State Theatre

robboehm on August 23, 2026 at 6:58 pm

Located at 160-162 Symonds Street the Lyric opened in 1911. Of the 1,400 seats only those in the upper circle were upholstered.

The premiere of New Zealand’s first dramatic film, Hinemia, was here.

A provision in the sale of the theatre by Kerridge-Odeon was that it could not be used for commercial exhibition of films for 10 years.

As the Oriental Ballroom dances were presented twice each week featuring well know orchestras.

After serving as a skating rink, it was abandoned and demolished in 1983.

I have uploaded photos as the Lyric and the Chinese Hall.

Multiple venues in Auckland have been known as the State. There is currently one other on CT.