater, Rialto Theater
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Apr 1, 2009 — Remembering Cinerama (Part 25: El Paso)
Known as the Wigwam Theater when it first opened in 1914. It became the Texas Grand Theater. On September 25, 1919 it was renamed Rialto Theater. In 1922 it returned to the Wigwam Theater name In the early-1940’s it was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary Hoblitzelle & O'Donnell. On April 2, 1949 it was renamed State Theater. By 1981 it was an adult movie theater, but this was a short lived venture and it finally closed in late-1981.
The State Theater had a showy combination marquee/sign that sheltered the entrance and outside ticket booth. “State” was spelled out in large letters on both sides and accented with neon.
Contributed by
Billy Smith / Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The Wigwam Theater was in operation by 1914, when it was one of five El Paso movie houses that shared a full-page ad in the August 29 issue of the El Paso Herald.
This post from weblog Deep Inside El Paso has a couple of photos of the Wigwam/State Theatre building (way down the page) and cites historian Cynthia Farah Haines as saying that the Wigwam Theatre was renamed the Rialto in 1921, then went back to Wigwam in 1922, and became the State in 1949. Haines also said that the Wigwam Theatre was designed by architect Henry Trost. The State began showing X-rated movies in 1981, but closed later that year.
The photos in the weblog post I linked to in me previous comment show that Street View on this page is currently set to the wrong building. The theater was in the building down the block to the left which has a sign reading “Alamo Shooters” on what remains of the marquee. The building has the addresses 108 and 110 E. San Antonio Avenue.
Watched many a flicks at The State, but The Capri was my joint.
Reopening as Rialto on September 25th, 1919
Rialto theatre opening Thu, Sep 25, 1919 – 11 · El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) · Newspapers.com
and reopened as the State on April 2nd, 1949. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
I just noticed that the 1919 Rialto grand opening ad has the notation “Formerly Texas Grand,” so that must have been an aka.