Warner Theatre

Good day, my father was a Projection & Sound technician for Warner Bros. when I was born in 1942. He worked out of the Pittsburgh, PA office, I am certain that he probably serviced this theatre. His name was George W. Evans,Sr. I am his son, and still work in the industry. He moved to NY in 1943 and worked the rest of his career for Altec Service. He retired and passed away in 1967. I am searching for theatre preservation since the gentlemen that took over his Altec job is my friend Ray Matthews and he is attempting to renovate the Suffolk Theatre in Riverhead, NY. It would be interesting if there is reference to my father in the records. Thank you, George W. Evans

The Warner Theater used to have a theater organ. All I know about it is that it was sold (I think in the 1930s) to an armory in Cleveland, Ohio. I saw this organ inside the armory about 15 years ago. I recall that there was talk about recovering the organ when the Warner Theater was undergoing refurbishment. If anyone can supply more complete information about this organ they can e-mail me. I would like to know if there is any kind of movement in Erie to try and recover this organ for its rightful place in the Warner Theater. It could be used as a similar entertainment as the "Organ Grinder" in Toronto. Erie is a city which greatly lacks innovation and imagination,the result of which is a city which lives up to its epithet of "dreary". People in Erie should show that for once their sights can be set higher than just another trip to the Millcreek Mall, McDonald's (of which Erie has one for each of its 19 square miles) or the local grocery super emporium.

The interior doesn't appear to be pure Art Deco. I would describe it as a hybrid of French Renaissance, Beaux Arts and Deco.

Here is a link for a more detailed history-

<link> http://www.erieevents.com/warner-history.html

I love the Warner's marquee, with the stained glass in the corners that advertises 'A Warner Theatre'. Unfortunately my pictures of the theater have some stupid giant 'art' frog right in the middle. Why did it have to block the ticket booth? And it isn't even very good ('Copper Hopper Chopper' down by the lake was much cooler).

This is a wonderful theatre in downtown Erie and thank goodness this one was saved as so many in that city were not saved including a Shea's!

I would say this theatre is more French Renaissance than Art Deco, if at all.

Wow...I hope the Warner is not in real danger. It looks to be unusually original...and it is serving the community well. The web site listed above has instructions on how to make donations. It is difficult to imagine that anyone viewing this content cannot spare $10.

The Warner isn't in any danger, real or imagined...they are still in the process of completing restoration and are asking for donations to cover the cost of additional theatre projects as I see it.

DavidStear;

Here are details of the organ which was in the Warner Theatre:

Wurlitzer 3Manual/13Rank, Style 240, Opus#2153. It was shipped from the Rudolph Wurlitzer factory, North Tonawanda on 7th March 1931.

It was removed from the Warner Theatre in 1969 and installed in Gray's Armory, Cleveland, OH in January 1972. Since then the instrument has been enlarged with the addition of another 5Ranks of pipes and a piano, taken from Opus#935 which was originally installed in the State Theatre, Cleveland, OH

The original seating capacity of the Warner Theatre when it opened in 1931 was 2,584. Today it has a capacity of 2,506

At 75 feet, the proscenium was the widest Rapp & Rapp had ever designed.

I plan to get a personal tour of the Warner this coming summer as I will be in the Erie PA area and have recently emailed the general manager and a member of the Erie Philharmonic who is involved with the Warner.

I am part of a team writing a coffee table book about the Warner's history and restoration. We want to include as many personal stories and photos that we can find. If you have any you would like to share, please contract me at:

briansheridanerie@yahoo.com

Thanks !

Brian: Congratulations and good luck with your Warner Theatre research......I will be in touch!

I remember going there as a young girl. We'd put on our Sunday best because we were going to "the movies!" The uniformed ushers wore white gloves and took us to the best seat available, anytime during the show. It didn't matter if it was the beginning, middle or end. I remember velvet benches and mirrors in a place that to me was a palace. My father took me there to see "Gone With The Wind" when I was nine and it was so big and so grand, I'm a "Windie" to this day! Happily the Warner Theatre still stands as such today!

