ExploreButteCountyCA
Restoring the Historic Oroville State Theatre
Oroville, California, United States
The Oroville State Theater in Northern California is a centerpiece of the Downtown Oroville landscape. The State Theater Arts Guild (STAGE), the all-volunteer group that operates and manages the theater, has been working for years to revitalize the State Theatre to its original appearance and ambiance that made it a sparkling star in the 1930s and 1940s.
ExploreButteCountyCA
Since 1927, the now-historic Oroville State Theater has been a centerpiece of the Downtown Oroville landscape.
1489 Myers St
Oroville, CA
Designed by renowned California architect Timothy Pflueger, with its first performance on April 7, 1928, the State Theater started its life as a vaudeville theater. In the style of the time, it was ornately decorated and equipped with a Wurlitzer organ.
ExploreButteCountyCA
Over the decades, as it went from silent films to modern blockbusters, from owner to owner, the original artistic flourishes disappeared.
1489 Myers St
Oroville, CA
Built for and operated by T&D Jr. Enterprises, which also owned the Senator Theater, the State Theater’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. By the time United Artists sold the State Theater to the City of Oroville in 1983, much of the spirit that was built into the Theater in 1927 was lost. Functionally, the once nearly 1,600-seat auditorium now only held 600. The seats, which were originally in a bowl structure with better views and air flow, now stood in straight lines. The live performances that defined its inception were few and far between, as the State Theater operated primarily as a film theater.
ExploreButteCountyCA
Since 2014, the State Theater Arts Guild has been working hard to restore the State Theatre to its former glory, including a new marquee.
1489 Myers St
Oroville, CA
Under STAGE, the team of volunteers and supporters have come together to be a part of the ongoing “Miracle on Myers Street,” the community project named for sustaining the Theater’s day-to-day operations and promoting the dream of its complete restoration.
ExploreButteCountyCA
Additional restorations include a replica of the original 1920s water fountain, uncovering original murals, and repainting the lobby.
1489 Myers St
Oroville, CA
STAGE is using historical photos of the building from its glory days to repaint, refurnishing, and otherwise renovate the State Theater to bring it back to its “period of greatest influence,” generally considered between 1934 and 1948, with that signature art deco influence.
ExploreButteCountyCA
The most significant point of pride is the renovated Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, which the theatre had not had since the silent film era ended.
1489 Myers St
Oroville, CA
The State Theater secured the Wurlitzer in 2009, but it lived in pieces in storage near the Oroville levee until the 2017 spillway incident. Everyone then realized it was time to bring the organ, which has some mechanisms dating back to 1914, to the Theater, which finally happened in 2018.
ExploreButteCountyCA
The State Theater is one of only 200 theaters in the country to have a functioning pipe organ, and visitors can hear it at select events.
1489 Myers St
Oroville, CA
With about 1,200 pipes connected to dozens of instruments, the Wurlitzer is one of the most expensive and time-consuming parts of the overall restoration—but it’s well worth the effort. Played for select performances and special occasions, the sounds of the organ fill the auditorium and drift into the lobby, transporting you back to State Theater’s heyday.
ExploreButteCountyCA
Visit to see for yourself the restoration efforts at the historic Oroville State Theatre. Swipe up and tap "More Details" to learn more.
1489 Myers St
Oroville, CA
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, donate to the organizaiton, or hear the notes of Wurlitzer in person. Check the Theater’s website for a calendar of events, including a variety of live performances.