State Theatre
492 DeKalb Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11205
492 DeKalb Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11205
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox Circuit, Interboro Circuit Inc., Small-Strausberg Circuit
Architects: Charles A. Sandblom
Previous Names: Fox State Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The State Theatre was located at DeKalb Avenue and Franklin Avenue. It opened December 1, 1921 with 1,222 seats and the movie “Camille” starring Nazimova. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual/6 ranks theatre organ. It was part of the Interboro chain.
The State Theatre closed in 1965, and was demolished to make way for a community center.
Contributed by
frank tilelli
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 15 comments)
I went to the State Theater with my parents after having Pizza at Friel’s Resturant located on Myrtle Ave and Skillman Street. Sometimes we would go to Minnie’s resturant across the street. I remember the Red Oriental Rug that went from the restrooms down to the beautiful staircase to the first floor. then after the movie before boarding the Loimer Street bus # 48 back to Williamsburgh, my dad would stop at the record store and buy me a 45 rpm record of either Elvis or Chuck Berry. But that moviehouse was beautiful. Anniegirl louieb’s wife from Williamsburgh.
posted by louieb on Apr 13 2006
Dear Lost,
I went to the State as a child with my parents on a friday night…i will always remeber the oriental rug that went down the steps from the lounges on the second floor……It was beautiful and they had green colored lamps on the walls (sconses) They gave a greenish glow to the floor….it was simply beautiful. anniegirl
Dear Lost,
I never saw the organ, where was it in the front near the stage…..I really do not remember…I remember the candy stand was right on the side of the staircase…..I really liked that moviehouse on DeKalb Ave. My Aunt Agnes lived across the street to the left if you were looking at the State. She lived on DeKalb and Skillman Street…………anniegirl
Dear Lost,
Unfortunately, we never thought to take pictures, however the State Theater was located on DeKalb Ave between Skillman Street and Franklin Ave…..I went to Prospect Heights High School..I used to take the Loimer Street bus B48 that ran along Franklin Ave to Eastern Parkway to President Street, whene I would get off to go to school..I would pass the State Theater every day……..I was a nice theater……Too bad it is gone forever……..anniegirl
to louieb…I just found this site and see that the comments are a few years old (2006) but thought I would try to respond anyway. louieb, I saw your comment on going to Friel’s for pizza on Myrtle Ave. I used to live on Myrtle and Nostrand/Sandford and went to Alberto’s pizza, we lived upstairs from the resturant, but went to Friel’s when he retired/closed. We went every Friday for pizza. That pizza was some of the best we ever had. This was late ‘40’s early '50’s.
Went to the State every Sat to see double feature and loads of cartoons for $.25!!! My mother got dishes there too… What a great place that was. I won a coloring contest there early ‘50’s, 1st prize around Easter. It was a big pink and white bunny. I had the measles or something and didn’t go when they announced the winner. They somehow contacted us and brought the prize to my house!!! Wow, 1st prize…
Anyhow, just wanted to respond to your comment about Friel’s…wish we could get pizza like that today. It had an oregano kind of taste, very different from anything through the years…
Hope you’re still around to answer back…bye louieb
I grew up on Lafayette Ave. between Bedford and Nostrand and lived there from 1947 to 1961. Like many kids from that area I went to the State almost every Saturday. They played cartoons and kids movies, like the Three Stooges and Marx Brothers, until about 1PM. Then they would chase us out. As I got older, my friends and I would try to hide from the matrons so we could se some the adult films. This lasted until the theater closed down in 1965. By that time, I had moved to the Lafayette Garden Projects in 1964 and lived there until 1973. My mother used to take me to Friel’s on occasion. Friels was more of a regular sit down restaurant. There pizza was round and somewhat thick. Almost directly across the street was another pizzeria named Mini’s. There pizza was saucy and delicious. It went down like water. Anyway getting back to the State. I remember it being knocked down for a Welfare center not a community center. I’m probably wrong but that’s what I remember.
Uploaded an interior photo which appeared in the 1/12/1922 Exhibitor’s Herald from Cezar Del Vallee’s Theatre Talks.
This was one of architect Charles Sandblom’s first projects after leaving Thomas Lamb to start his own firm.
I lived in the Lafayette Gardens Projects from 1962 until 1970 and saw a lot of films at the State. Who can forget such treasures as King Kong VS Godzilla.I remember the ticket taker being an older man who always wore a security type cap.
Yes I lived on Lexington Ave B/W Bedford and Nosrand Avenue as a child that was the place to be on Saturday Morning.