Jane Marie Harkins Malcolm

Does anyone know if this theatre is an atmospheric theatre? Thanks.

Seth: www.leapfrogerie.com will explain why there is an artsy frog in front of the Warner Theatre's ticket booth as they are located throughout the city as were the artsy fish.

Looks to me as if "Copper Hopper Chopper" isn't in front of the Warner Theatre, but Dobbins Landing according to the frog info on the website.

"Tip Toad Through the Tulips is at the Warner Theatre!

Right, I said the better one was down by the lake.

Memory tells me the Warner is not atmosphereic. I could be wrong because I can't find any of my notes on the Warner. It's been over twenty years since either of my two visits. I do remember, however that the acoustics were pretty good. I saw a '50's rock 'n' roll revival there which featured Little Anthony (minus the Imperials). Well, before someone corrects me, Little Anthony may not have been the headliner but he was the one I was most interested in hearing. I was told that there was a fire next to the theatre and for a while it appeared as though the theatre might be engulfed. The Strand was/is only a block away

Memory tells me the Warner is not atmosphereic. I could be wrong because I can't find any of my notes on the Warner. It's been over twenty years since either of my two visits. I do remember, however that the acoustics were pretty good. I saw a '50's rock 'n' roll revival there which featured Little Anthony (minus the Imperials). Well, before someone corrects me, Little Anthony may not have been the headliner but he was the one I was most interested in hearing. I was told that there was a fire next to the theatre and for a while it appeared as though the theatre might be engulfed. The Strand was/is only a block away

Can anyone give me information on the official Warner Brothers coat of arms?

Perhaps the coat of arms can be seen on www.warnertheater.com?

Through my research on CT I find there were 69 Warner theatres built so I wonder or suppose that all 69 had the Warner coat of arms?

Now have been told there were many more than 69 Warner related theatres, but still haven't been able to find out if, in fact, there was a Warner coat of arms....in brass?

Here is a color photo of the Warner Theatre Auditorium.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/Pennsylvania%20Theatres/WarnerTheatreEriePa.jpg

Charles: Thanks so very very much for the interior color photo of the Warner. Where on earth did you find it?

The photo now confirms that the Warner Theatre in Erie PA was NOT an atmospheric theatre which I questioned for several months...have yet to see it, in person, but plan to later this summer! If only they could have the original organ returned as its whereabouts is known in nearby Cleveland Ohio at an armory!

I was given a complete tour of the Warner Theatre today and it is beautiful though I wish it had an organ again since it originally had one on a lift that rose from the orchestra pit on opening day, April 10, 1931. Efforts are being made to obtain another organ and pipes.

BTW, I didn't see a Warners Coat of Arms, but was told that light fixtures incorporated themes or objects that depict the area in which the Warner theatres were built. Being that this theatre is located near the shores of Lake Erie many of the lights incorporate fish and crane designs. This theatre has never closed since 1931 which has kept the interior in better than average condition except for what has been beautifully restored, to date.

George: I'm sure the Warner Theatre would be interested in acquiring any additional Warner Theatre memories that your father told you as a book on the history of the Warner Theatre is in the works to hopefully be published in 2007. If you are interested, I can put you in touch with a person in Erie who works for the Erie Philharmonic.

Some color photos of the Warner Theatre.
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/6/ewarner3.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/6/ewarner1.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/6/ewarner2.jpg

Here is another photo of the Warner Theater.

Some recent night photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82847921/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82847812/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82847707/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82847606/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82847460/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82847349/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82847181/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82847064/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82846961/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46901841@N00/82846849/

dyban: Enjoyed looking at the Warner of Erie PA. I attended the Home for the Holidays musical with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra and guest singer/tv anchor, Amanda Post during the holidays and it was wonderful. Your 'old timey factory' photos are interesting and are of the former Koehler Brewery on State Street.

Thank you, Patsy. I will add the Koehler Brewery descriptions.

The Koehler Brewery has a long and rich history in the City of Erie and it is sad to see this piece of history eventually come down though certain artifacts such as the Koehler crest were taken off the building to be saved and replaced on a new building that will be constructed on that site. If you wish to "talk Erie" more, you can find my email on my profile page.

