• Date: 1919
• Style: Neo-Classical
• Architect: Henry Newhouse
• District: Downtown Historic Registry

The Blackstone/State Theatre is a four-story, Neo-Classical structure of brick and terra-cotta designed by Henry Newhouse of Chicago. The first floor contains shops and the theatre entrance which, along with the marquee, have been modernized. The Blackstone Theatre was initiated in 1918 by businessmen from Chicago, incorporating the next year with a 99-year lease were acquired on Lots 56 and 57 of the Original Plat. In September 1919, South Bend issued a building permit and the Ralph Sollitt and Son Construction firm began construction. The fireproof structure cost $500,000, seated 2,500, and boasted one of the largest and most complete film booths in the United States, equipped with Cimplex Company motion picture projectors. The theatre also offered a nursery for children whose parents were attending the performance. The theatre's name was changed to the State Theatre in 1931 after being purchased from receivership. It remained in business until 1978. The Blackstone Theatre is an outstanding example of a Neo-Classical theatre and the only one that exists in the downtown area. Designed for motion pictures and vaudeville shows, it contains many of the features typical to theaters built during the early twentieth century, including a lavish interior, ornate plaster work, and abundant use of terra-cotta.

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