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The STATE THEATER has been an integral part of downtown Oroville since the late 1920's now recognized in the National Historical Register and was dedicated on April 7, 1928. T & D Enterprises, Incorporated owned the State Theater, in addition to numerous theaters throughout California and Nevada. General Manager, M. A. Naify, contracted two architects, Timothy L. Pflueger and J. R. Miller, to design the facility. These two men also created the lofty pinnacle of progress-the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Building in San Francisco and Oakland's Paramount Theater.

The theater was originally destined for fine vaudeville acts and films. Later United Artists purchased the building and turned the facility into a movie house and only showed films. United Artists remodeled by splitting the theater into two theaters by dividing the main auditorium with a wall.

During the summer of 1986 United Artists notified the City of its' intent to close and sell the theater. Rather than have a vacant building downtown, the City viewed the pending closure as an opportunity to fill a long standing need for a community performance center. On September 30, 1986 the City of Oroville purchased the facility for $200,000 ($167,000 from the Oroville Redevelopment Agency and $33,000 from the Oroville Community Center Committee). The Oroville Community Center Committee made a commitment to the City of providing $30,000 for three years to offset operating expenditures if the City would undertake this venture.

The theater then underwent renovation to return the theater to the capacity of a performing arts facility with the ability to show films.

Renovations:	$277,407-Major renovations
	$30,261-Rigging equip/Curtains
	$30,000-Sound system
	$39,962-Lighting system
	$9,545-Grand piano repairs
	$66,360-Asbestos Removal
	$9,975-Center Wall Removal
	$16,000-Architect

The facility was under renovation the rest of 1986 and all of 1987 for a total purchase and renovation cost of $679,510. The Theater Ballet of San Francisco's NUTCRACKER was the first performance in the theater on December of 1987. The main floor has seating for 608; however, when the balcony is renovated the facility will seat 1,000.

During the the summer of 1988 the theater had a temporary set back with an electrical fire. The insurance for the facility paid for the repairs and clean up operation. The City took advantage of the scaffolding throughout the facility to complete repairs to the ceiling and to paint the main auditorium.

Facility improvements continue through the strong support of volunteers, business, and community organizations. Donations include upgrading the marquee, painting, renovating restrooms, dressing room repairs, cooling tower sound reinforcement, stage extensions and others too numerous to mention. The community support of the Oroville State Theater continues to be the backbone of this long standing, community tradition.