Erie's WARNER is a stunningly beautiful theater. I was there on 3/16/05 for Jerry Seinfeld and I have no clue why some comments say the theater is not atmospheric. It is a beauty.

rivjr: I've been in a few atmospheric theatres such as the Palace in Canton and I, personally, wouldn't describe the Warner as being atmospheric.

Through the Erie Philharmonic office on State Street posters of the Warner Theatre can be purchased. The poster is a collage of interior color photos.

I'm a life-long Erie, Pa resident and am thrilled that so many out-of-towners love and appreciate our gem of a theater.
With the long awaited restoration well underway, the Warner Theater is truely The Little Theater That Could.
Thank you for your support and please continue to enjoy her beauty as we look forward to and complete her restoration.

LuvTheater: Yes, the Warner is the jewel of Erie and thanks to the late Mayor Tullio we still have the Warner on State Street. Do you work with the theater or the Erie Philharmonic office? Last summer I purchased a lovely Warner poster and recently had it framed.

Ahh, just like the people in Torrington, CT. It's really sweet that they saved the old gal.

LuvTheater: I see on the membership directory that you just became a CT member so welcome. If you would like to "chat Warner", my email can be found on my profile page. I attended the Home for the Holiday concert at the Warner last December and it was wonderful.

Spike: Yes, really sweet!

dyban: If you could post some bright sunshine photos of the Warner exterior with doors and marquee, that would be wonderful! I just printed out one of the evening shots and plan to give it to Cass Warner, granddaughter of Harry M. Warner. There is a possibility that she will get to see the Warner in Erie during her stay as she will be in New Castle PA this Friday for a book signing (Hollywood Be Thy Name) and other events listed on the Harry M. Warner Silent Film Festival website http://academics.sru.edu/warner/index.htm

This site will take you to information on the first Warner Theatre in New Castle PA.

http://www.firstwarnertheatre.com/index2.ivnu

The Powers Auditorium in Youngstown OH was formerly a Warner Theatre and the lobby is very similar in design to the Warner/Erie.

This is a recent close-up photo of the Warner Theater.

Lost Memory: Thanks for posting the great photo as this Warner is close to my heart for many a reason. Each holiday season they present Home for the Holidays on stage and the setting is beautiful as is the theatre, itself.

Hi, Patsy and all: I haven't been a member and should have all these years. Patsy knows that I'm the fundraiser for the restoration and expansion of the Warner Theater in Erie. I also gave her the tour. So just a few things: this theater is not considered an atmospheric picture palace. Usually that is the nomeclature for theaters that project clouds, for instance, on the ceiling of the auditorium. This theater I call Art Deco/Egyptian Revival since it has the stylized repetitive pattern of art deco and it has images that refer to Egyptian symbology. As you know, picture palaces were created for a place to escape into fantasy. The architecture of any of them is a bit of mixed metaphor. (continued)

If you look up in the ceiling of the auditorium and suspend belief, you will see that it looks like the interior of a tent. It was supposed to imply a tent in the Egyptian desert. It has many gryphons on its walls. These mythological beasts orginated in Crete, Egypt and Greece. The architect, Rapp & Rapp, used the symbols to imply ancient times, specifically Egypt.

Warner Lady: Happy New Year to you and yours. Yes, I recall the tour you gave me and will always appreciate your kind gesture. Last summer I toured the former Warner in Youngstown, but was sad to see that the name Warner, marquee, etc. have been changed though tribute to the Warner Brothers is located in the median outside the front entrance.

When touring the Warner in Erie I so recall the Rapp and Rapp quote located in or near the manager's office just off the lobby area.

And last Spring I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Cass Warner Sperling, granddaughter of Harry Warner. She was in New Castle PA for the annual Harry Warner Silent Film Festival.

http://academics.sru.edu/warner/index.htm

Good to hear from you, Pat. I am busy working on the history of the Warner Theatre book as we speak. My goal is to have the first draft done by the end of February. I'm fairly far along.
B.

