State Theatre
5814 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60644
5814 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60644
4 people
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This opened on October 31st, 1925 by Lubliner & Trinz. Grand opening ad posted.
A great movie house. Not as grand as the Marbro down the street. When the Marbro closed the marquee read visit the B&K State. There is a picture of that sign somewhere. Quite a number of stabbings forced the theatre to close for a time in the late 60’s & 70’s. No theatre can operate under those conditions.
Just ran across a link that says the State’s organ was later move to the Trianon Ballroom at 6201 Cottage Grove.
I believe it was a church for a time in the 1980’s.
Would be amazing if there were more exterior photos from the sixties and earlier – plus interiors. Sad that there is so little information available about this fantastic old theater.
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dz9seh
The State theatre was operating at least through early July 1978- although it probably closed and re-opened once or twice during the 1970s with new owners/ operators. From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings on Saturday, July 1, 1978: STATE 5814 W. Madison St. 261-0962—Open 1:00 “YOUNGBLOOD” “THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN”.
NEWS ITEM:
Chicago Daily News, Wednesday, June 5, 1940, p. 23, c. 7—-
COMPLETE ‘GWTW’ FOR NEIGHBORHOODS
The most-talked-of picture ever filmed, “Gone With The Wind,” begins its one week only engagement in the neighborhoods on Friday, June 7, when Balaban & Katz books the technicolor classic into the Tower Theater, 63rd street and Blackstone; the State Theater, 5814 West Madison street, and the Riviera Theater, Broadway at Lawrence.
It will be presented complete and intact, as it is being shown in the Loop.
Reserved seats for the engagements are on sale at special box-offices in each theater and mail orders are being given prompt attention. Seats are reserved for the evening performances which start at 8 pm and for the Sunday matinee, which will begin at 2 pm.
Week day matinees will be continuous from 10 am. Patrons may come as late as 2 pm and see a complete matinee performance.
The exact date for the State Theatre photo mentioned in the post above is Dec. 5, 1936. (It appears on p. 18 of “F&F” magazine.)
I’m going purely from memory on this, but there’s a fine B&W pic of the State, c. Dec. 1936, in the current issue – Spring 2007 – of “First & Fastest.” (Am unable to reproduce it here as I lack the technical equipment, but perhaps another traction/movie fan can.)
Yep. I remember that transition from ABC to Lillard. Saw it myself fifteen years ago while researching old movie listings.
The State theatre continued to operate into the early 1970s, although not as an abc theatre. From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings, Sunday April 2,1972: STATE 5814 W. Madison—379-6088 Op.12:30—“DUTCHMAN” World Premiere Al Freeman’s “GOIN' DOWN SLOW”. Almost a year later, on Friday, March 9, 1973, I found this in the Sun Times: LILLARD STATE 5814 W. Madison Op. 5:30 “HICKEY & BOGGS” “ACROSS 110TH STREET” Anthony Quinn.
I’ll be damned. I forgot about this place, and I even took a photograph of it. That photograph was taken in the late 80’s, at which time the building looked to be maintained. I’m sorry they didn’t save at least the exterior, epecially when you consider that the Lawndale Theatre continues to rot away over on Roosevelt (although I think there is still a church in there).
The State theatre was open at least through mid 1970. From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings, Sunday May 31, 1970: abcSTATE “A MAN CALLED HORSE” plus “100 RIFLES”.
Here is a profile from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency’s HAARGIS system. It includes a small picture.