The New State Theater, Minneapolis -- February 17, 2021

 

Motion Picture News, 26-February-1921

A System of Indirect Colored Light-

ing Is One of Features of State Theatre

Finkelstein and Ruben's New Theatre in Minneapolis

Opens to Largest Crowd in Mid- West Theatre History

ACCOMPLISHING what had been believed an utter impossibility in the last seven days of a construction period of almost two years, Messrs. Finkelstein and Ruben were able to open their new $1,000,000 State Theatre, located at Eighth street and Hennepin avenue, Minneapolis, Saturday evening, February 5, to the largest crowd that ever attended a similar event in the Mid-West.

The State represents the largest theatre, from a seating standpoint, between Chicago and the Pacific Coast and has been claimed by authorities one of the most comfortable and homey appearing large photoplay houses in the country. The exterior of the theatre is more or less deceiving in that, like the Circle Theatre of Indianapolis, it gives little indication of the immensity of the interior, or auditorium.

The auditorium is designed in a free motif of the Italian renaissance and its main feature is the noble proscenium arch which spans almost the clear width of the building and is richly treated in an original manner with massive Corinthian columns supporting the entablatures, which in turn carry two groups in gold representing Music, the Drama, and the Muse of the Cinema. This unusual treatment has given remarkable dignity to the grand sweep of the arch and forms a magnificent frame for the stage opening. A beautiful peristyle overdraped with a cloth of gold surmounted with drapes of royal blue richly embroidered gives the theatre one of the most striking stages imaginable. Each of the side panels of the peristyle is draped with royal blue plush curtains and royal blue plush drapes which pull up- ward as the picture is flashed on the screen cover the picture sheet. A good portion of the stage floor is of pebbled glass one and an eighth inches thick with six colors of 300 watt lights beneath, so that soloists are given an unusual lighting from all sides.

A thirty-piece band, under the leadership of Frank Pallma, former conductor of the Lagoon orchestra, Minneapolis, and previously a prominent figure in Pacific Coast musical circles, furnishes the music for The State presentations and the overture for the initial program was " The State," a snappy march especially written for the occasion by Clifford Reel. Varied colored light effects are thrown over the entire band as it plays the overtures and other selections and from behind the orchestra pit balustrade which goes beneath the curve of the stage come delicate tints of blue, amber, pink and green changing by dimmer simultaneously with the variation of the color scheme the lights of the auditorium. Atop the auditorium hang six large cut glass chandeliers, each containing six colors of electric bulbs which constantly change as the performance goes on and giving a jewel-like appearance to the upper porof the theatre. Small cut glass light fixtures beneath the balcony and on sides of the theatre also change color to blend in keeping with the orchestra side and ceiling fixtures.

In each of the proscenium boxes are placed various colored indirect lights which throw their rays upon the back walls and ceiling of these boxes at intervals during the performance, adding the richness of the color scheme to a mean extent.

A color scheme of delicate blue and gold has been carried out throughout the foyer, mezzanine and lobby and Hal A. Larsen, the decorator, has added more to the homey appearance of the building by his artistic small touches on fixtures, railings and ceilings. The foyer ceiling and mezzanine or entresol promenade are indeed marvels of richness and tasty coloring. Heavy blue carpeting adds to the distinctiveness of the theatre throughout and soft gray leather seats placed 36 inches apart add to the comfort of the patrons.

The State seats exactly 2,377 persons, all seats being uniform.

The projection is furnished by three Simplex machines and all of the latest booth equipment has been provided for the operators. Spot lights are thrown upon the stage from the projection booth and from a loge in the center of the lower balcony. The stage is large enough to accommodate a very heavy setting and enough fly-scenery for a large legitimate attraction. Lowell V. Valvert, managing director of the Capitol, St. Paul, will prepare the State presentations and his ideas will be carried out by Francis J. Murray, his assistant.

C. Harry Preston, formerly house manager of the Capitol, St. Paul, and for a score of years associated with the Keith and other theatrical circuits in Pittsburgh and New York, will look after the theatre. Christ Palmquist, former manager of the Palace theatre, Superior, Wis., is Mr. Preston's assistant manager and twenty two ushers, two directors and two superintendents and four porters attending to the guidance of patrons. A graduate nurse, in addition to two matrons, is kept at the theatre at all times.

Cashiers and pages or ushers are clothed in a costume of French in conception resembling that of the typical artists, a tamoshanter or elephant's breath colored corduroy, a blouse and belt of bluish-black corduroy and unpressed full length trousers of grey corduroy. The blouse sleeves are completed with white linen cuffs and a grey silken bow tie and Buster Brown collar and each page carries a swagger stick of mahogany. Patent leather pumps and black silk stockings complete the outfit. Directors, superintendents and porters are garbed in a dark blue uniform similar to that of a French naval officer.

Motion Picture News, 26-February-1921

Motion Picture News, 26-February-1921