To purchase a ticket online, click on the View More button under the film or event image tile. Then click on the Buy Tickets button under the specific showtime you’d like to attend (i.e., 7:00 p.m.). This button will redirect you to our ticketing checkout page. Next, select the ticket quantity and add them to your cart.
Note: If you’re a member, log in by clicking Members Sign In Here button before adding tickets to your cart.
Your State Theater account provides a secure transaction process for ticket and membership purchases. It also gives you access to your orders and tickets and gives us the ability to reach you in the rare case of scheduling changes or cancellations.
To find out which auditorium a screening or event will take place in, simply click on the showtime at elystatetheater.org. The auditorium name will appear just below the film title on the ticketing page. It’s also printed on your ticket. If we make any changes to the schedule after you’ve purchased your ticket(s), we’ll notify you.
Each Monday, we review attendance from the previous weekend, finalize showtimes, and release tickets for the upcoming Friday-Thursday.
If the film you’re interested in performs well, it may be extended—so check back on Monday to see if new showtimes have been added.
The State Theater sells the same number of tickets as there are seats available. Once a show is sold out, it really does mean sold out! There is no waiting list as we have a no refunds or exchanges policy.
Introductions and discussions are included in the cost of your movie ticket. And there’s no need to arrive early to catch an introduction—introductions happen after the trailers, right before the film starts.
When you sign up for our Cinema Club Membership, our point of sale vendor will mail your member card to the physical address you used to sign up for your membership—and you can also add your card to your smartphone’s digital wallet. If you chose to receive a new card and still haven’t, please contact membership@elystatetheater.org.
You must be logged in to your Cinema Club membership to access your member benefits. If you are logged in and if you are a current member, but you still don’t see the member price, you may have a duplicate account that is not connected to your benefits. Please contact us at membership@elystatetheater.org to merge your accounts.
Using your smartphone, log in to your State Theater account.
Actually, there is a difference between a regular donation vs. membership. For the State, both count as donations but they are separate revenue streams. A membership is an annual gift that also comes with benefits, and benefits increase at different levels of giving. Higher levels of membership are partially tax deductible, whereas a straight donation to Ely’s Historic State Theater is always fully deductible.
If you’d like to become a Cinema Club member, we’d love to have you! You can join here: elystatetheater.org/membership.
Yes. We safely and securely keep items found during the current month and one month prior. After two months, unclaimed items will be donated. To inquire about a lost item, contact our team (218-235-6300 or info@elystatetheater.org).
Street parking is always free for patrons of Ely’s Historic State Theater, but details vary seasonably and are subject to City of Ely ordinances. If you are attending a live event or sold out movie showing, we recommend you arrive 20 minutes early. Click here for more details: elystatetheater.org/parking-info.
We would love to talk with you about displaying your artwork in the State Theater facility. Please contact manager@elystatetheater.org.
We don’t reserve or keep a list for posters, but once a film’s run has ended and the poster is no longer on display, feel free to ask about it at the concessions counter. If we still have it, you’re welcome to take it home for a small donation—$10 is our suggested amount.
Every year, over 23,000 people attend our movies and events. Advertising at Ely’s Historic State Theater provides strong customer engagement by guaranteeing a captive audience. Movie-goers are 44% more likely to remember an ad and 70% more likely to identify advertised brands vs consumers of traditional media.
Click here for current advertising rates and details: elystatetheater.org/advertising.
The State aims to keep you informed about upcoming programs and gives you a chance to settle without taking too much time, so we add only about 5-9 minutes of trailers and ads before each feature.
For our patrons who love movie trailers, behind-the-scenes content, movie trivia, and community announcements about upcoming events at the State Theater and in Ely in general, our custom pre-show rolls approximately 25 minutes before the listed showtime of each film.
For family shows at Ely’s Historic State Theater, children 11 months and younger do not require a ticket but must sit in a grown-up’s lap. (Carriers and strollers cannot block aisles or seats.)
Ely’s Historic State Theater (EHST) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed in 2020.
In June 2020, EHST began serving the community as an event space and hub for arts activities, including first-run, recently released, and repertoire films, as well as live music performances, educational programming, media arts workshops, Ely Film Festival, live community events, and more!
Our facilities provide two auditoriums (the State Theater & Greenstone Cinema), comfortable seating, 4K projectors and screens, audio systems, stage lighting, and a modern concession & lobby area.
Learn more about Ely’s Historic State Theater by watching this 3-minute video:
The Ely State Theater is a beloved landmark, rich in history and full of community and life.
Built in 1935–1936 during the challenging times of the Great Depression, it was designed by the famous Upper Midwest architects Liebenberg and Kaplan in the stunning Art Deco style. Originally called the “Rio” during its early planning stages, the theater proudly opened as the State Theater in October 1936, featuring a bright 36-foot neon marquee that quickly became a shining beacon on Sheridan Street.
From its very first screening, My American Wife, the theater offered a welcoming place for locals to enjoy the magic of film. With its elegant stone exterior, a spacious auditorium seating 630, and a state-of-the-art RCA sound system, the State provided more than just movies—it was an experience.
Even as television and video changed entertainment habits, the State Theater remained important to Ely. In the 1980s, local movie enthusiast Ron Forsman worked hard to keep the theater alive, reopening it and preserving its place in the community. Though it closed in 2008, a new chapter began in 2014 when the Ott family, experienced in restoring historic buildings, bought the theater with plans to bring it back to life.
In July 2015, the State Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For information about fun activities to do in Ely and the surrounding area, there are many resources you can consult. We recommend visiting Ely.org for general information about the area.
Once you’re in town, pick up a copy of the Ely Summer Times or Ely Winter Times, a free publication available at several local retailers, including Ely’s Historic State Theater.
For more information about lodging options in town, visit www.ely.org/lodging.
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