Bradley Symphony Center

A Kimball Theater Pipe Organ Opus KPO 6944, 6945, 6946, 3/28, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes was installed in the Warner in 1931. It had thousands of pipes in three chambers, two on the left side and one on the right. The console was on the left in the orchestra pit and was on a worm screw lift that could rise to stage level by a push button. In 1973 when the theatre was twined the organ was to be removed. Paul Wesley gave one last concert. A LP recording was made “Midnight At The Center”. The organ was donated to the Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School for installation in the school’s auditorium, but it was decided that it would be impossible to fit such a large instrument into the available space. The Kimball Theatre Organ Society (KTOS) was formed in 1979 for the purpose of saving the organ from eventual sale. After many years of rebuilding and restoration and greatly enlarged, the Kimball again started playing again at the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee in 1991.

W.W. KIMBALL COMPANY, THE WORLD’S LARGEST PIANO AND ORGAN MANUFACTURER AT CERTAIN TIMES IN THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES.

(1828-1904), Maine, William Wallace Kimball born. 1857, Chicago, W.W. Kimball Company was founded. Offices were at 239-253 Wabash Avenue Southwest corner of Jackson Boulevard, Chicago. The factory was at South Rockwell Street and 26th Street, Chicago. 1877, they began assembling Kimball Reed Organs. 1882, they were producing 15,000 organs a year, the world’s largest organ maker! 1900, had 1,500 employees. 1910’s, made 13,000 pianos a year. 1922, stopped making reed organs, they had produced 403,390 reed organs! Late 1800’s to 1930’s, world’s largest piano manufacturer. 1942, pipe organ division closed down 7,326 pipe organs had been built, they had also made portable pipe organs. World War II, William Wallace Kimball Jr. was in charge. They manufactured needed war items for Boeing Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft and Lockheed Aircraft. 1961, they started making the first electronic or rather electric organs. 1960’s & 1970’s, they made 100,000 pianos and organs annually. 1983, stopped making organs. February 1996, the last Kimball grand piano was signed by every worker and company executive, and remains on display at Kimball’s showroom in Jasper, Indiana. Now Kimball International and Kimball Electronics. Makes furniture and electronics gizmos.

A Trust has been set up to purchase and restore the Warner Grand. Facebook page is active. Please “like” http://www.facebook.com/grandwarner

I remember in the 80’s my sister use to take me to this movie theatre. The cost was around maybe $3.50-$6.75. I remember standing in line to see Purple Rain. It played for six months straight. My sister and I watched Grelims there. When I was old enough I went to that theatre by myself. I’ve seen Tremors and Five Heartbeats there. So many memories. I wish they would at least open up the theatre for one more go round. Watch two movies for the price of one. It’s just a thought!!!

The Warner Theatre in Milwaukee opened on May 1st. 1931.

Nice ads Mike,thanks for getting them on.Two PG pictures equal decent Boxoffice.

Grand opening ad for Warner
View link

I am so glad to hear that mheaton is working on saving The Grand Theater. Back in 2005, Marcus Corporation graciously let us use the theater for the short movie Moviebonics. It was a great experience to spend several weeks in the theater. We shot on the second floor lobby, which doubled for the living room of a cinematically obsessed couple in the movie. In fact in your myspace video, you can see the 2nd floor lobby, which we spent days cleaning, including the glass light fixtures. We also left a message to Marcus thanking them for the use of the theater on the Marquee in the lobby. Your video reveals that it has been taken down since then. We have several photos of the set at http://www.moviebonics.com Our short is on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ORU_TZZaSU Hope you enjoy it. I too would like to offer some assistance as well to the cause of restoring the theater. I can be contacted through the moviebonics website. Good Luck.

Great stories to read.

Mheaton-Please contact me. I have the solution to your request in your post of Nov. 29th.

sdowns, Yes we talked with Marcus corp. on Jan. 5 and found out the situation for purchase (it is for sale). After some further talks we were able to get into the theater on Thur. Jan. 7 . We had only a two hour notice otherwise I would have posted here for anyone interested. We did a brief evaluation of the current condition with some rehab experts.
We have formed a 501-c-3 non-profit org. in order to purchase and preserve (like the Pabst Mansion or the Minneapolis Schubert Theater). We have some funding lined up already. Later, we will be announcing meetings for anyone interested in supporting this.

warner22.jpg is my favorite. A classic lounge with plastic 70’s chair in the corner. Looks seriously uncomfortable.

No, The Warner (Grand 1&2) is now a single screen. The twinning has been removed. There are links above with 2007 photos showing the twinning removed.

pointer to photos from earlier post by BWChicago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ctid1903
posted by BWChicago on Sep 30, 2007 at 7:46pm

I have seen nothing in the last few weeks on this site about the current status of the Warner Theater (as of Dec. 12, 2009) – There is a meeting scheduled for early Jan. 2010 in Milwaukee involving a consortium of Performing arts entities and the Warner may well be the project they take on. If someone has some info please forward here and/or I will provide private email address for same. Time is running out. The organization will meet with Marcus as well.
Norman S. – m.heaton,org