Warner Grand Theater

Theatre was known as the Warner San Pedro. Warner built three theatres about the same size Warner Beverly Hills (razed), Warner Huntington Park (twin), Warner San Pedro.

Modest in size, but still a highly effective example of an art deco movie palace. 0pened June 18, 1930 and architect was B. Marcus Priteca.

Recently featured in "Pearl Harbor," as was the coffeehouse next door. A delightful place to visit for their periodic series of Friday night films. The seats, by the way, are in the colors of the Mexican flag, dating back to the theater's last days as a Spanish-language house.

Just to let you know the correct web site for the Warner Grand is: www.warnergrand.org. The web site has some great interior pictures and a list of current and upcoming events.

This was where it all happened-where aliens invaded the Earth on a Saturday night at a science fiction film festival screening - at least that's the way it was when we made "INVASION EARTH - The Aliens Are Here" in 1986-87. I worked here for several months from the fall of '86 until we wrapped shooting in March of '87.

The movie, a cheesy low-budget B-movie comedy spoof, wasn't very good, but we all had a lot of fun making it! And the fans loved it!

I worked on the special visual effects crew for Dennis Skotak, and acted in the film as one of the alien crewmembers in a green BEM (bug-eyed-monster) head and costume, which was great fun. I enjoyed pretending I was the Creature From the Black Lagoon.

This beautiful, ornate and truly grand picture palace was a great location for a sci-fi movie spoof, as well as other more ambitious Hollywood movies like "Pearl Harbor" recently.

I highly encourage everyone in Southern California to support this theatre! I attended the recent screening of "The Princess Bride" and was awed by the beauty of the interior. The inside is not in the best shape, but that gives it more character in my opinion. The presentation is quite good, although the sound could be a bit better. It seats 1500 people inicluding a balcony that is currently closed for repairs. The recent screening was fairly well attended (300-400 people would be my guess). Please visit the Web site and make plans to attend one of their classic or foriegn film screenings. You will be very glad you did!

Also, Moviemanforever, the area surrounding the Warner Grand seemed a bit run down, but fairly clean and safe to me. It is located on 6th street a few blocks from the Ports o' Call shopping center. Most of the shops on 6th were closed, but looked nice, and a number of small restaurants were doing booming business. Parking was available at extremely low cost just steps from the theatre.

Again, this theatre is an absolute joy to visit!

Please add a reference to our website, www.grandvision.org, a non profit community organization whose mission is to preserve and promote the historic Warner Grand Theatre. The site contains extensive historic information and photographs.
Thanks!
Liz Schindler Johnson
Executive Director, Grand Vision Foundation

Raymond Howell was the Mann theatres manager who quit the Chinese Theater to become the owner/operator of the Warner Grand. I worked for him at both theatres and he had a LOVE of old movie palaces, wanting to run one of his one without a corporation looking over his shoulder. When we began refurbishment, we were amazed how much was still intact, despite the festive paint job during it's time as a Spanish-language film venue. I remember Ray had acquired the original blueprints( from the city, I think) for reference in restoring. We had got a pretty good education putting the Chinese together--but this was starting from the ground up.

The wall tapestries in the auditorium were original and intact, the asbestos curtain on the stage (with Warner's logo in the center) was still there, too! The dressing rooms and organ pit were pristine, having never been used because the theater was completed at the advent of sound. The stage was completely old school. The lighting panel was hand-operated along with the scenery flys. I remember when I was hunting around in an equipment storage room I found a shutter device used on the projector to show Warner 3-D films--and it still worked! We even found some original floor lamps from the time the theater opened. It was also designated as a Civil Defense shelter and there was a mountain of "vintage" food and water drums backstage--probably from the Atomic age...never did open them up!

Ray installed an organ and Gaylord Carter played there when they showed silent films. We also used to show cartoon shorts subjects before the main feature. I was a floor manager AND a projectionist (non-union house, of course) so I had my hands full at times. We had tons of people helping us restore the place, donating both equipment and time. A lot of them were friends Ray had made during his many years at Mann theaters. But, wow, what an experience.

It's great to read these comments about the Warner Grand, yes it was formerly Warner Brothers Theatre. You'll be happy to know we are installing a brand new heating and a/c system in the theatre right now which should be finished by the end of the year. Also, we're in the thick of the SAVE YOUR SEAT campaign to raise funds to make the stage rigging safe and usable, and completely repair, restore and recushion all 1500 of the theatre's well-worn original seats. We're going to try to reproduce the original fabric as best we can. Please get involved if you love the theatre and want to see it more functional & comfortable. Contributers (starting at $350) receive their name on a seat. All the info is at www.grandvision.org Becoming a member is also a great way to help, and memberships start at $25 for seniors & students. Grand Vision is an all-volunteer group supported completely by the community. Please help spread the word!
Thanks
Liz Schindler Johnson
Grand Vision Foundation
Liz Schindler
Executive Director, Grand Vision Foundation

The Warner Grand Theatre is featured on the Los Angeles Conservancy's San Pedro Walking Tour. I went inside during their inaugural tour. It is a great old theater. What is very noticeable is a remnant from the days when the theater showed Spanish language films. The seats are spilt into three sections with each in a different color. One red, one white, one green, the colors of the Mexican flag. The Warner Grand Theatre was also shown in an episode of "American Dreams" during the first season.

