By: Andrew Song
Eau Claire’s State Theater is a historic theater, built in 1926 and renovated in 1986. It was mainly used for live plays, but eventually added equipment used for playing movies. In 1982, the theater temporarily shut down.
When I first moved to Eau Claire, the state theater was holding live plays and performances by the Eau Claire Children’s Theater, Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, and other small organizations. In 2018, the new Pablo Center at the Confluence, a brand-new arts center was created to replace the aging State Theater. With no need for the State Theater, the owners could not fund or maintain it. That same year, the State Theater closed for the first time in over twenty years. Demolishing the theater was an option, as new stores could be built in its place. At this point, the theater had no hope.
Unexpectedly, Joe Luginbill and Azara Properties joined forces in attempts to re-open the theater. October 11, 2019 was the day the theater was officially owned and controlled by Joe Luginbill. This surprising turn of events stirred the public’s interest. Things were looking promising for the State Theater. Then suddenly local organizations and news stations could not contact him. Eventually, all social media accounts relating to him were deleted, phone numbers were disconnected, and he left without a word. Azara Properties currently owns the theater, but no changes have been made since his sudden disappearance.