State Theatre

Histiory:

The State Theatre was built by State Senator Benjamin Pitts in 1938 as a vaudeville movie house, and was originally named the Pitts Theatre. The building featured an art deco façade, as was the prevalent style for movie houses in that era, with a modest interior. Of the thirty theatres that Senator Pitts built in the state of Virginia, this will be the only one still in use as a movie theatre. The Pitts family leased the theatre to Regal Cinemas in 1973, and it was renamed The State Theatre. For nearly fifty-five years the theatre served as Culpeper’s primary movie theatre.

The Theatre closed in 1993 when it was sold to The Finders, a group led by Culpeper native Marion Pettie. Under ownership of The Finders, the theatre was not open to the public.  During those years no significant repairs or improvements were made to the building. After the death of Mr. Pettie, the theater was sold to Mr. Greg Yates. Mr. Yates purchased the 11,000 square foot building in 2004 in an effort to save the State Theatre from demolition or renovation into office/retail space. In February of 2006, Mr. and Mrs. Yates donated the property to the State Theatre Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

In May of 2008, the State Theatre was placed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. In December 2012, the Theatre celebrated the Grand Illumination of the restored marquee. The theatre reopened its doors in May 2013—75 years after it was built.