ANDERSON — For a second consecutive year, the State Theatre in downtown Anderson is on a list of the state’s 10 most endangered historic structures. Indiana Landmarks, a nonprofit historic preservation organization, releases the list annually to bring awareness to endangered landmarks and spur revitalization efforts in communities across the state. The City of Anderson purchased the State Theatre in 2019 for $127,500, intending to save the property as part of an effort to revitalize the downtown area.
Greg Winkler, executive director of the Anderson Economic Development Department, said Wednesday the city is in the process of repairing the marquee and broken windows in the building. “Right now no one is interested in purchasing the building,” he said. “It will take a unique individual with the interest and financial resources to restore the building.
” Brittany Miller, director of the Indiana Landmarks Eastern Regional office, said the organization has a small program to provide some financial assistance for the buildings on the 10 most endangered list. “We can help pay for some studies,” she said. Miller said there is a local individual interested in helping to save the building.
“We’re trying to get some local support to save the theater,” she said. “We can assist once a plan is in place.” Madison County Historian Steve Jackson said the State Theatre was opened in 1930 and closed as a theater in the 1980s.
MadCo Entertainment had hoped to restore the facility in 2018. But because of a legal issue involving the California owner and the city, the project to turn the theater into a music venue with a bar was not completed. That led to the city’s purchase of the property the following year.
“My choice would be to develop the State Theatre so it doesn’t compete with the Paramount Theatre,” Jackson said. “We don’t need two similar venues within blocks of each other.” Jackson said a possible use could be as a venue similar to Beef & Boards in Indianapolis, or for use by a local theater group.
“We need to save the building,” he said. “It has some beautiful appointments. I hope it can be turned into a viable venue.
It was dazzling inside and a neat place.” Jackson said another possible use would be as a movie theater. “A city our size should have a movie theater,” he said.
“Over the years Anderson at different times had 35 different theaters from 1883 through 1942.” In a press release, Indiana Landmarks said the State Theatre retains many architectural details, including its eclectic Spanish Baroque façade and white and emerald green glazed terra cotta..
