The State Theatre, the smaller sibling space of the Paramount Theatre and one of Austin’s oldest operating venues, will soon undergo a 21st-century upgrade.
Emily Little of Clayton Korte Architects stopped by last week’s Historic Landmark Commission meeting to share details on the upcoming project, which will include a new rooftop lounge, streamlined access to the next-door Paramount and an updated version of the spot’s iconic art deco sign. The project is the first to tackle the aging venue, also known as Stateside at the Paramount, since an interior remodel in 1998.
Photo provided by Austin Theatre Alliance. The State Theatre, the smaller sibling the adjacent Paramount Theatre, could see its iconic sign replaced with a replica.
“For so long, the State Theatre has sort of been the nephew or second cousin to the great queen next door,” Little said. “This remodel will enable an interior connection between the two, so there will be a commingling and mutual support that’s great for Austin’s cultural future.”
The State Theatre, which opened on Christmas Day in 1935, was the city’s first theater constructed specifically for screening films. Once part of a bustling entertainment district on Congress Avenue known as the “Show Row,” the 87-year-old theater is managed by the Austin Theatre Alliance, which also runs the Paramount. The venue hosts concerts, live performances like Moontower Just for Laughs Austin comedy festival sets and, even still, movies during the annual Summer Classic Film Series.
While perhaps less famous than its flashier neighbor, the State Theatre is also home to one of downtown’s oldest signs, which has illuminated Congress Avenue with its neon glow for generations. Little said the aging sign has been an ongoing headache for the property’s stewards, who have found themselves splurging on costly repairs and maintenance on a yearly basis.
Little and her team feel it’s time for the sign’s retirement after a long and storied life. With the help of Valenzuela Preservation Studio, which designed a historic sign for the Paramount based on photographs of former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s inauguration parade, they plan to replace it with a convincing replica. Still, talks of replacing traditional neon with cheaper materials made commissioners uneasy.
“I have very strong feelings about letting the biggest, most important neon sign in the city go to LED,” said Commissioner Kevin Koch. “The way the gas glows and vibrates, the way it emits the light, the color and tone … I would suggest there’s no way it could be the same.”
Despite the objection, the commission had little say. While the older Paramount has been a registered landmark since 1976, the humbler State Theatre has surprisingly eluded designation. Though the building lies within the Congress Avenue Historic District, without landmark designation, the commission’s role is limited to comment and review.
Commissioners urged Little to relay the benefits of a historic designation to the Austin Theatre Alliance, arguing the tax breaks would more than cover the difference in cost.
“Overall, I think I’m fine releasing the hold on this work, and I think it’s very sensitively done,” Koch said. “But I think the tax benefits, which are designed specifically to keep this kind of building in operation, would truly reap rewards for the public for years to come.”
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Historic Landmark Commission: The city’s Historic Landmark Commission promotes historic preservation of buildings and structures. The commission also reviews applications and permits for historic zoning and historic grants.
