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Warner Theatre (Torrington, Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
The Warner Theatre is an Art-Deco style movie palace
located at 68-82 Main Street in Torrington, Connecticut
. It opened on August 19, 1931 as part of the Warner Bros.
chain of movie theaters. Today it operates as a mixed-use performing arts center. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and also a contributing property in the Downtown Torrington Historic District
.
The theater has been deemed the "finest surviving Modernistic theatre in Connecticut."
. The opening was a state wide event attended by then-Governor Wilbur Cross and many other dignitaries. Seating 1,704 patrons, the Warner was a stunning example of state-of-the-art technology and lush, elegant surroundings.
In the 1960s Warner Brothers sold the Warner Theatre to a private owner who continued to show movies until the late 1970s. By the early 1980s the theatre was closed and slated for demolition when a group of local citizens banded together and formed what is now known as the Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts. This non-profit group worked passionately to save the landmark from destruction. After a successful grass-roots campaign, the association purchased the theatre and re-opened it on May 22, 1983.
The theatre is in operation year-round with more than 80,000 patrons passing through its doors each year. It provides a dynamic art-in-education program that has reached thousands of young people from throughout the region. It features a community theatre program that is supported by more than 400 volunteers—from actors to carpenters to ushers. It has presented some of the world's finest performers, from the Vienna Boys Choir to Anne Murray
, and from George Carlin
to the Washington Ballet
. The Warner's dedicated Board of Directors represents a unique cross-section of business, education, government, and the arts, providing strong and visionary leadership for this important institution.
The "monkey fur" --actually crushed velvet—wall covering that was brown for more than a generation, has been restored back to its original vivid blood orange hue through a supplier in Germany
. Gold brocade draperies from France
now accent the walls, replace the act curtain, and dress the lobby stairway landing. The auditorium floor was also refurbished to better accommodate handicap access, and the lobby, aisle, and atrium carpeting was restored with a recreation of the original Art Deco pattern that lined the floors when the theatre opened in 1931. The lighting, sound, and fire alarm systems were also updated, restoring the venue back to state-of-the-art status.
nicknamed "Larry The Light" was left too close to the act curtain by the theatre's cleaning crew. The light ignited the curtain, and the flames spread quickly. Damages amounting to $300,000 included the loss of the act curtain, damage to the stage floor, and smoke damage to the auditorium walls and ceiling.
Movie palace
A movie palace is a term used to refer to the large, elaborately decorated movie theaters built between the 1910s and the 1940s. The late 1920s saw the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds opened every year between 1925 and 1930.There are three building types in particular which can be subsumed...
located at 68-82 Main Street in Torrington, Connecticut
Torrington, Connecticut
Torrington is the largest city in Litchfield County, Connecticut and the northwestern Connecticut region. It is also the core city of the largest micropolitan area in the United States. The city population was 36,383 according to the 2010 census....
. It opened on August 19, 1931 as part of the Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
chain of movie theaters. Today it operates as a mixed-use performing arts center. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and also a contributing property in the Downtown Torrington Historic District
Downtown Torrington Historic District
The Downtown Torrington Historic District is a historic district in Torrington, Connecticut that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988...
.
The theater has been deemed the "finest surviving Modernistic theatre in Connecticut."
History
The Warner Theatre was built as a first-run movie palace by Warner Bros. Studios. This elaborate art-deco building was designed by nationally renowned architect Thomas W. LambThomas W. Lamb
Thomas White Lamb was an American architect, born in Scotland. He is noted as one of the foremost designers of theaters and cinemas in the 20th century.-Career:...
. The opening was a state wide event attended by then-Governor Wilbur Cross and many other dignitaries. Seating 1,704 patrons, the Warner was a stunning example of state-of-the-art technology and lush, elegant surroundings.
In the 1960s Warner Brothers sold the Warner Theatre to a private owner who continued to show movies until the late 1970s. By the early 1980s the theatre was closed and slated for demolition when a group of local citizens banded together and formed what is now known as the Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts. This non-profit group worked passionately to save the landmark from destruction. After a successful grass-roots campaign, the association purchased the theatre and re-opened it on May 22, 1983.
The theatre is in operation year-round with more than 80,000 patrons passing through its doors each year. It provides a dynamic art-in-education program that has reached thousands of young people from throughout the region. It features a community theatre program that is supported by more than 400 volunteers—from actors to carpenters to ushers. It has presented some of the world's finest performers, from the Vienna Boys Choir to Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
, and from George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
to the Washington Ballet
Washington Ballet
The Washington Ballet is an ensemble of professional athletic classical ballet dancers. It was founded in 1976 by American ballet pioneer Mary Day, and has been under the artistic directorship of Septime Webre since 1999.-The Mary Day years :...
. The Warner's dedicated Board of Directors represents a unique cross-section of business, education, government, and the arts, providing strong and visionary leadership for this important institution.
Restoration
Funded by an exhaustive fund-raising effort, that included generous support from the State and Federal governments, the community, and regional corporations, the Warner Theatre closed its doors in early August 2002 to complete Phase One of its restoration of the vintage Art Deco auditorium. Construction crews cleared the venue of its 1956 seating, worn wall hangings, and interim floor covering. For two months, the auditorium was filled with 45 ft. high scaffolding to enable the restoration of the intricately stencilled ceiling, refurbishment of the huge, silver and gold star-shaped light, and cleaning and gilding for the complex, interweaving pattern that tops the theatre's walls.The "monkey fur" --actually crushed velvet—wall covering that was brown for more than a generation, has been restored back to its original vivid blood orange hue through a supplier in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Gold brocade draperies from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
now accent the walls, replace the act curtain, and dress the lobby stairway landing. The auditorium floor was also refurbished to better accommodate handicap access, and the lobby, aisle, and atrium carpeting was restored with a recreation of the original Art Deco pattern that lined the floors when the theatre opened in 1931. The lighting, sound, and fire alarm systems were also updated, restoring the venue back to state-of-the-art status.
Damage
In 1999 a fire broke out in the theatre. A ghost lightGhost light
Ghost light or ghostlight may refer to:* Will-o'-the-wisp, also called ghost-light in some countries, a natural phenomenon producing a ghostly light sometimes seen at night or twilight over bogs, swamps, and marshes...
nicknamed "Larry The Light" was left too close to the act curtain by the theatre's cleaning crew. The light ignited the curtain, and the flames spread quickly. Damages amounting to $300,000 included the loss of the act curtain, damage to the stage floor, and smoke damage to the auditorium walls and ceiling.