That is wonderful news so keep CT informed of your progress. Do give me a call this summer if you still have my phone number as I'll certainly be interested in purchasing a coy of the Warner Theatre book and its rich history. Thank goodness this Warner was spared the wrecking ball and we have that grand lady today on State Street in Erie PA. As I recall the late Mayor Tullio was instrumental in making sure the Warner wasn't demolished. Thank you Mayor.

Sorry for the typo error as I try to be accurate in my spelling before I submit my posts so should use the preview feature more often I guess. It should read...."interested in purchasing a copy of the Warner Theatre book and its rich history".

There is a funny story about that. A good friend of mine runs a hair salon that his father started. Mayor Tullio used to get his hair cut there. When Sal Iaquinto heard that the Warner was to be torn down, he cornered the mayor in the barber's chair. He wouldn't finish cutting his hair until he promised to stop the demolition directive. His son told me that Mayor Tullio was stuck in the chair for over 2 hours until he agreed.

And please let me know if you come across anything in your Warner Theatre and Warner history, in general, research a Warner Coat of Arms. I was told by a theatre owner/manager that there was such a thing and that it was in certain Warner theatres perhaps above the proscenium though when I asked Cass Warner Sperling about this, she could not confirm nor deny.

The existence of a Warner Coat of Arms has eluded me for many years and it would be nice to know the real truth someday.

Your barber/Mayor Tullio story was quite interesting to read! I'm pleased that you decided to post it on CT. So I guess many thanks also should go to that infamous Erie barber, too! And going back to the Coat of Arms...I feel the reason that Cass couldn't confirm nor deny the existence of a Coat of Arms is that her book dealt with the family history and not so much the theatres with her famous family name, Warner. I'm just glad that during her last visit to New Castle PA I told her about the Warner in Youngstown and the Warner in Erie. She and her secretary toured both of them and I feel that I was at least partially responsible for them going to Youngstown and to Erie that weekend last April to see these important Warner theatres. The Warner in Erie was special as it still bears the name Warner, thank goodness.

I remember walking on the street past the Warner in the summer of 1960 and making my parents stop so that I could look at the posters. The theater was showing Walt Disney's "Pollyanna" and the next attraction was "Bells are Ringing."

Ron: You have wonderful theatre memories of a beautiful Warner that is, thank goodness, still with us.

I once looked through old microfilms of the Erie newspaper to see the films that played there during the spring and summer of 1965.

Other movies that played at the Warner Theater in Erie, PA
04/28/65 Circus World
05/05/65 Dear Brigitte
05/12/65 Mary Poppins
05/26/65 Girl Happy
06/02/65 The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders
06/09/65 The Train
06/16/65 The Battle of the Villa Fiorita
06/23/65 Zorba the Greek
06/30/65 In Harm's Way
07/07/65 Cinderella
07/14/65 The Monkey's Uncle
07/21/65 The Yellow Rolls-Royce
07/28/65 The Sandpiper

Also playing in Erie during these weeks were the following:
Shea's Theater
04/28/65 Tomb of Ligeia/Operation SNAFU
05/05/65 Brainstorm/The Woman Who Wouldn't Die
05/12/65 Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
05/19/65 The T-A-M-I Show/The Time Travelers
05/26/65 Girls on the Beach/Black Spurs
06/02/65 Malamondo/Curse of the Humanoids
06/09/65 Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow/Divorce, Italian Style
06/16/65 Die! Die! My Darling/East of Sudan
06/23/65 Masquerade/The Satan Bug
06/30/65 Zorba the Greek
07/07/65 In Harm's Way
07/14/65 Cinderella
07/21/65 The Monkey's Uncle
07/28/65 The Yellow Rolls-Royce

Strand
04/28/65 My Fair Lady

Plaza
04/28/65 The Truth About Spring
05/05/65 Young Cassidy
05/12/65 Dr. No/From Russia, With Love
06/02/65 Mirage
06/09/65 Joy in the Morning
06/16/65 Up from the Beach
06/23/65 Von Ryan's Express
07/07/65 The Art of Love
07/21/65 What's New, Pussycat?

