The Warner Theater opened in 1931 as a motion picture and live
performance theatre, featuring travelling vaudeville shows in its early
years of operation. Accommodating 2,500 patrons, the theatre was
designed by C.W. and George Rapp, theatre architects that designed the
Ambassador in St. Louis, MO, the Paramount in New York, NY, and the
Shea in Buffalo, NY from 1921 to 1931. The building was commissioned by
the Pennsylvania Theater Company, a subsidiary of the Warner Brothers,
which has become the world’s largest producers of film and television
entertainment. For a period of time, the Warner Theatre served as the
district headquarters for the Warner Brothers company. Due to its
association with the company, the theatre was lavishly and ornately
designed, costing $1.5 million to construct.
Besides showcasing motion pictures and live performances in the 1940s,
the Warner Theatre showed cartoons every Saturday beginning at 10 AM.
On one particular Saturday, the Warner showed seventeen cartoons for
only a quarter – plus tax. Cartoons such as Bugs Bunny, Little Lulu,
Daffy Duck and Tom and Jerry were typically shown to audiences. The
Warner Theatre primarily showcased live performances in proceeding
decades. Currently, the theatre hosts various performances by the Erie
Philharmonic, Erie Civic Ballet Company, and Erie’s Broadway Theatre
League. Internationally recognized comedians and artists also have been
featured at the Warner Theatre.
In 1977, the theatre was purchased by the state to protect the site
from demolition. In 1982, it was placed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Funding for the theatre’s restoration began in the
1990s, and by 2002, the project had accumulated enough funds to begin
Phase I. In 2016, the final restoration stage, Phase IV, is being
planned. Since 2002, the theatre’s interior has been restored, new
seating has been installed, and the theatre has been expanded to 8th
and French streets. Phase IV will include expanding the theatre’s
stage, constructing a new stage house, buying new technology equipment,
and adding final details to the interior. The Warner Theatre will
continue to stand and operate as a house of entertainment in the City
of Erie, hosting live performances from local artists as well as world-
renowned entertainers.
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