Warner Theatre

Thank You for updating the Warner Theatre section of your wonderful website.

The Warner has reopened on No 23rd 2002. The inside is restored. The theatre hopes to work on the stage house next

The Warner movie screen was destroyed by vandals while the building transferred ownership in the early 1980's. There presently is no screen, however, there are plans to install new projection equipment and a screen in the future. Capacity is 1700 seats, with an art deco design. The building was built for Jack Warner, Warner Bros Studios, in 1930-31. Interior design was done by Rambusch, then, of NYC. The theatre complex continues to expand and now comprises three separate buildings. The Mertz Building is currently partial retail while the second floor is being converted to arts education. The Quality Building accross the street contains a Studio Theatre of approx 80 seats while the second floor houses a full production costume shop operation. Plans are currently in the design stage for expanding the stage house to add additional depth, full fly, steel counterweight system, and to connect to the Mertz building. At this particular time, a pit lift is in the process of being installed which will add greater flexibility to the venue.

This marquee looks AMAZING when it is fully lit at night.

I just clicked on the website for this theatre and viewed the ceiling above the seats! WOW!

This place is SPECTACULAR. Worth a special trip! Art deco rules!!

I thought I knew of all the major classic theaters in the US...but this is a new one on me. It looks great...and you have so many bookings!! Unbelievable!! Well done!!

Might be in CT next Octoberfor a wedding near Hartford so will check it out then! Where is Torrington?

Torrington is in the northwest corner of Connecticut. Take the CT 8 expressway north from Waterbury, and it will bring you right to it. Check out the terrific architecture in downtown Torrington while you are at it. Interesting collection of art deco/moderne as well as some Victorian here and there.

i'm a sixth grade student and for a project at school i need to build a replica of the warner theatre. is there anywhere i could go to find the size of the building because it needs to be to scale. is there anyone who could help Me please?

Angelgirl: I will be attending a theatre group party this evening and will ask around for you although I'm not in the CT area. Always nice to read a post from a young person who has the 'theatre bug'!

A cinema member named KenRoe who is in England has much information on many theatres so he may be of help to you, also.

I would also suggest that you contact someone in your area for help...perhaps an architect who is familiar with building models, to scale. Good luck, Angelgirl.

The Warner Theatre originally opened on 19th August 1931. The Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 gives a seating capacity of 1,850.

Does this Warner Theatre have a Warner coat of arms on display? A Warner theatre in Wellsville NY by the name of Grand, orginally Babcock Theatre has one.

The theater is in its next phase of restoration and expansion. There's a story in the July issue of CT Business Times but I can't find the story on their website. It's on page 24 if you pick one up.
Here's the text.

Warner Announces Manager for Next Phase of Restoration

The Warner Theatre has announced that United Construction and Engineering, Inc. of Torrington has been hired to serve as construction manager for Phase II of the planned renovation and expansion of the theatre's facilities. Construction is slated to begin in October 2005 and is estimated to be completed by fall 2006.

The Phase II plans focus on adapting the historic Mertz building, adjacent to the theatre on Main Street, to include a brand new state-of-the-art 200-seat black box-style theatre, an expanded and renovated center for arts education and renovated retail space. The project will also include an addition to the main stage house that incorporates augmented dressing room facilities, support space to accommodate set construction and technical requirements for productions and a modern stage rigging system. Phase II also includes several non-bricks and mortar components that focus on financial and operational efficiencies.

Phase I of the Warner Theatre Restoration project was completed in November 2002 and featured a complete restoration and renovation of the theatre's public spaces and administrative offices. The combined cost for Phases I and II of the Warner Restoration is estimated at $15.85 million. The theatre, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary with the upcoming 2005-2006 season, is in the process of completing its fundraising efforts to raise the remaining $2 million needed to fund the project.

The rest of the article is quotes and the usual repeated paragraphs.

Exterior photo of the Warner Theater. If you click the next arrow at the top of the page you will see interior photos also:
http://www.ctfilm.com/html/location%20gallery/warner_theatre_0.html

Still wondering if this Warner Theatre has a Warner coat of arms or any general information regarding Warner coat of arms....posted this question 5/14.

Try calling the theater.

Couple color photos of the Warner Theatre.
http://www.roadsidenut.com/warner104.jpg
http://www.roadsidenut.com/warner1041.jpg

This article from today's issue of the Register Citizen-News talks about a $1 million donation towards the second phase of the Warner's renovation/restoration project. The total cost of the project is $15.85 million.

I love how this place looks, whenever I hear it's story, it makes me happy to see the place is up and running. It's a beautiful building.

Beautiful Art Moderne theatre. Does it have an organ?

I don't know, check their website.

According to Cinematour.com there is no organ.

This theatre is gorgeous and my hat is off to the folks of Torrington who saved this Warner and marquee. Congratulations! The MA town of Lawrence who had a Warner Theatre, but chose to demolish it could take a lesson from Torrington when he comes to saving a hometown theatre with the name WARNER!

http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view.asp?A=2194&Q=274232

Thanks to Lost Memory here is a link that will show exterior and interior photos of this Warner!

