On December 26, 1930, a new and exciting venture was introduced in the City of Auburn. At the State Theatre's grand opening, attendees marveled at the beautiful interior, elaborate furnishings and marvelous sound projection. The good wishes of many of the businesses and service clubs were noted by the lovely flower arrangements that graced the lobby of the theatre. The building had 1,325 seats.

The building was extensively remodeled in 1972, the balcony removed, the front part of the auditorium divided into two theatres and the rear of the auditorium converted to a mall.

During the late 1990's, Doris Viera and Esther Stanton, long-time boosters of the City of Auburn, solicited backing from the Auburn community to create a performing arts center in the historic State Theater in Downtown Auburn. It provided a unique opportunity to restore a historical landmark, rejuvenate the downtown area and provide a permanent home for the Auburn Symphony.

The Performing Arts Committee consisting of Doris Viera, Esther Stanton, Monroe DeJarnette and William Lipschultz was granted charter committee status by the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce in 2001 and was granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service on August 2, 2001. This committee appointed the first permanent Board of Trustees, consisting of twenty interested community members, most with direct connections to the arts. The Board elected William Lipschultz as its President. The Performing Arts Committee (PAC) began working with the City of Auburn to develop a Feasibility Study to determine if the State could support a performing arts program and would be feasible to operate.

To acquire the State Theatre, the APPAC Board of Directors initiated a formal appraisal of the building and a negotiated proposal to the Lardner family, owners of the building.

The State Theatre location was chosen because it is:

• A valued part of the historic fabric of the City of Auburn, and worth preserving
• Close to the center of Downtown Auburn and Placer High School
• Close to restaurants and shops
• Located across the street from a major hub for public transportation
• Cost effective, in considering another site
• Evident there are no appropriate and available properties in the downtown
• Potential to bring economic renaissance to Downtown Auburn
• Able to house The Auburn Symphony and accommodate a wide range of theatrical venues

After requesting proposals, APPAC interviewed three firms. The Project Architect for the very successful Cascade Theater restoration project in Redding, California, James Theimer, assisted APPAC in the selection process.

NTD offers substantial experience and background in the planning and execution of successful performing arts center projects and historic theaters and was the unanimous choice of the review team.

The Board of Directors believes that it is prudent to do the project in phases starting with a small, "starter" facility and expanding as funds become available. By starting small, the Board feels APPAC can demonstrate the need and viability of a performing arts center in Auburn. A summary of the phasing plan can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions FAQ page.

Project Auburn, under the leadership of Nick Willick, and assisted by the Auburn Rotary Club, and Jeff Henry of the Placer County Contractors Association provided a beautiful new façade replicating the façade that existed in 1937 when the building was "modernized".

Auburn architect, Richard Wyatt, did the research and plans for the project. A view of the new façade can be seen at façade colors.

Thanks to a grant from the Auburn Urban Development Authority (City of Auburn), assistance from Viola Wrigley, and funds provided by the APPAC Board, a 1937 era marquee and sign have been installed.

 

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