Warner Theatre
1299 Pennsylvania Ave NW,
Washington,
DC
20004
1299 Pennsylvania Ave NW,
Washington,
DC
20004
12 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 42 comments found
Saw Ben-Hur on day 2 of its D,C, Premiere. Sat in row 1 left side. Too close, got a headache and a stiff neck. Saw it later at home in Boston in a bigger theatre with a bigger screen. Sat in the middle about 15 rows deep. Much better. You say the Warner can.t show movies anymore, what a shame. In Boston our 3800 seat Metropolitan AKA The Sack Music Hall or the Wang center and now the Citi Wang Performance center was completely restored in the late 80.s- early 70,s and it has Broadway Shows, MUSIC CONCERTS AND RUNS Classic Movie Festivals in 35mm and 70mm with stereo. The Warner should also do this,
“Jamaica Inn” also opened that day at WB’s Ambassador Theatre, but that engagement was mentioned only in the circuit’s directory advertising. The Ambassador presented the Hitchcock melodrama as a single feature, with five continuous showings daily.
On this day in 1939, Alfred Hitchcock’s B&W “Jamaica Inn,” a Paramount British import starring Charles Laughton with Maureen O'Hara, Leslie Banks, Emlyn Williams, and Robert Newton, opened its Washington premiere engagement at the Earle Theatre. Legendary comedian Joe Cook and his “Laugh Factory” revue provided the stage support.
Here’s a 1942 view looking up Pennsylvania Avenue, with the Earle Theatre on the right side and a portion of the Palace Theatre visible on the left side: View link
This article in Billboard (3-19-49) reports a one-time, one-week vaudeville show at the Warner after four years without any live performances. The article also reports that, at the time, Loew’s Capitol was the only theater in DC with a regular stage-screen schedule.
Ron3853, “Cleopatra” had it’s World Premiere at the Rivoli Theatre in NYC on June 12th. 1963. The West Coast Premiere at the RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood was held on June 19th. 1963.
This is a photo of the Warner.
Although “Cleopatra” did play there, I do believe that the world premiere of the film was at the Rivoli Theater in New York City and/or the Pantages in Hollywood on June 19, 1963, one week before it opened in Washington and most other cities.
Wikipedia lists the Warner Theatre as the venue that ventriloquist Jeff Dunham taped his 2007 show/DVD “Sparks of Insanity” at.
It’s possible that DVD includes good footage of the Warner’s interior.
As did his recent Christmas special taped at Milwaukee’s historic Pabst Theatre.
Didn’t this theatre host Cleopatra’s world premiere?
The REALLY GOOD THING about the Warner is that in 2008 you can go there on most nights, find it open, and see a show. Whether you like Broadway, pop music, comedians or ballet; the Warner will have something for you.
As a frequent user of this site, I know many people dwell on the past and on lost memories (as I do) because so many fine theaters are now rubble. Not here! We attend 6 to 10 shows a year at the Warner. Why not sign off right now, buy a ticket, see a show!
Here is a NY Times article from January 21, 1996 that mentions the Warner Theater.
LOC pictures..
View link
Was there another Earle Theatre located at 517 13th Street?
LOC photos..
View link
A Kimball theater organ size 3/10 was installed in the Earle Theater in 1924.
In the Mid 1970’s the Warner Theater served as stage for many top R&B shows. As a member of the group New Birth, we performed there a number of times during that period. The Warner was an excellent host, and I can remember the acoustics of the building being very responsive to our instruments. I would always look forward to performing at the Warner because the audience in DC was so full of life, real party people. When I think of the Warner Theater, I have nothing but good memories. Long live the Warner Theater!!
RR website: home.earthlink.net/~rrussell007/
This photo shows the Warner’s Earle Theater on August 12, 1943.
1950 photo, exterior:
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/intro.htm
Also known as Cinerama.
Here is a link:
View link
Here is another case concerning allegations of anti-trust against Stanley-Warner, although the case doesn’t concern the Warner theater directly:
http://tinyurl.com/yppuq5
Here is an interesting lawsuit from 1985 concerning preservation of the Warner:
http://tinyurl.com/yxfal5
I am an unabashed liberal — a dedicated anti-Republican at the very least — but I must say rtvjr’s assertions are pretty much indisputable. Little effort was made to rein in the rioters, major businesses and restaurants disappeared, the downtown, to this day, is commercially and culturally hollow. Was the assassination of MLK a dastardly act? Beyond a doubt. But, particularly in the long run, so were the actions of those who went on a destructive rampage in ostensible response.
Ernie Nagy
Only a bleeding heart liberal would say that the King riots are not related to the loss of our great movie palaces. In the aftermath of the riots, downtown Washington not only lost every single movie theatre except the Warner, but most of our department stores, retail stores, restaurants and other businesses as well. Prime real estate was torn down and parking lots were numerous. There was no economic redevelopment at all east of 14th Street for almost 20 years. Liberals are fond of calling people racist; but they ought simply look in the mirror when using that word.