As State Theatre marks 3 years, new memories and plans are made

Almost weekly, Diane Olson emerges from the State Theatre’s basement, grimy and smeared with dust — and totally happy.

Even though she had never even heard of the historic downtown Sioux Falls theater until a couple of years ago, Olson’s love now runs so deep that she doesn’t hesitate to tackle decades of accumulated clutter.

She also spends multiple hours a week cleaning the theater itself and has been known to scan tickets for moviegoers or do anything else that’s needed. And she does it all as a volunteer.

“Every time I volunteer at the State Theatre — all the employees and the staff, they’re such good people, generous, kind-hearted, caring, with a very positive energy — it makes me feel good,” Olson said.

As the State Theatre begins its fourth year of operating as a nonprofit, its core group of volunteers is one reason it has been successful, executive director Allison Weiland.

“There are probably 10 volunteers that really feel like family here,” she said. “It’s one of those things — we’re in a bind because a random movie overnight sells 50 tickets and we don’t have anyone to cover, we can call and ask. It says a lot about the culture we have here too. We’re definitely a community, and it takes a village.”

After years of anticipation, the State Theatre reopened Dec. 11, 2020, and Weiland said she still must pinch herself sometimes when she realizes the dream became a reality.

“We opened in 2020 when every other theater was shutting down (because of the pandemic), and we’ve had a number of challenges and overcome many hurdles on our journey,” she said. “The fact we’re open and doing fantastic and bringing a variety of movies and experiences to Sioux Falls, it’s sometimes hard to wrap your head around. It’s been just wonderful.”

The State’s reopening proves that Sioux Falls residents understand the importance of preserving historic spaces and the role of arts in a thriving community, Weiland said. People can see its impact downtown both economically and culturally, and the State’s status as an independent theater allows it to bring in diverse offerings.

“We’re always going to have the favorite movies like the Star Wars series and holiday classics like ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Elf,’” she said. “It’s fun to see some of the favorite movies or movies like ‘Twister’ sell really well when we played it back in June. It’s also great to see a lot of support for the late-night series.”

A good crowd generally shows up for horror movies, which includes family-friendly films like “Hocus Pocus,” said general manager Steven Dahlmeier. Success isn’t always measured by a sellout crowd, he said. If only 40 people show up for a foreign film, that’s still 40 people who experienced a movie that appealed to their interests.

Sometimes, people just want a shared experience.

“There are movies that are made for the big screen,” he said. “And you may have seen ‘Elf’ 1,000 times, but to see it in a sold-out theater again with everybody reacting and laughing and little kids giggling at the jokes, it’s a whole communal experience.”

The State recently brought in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with a live shadow cast. Actors from The Premier Playhouse sang the musical’s songs standing below the auditorium’s screen. The State provided prop bags that moviegoers could use to make it an engaging and interactive experience, Weiland said.

When Joe Batcheller walks into the renovated State Theatre, he feels pride in knowing how many people made it happen —and that he played what he calls a small part in its reopening. Batcheller is chairman of the Sioux Falls State Theatre Co. board.

“It’s like stepping into a time capsule,” he said of the renovation. “It gives a peek of what it might have been like in the Roaring ’20s when the State Theatre first opened up. It’s great to think about all the stories contained in those walls.”

When Batcheller joined the board in the mid-2010s, fundraising to renovate and reopen the State had lost steam, he said. Slowly, things began to change. After speaking with focus groups and a consultant, it was decided that the building’s primary use should remain as a movie theater.

Small pieces of the State were restored to former glory, including an organ chamber that had been spray-painted gold. Then, philanthropist Denny Sanford stepped forward with significant financial support — if the city contributed.

“It had been closed for about 26 years at that point. People wanted to see it done. They could understand the impact for Sioux Falls,” Batcheller said. “Once the City Council voted, there was a huge sigh of relief, tears of joy and a lot of smiles. It had been a long journey for a lot of us.”

The result is a theater that all walks of life can enjoy, Batcheller said.

In 2026, the State Theatre will celebrate 100 years, Weiland said. The State Theatre has so much potential, the challenge will be to make sure the right steps are taken, she said.

While the auditorium itself is completed, the rest of the building still needs work. A primary goal is to raise the funds to reopen the balcony, making it “as operational and comfortable and as magnificent as the space below,” Weiland said.

“A lot of people share their memories, and a lot of memories were made in that balcony. The balcony is a very special place. If we had the funds we need today, it’s estimated as a nine-month build-out.”

Back to the volunteers. The support volunteers have given the State since it reopened can’t be measured, Dahlmeier said.

“The ones we’ve been having are very special to us,” he said. “We love seeing them every week, and we’d welcome new faces.”

Regular moviegoers may not see the State staff and board members, but they are familiar with the people who scan their tickets and sell them popcorn and wine. They probably don’t realize who has made sure their chair trays are spotless or has scrubbed the bathrooms.

“Diane, she is fantastic,” Weiland said. “She comes in and she cleans toilets, mops the floor, wipes down the trays. A lot of volunteers might not want to take out the garbage, but she does it with a big smile on her face. She loves old buildings, and she loves history. The State Theatre has a way to suck you in, and it wrapped itself around her.”

Olson was a software engineer at IBM and a master inventor in Rochester, Minnesota, for years. When she retired, she didn’t want to remain in Rochester where dozens of new buildings have given it a modern yet cold appearance. Instead, in 2016 she came to Sioux Falls and purchased a house in the Cathedral Historic District and began renovating it. Her passion for history then led her to the State.

Olson usually spends Monday or Tuesday cleaning the auditorium and making sure the floor under the seats is immaculate. If there are evening events those nights, she ensures the bathrooms sparkle. Wednesday means another thorough bathroom cleaning, including scrubbing the walls and floors. She often returns on Sunday, cleaning after the regular days of operation before scanning tickets if she’s needed.

She savors comments from people who grew up going to movies at the State and missed the experience.

“They love everything about the theater, the auditorium, how the restoration brought everything back to where it was in 1926,” Olson said. “The modernization of seats makes it so wonderful and comfortable. I love hearing the stories about when their husband proposed to them at the State or they saw their first movie with current spouse.”

The State also impresses Sioux Falls residents who grew up elsewhere and know the State only in its restored glory.

“I love sharing the State Theatre with everybody, the whole community,” Olson said.

Olson has made the State part of her own personal history now. She rents the theater out for a birthday bash, inviting friends, neighbors and fellow volunteers to enjoy a movie on the big screen. Often, she asks people who haven’t been there before.

“Romancing the Stone” with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner was her first birthday movie. This year, she showed an old Danny Kaye movie, “The Court Jester.” For the Feb. 26, 2024, celebration, she already has chosen another favorite, “The Princess Bride.”

Most-seen in 2023

The State Theatre’s top movies for the first 11 months of 2023, excluding its mostly sold-out holiday favorites.

1. The Whale

2. Twister

3. Star Wars: A New Hope

4. Planes, Trains and Automobiles

5. Asteroid City