The Warner Grand Theater opened as the Warner Theatre on 20th January 1931 with Joe E. Brown starring in "Goin' Wild" on the screen and Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Blondell attending in person. An opening seating capacity was given as 1,598.

Anthony B. Heinsbergen designed the beautiful Art Deco interior decorations which are still there to be admired today.

Warner's leased the theatre out in the 1970's and it screened Spanish language films under the name Teatro Juarez.

When the Stanley Warner chain dropped their California theatre holdings in late 1968. Pacific Theatres picked-up all their theatres except the Warner San Pedro Theatre. Fox West Coast Theatres operated two theatres nearby in this area, Fox Cabrillo and the Strand.

Fond memories of this place in the 70's growing up in San Pedro as a kid. So glad it's still there. I wish I could say the same for the other on on Pacific (Strand?). Saw the original Star Wars here.

Or did I see Star Wars at the Strand?

Is this one of the theaters that's on that LA Conservancy Tour?

No, sorry, the LA Conservancy Tours only cover the downtown Broadway theatres in LA (Tours every Saturday morning). San Pedro is several miles away south, closer to Long Beach.

The Debbie Marr watercolor of this theatre is very nice and would be a great one for someone's theatre art collection!

The Warner Grand website is truly beautiful. The photos really show off the art deco decor so be sure and check it out!

"Every Sunday evening, the interior and beautiful exterior of the Warner Grand can be seen in ESPN Classic's sports movie show, called "Reel Classics"." Must check this out on Sunday evenings!

Don't believe if I've ever seen the Warner name with the Grand name together except for this CT link.

Exterior photo of the Warner Grand Theater:
http://www.seeing-stars.com/Images/slides/WarnerGrand.JPG

You can see part of the marquee in the current commercial for Dunkin Donuts. It is currently running in the Tri-State area of New York.

Architect inoformation & photo:
http://m2a-architects.com/portfolio/historic/warnergrand.html

From the LA Library:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics26/00032607.jpg

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics27/00033079.jpg

For those curious about the "Warner" name being combined with the "Grand" moniker, that was done in the 80's when Raymond Howell took over the theater. I don't recall if it was done for legal/business ownership reasons--but the marquee was changed and no, there never was an official Warner theater at that location that included "Grand" in its name.

Debbie Marr's watercolor is beautiful!

Another photo of the Warner Grand Theater can be seen here.

Here is the first mention of this theater I could find in the LA Times:

(Feb. 5, 1930)
Warner Brothers' San Pedro Theater will seat 2000 and will be built on Sixth street just east of Pacific Boulevard, occupying a frontage of 150 feet. There will also be six stories and twelve offices in the building, which will cost $600,000....B. Marcus Priteca is the architect for both (Huntington Park Theater) theaters. These houses will be the first to be placed under construction under the Warner expansion plan.

(May 4, 1930)
San Pedro theater for Warner Brothers to cost $250,000. Plans are being prepared by Marcus Priteca and construction work will begin shortly.

Here's an article about the groundbreaking. It seems like the construction costs were on a yo-yo.

(June 18, 1930)
Warner Brothers will break ground today for their new $500,000 theater on Sixth street, near Pacific avenue, San Pedro. Jack Warner, son of the vice-president in charge of production, will wield the shovel and Leslie Mott, president of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, will speak for the community. A number of film folk will be introduced by M.A. Silver, general manager of Warner Brothers' Theater chain, including Loretta Young, Grant Withers, Claudia Dell, Irene Delroy, Walter Pidgeon and Leon Janney. The site runs 150 feet along Sixth street and extends back 125 feet. The building will have an auditorium seating 2000 persons, and will contain six stores and twelve offices. Lange & Bergstrom, Inc. of Los Angeles, is general contractor.

I don't understand why I can't find anything about the actual opening of this theater. It must have been a big deal. Is there a local paper in San Pedro that would have been around in 1930?

The theatre opened on January 20th. 1931 with the film "Goin' Wild".

Thanks William, at least I have a date and can narrow down my search.

