Today in Hertford History: The Night the Lights Came up on Church Street

The Daily Independent Jan 12, 1937

On a crisp January 8^th afternoon in 1937, anticipation crackled through Hertford. After months of waiting, the doors finally swung open at 144 North Church Street. What had been a busy construction site was now the State Theatre­­―hailed as "the finest and most beautiful show house in Eastern Carolina." Hertford locals were welcomed by a massive 30-foot-wide marquee crowned by an 18’ tall neon sign that cut through the winter dark with a vibrant glow of green, red, and blue. When it flickered to life, it didn't just signal a new business in town—it marked a defining moment in the town’s history and signaled that Hertford had arrived.

The Premiere: After the Thin Man

The town was "agog with excitement" as the doors opened at 3:00 PM for a sneak peek. The formal dedication followed later that evening at 8:45 PM with remarks by Hertford Mayor H.G. Winslow. For 35 cents, locals stepped out of the hardship of the Great Depression and into a world of Hollywood glamour. On the screen William Powell and Myrna Loy dazzled audiences in After the Thin Man, the sequel to The Thin Man and one of the eras most beloved murder mystery comedies.

A movie poster for After The Thin Man with Myrna Loy and William Powell

Church Street - the State Theatre is on the right. Kilcocanen Yearbook 1964

A Look Inside: The Art of the Interior

While the silver screen was the draw, the interior was a masterclass in Art Deco elegance. Guests stepped onto a lobby floor covered in plush red carpet. To the left, a grand staircase rose to the balcony, bringing the total seating capacity to exactly 498 people.

Contemporary accounts in The Daily Independent and The Perquimans Weekly described a symphony of color that defined the auditorium:

• The Palette: Rust colored walls softened by tints of apricot, blue, orange, and silver adorned with “gayly painted squares, semicircles, crosses, rectangles and compass points”.

• The Stage: A massive 14x19 foot silver screen framed by gold front curtains and capped with seven red valances tied with gold cord.

• The Finery: The foyer decorated in a creamy yellow caen limestone paired with woodwork of polished walnut with black trim.

State-of-the-Art Tech

The original investment by Carolina Amusement Company, estimated at $30,000, wasn't just for show. The theater boasted a high fidelity Mirrophonic sound system and 35mm Super-Simplex projectors, the absolute gold standard of motion picture technology in the 1930s. Combined with its revolutionary air conditioning, the State Theatre offered a level of comfort few southern theaters could match, earning its reputation as a true technological marvel of the region.

A vibrant nighttime rendering of the State Theatre by Archsmith Studio.

Fast Forward: The Encore

For sixty years, those gold velvet curtains lay still, and the walnut trim gathered dust. But the silence of this once-great theatre is ending. Now owned by Town of Hertford and fueled by an $850,000 state grant, the Hertford State Theatre is preparing for its second act. Architects from Archsmith Studio, contracted in June 2025, are guiding this historic restoration—peeling back decades of wear to rediscover the beauty that once made Church Street shine. The State Theatre was built to be the heart of our community. In 1937, it gave Hertford a place to dream and soon the Town of Hertford will give that dream back to the next generation.

How You Can Help

• Share Your Stories: Did your grandparents have their first date at the State? Do you have old photos of the neon marquee?

• Stay Updated: Visit the Town of Hertford website for the latest on the renovation phase.