Saving the State Theatre: The 1991 Hanson Fire + 2026 Milestone with Steven Dahlmeier

In this episode of the Local Lou Podcast, we revisit the 1991 Hanson Building fire. What started as a dumpster fire turned into a massive blaze that destroyed 16 businesses and came dangerously close to taking out the State Theatre next door.Thanks to the work of 110 firefighters, the State Theatre survived with only smoke and water damage — a lifesaving moment that made its 2026 centennial possible.We also rewind to the early days of the Paulton Block, built by Marion and William Paulton in 1905, and trace how the corner of 11th & Phillips evolved from “Pride of the City” to the site of one of Sioux Falls’ biggest fires.Then I sit down with Steven Dahlmeier, General Manager of the State Theatre, to talk about the theater’s revival, its 100th birthday, and what’s ahead for this downtown landmark.Learn more about the State Theatre at: https://siouxfallsstatetheatre.org#LocalLouPodcast #SiouxFallsHistory #StateTheatre #StateTheatre100 #DowntownSiouxFalls