State Theatre (New Brunswick, New Jersey) facts for kids
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 State Theatre New Jersey
Location in New Brunswick, NJ
State Theatre New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
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| Address | 15 Livingston Ave New Brunswick, New Jersey United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°29′36″N 74°26′41″W / 40.493341°N 74.44462°W |
| Public transit | New Brunswick station |
| Capacity | 1,800 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 26, 1921 |
| Architect | Thomas W. Lamb |
The State Theatre New Jersey is a special theater in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It's a nonprofit organization, which means it focuses on bringing great shows to the community. The theater can seat about 1,850 people. It was designed by a famous architect named Thomas W. Lamb in 1921. This makes it one of the oldest theaters in the whole state of New Jersey!
Contents
History of the State Theatre
The State Theatre first opened its doors on December 26, 1921. It was built by Thomas W. Lamb and managed by Walter Reade. Back then, it was called Reade's State Theatre. It showed both movies and live performances. On its opening day, people enjoyed five different vaudeville acts. Vaudeville was a popular type of show with many different acts, like singers, dancers, and comedians. They also watched a silent western movie called White Oak. The first ticket was bought by a nine-year-old boy named Victor Levin. Tickets cost only 20 to 30 cents!
Early Management and Changes
Soon after opening, the theater was managed by the B.F. Keith Theatre chain. This was the biggest vaudeville theater chain in the early 1920s. Later, this company joined with another big booking agency called Orpheum. They formed a new company called Keith-Albee-Orpheum (KAO).
In 1928, a big company called Radio Corporation of America bought KAO. The theater's name then changed to Radio-Keith-Orpheum, or RKO. Within a year, the theater was updated to play movies with sound. This was a big deal because movies used to be silent!
Updates and New Trends
In 1933, the RKO State Theatre got a major makeover. It was updated with a cool new style called Art Deco. When "talking movies" became popular, the theater was a favorite spot for new films starting in 1939.
In the 1950s, the RKO State Theatre started hosting exciting rock 'n' roll shows. Famous artists like The Satins and Chubby Checker performed there. To make the music sound even better, the theater added special acoustic tiles. This helped create a booming sound for the new music.
By the 1970s, the State Theatre continued to host rock 'n' roll. It also became very popular for showing The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This movie attracted large audiences, often dressed in costumes, for late-night showings.
Revitalizing the Theater
The State Theatre kept going strong into the 1960s. But then, many people started going to new "multiplex" cinemas, which had many screens. Because of this, the State Theatre became less popular. In 1979, the New Brunswick Development Corporation bought it. This was part of a big plan to make New Brunswick better.
Major Renovations and Reopening
In 1986, the New Brunswick Cultural Center took over the State Theatre. They started a huge $3 million renovation project in 1987. The theater officially reopened as a performing arts center on April 24, 1988. The first performance was by the amazing Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.
More improvements happened in December 2003. With help from Middlesex County, the theater received $3 million for inside repairs. Workers carefully removed up to 20 layers of old paint to find the original colors. They fixed the beautiful domed ceiling and made the sound and lighting systems even better.
The theater reopened again in October 2004. The famous comedian Jay Leno performed for the grand reopening. In 2010, the State Theatre installed a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. This important upgrade cost $1 million and was also supported by Middlesex County.
The State Theatre Today
Today, the State Theatre New Jersey is a very important place for arts in New Brunswick. It hosts many different kinds of shows. You can see international orchestras, Broadway plays, comedy shows, dance performances, pop and rock concerts, and fun family events.
Besides main stage shows, the State Theatre also helps the community. Each year, it runs over 180 education programs. These programs reach 30,000 students, teachers, and families. They offer performances, workshops, and special Sensory friendly shows for people with sensory sensitivities.
By June 2020, more than six million people had visited the theater! In the summer of 2021, a new, bright blade marquee was put up. This was part of other big renovations.
Famous Performances and Events
Many famous artists have performed at the State Theatre New Jersey over the years. Some of these include Ringo Starr, Diana Ross, Harry Connick Jr., David Copperfield, Frankie Valli, Bruce Springsteen, George Carlin, Lewis Black, kd lang, John Leguizamo, Tony Bennett, and Aretha Franklin.
The theater has also welcomed amazing international orchestras. These include the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Munich Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
On May 20, 2009, the State Theatre hosted the very last performance by the folk music group Peter, Paul and Mary. Mary Travers, one of the singers, was ill. After this show, the group could no longer perform together.
On November 14, 2018, the historic State Theatre New Jersey was featured on a TV show. It was the second episode of NJTV's "Treasures of New Jersey" series. You can learn more about it here: Treasures of New Jersey.
Timeline of Key Moments
- 1921: The theater opens on December 26, managed by Walter Reade.
- 1922: B.F. Keith Theater chain takes over management.
- 1922-1924: The theater company merges with Orpheum, becoming Keith-Albee-Orpheum.
- 1933: Major design changes happen, including an RKO Art Deco renovation.
- 1939: RKO letters are added to the front of the building.
- 1939: With sound movies becoming popular, the theater becomes a top spot for new films.
- 1950s: The State Theatre starts hosting exciting rock 'n' roll shows.
- 1960s: More people watch TV, and the theater's popularity goes down.
- 1970: An investor buys the theater. It focuses on art movies to attract the Rutgers community.
- 1970s: Under new owners, the theater hosts big names like Meat Loaf, Tina Turner, and Harry Chapin. It also becomes one of the first in New Jersey to show The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- 1979: The New Brunswick Development Corporation buys the property.
- 1983: Johnson & Johnson holds its first meeting outside its own buildings at the State Theatre.
- 1986: The New Brunswick Cultural Center buys the property.
- 1987: Renovations begin.
- 1988: The theater reopens on April 24.
- 2003: Another renovation begins in December.
- 2004: The theater reopens in October with a performance by Jay Leno.
- 2010: Middlesex County provides $1 million for a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.
- November 14, 2018: The State Theatre New Jersey is featured on NJTV's "Treasures of New Jersey."
- As of June 2020: Over six million people have visited the theater.
