ALL ABOUT the State Theatre

LAHTF held the first ever ALL ABOUT pre-renovation tour of the State Theatre on April 29, 2018. Attended by over 150 enthusiastic members and followers, we were given complete access to the interior spaces of the theatre, including the 1921 cafeteria space in the basement. LAHTF wishes to thank the Broadway Theatre Group and the Delijani family for granting us the access for the tour.

LAHTF members were treated to a members-only tour of the 1921 basement cafe, located below the theatre

1930s terrazzo in the basement cafeteria space

A light-well window in the 1921 cafeteria space

Red Chef figure, a welcoming feature of the cafeteria from the early part of the 20th Century

LAHTF Executive Director Escott O. Norton gives a warm welcome to the first-ever tour of the State Theatre in over 20 years, covering details of the theatre history and future plans for the space

The Main Lobby of the State Theatre

Tiled stairway detail in the Main Lobby of the State Theatre

The State Theatre 1949 neon marquee, fronting onto Broadway

A group is taken on a Backstage tour, as seen from the rear Balcony some 125ft distant!

Detail of doorway decoration in the Upper Lobby

Wide-angle view of Auditorium, as seen from the House Left side of the Balcony

Decoration on the House Left Auditorium Box, with stained glass left by the recent church tenant in the background

Auditorium chandelier, interestingly not original to the theatre!

The covered-over Billiken figure, perched atop the center of the proscenium. A Billiken figure was a good luck charm which arose from the Mind-Cure craze of the early 20th Century

Looking out to the Auditorium from Upstage Left

LAHTF members and followers being taken on a Backstage tour

The Projection Booth, currently under renovation, houses space for at least three projectors

The view for the Projectionist out into the vast Auditorium

Projector Number One, currently under renovation in the Projection Booth

Closeup of projection equipment

For more photos and information on the State Theatre you may wish to check out:
- Historic Theatre Photos, a website run by LAHTF Board Member Mike Hume.
- Los Angeles Theatres, a website run by friend of LAHTF Bill Counter.