Warner Theatre
811 State Street,
Erie,
PA
16501
811 State Street,
Erie,
PA
16501
18 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
ErieEvents.com -- Warner Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cinemette Corporation of America, RKO, Stanley-Warner Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: George W. Leslie Rapp
Firms: Rapp & Rapp
Functions: Concerts, Movies (Film Festivals), Performing Arts
Styles: Art Deco, French Renaissance
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
814.452.4857
Nearby Theaters
Built in 1931 by Rapp & Rapp for Warner Brothers, the 2,506-seat theatre was opened on April 10, 1931. It was home to movies and stage shows for years. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 3 manual 13 ranks organ. With the eventual decline of downtown movie palaces, the Warner Theatre transformed itself into a performing arts venue and part of Erie’s Civic Center.
The Warner Theatre Preservation Trust has been raising money to restore and expand the classic Warner Theatre. The project to restore the theatre began in 1992 and continues. Theatre architect Daniel P. Coffey serves as the architect in charge. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has contributed $23 million towards the rehabilitation.
Seating capacity has now been reduced to 2,222 because orchestra level seats now have more legroom and are wider. A gorgeous hardback book ‘A Picture Palace Transformed, How Erie’s Warner Theatre Survived a Changing World’ was published in 2009, and is available from the theatre.
On December 3, 2021 restoration work on the original ‘Warner’ blade sign on the façade was completed and it is now fully illuminated for the first time in 40 years.
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Recent comments (view all 138 comments)
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.
babahauck, Are you the lady I communicated with several years ago? If so, I recall you meeting Cass Warner through me and showing her the Warner. Please contact me at
babahauck, Can tickets be purchased at the door on January 23? Would love to see you.
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.
During the 1970’s and 80’s the Warner had some rock and roll revival concerts. I attended several of them. Once that temporary signage is removed patrons will again be able to appreciate the curb appeal of this magnificent movie palace.
The big news is they now have an organ.
And the photo is of the back of the house.
List of Owners: 1935-1953 Warner Brothers Circuit 1953-1961 Stanley Warner 1961-1969 RKO Stanley Warner 1975 Cinemette Corporation of America
The Warner theatre opened on April 10th, 1931. Grand opening ad posted.
I wonder why the photo shows the back of the building and not the beautiful blade sign facing State?