I don't know if this is referring to this theater, but it's all I could find:

(Jan. 19, 1931)
(Reprinted from Saturday's late edition)
By Phillip K. Scheuer

Fashioned for the Joe E. Brown trade-and quite a sizeable trade it is, they tell me-"Going Wild" cut twin swathes across the screens at both Warner Brothers de luxe theaters yesterday. Joe E. Brown, it is almost unneccessary to add, is the happy-go-lucky fellow who, at a moment's notice, can make his face disappeared simply by opening his
mouth. This phenomenon, demonstrated with complete success when an examining physician attempts to pry into Mr. Brown's throat, is sufficiently startling to make the physician instead of the patient say "Ah!"

After a little more research, I believe the previous article I quoted refers to the Warner downtown and the Warner Hollywood.

Article in a local alternative newspaper that has the Warner Grand's 75th anniversary dated January 19, 1931: http://www.randomlengthsnews.com/archive/warnerjan19.html

In the article it states "Today, San Pedro's Warner Grand Theatre is the only Warner movie palace standing." The writer failed to mention that the Warner Hollywood (aka Pacific 1,2,3), Warner Wiltern and Warner Forum Theatres and the Warner Huntington Park and Warner Downtown are all still standing. Only the Warner Beverly Hills has been razed.

Here is a night view of the Warner Grand.

If I'm not mistaken, the Warner Grand was briefly owned by a Mr. Al Lee in the early '70's. Lee was also the manager of the United Artists Theater in Torrance where I worked as an usher.

I believe my great grandparents Luis (Louie) and Juana Rios ran and
operated this theatre in the 1950's. They had a daughter Virginia Rios who had my father Max Goldberg. Anyone know who they were? I have birth dates and death dates for them but that's it. I am interested in anyone who would have information expecially about Juana whose maiden name is Pacheco.

I believe my great grandparents Luis (Louie) and Juana Rios ran and
operated this theatre in the 1950's. They had a daughter Virginia Rios who had my father Max Goldberg. Anyone know who they were? I have birth dates and death dates for them but that's it. I am interested in anyone who would have information expecially about Juana whose maiden name is Pacheco.

There is a nice marquee shot of the theatre in the new movie "Running with Scissors".

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999

Warner Brothers Theatre (added 1999 - Building - #98001633)
Also known as Warner Bros. San Pedro Theatre
478 W. 6th St., San Pedro
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Priteca, B. Marcus
Architectural Style: Art Deco, Moderne
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Local Gov't
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Specialty Store, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Specialty Store, Theater

This is a recent night view of the Warner Grand Theater.

Another recent photo of the Warner Grand Theater can be seen here.

Hey! I'm getting married here in about a month! It's apparently the first wedding ever held at the Warner Grand.

It's extra cool because my dad went to his first movie here in the 50's....keeping it in the family.

Congrats on the event and Best Wishes.

I used to stay at the Sheraton down the road from the Grand and everytime i went up and down the street shopping i used to look over at this great looking palace. It looked kind of open but reading recent news on here from you guys it looks like a whole lot of grand things have happened to the Grand recently. Thats great news for the area im sure. What im not sure was good news about was the information that the hotel told me (this is 8 or 9 yrs ago now) that there was going to be built a new multiplex on a vacant plot just one or two blocks down from the Grand on the same side!?!? Did this happen? Any news?

I think it was AMC who were doing this complex? Any news at all would be great as i cant find any listings or such for San Pedro. Thanks.

Here are some photos from July 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/2gfba4
http://tinyurl.com/2ffh27
http://tinyurl.com/2z4yna
http://tinyurl.com/2aky7z
http://tinyurl.com/25uxun
http://tinyurl.com/yvdxev

Here is a 1937 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics26/00032596.jpg

Here is a recent photo of the Warner Grand Theater.

Here is a September 1942 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2kfay6

Here is another recent photo of the Warner Grand Theater.

"The Relevant Stage" is a new theatre company in residence at Warner Grand Theatre that specializes in producing live, performing arts that are relevant to today's social issues, meeting the criteria of challenging hearts, engaging minds and exposing truths.

therelevantstage.com

In 2008, TRS will produce 5 productions at Warner Grand Theatre: Acts of Desperation, Over There/Over Here, Urinetown the Musical, Bat Boy the Musical, and Reinventing Eden.

Here are some recent photos of the theatre:
Daytime
Nightime

The LA Harbor International Film Festival is this weekend. I am going to see "Unsinkable Molly Brown" on Saturday. I've never been inside the Warner.

Here's a night shot of the theater marquee:

http://tinyurl.com/4yotaw

Thanks for looking.

Here are some 1931 photos from the LA library:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00079/00079036.jpg
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00079/00079037.jpg
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00079/00079038.jpg
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00079/00079039.jpg

This is another 2008 photo.

Clearlight, I love your photo. I've never seen this theater at night. It's beautiful!

1982 Photo

1983 Photo

The next LAHTF "All About" is scheduled for Nov 21 at the Warner Grand.