Here is a 1949 photo of the Warner:
http://tinyurl.com/pfyoq

The Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT returned to playing movies with the Connecticut premiere of the movie “Flyboys”. Screened on August 26, 2006 to a sold out audience.

Vintage automobile lined the street outside the theatre. A restored WWI German Fokker was onstage for all to see. Opening the night, The Northwest Connecticut Military Honor Guard performed a bagpipe ceremony. Following this, Governor Rell addressed the audience. The director, Tony Bill, also spoke before the movie was shown. He then treated the audience to a Q&A after the movie. A great night in a great theatre!

For more info:
http://www.rep-am.com/story.php?id=11754
http://www.warnertheatre.org/Flyboys.htm
http://tcextra.com/cgi-script/csNews/csNews.cgi?database=LJ.db&command=viewone&op=&id=330&rnd=519.759936500229

I’m not sure what the future plans for screening movies at the Warner will be. Obviously, I hope this is isn’t the last. The last web link hints that it won’t.

A recent set of photos after the Warner restoration (including a few shots of the film projectors) can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rambear/sets/72157594393588332/

Hi Rambear, those are great photos, and I enjoyed getting my first decent view of the interior of the Warner in Erie, but you posted them on the page for the Warner in Torrington. If you would post these photos on the site for the theatre in Erie, Penna, I'm sure the folks interested in that theatre would love to see them.

It's great seeing this info on the Warner. I remember going there as a kid growing up in Torrington. It was also the site of my HS graduation. I also recall the smaller Palace Theater around the corner. As I lived in the north end of town, I spent many a Saturday at the State Theater, a second run house that had old fashioned Saturday matinees even after they had gone out of style. For a while they were charging only a dime (don't date me...that was incredibly cheap for that time)for a bunch of cartoons, some old serials and a western. I would post the State and Palace as they appear to be missing, but haven't been "home" in decades and am not sure what stands where they once were.

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1984

Warner Theatre ** (added 1984 - Building - #84001098)
68-82 Main St., Torrington
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Lamb,Thomas W.
Architectural Style: Art Deco, Other
Area of Significance: Performing Arts, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Business, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture, Unknown
Current Sub-function: Business, Theater

The pictures at the link posted by RamBear above are of the Warner Theater in Erie, PA, not the Warner in Torrington, CT.

I am doing some research at the WB archive in California at the moment. Does anyone know if this theatre was called the Palace during the 1940s?

Although it was operated by Warner Brothers in the 1940's, the 1,290 seat capacity Palace Theatre, Torrington, CT was an entirely different theatre from the Warner Theatre.

Here is a 2007 photo of the Warner Theater.

A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 1688 style "E" was installed in the Warner Theater on 11/1/31.

I picked up a new publication called "TheatreCT" at Bethel Cinema and it focuses mostly on acting with some tidbits on other theaters. There's a spread on pages 20-22 on the Warner's full service 8,000 sq. ft costume rental business. All the money goes into the theater's general fund. Prices are $30 a week per item and for the public it's $50 per costume per week. Organizations, theaters and high schools that rent 10 or more costumes get 15 percent discounts on the whole rental.

Hello, Here are some recent photos that I took of the wonderfully restored Warner Theater in Torrington, Connecticut. Check out the virtual tours.

louis belloisy

http://www.imagesct.com/web/warner/

Boy, those are super photos! And they bring back such great memories.

The latest issue of Theatre Historical Society's MARQUEE MAGAZINE features a photo and short bio of this theater in a travel feature spotlighting the Berkshires.

Go to www.historictheatres.org to join THS or order back issues.

Love the marquee photo, building art deco facade and the name WARNER!

This is an October 2008 photo.

Here is a 1955 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/5h565y

Just a matter of interest, this photo looks as though it was taken in August of 1955 in the aftermath of the flood that devistated the city. Waters were up to the theater marquee of the Palace Theater around the corner on the left and nearly as high in front of the Warner. The State Theater was on the river in the northern end of town on Main Street and had the water overflow the bridge at that point. The photo looks south. The Naugatuck river ran left to right just past the intersection and there were commercial structures built over it. They fell into the river and were washed away. The large building in the center of the photo was to be torn down as too damaged to replace. On the right, just past the storefront at the intersection, was my father's new childrens' store which was to have had its' grand opening that day. It was washed away in the flood and he never moved back in.

A 2009 photo can be seen here.

Here are photos from 1970 and 1985:
http://tinyurl.com/ctmt96
http://tinyurl.com/d3mjyh

1973 Night Photo

This is another 2009 photo.

Mentioned in a story about Danbury's Palace.

Was in Torrington yesterday on a bike trip. Box office was open (phone only) and spoke to someone about a tour but alas, I needed an appt ahead of time. I tried to make her feel guilty by saying I was just passing thru and had no time (which was the truth). Oh well.

The Warner in Torrington has joined the Opera in Cinemas network which presents opera and ballet performances from various European theaters.