TheBostonian
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Is it closed?
State Theater, Portland
- Thread starter TheBostonian
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It's been closed for a couple of years now I would say. It had issues with fire codes I recall and maybe money had something to do with it also. I think it changed hands a few times. I've seen several shows there and it really is an impressive place for the size of Portland.
From the 2002 CYY Holiday Bizarre, a few interior shots
http://www.wcyy.com/gallery/Bizarres_Past_02?page=1
OK GO
6 Gig
From the 2002 CYY Holiday Bizarre, a few interior shots
http://www.wcyy.com/gallery/Bizarres_Past_02?page=1
OK GO
6 Gig
Last time i went there was for a 2004 OAR show (not by choice). It was a nice little venue, but it could take some hints from Lupos at the Strand in Providence (aka Roxy Providence) and dress up the interior a bit.
It's about the same size as The Strand, and with a dressed up interior, they use the theater for music, comedy shows, and later at night it becomes a Night Club. The thing i've felt has been missing in Portland is a real club. i mean some place with a dance floor, tacky velvet seats in a lounge area, rotating bar, and a dress code.
I've been going to school here for 4 years and it would be fantastic to have a place to go out on a weekend once in a while without seeing the "Git-er-done" tee shirts and John Deer hats at the same place.
That being said, i think the State Theater was a nice venue with the potential to draw in more money with a multi-purpose set up.
(off-topic, Merril Auditorium is a pretty place too... i'm surprised more shows aren't held there. Then again, thinking about how rock shows crowds are, i'm not surprised.)
It's about the same size as The Strand, and with a dressed up interior, they use the theater for music, comedy shows, and later at night it becomes a Night Club. The thing i've felt has been missing in Portland is a real club. i mean some place with a dance floor, tacky velvet seats in a lounge area, rotating bar, and a dress code.
I've been going to school here for 4 years and it would be fantastic to have a place to go out on a weekend once in a while without seeing the "Git-er-done" tee shirts and John Deer hats at the same place.
That being said, i think the State Theater was a nice venue with the potential to draw in more money with a multi-purpose set up.
(off-topic, Merril Auditorium is a pretty place too... i'm surprised more shows aren't held there. Then again, thinking about how rock shows crowds are, i'm not surprised.)
MaxScraper
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The State Theatre opened in the 1920s, showing silent films with a live piano player on stage. It remained primarily a movie house right through the 1960s, when a crumbling infrastructure and the spread of multiplexes brought an end to feature films. The theatre showed porno films in the 1970s and early 80s, before shutting its doors in 1984.
In the early 90s some local businessmen bought the State and invested in some minor renovations. They began to book national touring acts (I remember Bob Dylan did 3 nights there in 1994), but had a tough time making a go of it and the theatre shut down again.
It was resurrected in the late 90s by the owners of Stone Coast Brewing and started booking rock shows again. The owners were faced with two big obstacles: a building that needed major (expensive) renovations to make it a first-class facility, and the task of convincing touring bands to make the trek north from Boston, which is usually the northern terminus for touring bands. Bands are usually willing to make the trip if their cut is guaranteed by the promoter, but it can be very difficult to fill the State when a mid-level rock band is playing on a Tuesday night in January, and the promoter ends up losing money.
That said, I think if someone could afford to do the major structural and cosmetic renovations that are necessary, the State could be the premier rock venue north of Boston. It is the perfect counterpart to the Merrill, which is a gorgeous 2,000 seat venue, but one not suited to shows where people stand up.
By the way, if anyone remembers the Stone Coast Brewery over at five corners, that was THE best small venue in the city in the 90s. The sound was top notch and I saw some great bands come through there. The restaurant downstairs was kind of blah, but upstairs it was all beer, cigars and rock!
In the early 90s some local businessmen bought the State and invested in some minor renovations. They began to book national touring acts (I remember Bob Dylan did 3 nights there in 1994), but had a tough time making a go of it and the theatre shut down again.
It was resurrected in the late 90s by the owners of Stone Coast Brewing and started booking rock shows again. The owners were faced with two big obstacles: a building that needed major (expensive) renovations to make it a first-class facility, and the task of convincing touring bands to make the trek north from Boston, which is usually the northern terminus for touring bands. Bands are usually willing to make the trip if their cut is guaranteed by the promoter, but it can be very difficult to fill the State when a mid-level rock band is playing on a Tuesday night in January, and the promoter ends up losing money.
That said, I think if someone could afford to do the major structural and cosmetic renovations that are necessary, the State could be the premier rock venue north of Boston. It is the perfect counterpart to the Merrill, which is a gorgeous 2,000 seat venue, but one not suited to shows where people stand up.
By the way, if anyone remembers the Stone Coast Brewery over at five corners, that was THE best small venue in the city in the 90s. The sound was top notch and I saw some great bands come through there. The restaurant downstairs was kind of blah, but upstairs it was all beer, cigars and rock!
Elton John is coming to the Civic Center again I see. He is a good example of an artist/band that would be a perfect fit for the Merrill. $67 for the cheap tickets at the civic center isn't too bad though becuase you aren't too far away from the ground even at the top of the bleachers.
statler
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Aww maaaan.. The CYY Holiday Bizarre...
I went to one of the first ones at the State in the mid/late 90's (right after they changed from Adult Album Alternative to Alt-Rock)
I'm not sure you'll ever see BNL & Rustic Overtones share a bill again.
BTW..What's up with the Portland music scene? Looking at the CYY site (probably not the best source) the still plugging Rustic as the main event. What next? Twisted Roots?
Holy shit! They are still around!
Portland needs new blood!
TheBostonian
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I wonder if Maine College of Art would care to continue its trend of enlivening the neighborhood by taking over the State Theater.