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| Warner Grand Theatre |  |
This lavish Art-Deco theater was originally opened to the public on January 20, 1931 with a star-studded gala premier. It was designed by B. Marcus Prieca who had formerly been the "house architect" for the Pantages Theater chain. The Warner Brothers hired the architect to build three lavish Art-Deco Palaces located in San Pedro, Beverly Hills and Huntington Beach, California.
The Warner Grand Theatre is the last of the three original theaters left intact. It is one of the few remaining theaters of its kind anywhere. It boasted an opulent lobby with decorative ceilings, etched glass chandeliers and colorfully-tiled
fountains. A double staircase led to equally ornate mezzanine lounges. The auditorium included such
details as floral stenciling on the ceilings, period lighting fixtures, lavish organ screens, and a curtain
featuring a castle rising from the sea, in keeping with the theater's billing as "The Castle of Your Dreams".
It was the first sound-equipped theater in all of the South Bay. As with virtually all of the theaters of that day,
it was designed to accommodate traveling vaudeville circuits with a full stage house, orchestra pit and
basement designed for dressing rooms, but unfortunately stage performances were never pursued under the Warner Brothers flag.
In physical decline for the last thirty years, this historical
landmark was recently purchased by the City of Los Angeles for the community of San Pedro. Active restoration is underway and the Warner Grand is being returned to it's former glory. It is being preserved for generations to come, and revitalized by bringing
the theater back to life through a variety of uses, including movies, live theater and concerts. The Warner Grand has, since 1985, welcomed film and video shoots. In the past year, the theater has been used as a location for "The Ghosts of Missippi", commercials for Magnavox DVD and Coca-Cola Classic, USA Network's "Pacific Blue" and "Melrose Place".
Directions and Parking:
The Grand Vision Foundation is a non-profit organization that is promoting the restoration, preservation and revitalization of the Warner Grand Theatre. If you would like further information regarding the foundation, phone 310-833-4813.
Located at 478 West 6th Street in San Pedro, parking is available
on 6th Street, and also in a well-lighted outdoor lot on 7th Street,
just "below" Pacific - this lot has a direct cut-through to the
Warner Grand Theater, and provides ideal and ample parking.
Exit Harbor (110) freeway at Gaffey, turning left onto Gaffey.
Turn left at 6th, continue 2.5 blocks. The Warner Grand will be
on your left, just after you've intersected Pacific at the traffic
light.
478 W. 6th St
San Pedro, CA 90731
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Text and information courtesy of the San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Grand Vision Foundation and Rob and Ray Kaufman
Photo courtesy of Lily Ann Designs
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