It was one of the first theatres on the
East Coast to be air-conditioned centrally. It was the flagship of the family-owned "Neighborhood Theatres" chain which also operated: the Glebe Theater and Buckingham Theater in
Arlington County, Virginia and the Jefferson Theater in Falls Church, VA. The first film shown was
Thanks a Million starring
Dick Powell. On November 27, 1988, the State closed its doors after a final showing of
Die Hard starring
Bruce Willis. A multimillion-dollar restoration in the late 1990s turned it into a venue for live music and private events. The full theatrical stage is original, as are the 200 balcony seats and the two lobbies. It hosted
Strictly Global, a weekly music-television program for nearly seven years, from 2004 to 2011. ==Noted performers==