State Theatre (Los Angeles) facts for kids
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Interior of the State Theatre, 2017
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| Former names | Loew's State Theatre |
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| Address | 703 S. Broadway |
| Location | Los Angeles, California |
| Coordinates | 34°02′42″N 118°15′13″W / 34.0451189°N 118.2536541°W |
| Owner | Broadway Theater Group |
| Type | Movie theatre |
| Capacity | 2,450 |
| Opened | November 12, 1921 |
| Tenants | |
| Universal Church of the Kingdom of God | |
| Architect | Weeks & Day |
| Architectural style(s) | Spanish Renaissance |
| Reference no. | 522 |
The State Theatre is a famous old movie theater in Downtown Los Angeles. It opened way back in November 1921. You can find it at 703 S. Broadway. It used to be called Loew's State Theatre. This historic building is part of the Broadway Theatre District.
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A Look Inside the State Theatre
The State Theatre was designed by two architects, Charles Peter Weeks and William Day. They made it look like a beautiful Spanish Renaissance building. The theater is actually inside a 12-story office building from 1921. This building is called the United Building.
It sits at a busy corner of Broadway and 7th Street. The building is one of the biggest made of brick in Los Angeles. When it first opened, the theater had two main entrances. One was on Broadway and the other on 7th Street. The 7th Street entrance closed in 1936.
Fun Facts from the Past
The State Theatre was built in a very busy part of Downtown Los Angeles. This helped it make a lot of money from the start. When the theater first opened, its projection room was said to be the largest in the world! It even had a shower for the person who ran the movie projector.
The theater originally had a Moller organ. This was a special musical instrument used for shows and movies. In 1925, it was replaced with a Wurlitzer organ.
Famous Performers
In 1929, a group called the Gumm Sisters performed at the theater. They were part of a type of show called vaudeville. Vaudeville shows had many different acts, like singing, dancing, and comedy. The lead singer of the Gumm Sisters was known for her very strong voice. People called her "Leather Lungs" because she could be heard clearly all the way at the back of the huge theater.
Vaudeville shows stopped at the State Theatre in 1935. The Gumm Sisters then moved to Culver City. There, they appeared in new musical movies that used a special color process called Technicolor. The singer known as "Leather Lungs" later changed her name to Judy Garland. She became a very famous movie star!
Changes Over the Years
In 1949, a company called United Artists took over the theater. They changed its name from Loew's State to simply the State Theatre. Then, in 1963, Metropolitan Theatres bought it. They started showing many popular movies that were dubbed into Spanish. The State Theatre closed its doors in 1997.
Unique Features of the Theater
The main part of the theater, where the audience sits, is almost square. It used to hold 2,450 people. Today, it can seat 2,387 people. Look up above the stage, and you'll see a small statue of a seated Billiken figure. This is a good luck charm!
The theater also has a colorful fire safety curtain. It was painted by Armstrong-Powers. The curtain shows a fantasy city with round, onion-shaped towers. Planets and comet trails surround the city.
Who Manages the Theater Now?
The State Theatre is currently managed by the Broadway Theatre Group. This group also takes care of other historic theaters in the Broadway Theatre District. These include the Palace, Los Angeles, and Tower theaters.
For a while, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God leased the theater. They called it the "Cathedral of Faith." Their lease ended in early 2018. Since then, the owners have been looking for a new group to use the theater.
Seen on Screen: Filming Location
The State Theatre has been used as a setting for several movies.
- Gypsy (1993)
- What's Love Got To Do With It (1993)
- Wild Bill (1995)
When they filmed Wild Bill, they added special drapes and decorations around the stage. These decorations are still there today!
