Approaching one-year anniversary, State Theatre talks favorite films, what’s next

It has been nearly a year since “White Christmas” became the classic film to kick off a new generation of movie-going at the downtown State Theatre — and since then, the extensively renovated theater has been finding a steady audience.

That’s expected to grow in the coming weeks as Halloween and the holiday season are popular times for people to come to the movies, said Allison Weiland, executive director of the Sioux Falls State Theatre.

“October is packed with all kinds of classic thrillers and horror movies but also some kiddo movies,” she said.

For instance, this weekend’s schedule includes new releases “Lamb” and “Fanboy,” the Schulte Subaru Spooktacular Series showing “Them!” and “Young Frankenstein,” “Hocus Pocus” presented by Midco, and the silent film “Nosferatu” from 1922.

“It’s fun to see what movies sell well,” Weiland said. “Reserved seating is definitely helpful for planning and making sure we have enough volunteers and staff to help with larger events. Each week, we try to offer a variety of programming, from family friendly to late night, which means we see a wide range of movie lovers coming to the State each week.”

While the pandemic made predictions difficult, attendance has been steady, she said, “even during the summer months when there is so much going on in the area. We saw more walk-ups and people making a spontaneous decision to take in a movie, which is great.”

The team also is getting a sense for what people want to watch at the State. Classics “North by Northwest” and “The Wizard of Oz” proved popular, and a new wave of fans are wanting to share movies, including “Sixteen Candles,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Field of Dreams,” with family and friends.

“We are also seeing a need to program newer releases that wouldn’t typically be shown in Sioux Falls,” Weiland said. “Our goal is to bring in more of these art house and independent films for our community to enjoy.”

Most people are just excited to see their favorite films on the big screen in such a unique downtown setting, she added.

“Whether it’s bringing their kid to see a classic movie for the first time or one that they have never had the chance to see on the big screen. It is different when you’re watching a movie with a group of people, especially in an environment like the State Theater,” she said.

“When we bring back these old movies in black and white with all of these classic actors, it is amazing to see the twinkle in people’s eyes when they get to see some of the greatest films of all time.”

When it became clear the theater would reopen during the pandemic, everything became more challenging for those trying to get the State ready for its reopening, she added.

“There was a lot of leadership and guidance from organizations like the National Association of Theaters and NATO; we followed the regulations provided by them and the CDC,” she said.

“We just wanted to create a clean, healthy and fun environment for people to come in and experience the State after nearly 30 years of closure.”

But nostalgia is the defining part of the experience, she said.

“I think it (the experience) is a little different for everybody. Some people come in and are in awe of their surroundings and the preservation and core of the building itself,” Weiland said.

There are also so many people who grew up in Sioux Falls and have lived here their whole lives and have never been inside the building, she added.

“It is always fun to see their expressions when they see what all of the talk has been about. Others are grateful that along with all of the beauty they can come and get some great popcorn, a glass of wine and see one of their favorite movies,” Weiland said.

Some things, however, were better left unpreserved, she said. One of the new upgrades includes leather reclining chairs for all of the seats, which has been a hit.

“Everyone is just in love with these chairs. We didn’t want to take away any of the historic elements, but the chairs were one thing that we definitely had to upgrade,” Weiland said.

What’s ahead

Moving forward, one of the biggest restoration projects that remains is the third floor. Historically, it was a manager’s apartment, but in the future there are plans to potentially create a micro cinema, or second cinema, according to Weiland.

“We really think it would bring a huge value. We could also have it as a flexible space available for rentals, corporate meetings or watching the Parade of Lights.”

“It’s just a really cool space that I think is ready to come back to life again.”

After years of construction, Weiland is ready to get the building fully restored. With completion, however, comes great cost.

“We are always fundraising,” she said.

“People are always given the option to round up on their ticket or throw some extra dollars in whenever they can. I think people really are excited that the State is open, but I think they’re also excited for what is to come.”

In the meantime, there are more movies to show.

“Going into November and December, we’ll definitely be having a variety of films, but you can be assured that there’ll be some holiday classics coming up in December for people to watch and enjoy,” Weiland said.

To stay updated on what’s coming out and how to purchase tickets, the State Theatre offers an email subscription service for upcoming films and showtimes, and also displays important events on its website.
“Looking back at this past year, I’m incredibly proud of the growth of our organization and the support from our community,” Weiland said.