State Theater
McKinley, Strand and State: one theater’s changing names trace the transition from vaudeville to the movie-house era.
Three names, changing entertainment
The marker remembers a theater that opened in 1914 as the McKinley Vaudeville Theater. It later carried the Strand name during the silent-film era, then became the State after a 1928 renovation. Those changes offer a compact history of how entertainment businesses adapted as cinema became a larger part of American leisure.
A stop in the theater district
The marker gives 1970 as the closing year. Look for the historical story along St. Clair near Sixth, then compare it with the Diamond and Ceramic theaters. Together they show a downtown shaped by audiences and evening activity as well as pottery production. The historical dates describe the theater’s operation; they are not current opening hours.
Before you go
- The photograph records the marker at its capture date; confirm present access and condition before a special trip.
- Use public sidewalks or permitted park paths, and follow posted access rules.
Story sources
Published story & visitor information ↗
Published story & visitor information ↗
Published story & visitor information ↗
Story reviewed 2026-10-04. Confirm current access directly.