Overview

The 1,300-seat State Theatre was built for W.S. Butterfield Theatres, Inc., an operator of vaudeville theatres in southern Michigan, at a cost of $350,000.

Opening night was a bill of vaudeville: the Libby Dancers, comedian Ned Norworth, and jazz band the Austin Mack Century Serenaders; followed by the feature presentation Frisco Sally Levy (1927)  starring Tenen Holtz, Kate Price, and Sally O’Neil.

The State was designed in the Atmospheric style with a Spanish courtyard theme by theatre architect John Eberson.

According to Wikipedia, the theatre is home to its original Barton theatre organ. The introduction of “talkies” ended the use of the organ until 1950, but by 1961 it was fully restored and put back into service. The organ is still used for special presentations, but its condition is noted by the American Theatre Organ Society  as “in need of restoration”.

The theatre was closed in 1982. Then, in 1985, it was purchased by the Hinman Company , a move which resulted in renovation and preservation work taking place.

The Hinman Company successfully operated the theatre for 40 years, and for many years the State was the premier live performance venue in Kalamazoo, however it closed its doors in November 2024.

In late September 2025, Dan Carmichael and Holly Carmichael announced  their purchase, as Lead Balloon Productions, of the theatre. They plan to restore and preserve the theatre, and to “fill (the) halls with music, comedy (and) performances of all types”.

While there is no solidified timeline for the theatre to reopen, the Carmichaels said they are striving to be able to host the community in some way for the 100th anniversary in 2027.