The State Theatre Center for the Arts Home Page. State Theatre History

STATE THEATRE - PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

The State Theatre was hailed as "the largest, finest and most beautiful playhouse in Western Pennsylvania," upon its opening in the fall of 1922. With many accolades it became a "picture place," showing silent movies and presenting vaudeville's finest acts from the B.F. Keith Circuit.

Thomas Lamb, a nationally known theater architect, designed the State. He is best known for his work in the 18th century Robert Adam's style of architecture and for his fine acoustical planning. The Ingstrip-Burke Company of Chicago, Art Designers, decorated the interior of the Moderne structure in the Adam's style. The theme was that of "refinement of line and chasteness of ornamentation." The artist in charge, Michael Tomlin, educated at the School of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Russia, pronounced himself well-satisfied: "It is better than I hoped, it is what I dreamed."

The State Symphony Orchestra held forth in the pit with a $40,000.00 Pleubet Master Organ at the left front of the main floor - accompanying the silent films to fit the mood. As the Big Band sound emerged, the State hosted some of the country's greatest musical attractions including Paul Whitman, Glen Gray and the Dorsey Brothers.

The popularity of "talkies" signaled the end for in-house musicians and the end of vaudeville. Although the greatest names in Hollywood flickered across the screen and epics such as Gone With the Wind drew packed audiences, the State's days as a movie palace were numbered. Television took away a sizable audience and the movie theatre trend turned to multiple screens and smaller auditoriums: The State Theatre closed in June 1973.

After a number of years the theatre reopened as The State Music Hall, featuring county and western music legends like Johnny Cash, Slim Whitman, Waylon Jennings and The Statler Brothers. Though popular for a time, the State Music Hall concept did not work out and the theatre closed again.

In 1988, The Greater Uniontown Heritage Consortium purchased the theatre, restored its old name and began presenting aseries of professional programs ranging from Broadway musicals to big bands, symphonies to country music superstars. The State Theatre offers a children's series of shows and provides educational programming for school groups. A multi-million dollar restoration project is currently underway to restore the "Grand Old Lady of Main Street" to her original splendor.

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State Theatre Center for the Arts
27 East Main Street
Uniontown, Pennsylvania 15401
724.439.1360
800.397.2554