Misplaced Pages

Sioux Falls State Theatre

The theater's marquee
Address	316 S. Phillips Avenue Sioux Falls, South Dakota United States
Coordinates	43°32′39″N 96°43′35″W / 43.544108860524155°N 96.72641102732649°W / 43.544108860524155; -96.72641102732649
Construction
Opened	March 2, 1926; 98 years ago (1926-03-02)
Years active	1926–1990, 2020–present
Architect	Buechner & Orth
Website
siouxfallsstatetheatre.org

The State Theatre is a historic one-screen movie theater in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Opened in 1926, it operated continuously until 1990 when it was closed amidst the popularity of multiplexes. In 2005, a city-supported group was formed to finance the renovation and re-opening of the venue. In December 2020, the State Theatre resumed screening movies. The historic building was designed by Buechner & Orth, an architecture firm from Saint Paul, Minnesota.

History

M. L. Finkelstein and I. H. Ruben, a duo of cinema proprietors operating in the Upper Midwest, commissioned the State Theatre in 1925. Saint Paul-based architecture firm Buechner & Orth designed the venue in the Beaux-Arts style. Finkelstein and Ruben selected the Henry Carlson Company as the general contractor for the project, and construction began that year. On March 2, 1926, the State Theatre opened to the public with a screening of the A. Edward Sutherland silent film Behind the Front. In 1928, two years after its opening, the venue switched from silent films to sound film programming.

On February 13, 1940, the Argus Leader announced in its daily edition that the State Theatre would be screening the historical romance epic Gone with the Wind. The arrival of the acclaimed movie made the theater a major attraction, as long lines for tickets formed around the block.

On February 16, 1956, the State Theatre hosted the premiere of the Richard Brooks film The Last Hunt, a Western set in South Dakota. It was the first premiere in the venue's history and was also believed to be the first major premiere in the city's history. Co-stars Stewart Granger and Russ Tamblyn attended the event. The screening attracted thousands of fans and a capacity crowd. Local Native American dancers performed and gave a blessing to Tamblyn and Venetia Stevenson, who had been married two days prior.

Due to the decline of the venue and attendance lost to newer multiplex theaters, the State Theatre closed on June 21, 1990, following an evening showing of the Donald Petrie film Opportunity Knocks. The news made the front page of the Argus Leader with locals lamenting the closure and calling for the preservation of the building, as the city's other historic movie theaters had been demolished.

Following the closure of the State Theatre, a group of investors signed a five-year lease to renovate and operate it as a music venue. The State reopened with a rock concert featuring two local bands on January 25, 1991. The concert venue project was scrapped following its three-week trial run.

In the spring of 1992, a different pair of investors, Herb Roe and Doug Henricks, purchased the building intending to convert it into a performing arts center. By winter, the Argus Leader reported that a renovation of the theater reached the halfway point and its owners planned to apply for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. In September 1993, the theater owners said that its reopening was contingent on the approval of a liquor license; otherwise, the building would be torn down. The city approved the license on November 15.

In July 1994, Minneapolis-based Classic Theatres Corp. offered to buy the venue and operate it as a second-run cinema but backtracked because the deed authored by the former owner, Midco Theatre Corp., stipulated an extensive waiting period before new films could be screened. Later that month, as work stalled because required fireproofing upgrades were too costly, the State Theatre faced a potential demolition. A real estate developer wanted to buy the theater and demolish it as he planned to construct an office complex on the adjacent lot. As a result, Roe sought to buy out Henricks's share and take out a loan to continue renovations.

In October 1994, Roe and Henricks listed the State Theatre for sale. Despite interest from various groups, the venue went without a buyer for years. By 1996, Henricks had bought out Roe's share and had negotiated with multiple groups interested in operating the State. In 2001, the Sioux Falls Film Society purchased the building for $200,000. The group's subsequent renovations included a roof repair to prevent water damage.

In 2005, the Sioux Falls State Theatre Company purchased the venue. By 2013, the organization raised $2.3 million for renovations. On December 11, 2020, the State Theatre reopened to the public with a screening of the film White Christmas.

References

1. "Sioux Falls State Theatre in Sioux Falls, SD". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
2. ^ "About". Sioux Falls State Theatre. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
3. Renshaw, Eric (March 3, 2016). "Movie world premiere shown at State Theatre in 1956". Argus Leader. Gannett. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
4. Grauvogl, Ann (June 21, 1990). "Many hope theater will be salvaged". Argus Leader. Gannett. pp. 1A and 4A. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Keyes, Bob (January 24, 1991). "Revived State Theatre will rock this weekend". Argus Leader. Gannett. pp. 1C and 2C. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ Keyes, Bob (September 10, 1992). "State Theatre's owners envision arts center". Argus Leader. Gannett. p. 1A. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "State Theatre project needs historical photos". Argus Leader. Gannett. December 26, 1992. p. 5A. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Olson, Corrine (September 28, 1993). "State Theatre owners plan to reopen if beer permit OK'd". Argus Leader. Gannett. p. 1B. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Otey, Anne-Marie (November 16, 1993). "Officials consider proximity of casinos". Argus Leader. Gannett. p. 1B. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Olson, Corrine (July 21, 1994). "State Theatre may be demolished". Argus Leader. Gannett. p. 4B. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Wade Schmidt, Brenda (October 15, 1994). "State Theatre goes on sale for 2nd time". Argus Leader. Gannett. p. 5B. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Gerrietts, Jennifer (December 6, 1996). "Downtown State Theatre might show movies again". Argus Leader. Gannett. p. 1D. Retrieved March 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "State Theatre reopens after nearly 30 years". Dakota News Now. December 11, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2024.

v t e City of Sioux Falls
Attractions	The Empire Mall Falls Park Great Bear Recreation Park Great Plains Zoo Pettigrew Home & Museum Terrace Park Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science
Culture	Orpheum Theater Sioux Empire Fair Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival Sioux Falls Pride Sioux Falls State Theatre Sogen Con South Dakota Symphony Orchestra
History	Timeline Ozark Air Lines Flight 650
Government	Flag Old Minnehaha County Courthouse South Dakota State Penitentiary
Education	Sioux Falls Christian Schools Sioux Falls School District Secondary All Saints School Lincoln High School O'Gorman Catholic High School Roosevelt High School South Dakota School for the Deaf Thomas Jefferson High School Washington High School Tertiary Augustana University Columbus College Sioux Falls Seminary South Dakota Public Universities and Research Center Southeast Technical College University of Sioux Falls Libraries Carnegie Free Public Library
Media	Argus Leader
Religion	Dakota Baptist Convention Calvary Cathedral Central Church First Congregational Church Josephine Martin Glidden Memorial Chapel Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls Cathedral of Saint Joseph
Sports	Sanford International Teams Augustana Vikings Sioux Falls Canaries Sioux Falls City FC Sioux Falls Cougars Sioux Falls Roller Dollz Sioux Falls Skyforce Sioux Falls Spitfire Sioux Falls Stampede Sioux Falls Storm Sioux Falls Thunder FC Venues Denny Sanford Premier Center Elmen Center Howard Wood Field Kirkeby–Over Stadium Midco Arena Sanford Pentagon Sioux Falls Arena Sioux Falls Stadium
Transportation	Sioux Area Metro Sioux Falls Bus Station Sioux Falls Regional Airport

• 1926 establishments in South Dakota
• Beaux-Arts architecture in South Dakota
• Beaux-Arts cinemas and movie theaters
• Buildings and structures in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Cinemas and movie theaters in South Dakota
• Movie palaces
• Theatres completed in 1926