Yes. I’m the same person however I’m not working for the Warner anymore. The event on the 23rd is an Erie Philharmonic concert. I have no idea about whether tickets will be available at the door. Their website is https://eriephil.org/ You will have to contact them.
It is going to have an organ in the orchestra pit. Although it isn’t the original organ, which is in the Cleveland’s Grays Armory Museum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grays_Armory), it will be the same make and model. The theatre has been closed for 18 months while the backstage work was being done. On January 23, 2022, the Erie Philharmonic will perform for the first time in the fully renovated and restored theatre. I was in the building on January 8, 2022. Front stage is fully restored and has stayed true to its original structure. It is stunning. There was a private preview on that evening with some performance. The acoustics are now incredible with a new orchestra shell. Also the stage lighting has been upgraded. We will have larger Broadway shows performed here in Erie now. If you can come to an event here, do it. You will not be disappointed.
There is a news article published in the Buffalo News today. Go to: View link
Within the article there is a link to http://www.erieevents.com/ where you can purchase the new Warner history book.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Yes. I’m the same person however I’m not working for the Warner anymore. The event on the 23rd is an Erie Philharmonic concert. I have no idea about whether tickets will be available at the door. Their website is https://eriephil.org/ You will have to contact them.
It is going to have an organ in the orchestra pit. Although it isn’t the original organ, which is in the Cleveland’s Grays Armory Museum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grays_Armory), it will be the same make and model. The theatre has been closed for 18 months while the backstage work was being done. On January 23, 2022, the Erie Philharmonic will perform for the first time in the fully renovated and restored theatre. I was in the building on January 8, 2022. Front stage is fully restored and has stayed true to its original structure. It is stunning. There was a private preview on that evening with some performance. The acoustics are now incredible with a new orchestra shell. Also the stage lighting has been upgraded. We will have larger Broadway shows performed here in Erie now. If you can come to an event here, do it. You will not be disappointed.
Good picture, Chuck1231. Thanks for posting it.
There is a news article published in the Buffalo News today. Go to:
View link
Within the article there is a link to http://www.erieevents.com/ where you can purchase the new Warner history book.
If you want to purchase this book online, go to www.warnertheatrebook.com
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.
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.
Too costly. Hard to compete with Tinsel Town. I have nothing to do with programming anyway. I just raise money for the restoration.
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
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.
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.
Thanks Patsy and Warren. I will do so.
B.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)