The Loew's State Theatre opened on February 18, 1928, and offered double bills of famous vaudeville stage acts and first-run films.

During the Great Depression and World War II it continued to do good business, as theater patrons escaped for a few hours into its plush grandeur.

With the help of an October 11, 1977 benefit concert by Harry Chapin, the group successfully raised $65,000 to purchase the property, at which time Loew's State was renamed the Landmark Theatre.

SALT gained ownership of the theater while the remainder of the building including the upper floors remained with then-owner Sutton Real Estate.

The upper floors have a separate entrance on West Jefferson Street and are collectively referred to as the Loews Building.

On September 12, 2008, the Landmark hosted the world premiere of The Express, a fictionalized account of the life of Syracuse University alumnus Ernie Davis, attended by stars Rob Brown and Dennis Quaid.