STATE THEATRE Restoring the

For over 90 years, the now-historic Oroville State Theatre has been a centerpiece of the downtown landscape.

Built in 1927 by renowned California architect Timothy Pflueger, with its first performance on April 7, 1928, the State Theatre started its life as a vaudeville theater. In the style of the time, it was ornately decorated and equipped with a Wurlitzer organ.

Over the decades, though, as it moved from silent movies to contemporary blockbusters, from one owner to another, those original flourishes disappeared—painted over, removed, shrunk, or otherwise forgotten.

The State Theatre Arts Guild (STAGE), the all-volunteer group that operates and manages the theater, is working to change that by returning the building to its original appearance and ambience. As is the case with all things worth having, it’s a slow and steady process.

In the spring of 2019, visitors to the State Theatre would have encountered a space that felt somewhat rundown with strips of paint missing on one wall here, a bit of the ceiling there, with a general air of incompleteness. But rather than from disrepair, those strips of missing paint were intentional, revealing nearly 10 layers of paints from over the decades, including the original colors and decorative finishes from the 1920s and 1930s. Along with historical photos of the building from its glory days, STAGE is using those stripped samples to repaint and renovate the State Theater and bring it back to its “period of greatest influence,” generally considered between 1934 and 1948, with that signature art deco influence.

Some of those photos are displayed in the State Theatre’s lobby. Black and white framed photographs from various points of the theater’s life show the changes over the decades. You can see why STAGE is working so hard to bring the past into the present: in 1941, the theatre had an ornate, brightly lit marquee and conspicuous “State” sign that put the “modern” design to shame.

And by the time STAGE reopened the doors to the State Theatre in fall 2019, after its summer break, visitors were now wowed by renovations that brought the theatre’s past to its present: an updated art deco water fountain and ceiling detailing, a large renovated mural on the staircase landing, and, most notably, a new digital marquee, which pays tribute to the 1941 design and (quite literally) makes the State Theater once again shine downtown.

From Bold To Bland

Built for and operated by T&D Jr. Enterprises, which also owned the Senator Theatre (in Chico), the State Theatre’s original design reflected a time when going to a movie was still considered a capital-E Experience.

But when United Artists bought the theater in the late 1970s, they “modernized” it, painting over or changing most of the remaining original flourishes, and “twinning” the theater with a dividing wall so they could show two movies at a time and decreasing the capacity from nearly 1,600 to only 600. By the time United Artists sold the State Theatre to the City of Oroville in 1983, much of the spirit that was built into the Theatre in 1927 was lost.

Bringing The Past To The Present

Today, STAGE manages the theatre’s day-to-day operations and continues to promote the dream of its complete restoration: a modern theatre with the style and elegance of its original designs.

In that same spirit, the State Theatre opens its doors for a variety of contemporary and vintage-inspired events, including the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, classical music concerts, tribute bands, youth productions, and other community presentations. Particularly popular is the playing of the Mighty Wurlitzer, which you can enjoy during select performances and special occasions. Whenever it’s played, the sounds of the organ fill the auditorium and drift into the lobby, transporting you back to State Theatre's heyday.

And if you close your eyes and listen, you can almost see what the theater was like 90 years ago—and where its supporters hope it will be in the future.

For Your Visit

Open October 1 through July 5, tours are available only during special events and for groups by reservation. Visit to discover the various restoration endeavors or hear the notes of the Wurlitzer in person.

Check the theater’s website for a calendar of events, including a variety of live performances, at OrovilleStateTheatre.com.