The Garden City Telegram
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History column: The State Theater
Published 6/20/2009 in History Page
BRIAN NELSON
Finney County Historical Museum exhibits curator
"The building will be the most complete and the finest in Kansas, west of Wichita." — Fred Jacobs, architect of the State Theater.
When the State Theater opened May 29, 1929, movies were still silent and stage productions were still being hosted. The conversion to sound pictures followed shortly after with "The Jazz Singer" as the first "talkie."
The original theater plans called for seating for 700 -- 600 on the ground floor and 100 in the balcony. All seating was to be leather upholstered with spring backs. The lobby, with Main Street entrances, was described as "spacious." There was no concession stand. Instead, a popcorn wagon stood outside on the Main Street sidewalk. The theater was flanked by two retail spaces, each 16 by 30 feet. The Sweet Shoppe, complete with both a soda fountain and beer, occupied the north space while the Smart Shoppe was located on the south. Four office suites were located on the second floor. Original cost estimate for the theater was $88,000, but the actual cost was nearly $100,000.
Inside, the stage was fully equipped with scenery for road shows, in addition to a screen for movie presentations. From the foyer, stairways led to the mezzanine upper floor where retiring, smoking and lounging rooms were provided. These rooms had plate glass enclosures so vision toward the stage would not be obscured. The heating and ventilating system changed the air six times per hour in cold weather and 10 times per hour in warm weather.
A new General Electric air conditioning system later was installed and put into operation June 13, 1934. The unit was said to be the only theater installation of its kind west of Wichita.
Commonwealth Theaters Inc. took over the State in 1936. The theater was remodeled in 1967, leaving no resemblance to the original floor plans. A new aluminum and glass faÃßade was constructed, as well as a new marquee. The lobby was expanded and a new concession stand added. The existing seats were replaced by 624 new seats with deep blue fabric, oyster white backs and wood tone arms. A larger screen was added in front of the original proscenium arch. "El Dorado" premiered in the "New State Theater" on July 20, 1967, after a ribbon cutting ceremony starring Miss Garden City, Kandee Kae Klein. Admission was $1.25.
Commonwealth Theaters Inc. premiered "In Cold Blood" in the newly remodeled Garden City theater. Based on author Truman Capote's book, the movie was filmed partly in Finney County. More than 100 Finney County citizens played as extras and were paid $15 per day over a five- week span.
In 1968, with the release of "Yours, Mine and Ours," The Garden City Telegram held a competition for the largest family in the area. The Leonard Danler family won with 13 children in one household. They were The Telegram's guests for Sunday dinner and a viewing of the movie.
Dickinson Theaters acquired the State in 1997 and closed the doors two years later. The last movie shown in the State Theater was "Mighty Joe Young" in January 1999. Dickinson Theaters donated the State to the city of Garden City in November 1999, with one condition, that it could not show first run movies.
The State Theater Committee was formed with the intention of renovating the theater to be run as part of a performing arts facility. The Garden City Recreation Commission believed saving the State Theater would preserve part of Garden City's past, as well as improving and expanding community performing arts while also boosting Main Street as a venue for coming attractions.
A three-year timetable was set to complete funding and begin renovations. In 2001, estimates for renovation had risen to $3.4 million. By 2003, the State Theater project was abandoned after unsuccessful attempts to raise enough money for renovation. In 2007, the Garden City Recreation Commission asked to again take over the building from the city. Its goal would not be a $3 million renovation, but rather to make the building functional. In 2009, however, the State still sits dark.
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