The Ely State Theater

The Ely State Theater is an impressive example of Art Deco Architecture. It was designed by Liebenberg and Kaplan Architects, who in a 50-year period designed over 200 movie theaters, generally in the Art Deco Style. The theater was commissioned by the Swanson family and opened to the public on Sunday October 15^th, 1936. The Swanson Family ran the business for forty-seven years. 

The theater closed in 2008 and was facing certain demolition when it was sold in 2014 to the Ott Family, owners of Alley A Realty. They completed a stellar restoration of the building.

The theater is now operated by a committed non-profit organization called Ely’s Historic State Theater. They offer live entertainment and a variety of movies, as well as a surprisingly impressive concession stand.  

The State was not the first theater in Ely. Movie theaters started appearing in this country at the turn of the Century. By 1914 the Elco Theater was operating on Chapman Street between Central and First Avenues. Silent movies were also shown at the Finnish Temperance Hall (later, ironically, a tavern and bowling alley). On July 14, 1935, The Ely Theater opened on Chapman Street followed within a year by this – the State Theater. 

There was much fanfare at the opening. Special note was given to the “High Fidelity” sound system that insured “brilliantly natural and intelligible sound – sound that until very recently was only possible in the world’s largest laboratories.” 

Every day there was a matinee at 2:00 pm and an evening show at 7:10 pm. On Saturdays there was also a midnight showing and on Sunday afternoons continuous showings started at 1:00 pm.

On the weekend after opening, the State featured “The Ex-Mrs. Bradford” starring William Powell and Jean Arthur.  

The theater was owned by the Swanson Brothers who managed it for many years.  In 1940 brothers Ralph and Jesse Swanson lived in the apartment above the theater with Jesse’s wife, Barbara, and children (Jesse, Barbara Joy, and John).  Later, son Jesse ran the business.

In August 1983, Ron Forsman purchased the building and ran the theater.

With the explosion of cable television channels in the 1970 and the movie video cassettes in the 1980 small neighborhood theaters struggled. The State Theater continued operation until February 2008 when it was closed and fell into serious disrepair. 

The theater, however, was destined for a new life. In 2014, the building was purchased by the Ott Family under Ely State Theater, LLC, a division of Alley A Realty. The Otts completed a stellar and much needed renovation, saving the building from demolition. 

The theater has retained many of the original features, including the impressive accent lights and the historic seat supports.

In 2019 a non-profit (named Ely’s Historic State Theater) was formed to raise funds for the theater equipment and to oversee the management of the theater. In January of 2020 the first live performance was held (The Quiltmaker’s Gift) before the theater was closed by state mandate due to the COVID epidemic. On June 19, 2020, the state closure was lifted, and Ely’s Historic State Theater re-opened for its first movie screening (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”).  Later that same year, the theater expanded into the renovated building to the east which provided a new concession area. 

On May 28, 2021, Ely’s Historic State Theater opened a second smaller theater within the expanded space, the Greenstone Cinema, and brought brand new movies (playing on opening day) to Ely.

Now Ely’s Historic State Theater is proud to offer a mix of movies, live entertainment, and community events, all at an affordable and accessible price to people of all ages.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

October 15, I936 – the State Theater opens – The Swanson Brothers

February 1983 – Ron Forsman buys the State Theater

February 2008 – the State Theater closes for business

June 2020 – the State Reopens to the public

Ancestry.com. Accessed April 8th, 2022.

The Ely Miner, Ely, Mn (June 25, 1936, June 25th, 1936).

The Ely Miner, Ely Mn (September 3rd, 1936).

The Ely Miner, Ely Mn (October 15th, 1936).

The Ely Echo Newspaper

Ely Phone Directories from 1949 to 2020 (available at the Ely-Winton Historical Society).

Information from the Historic State Theater Management

Information from David Kess