Eau Claire's historic State Theatre first opened as a vaudeville theatre in 1926. Several years later, it was converted to a movie house that closed in 1982. In 1984 the Theatre was donated to a group of arts-minded community members called the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council. The Theatre was donated to them on the condition they restore the Theatre and transform it into a center for artistic expression. The old structure was in need of major repairs and became the focus of a community capital campaign. Area individuals, corporations, foundations, and other organizations funded the refurbished 1,117 seat Theatre and adjacent offices. The newly renovated State Theatre reopened its doors in 1986.

The first curtain rose at the State Theatre at 7:00pm on January 19, 1926, for a two hour show, the highlight of which was a vaudeville act, "Classified," starring Corinne Griffith as Babs Comet. Theatre-goers that evening also were treated to a performance of the State Concert Orchestra, Richard Bach's musical description of "Movies" on the Wurlitzer organ, and "A Syncopated Menu" Jazz Revue by 18 singers, dancers, and comedians.

No expense had been spared in erecting the $315,000 (1920's dollars) Theatre, one of nearly one hundred built by the theatre enterprise of Finkelstein and Ruben in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The Theatre was described as the "brightest gem in the glittering chain of Finkelstein and Ruben amusement palaces," according to the 1926 Eau Claire Leader. The theatre was designed to handle all attractions booked from vaudeville agencies in Chicago. Vaudeville shows were held on Friday and Saturday evenings.