State Theatre

302 S. Sandusky Avenue,
Bucyrus, OH 44820

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on September 26, 2016 at 11:55 am

Circus veteran W.P. Newman operated the Wonderland Theatre in Bacyrus in 1908. When the competing Hippodrome failed in 1910, Newman moved to it because it was larger (453 seats at that time) and had better projection. The theatre had a Seeburg organ on one side of the stage and a Welte organ on the other. Newman fought against both censorship rules though wouldn’t show anything “his daughter wouldn’t see.” Improvements in seating led to its overall count being reduced to 375.

In 1919, Newman sold the theatre to Richard L. Hertzer who continued its operation. He fought against Sunday blue laws and operated without permission. The theatre was robbed of $1,000 in 1930 and went dark not long after. It was said to have been leased by a final operator, Settos Amusement Co., but there’s not much evidence that it actually re-opened.