South San Francisco in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

State Theater/State Room

"The Grand Walk"

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 7, 2021

1. State Theater/State Room Marker

Inscription. The State Theater opened in 1931 and was the third movie theater in South San Francisco and the first "sound theater” on the peninsula. The Spanish Revival-style building was designed by the Reid Brothers, who were also the architects of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco and other notable buildings which include many palace-style theaters in California. Movies were scheduled three times a week with Wednesdays known as "Dish Night.” In the mid-1960s All Souls Church held services in the theater when the church was destroyed by fire. The theater closed in the early 1970s, then was remodeled to become the State Room. The private hall and banquet room on the second floor retain the original theater design.

Est. 1931

Erected 2017 by City of South San Francisco, Historical Society of South San Francisco. (Marker Number 8.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.

Location. 37° 39.259′ N, 122° 24.632′ W. Marker is in South San Francisco, California, in San Mateo County.

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It is at the intersection of Linden Avenue and Baden Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Linden Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 Linden Avenue, South San Francisco CA 94080, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Martin Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Bank of SSF (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); U.S. Post Office (about 700 feet away); Enterprise Journal (approx. 0.2 miles away); City Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Grand Avenue Library (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Grand Avenue Library (approx. ¼ mile away); Women's Club (approx. 0.3 miles away).

State Theater/State Room and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 7, 2021

2. State Theater/State Room and Marker

The marker is visible here on the corner of the building.

Touch for a list and map of all markers in South San Francisco.

More about this marker. This is the eighth of eleven stops on the city's "The Grand Walk", a self-guided tour of the historic sites and buildings along or in the vicinity of Grand Avenue.

Also see . . . Welcome to South San Francisco's "The Grand Walk". City of South San Francisco PDF brochure of a map of the "Grand Walk", including route, photos, and information about each stop on the way. (Submitted on July 8, 2021.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 483 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 8, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.