County’s lone theater closes
By GREGG RETTIG
Editor
The only movie theater in Madison County has closed.
George Peyton, seen here during the theatre’s remodeling, has announced that he is closing the State Theatre, the only movie house in Madison County.
The State Theatre, located in downtown London, has closed. Its owner, George Peyton, said he cannot make the required digital updates required to show today’s first-run movies. He said on his Facebook account that he may consider renting out the building for events.
The Press tried repeatedly to contact Peyton via phone but was not successful.
“For 76 years, the London State Theatre has provided London with quality entertainment,” Peyton wrote. ”Beginning with Earth Worm Tractors and most recently with Django Unchained, the State has given London a reason to stay in town and enjoy themselves, keeping business local.
“However, even a recent remodel to bring back a lot of the glory of the old State Theatre, was not enough to keep it from falling behind the times.
“It is with a sad heart that we at the London State Theatre announce the eventual closing of the theatre. The dismal state of our economy has made required digital upgrades, necessary for the projection of newer movies, all but impossible. The digital conversion, is in fact, killing small theaters across the country. If you’re wondering what the ‘digital conversion’ is, it’s the decision of the film industry to stop distributing 35mm movies due to lack of availability. The cinema means everything to us here, and to not be able to provide London with the latest releases, pains us. A lot of these releases could even be seen on opening night, which is something that a lot of smaller theaters have problems providing.
This decision has been weighing on us since the announcement of the mandatory conversion. The hope was that something could be done, or a way around it could be found. It was as sad inevitability though, and there’s no way we could make the conversion. We wish there was a different outcome to this. Serving the community has been an absolute joy to us. We felt good about giving the youth a safe place to meet. To give parents a place they were happy to take their children to. To be able to provide adults a cinema experience on par with a lot of big city theaters. All of this just makes the decision harder on us, however, as we carry on to close the doors.
This isn’t to say, we won’t have any services to provide. While it pains us that we can’t bring you newer movies anymore, we will still have the capability of projecting pre digital movies. Which means that we can still provide a space for private parties. We will also, from time to time, open up for a couple weeks at a time, for a special showing of our choice. Like we said, we love the cinema, and if we wanted to watch a print of Evil Dead, or Wizard of Oz, or anything in between, we are going to want to share that with our city. We’ll open up the doors just like nothing happened, and welcome you all in to watch the movies with us.
I am saddened by the news of the State Theater closing. We have attempted to have a “movie night” as a family for many years and have always enjoyed the people at the State Theater. We haven’t been able to make it as often lately but I feel fortunate that our kids have grown up seeing movies there and now our grandkids have had that opportunity as well, you just can’t get that small town feeling at the big complex theaters. Thank you to ALL the folks involved with providing this entertainment over the years, we will miss you.
From what I have seen from growing up in this county. He owns many things here in this county & is just like the rich. When he gets tired of one thing, he moves on & purchases something else but only for that to fail as well. Like White Tiger Graphics & Howling Wolf Studio Comics & Trade (If anyone remembers this place). Oh Poor Guy…Seriously, Yeah right, don’t feel sorry for the rich who mislead….wake up London, this is what the county is made of, rich people who have too much money to help out their own self worth & don’t care what happens to the community, only if it benefits them.
I haven’t seen George for many years and don’t usually respond to such posts but I think yours deserved a rebuttal. I knew George when he was a young, creative, imaginative young man. EVERYTHING he earned was by his own hand! He was very loved but he was not handed anything! He was taught to work hard and fortunately for him it has paid off. If he is seen as a “rich guy” so be it but he is, as I remember him, is rich in many more things in money!. He has spent his life nurturing his creative side and making his dreams reality. Why do business people and entrepreneurs have to be seen as the bad guys? REALLY? Who do you think employees people, pays taxes that provide moneys and food for people who are in need, pay property taxes……..I could go on and on.
how nice that you were a friend of George’s many years ago. just wondering if you know anything about him NOW? Perhaps he has changed, as people do, especially when there is money involved. It sounds like ALF knows him in the present day. Not saying he wasn’t a good guy back in the day, but ask yourself if you really know him now. All working people pay taxes to feed the poor and help the less fortunate. George is no different. He is paying taxes because that is what we must do.
Farewell to The State Theatre, it has many memories for me and my family. I am saddened to see it go, regardless of the who owns it.
Noone has money for entertainment as the city wants to raise taxes again!!
Raise taxes lose revenue as people will flock out of the depressed City of London. No pool..no theater…more taxes!!! Tax the rich till there are no rich no more.
If the tax levy passes im outta here! School tax..columbus income tax..high water bill…property tax…trash bag tax…why stay!
Why doesn’t the downtown london assoc actually do something and help this guy out? Raise funds to help re-open!