Drive-Ins
05/12/65 Fluffy
05/26/65 Mister Moses
06/16/65 McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force
06/30/65 The Family Jewels
07/07/65 The Glory Guys
07/14/65 Zebra in the Kitchen/Hercules, Samson, and Ulysses
07/14/65 How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
07/21/65 Tickle Me
07/21/65 I'll Take Sweden
07/28/65 The Sons of Katie Elder

Roxie (second runs & B-films)
04/28/65 The Outrage/The Eyes of Annie Jones
05/05/65 Send Me No Flowers/Sergeants 3
05/12/65 Love Has Many Faces/Stage to Thunder Rock
05/19/65 The Pleasure Seekers/Ready for the People
05/26/65 Strange Bedfellows/The Killers
06/02/65 Kisses for My President/Hysteria
06/09/65 Bus Riley's Back in Town/Return to Peyton Place
06/16/65 How the West Was Won
06/23/65 Sex and the Single Girl/Young Fury
06/30/65 Dear Heart/Black Spurs
07/28/65 Sylvia/Back Door to Hell

Unfortunately, these are all the notes I have in my research for Erie, PA. Perhaps if I can get to a library again that has old Erie newspapers on microfilm, I will be able to get the rest of the film openings in the 1960s.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982

Warner Theater (added 1982 - Building - #82003787)
811 State St., Erie
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Rapp,C.W. & George, Fuller,George A.,Co.
Architectural Style: Art Deco, Other
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: State
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

Just a note: although the theater still has two carbon-arc projectors vintage 1954, the last time a movie was shown in the theater was in 1999 and it was a one-time event to show off a local artist's first feature film.

In the 80s there were vintage films shown, but the local "modern" movie theaters could show them more cost efficiently. So it is not used for movies at all now.

Warner Lady,

I am writing a magazine article about the Warner. I would like to contact you and speak more about the theater. Please contact me at chuck.sambuchino@fwpubs.com

Thanks!

Chuck Sambuchino

My father, Joseph "Vinnie" Marchant devoted 60 years of his life to the Warner Theater. My sister, Charlene, my brother Mark and I literally grew up in that building. My father started out as a runner for his father, Charles Marchant who was a stagehand at the Warner from its openeing in 1931, and the first member of our family to belong to IATSE Local 113. Vinnie was 10. He loved the Warner Theater aslmost as much as he loved his family. That building was our second home. Any day off from school meant going into the Warner with Dad at 8:30 AM and exploring every part of the theater until 11:30, when my dad would raise the curtain for the start of the feature.We sat through endless hours of films if we enjoyed them, or we would stay backstage or play underneath the orcestra pit. An occasional trip to the Strand, or Columbia, or Sheas was in order if the heating or other problems arose, but most of the time was spent at the Warner. On Tuesday evenings during the summer, we could help sort the letters, and my father would ascend a high latter and change the sign on the Marquis, where we also had the best view of the parades on State Street. We sat backstage during live shows and met so many famous people I can't count them. During lean times for the Warner, my father cared for it and sometimes litally held the carpet together with duct tape. When Cinamette owned it, my dad took my wedding party inside so that Mark Fainstein could do our Wedding Photos. If I could have had the ceremony and reception there, I would have. But no matter what, I was and still am always in awe of the beauty of that bulding. My father worked right up until a couple of months before his death from cancer at age 83.His loyalty was to the building. My whole family including myself have been working backstage for decades now, but anyone who has ever traveled through with a show , or worked in that building will tell you, "It's not the same". I can't think of my childhood without thinking of the Warner. My brother eventually ended up performing on stage for many years as timpanist and percussionist for the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra until his untimely death from cancer in Aug. 2006. My whole family history is in that building. The Warner has a character all its own front of house, but backsatge , the Warner also had a character...his name was Vinnie and I don't believe anyone will ever love her as much as he did......My name is Joanne Marchant-Heim

To anyone trying to find out if there was a coat of arms, I have a set of glasses that my father received many years ago. they have an emblem on the front that has the WB logo, but it's a little different than the one we are all used to seeing.

