State Theatre
Also known as: Neumeyers Vaudeville House
Why it's listed
Beaux Arts theater on the 400 block of Northampton Street in Easton, with a cut stone facade, a large marquee and an octagonal ticket booth. The building was enlarged in 1910 as Neumeyers Vaudeville House and renamed the State after a 1926 remodel that tripled the auditorium and added a balcony, plaster ornament, gilded cartouches and crystal chandeliers. Early in its life it hosted area premieres of silent films, including Birth of a Nation and Intolerance by D. W. Griffith, alongside vaudeville and orchestral performances. Bing Crosby sang before the 1926 painted backdrop, which remains in the auditorium. Its auditorium, which seats about 1400, retains most original features, including the Wurlitzer organ, orchestra pit and electric prompter. The building is regarded as a rare surviving unaltered example of a combined vaudeville and motion picture house, and it remains the only active large-capacity theatrical auditorium in the Lehigh Valley.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the State is the most important remaining Beaux Arts structure in Easton and the only remaining intact vaudeville-movie house in the Lehigh Valley. It states the building has been part of the city's cultural and commercial life for almost 70 years, and that its auditorium retains most of its original features, including the Wurlitzer organ, painted backdrop and chandeliers.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82003804, listed March 4, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 454 Northampton St., Easton |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | March 4, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003804 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1925 |
| Architect / builder | W. H. Lee (architect) |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document describes the building as in good condition and in active use as a theater. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Within district | Easton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.69147, -75.21247 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82003804.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7603570
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.