Warner Theatre (Erie, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Front entrance of the Warner Theatre
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| Address | 811 State Street Erie, Pennsylvania United States |
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| Owner | Erie County Convention Center Authority |
| Type | Movie palace |
| Capacity | 2,250 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | April 10, 1931 |
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Warner Theatre
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| Built | 1930 |
| Architectural style | Art Deco, French Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003787 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1982 |
| Architect | Rapp and Rapp |
The Warner Theatre is a beautiful old building in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. It's a special kind of theater with a mix of two cool styles: Art Deco and French Renaissance.
This theater opened way back in 1931. It was designed by famous architects named Rapp and Rapp from Chicago. For many years, it was a popular place to watch movies.
In 1982, the Warner Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building. In the 1980s, the City of Erie bought it and turned it into a place for live shows. Today, it's a busy performing arts center.
The theater has a big stage, perfect for many kinds of shows. It's decorated with fancy velvet, gold, and shiny mirrors. You can watch concerts and Broadway theatre performances here. It's also home to the Erie Philharmonic orchestra and the Lake Erie Ballet. The main lobby is large enough for big events, holding up to 500 people.
History of the Warner Theatre
The Warner Theatre was built by a company called Warner Bros. They started building it in 1929. The theater first opened its doors on April 10, 1931. The very first movie shown there was The Millionaire.
Making the Theater New Again
In 1992, people in Erie decided the Warner Theatre needed a big update. A local group worked hard to make this happen. They got money from Erie County in 1993 to plan the project.
Later, the state of Pennsylvania gave $7 million for the theater in 1994. More money was raised by a group called the Warner Theatre Preservation Trust. They collected $3.3 million by 1998.
Two architecture firms, Daniel P. Coffey and Associates from Chicago, Illinois and Crowner/King of Erie, were chosen to lead the renovation. Pennsylvania gave even more money, and the Trust raised more too. By 2007, the total money for the project reached $23 million.
The renovation happened in different steps.
- Phase I (new roof, fixing the inside, repairing the outside) finished in 2002.
- Phase II (new seats) was done in 2003.
- Later phases included expanding the building and adding a new entrance, ticket office, and restrooms.
The Theater's Organ
When the Warner Theatre first opened, it had a special musical instrument. It was a large Wurlitzer pipe organ. This type of organ uses many pipes to make different sounds. This original organ was moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1970.
In 2022, a new Wurlitzer organ was installed. Parts of this new organ came from other old organs. It was a big project, and the installation was finished later that year. Now, the theater has a wonderful organ again for its performances.
See Also
- List of concert halls
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Erie County, Pennsylvania
