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State Theatre (Hamilton, New Zealand)

Coordinates: 37°46′58″S 175°16′46″E / 37.7829°S 175.2794°E / -37.7829; 175.2794
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State Theatre
London State Building,
former Carlton, or State Theatre.
Contrast with 1939 and 1980s photos
Map
Former namesCarlton Theatre
General information
Address678 Victoria Street
Town or cityHamilton
CountryNew Zealand
Coordinates37°46′58″S 175°16′46″E / 37.7829°S 175.2794°E / -37.7829; 175.2794
Technical details
Floor count3
Design and construction
Architect(s)Robert MacLaurin

The State Theatre, Hamilton, was one of 48 State cinemas opened by Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd in the 1930s, including in Christchurch, Timaru, New Plymouth, Dunedin, Hastings, Napier and Te Kuitl.[1] The State Theatre in Hamilton, in brick and concrete, designed by Robert MacLaurin,[2] built for about £14,000,[3] by W. Goodfellow and opened on 1 June 1934, was on the corner of Victoria and London Streets. Films were projected using Western Electric Wide Range Sound.[4] The movie theater remained in operation under that name until 1964 when, after a 10½-week renovation, it reopened as the Carlton Theatre and operated under that name until the early 1990s. After the Village Five cinemas opened in the Centre Place shopping mall in 1992, the State (along with many Hamilton theatres) closed. The building was used by the Fountain City Christian Church for several years thereafter.

The building was sold in 2001 to Bayleys Real Estate; while the building still stands, little remains of its original appearance.[5] In late 2017 it was further modified and opened as London State Building, a three level 1,250 m2 (13,500 sq ft) commercial building, with 5 tenants and parking.[6] The gable end and moulding on the Victoria Street façade and the blind arcading on the London Street frontage remain from the 1934 building.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Local and general. Waikato Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 April 1934. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Waikato Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 October 1933. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Well-Equipped, Modern, Comfortable Building. Waikato Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 May 1934. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  4. ^ "State theatre. Waikato Times". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 June 1934. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  5. ^ Hamilton's Forgotten Silver Screens Retrieved 2012-04-10.
  6. ^ "London State Building". www.starkproperty.co.nz. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  7. ^ Ann McEwan (15 July 2023). "Memory Box: Recycling buildings - a Hamilton example". www.waikatotimes.co.nz. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
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