Hey, Joanne, I don't know if you and I actually met. I know your sister and, of course knew your dad and brother. I was the development director at the Erie Philharmonic as well as, still, executive director of the Warner Trust. I helped organized the fundraiser for your brother's medical bills. Your family is indeed special to the Warner and to others...Barb Hauck.

Joanne: What a beautiful story to read about your father and family who were and continue to be so devoted to the Warner Theatre. I've been the gal who is interested in knowing about a possible WB coat of arms as I met a theatre owner in Wellsville NY a few years ago that mentioned a coat of arms being in his theatre.

To Warner Lady: Your name sounds familiar. The day of Mark's fundraiser I came down with a horrid case of flu, which my grandson, who was visiting from Pittsburgh, had given me. I'm the middle child, who really made my father mad when I took a job with Vee Corp. and went on the road as a Wardrobe supervisor. In every city We played, there was someone who knew "Vinnie", either from touring and playing the Warner or the Civic Center, or through the IATSE Union. and Mark.. I still have a hard time with that because mark and I were closer in age and spent alot of time in the Warner toether along with some of our friends, who always had open invites from my Dad to come down to the "thee-ay-ter" (Both my Dad and HIS mother called it that) and watch movies or 17 cartoons with us.
As far as the Warner Logo, I can try to scan the glasses and see if I can get a photo of the emblem.

Joanne: My email is wrlenzo@aol.com if you wish to scan a photo of these glasses. Thanks so much and it's a joy to read your Warner memories. Suppose by now you have read Barb's post concerning the barber and the former Mayor of Erie, Louis Tullio which resulted in the Warner being saved from the wrecking ball.

".....an emblem on the front that has the WB logo, but it's a little different than the one we are all used to seeing." Could you describe this logo on the glasses or send me a photo via email? Thanks.

Also, I have met Barb Hauck through her connection to the Warner Theatre and the Erie Philharmonic office. She gave my husband and I a tour of the Warner a few summers ago which I will never forget and will always be grateful for her kind gesture towards us. We bought a Warner Theatre poster and have it framed in our home. We also attended our first Erie Philharmonic concert this past September and look forward to the next one at the Pepsi Amphitheatre along the shores of Lake Erie. I look forward to continuing our conversation with email.

I know many great live acts have graced the stage of The Warner in recent years. George Clinton and P-Funk, Jethro Tull, Bo Diddly and this summer Dweezil Zappa will be bringing his Zappa Plays Zappa tribute to The Warner. I was there for a First Night Erie show many years ago and my cousin was married in the lobby there. it is indeed a grand palace.

This is another photo of the Warner Theater.

The fact that this theatre has it's original marquees is quite unusual, but very pleasing to the eye...imo. They have now added another marquee on the backside of the theatre which is nice though a modern digital one.

What is the evidence to support the introductory credit for C.W. Rapp as one of the architects of the Warner Theatre? Mr. Rapp died on June 28th, 1926, nearly five years before the Warner opened.

The company Rapp & Rapp was still in existence. This is a Rapp & Rapp designed theater. I can't tell you for certain whether C.W. had anything to do with the design. I do know that Warner Bros. contracted the company to do this. I'm in the midst of finishing up a history of Erie's Warner Theatre. I did not identify C. W. as the architect in the manuscript. The intro on this site was not written by me. If you know something about Rapp & Rapp, please let me know. Barb Hauck

I believe that the confusion is caused by the corporation keeping C.W. Rapp in its official name after he died. I think that you're wise in crediting the architectural firm as simply Rapp & Rapp, which lessens the chances of people assuming that C.W. Rapp himself had anything to do with the Warner Theatre.

Thank you, Warren, for your input. I'm glad I checked this site today. Your question added insight. I want the book to have the correct information in it.
Barb Hauck

Barb: My husband and I met you last summer and it was good to read your recent posts and to knnow that the Warner Theatre book is near completion. Let me know when and where it will be available. BTW, we have the Warner Theatre poster framed and in a prominent place!

Yes, I remember meeting you. The text is almost complete and the photos are chosen. We need to design it yet and we don't know about printing yet. That will cost a bit because many of the photos are in color.
B.

Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job in putting this book together about the Warner Theatre, Erie's gem. Thank you for doing this for us theatre buffs and let us know when it can be purchased.

Ditto, and good luck! When it's published, be sure to contact Theatre Historical Society of America. I'm sure that many of its members will want to purchase the book.

Thanks Patsy and Warren. I will do so.
B.

Warner Lady: I've been visiting the Erie Playhouse link today and have been comparing photos posted on Oct 2, 2005 to a b/w sketch posted today, Jan 14, 2008. Could you give me any background information on why th theatre name was changed from the Strand to the Erie Playhouse and why the overall exterior was changed so drastically from the mid 60's?

http://cinematreasures.org/theater/2954/

Hi, Patsy: I don't know much about the Erie Playhouse and its transition from being the Strand to what it is now. I've lived here over twenty years and it's been the Playhouse all that time.
I do have news about the Warner, though. Finally, FINALLY the last phase of the restoration and expansion will happen starting this year. We have the green light from the State to draw down the funds they promised. Great news for all of us. I figure the completion will happen in '09, 13 years after I started with the Warner Theatre Preservation Trust and 17 years after the effort began. This is something to celebrate for all of us.

If you haven't been in Erie in the past year, then you're in for a surprise. The theater has an addition to it now. A building on the corner of 8th and French was connected to the Warner. It houses new restrooms and concession stands on both levels of the building. Now patrons have restroom areas on either side of the auditorium to use. No congestion anymore. The Erie County Convention Center Authority offices were moved into this addition. A French Street entrance was construction with its own marquee. Although the building is newer, the architect Dan Coffey, Coffey & Associates from Chicago, did a great job of making everything work well together.

Warner Lady: So nice to hear from you! Go to the Erie Playhouse link and you'll see the b/w sketch of the former Strand and the exterior looked in the mid 60's. It was posted on Jan 14, 2008 by "ken mc".

Warner Lady: Also how is the Warner Theatre book that was to be published coming along? Recently I ordered a book by Arcadia Publishing about the theatres of Cleveland OH in Playhouse Square.

http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=0738540137

Warner Lady: I recently sent Brian Sheridan an email about the progress of the Warner Theatre coffee table book and now 3 months after posting the above post am still wondering. Please send me an email at wrlenzo@aol.com as I would like to chat with you about the former Warner Wurlitzer organ and the possiblity of the Warner ever having another organ again after almost 40 years without one. Interesting to read that the Wurlitzer that was installed in the Warner in 1931 "left the building" in 1969 and is now in an Armory in Cleveland. Why was this decision made, if you know?

And I have received the wonderful book about Playhouse Square in Cleveland...a wonderful read!

More interesting to read is that the Wurlitzer left the building in 1969 and in 1972 shows up at an Armory in Cleveland...where was it for those 3 years?

Here are a few photos of the Warner:

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Click on each photo to expand it.

Lost: These are fine photos. I have been given a tour of this theatre and it is a real gem on State Street. BTW, I ran into the current general manager a few weeks ago and told him that I'd like to see the original organ returned to the Warner and he agreed so that is a start in the right direction! They know where it is and that certainly helps...there hasn't been an organ in this theatre since the original one was sold.

Patsy....You took a tour of this theater? Any photos? We need some interior shots. They are much more difficult to find than exterior photos.

I did take photos, but would have to find them on my digital camera and then send them to you. The photos have to be on one of my digital chips though they were not taken recently.

And perhaps Warner Lady could help us out with interior photos. I can't seem to locate her email address so hopefully she'll read our request and contact me @ wrlenzo@aol.com

Okay. If you ever find the memory card with the photos, please email me a few of them. I'd like some interior shots that are suitable for framing and maybe two wallet size if possible. LOL

Okay....I know where the memory card is, I just have to look through them! LOL!

And in the meantime, perhaps Warner Lady will come through for us, too! I will try to reach her via phone also.

