History of the State Cinema
Originally planned and built as the Roxy cinema the State opened on Monday 5th September 1938 with the showing of the 1938 film The Hurricane. Designed by architect Frederick Chancellor of Frank Matcham and Company the State boasted an impressive 2200 seating capacity and air conditioning and was one of the largest cinemas in Essex. The State also featured an illuminated Compton Organ and full stage facilities making it also usable as a fully functioning theatre/ live entertainment venue.
The state remained open as a cinema up until around 1988-89 when it was then not economically viable to use as a cinema due to dwindling audiences sometimes in single figures. This was probably due to the rising popularity of VHS film rental and also a newer multiscreen cinema being built at the Lakeside retail park just a couple of miles down the road. The State Cinema then shut as and remain so for a number of years.
The building was used as a nightclub/winebar called Charlestons in the early nineties yet I believe the auditorium remained unchanged. This new lease of life was short lived and the building was closed down again after about a year.
The building was also used for a music video in the late 90's and some theatrical work more recently, details of which can be found by following the filmography button on the main menu bar. This page also contains details of the sequence that was shot for the 1988 film "Who framed Roger Rabbit" staring Bob Hoskins.
On 28th June 2000 the State was reclassified as a Grade II* listed building thanks to some letter writing and campaigning to English Heritage by a local man named Steve Pavitt. I'm sure without Mr Pavitt's intervention the State would have probably been demolished a few years back. Steve has an excellent website with a lot of information on the history of Grays, a link to his website can be found on my links page.
The Cinema and vast car parking area was sold to the supermarket chain Morrisons in 2001 with promises made to Thurrock council that some sort of restoration or new life for the building would be forth coming. Unfortunately Morrisons were only interested in building their gigantic supermaket on the land and the land they purchased adjacent to the State and the building was left to rot even further. As far as I know the only changes Morrisons made to the building was to put numerous signs at the rear of the building threatening anyone that parked there.
In 2006 the Building was sold by Morrisons for around £550,000 to a company called TSP Properties who appear to be a property development company. They have submitted plans to convert the building into some sort of gym/health club with residential property built on top of the current building. I believe they have had planning permission turned down. No new ideas have emerged from the current owners but they have been quoted on another website as saying that the State will never be used as a cinema again.