Warner Theatre
68 Main Street,
Torrington,
CT
6790
68 Main Street,
Torrington,
CT
6790
17 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 56 comments
Added to the National Register of Historic places. National Register information Status Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1984 Reference number 84001098 Architectural styles Modern Movement: Art Deco; Other architectural type; Modernistic Areas of significance Entertainment/Recreation; Architecture; Performing Arts Level of significance State Evaluation criteria A – Event; C – Design/Construction Property type Building Historic functions Theater; Business Current functions Theater; Business Period of significance 1925-1949 Significant year 1931
Hope to see this Warner in person this summer!
Yes, every community deserves at least one handsome movie theatre though they all can’t be like this Warner. Erie PA has their never-closed Warner and is a must-see!
What a fabulous-looking theatre! All the best of luck to the people in Torrington, CT. Every town and community deserves at least one handsome movie theatre like the Warner!
I was lucky enough to have a friend’s wife (who at one time worked for this theater) give me a tour of it around 2003 when I beleive most renovations were done. The photo links while nice, do not do justice to the beauty of this theater when you are there in person!
I beleive the theater tried to contact as many of the original manufacturers of the equipment/fabrics/etc. as they could, and actually had a high level of success doing that. If I recall correctly, the rug in the lobby was reproduced from samples of the original rug by the company that originally manufactured it back in the 1930’s. The fabric covering the walls in the theater itself are made from crushed velvet dyed orange. The seats were very nice, and quite comfortable. The thing that stood out the most was the gold trim and the beautifully restored painted ceiling in the theater. Amazing. Even the lobby was gorgeously restored. Definitely a place to visit if you can, or go see a performance there.
And after seeing the photos of this theatre it makes me want to move to Torrington CT. To have a theatre like this in one’s hometown would be a true cinema treasure!
This is one theatre that is on my must-see-to-do list!
Excellent batch of photos ChasSmith, some of the best I have seen on Cinema Treasures, what a great looking theatre.
ChasSmith: THANK YOU for these incredible photos especially the ones taken from an orchestra pit perspective! There is no doubt that I will have to see this theatre next summer as it is a Warner! This one I see was designed by Thomas Lamb while the Warner near me in Erie PA was designed by Rapp & Rapp.
Here’s a batch of pictures I took in November 2004 (while playing in the pit for a local production of West Side Story, hence the actor/musician photos). The theater is absolutely incredible, and they are now also showing movies on holidays and special occasions, but I haven’t yet been there for one myself. I’ll remedy that soon.
View link
Lost: The July 27, 2005 link doesn’t work and it has or had interior photos!
And does this theatre have an organ…possibly the original organ?
Lost: The ticket kios in the July 1, 09 photo is very similar to the ticket kios at the Warner Theatre/Erie PA.
The Warner in Torrington has joined the Opera in Cinemas network which presents opera and ballet performances from various European theaters.
Was in Torrington yesterday on a bike trip. Box office was open (phone only) and spoke to someone about a tour but alas, I needed an appt ahead of time. I tried to make her feel guilty by saying I was just passing thru and had no time (which was the truth). Oh well.
Mentioned in a story about Danbury’s Palace.
Here are photos from 1970 and 1985:
http://tinyurl.com/ctmt96
http://tinyurl.com/d3mjyh
Just a matter of interest, this photo looks as though it was taken in August of 1955 in the aftermath of the flood that devistated the city. Waters were up to the theater marquee of the Palace Theater around the corner on the left and nearly as high in front of the Warner. The State Theater was on the river in the northern end of town on Main Street and had the water overflow the bridge at that point. The photo looks south. The Naugatuck river ran left to right just past the intersection and there were commercial structures built over it. They fell into the river and were washed away. The large building in the center of the photo was to be torn down as too damaged to replace. On the right, just past the storefront at the intersection, was my father’s new childrens' store which was to have had its' grand opening that day. It was washed away in the flood and he never moved back in.
Here is a 1955 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/5h565y
Love the marquee photo, building art deco facade and the name WARNER!
The latest issue of Theatre Historical Society’s MARQUEE MAGAZINE features a photo and short bio of this theater in a travel feature spotlighting the Berkshires.
Go to www.historictheatres.org to join THS or order back issues.
Boy, those are super photos! And they bring back such great memories.
Hello, Here are some recent photos that I took of the wonderfully restored Warner Theater in Torrington, Connecticut. Check out the virtual tours.
louis belloisy
http://www.imagesct.com/web/warner/
I picked up a new publication called “TheatreCT” at Bethel Cinema and it focuses mostly on acting with some tidbits on other theaters. There’s a spread on pages 20-22 on the Warner’s full service 8,000 sq. ft costume rental business. All the money goes into the theater’s general fund. Prices are $30 a week per item and for the public it’s $50 per costume per week. Organizations, theaters and high schools that rent 10 or more costumes get 15 percent discounts on the whole rental.
Although it was operated by Warner Brothers in the 1940’s, the 1,290 seat capacity Palace Theatre, Torrington, CT was an entirely different theatre from the Warner Theatre.