In the introductory "function," "Performing arts center" would be sufficient. "Concerts" is understood.

http://www.rlorelli.com/ProjectList/Warner-Theater.htm

About the organ, it was donated by Warner Bros to the Cleveland Armory as a tax deduction...long before the present management every owned the building. Here's the text explaining this from the upcoming book: "In 1969 the company(Warner)offered the Mighty Wurlitzer to the Western Reserve Chapter of the American Theater Organ Enthusiasts (ATOE) as a donation. The instrument was installed at Cleveland’s Gray’s Armory. The Armory, a non-profit museum dedicated to Cleveland, Ohio’s voluntary militias, and the ATOE provided the perfect opportunity for Warner Bros. to receive a tax deduction that year. This move to take the organ out of the theater was indicative of the changing times: Performance on the organ was no longer in demand. The loss of the organ to the Erie community has been an issue for many years to those who loved the music. However, both Jack Burger and Monsignor William Biebel, who had played the instrument in its new home, commented that there is irony in its location: In losing its organ, the Warner helped to preserve it. On January 17, 1972, a broken water main flooded the house’s basement, orchestra pit, and the first 12 rows of seats. If the console had been in its place, it would have been ruined." Warner Lady

Hi, Warner Lady.

Even though I don't live in that general area, the theatre looks like a fantastic theatre, which would be another perfect place to show great vintage movie classics in. Too bad they don't do that anymore.

Too costly. Hard to compete with Tinsel Town. I have nothing to do with programming anyway. I just raise money for the restoration.

"perfect place to show great vintage movie classics"

I agree, but sadly the bottom line these days is..."hard to compete with Tinsel Town"...with today's generation I might add!

The issue is price of heating and maintaining the building. Just too high a price for the smaller audiences. Remember that before TV and subsequently VCR tapes, there was only one type of venue to look at film, a picture palace or movie house. Filling the Warner's 2,222 seats would be very easy for a movie debut then. It would be impossible now. So the theatre is changing its purpose. Last night my husband and I went to the opening night for the Erie Philharmonic. Just fabulous! And in such a beautiful, uplifting space! The Erie's Warner has evolved into a successful performing arts center wrapped in the cloak of history. We should be proud, not sad.

I hear what you're saying, Patsy, and...yup....with rare exceptions, Tinsel town, plus today's generation being hard to compete with, is absolutely correct.

Thank heavens there are afew movie palaces left here in the United States, though.

Yes, thank heavens!

http://www.dpcaltd.com/projects/individual/warner.html

In reading through all the comments why does a person have to be so vicious in their comments if he disagrees with something. Can't your thoughts just be conveyed and add the history that you might have?

1981 photo of the Warner Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c38%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=10&ProductID=32943

I love reading all the fond memories of the Warner. As a young boy I took tap lessons at Little's Dance Studio, and as such, got to perform on the Warner stage 2 Times!! What fond memories. Is the blue clock still next to the stage? That clock sticks very strongly in my memories of the theater. Any new news on the book?

The year given for these photos is 1971:

Photo1

Photo2

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Photo4

Here are more photos from the same year:

Photo1

Photo2

Photo3

Photo4

View of the Warner Theatre from 1996 here and here .

Finally the new book is out! "A Picture Palace Transformed: How Erie's Warner Theatre Survived a Changing World" by Barbara J. Hauck based on the works of Dr. John Marsh is available at Borders, the Erie Book Store, and in the Warner before concerts. If you are out of Erie, you will have to go to Borders and tell them to search for it in their system. It is only at the Erie store, but all other Borders Book Stores can order it. It's a beautiful book with many old and new photos. The new ones have been shot by Art Becker, a nationally renown Erie photographer. Contributing Editor Brian Sheridan did a great deal of research to add some really exciting facts.

Warner Lady: Thanks, Barb for posting your book information. Since purchasing it I haven't been able to put it down. I recommend to anyone who is interested in theatre and the Warner name to pick up or order this book for their theatre library...it's a true cinema treasure! ;-)

If you want to purchase this book online, go to www.warnertheatrebook.com

The above link really gives anyone interested in purchasing your book a wonderful opportunity to see some inside pages and read about you and the others involved in putting together this book about the beautiful Rapp & Rapp Warner Theatre of Erie PA.