Bradley Symphony Center

212 W. Wisconsin Avenue,
Milwaukee, WI 53203

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Showing 26 - 50 of 131 comments

warnergrand
warnergrand on January 24, 2013 at 9:57 am

A Trust has been set up to purchase and restore the Warner Grand. Facebook page is active. Please “like” http://www.facebook.com/grandwarner

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on November 3, 2012 at 10:57 am

The marquee is now lit up at night, bringing a splash of color to the downtown scene. I’ve added a picture of the ticket booth, which has someone in it during the day to distribute literature to tourists.

tisha
tisha on January 20, 2012 at 6:08 am

I remember in the 80’s my sister use to take me to this movie theatre. The cost was around maybe $3.50-$6.75. I remember standing in line to see Purple Rain. It played for six months straight. My sister and I watched Grelims there. When I was old enough I went to that theatre by myself. I’ve seen Tremors and Five Heartbeats there. So many memories. I wish they would at least open up the theatre for one more go round. Watch two movies for the price of one. It’s just a thought!!!

Matthew Prigge
Matthew Prigge on October 31, 2011 at 8:01 pm

i had the chance to look around this theatre recently. I have some photos (i am not much of a photog, clearly) here – http://www.flickr.com/photos/68845915@N06/sets/72157627927062486/with/6258821589/

The place is in very nice shape inside. But I would bet the farm that it never reopens.

William
William on August 3, 2011 at 12:17 pm

The Warner Theatre in Milwaukee opened on May 1st. 1931.

curiousmoviebuff
curiousmoviebuff on June 27, 2011 at 4:58 pm

Does anyone here know the correct contact info for this theatre? Is it still available for rentals? Have they begun the planned renovations yet?

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 1, 2011 at 8:28 pm

Nice ads Mike,thanks for getting them on.Two PG pictures equal decent Boxoffice.

mgriffin189
mgriffin189 on November 15, 2010 at 9:29 pm

I am also glad that mheaton is working on saving this theater. I frequently drive by it on my commute to and from UWM ( I like side streets) and would love to see it reopened so everyone can enjoy a great venue and great architecture. It’s sad to see it sitting there empty. About a month ago a weather forcast appeared on the marquee. this was followed a few days later by a happy birthday message. does anyone know anything about this? Anyway, I really hope that mheaton’s group succeeds in restoring this theater. They don’t build em like this anymore.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 16, 2010 at 7:52 pm

Grand opening ad for Warner
View link

rivest266
rivest266 on October 10, 2010 at 5:35 pm

Grand opening ad for the Centre Twin from December 20th, 1973 is at
View link

dunverrich
dunverrich on August 9, 2010 at 4:40 pm

I am so glad to hear that mheaton is working on saving The Grand Theater. Back in 2005, Marcus Corporation graciously let us use the theater for the short movie Moviebonics. It was a great experience to spend several weeks in the theater. We shot on the second floor lobby, which doubled for the living room of a cinematically obsessed couple in the movie. In fact in your myspace video, you can see the 2nd floor lobby, which we spent days cleaning, including the glass light fixtures. We also left a message to Marcus thanking them for the use of the theater on the Marquee in the lobby. Your video reveals that it has been taken down since then. We have several photos of the set at http://www.moviebonics.com Our short is on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ORU_TZZaSU Hope you enjoy it. I too would like to offer some assistance as well to the cause of restoring the theater. I can be contacted through the moviebonics website. Good Luck.

mjonthemove
mjonthemove on July 7, 2010 at 10:43 am

Great info. Please keep me informed.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 25, 2010 at 9:22 pm

Great stories to read.

GreatEscape
GreatEscape on May 5, 2010 at 10:51 pm

Mheaton – I would love it if you could contact me as well. I am very interested in hearing what your plans on renovation all entail with this theatre. My email address is I think I may be able to be of some assistance as well!

Thanks

mfdrozewski49
mfdrozewski49 on March 3, 2010 at 1:34 pm

Mheaton-Please contact me. I have the solution to your request in your post of Nov. 29th.

mheaton
mheaton on February 6, 2010 at 3:58 pm

View link

The Grand-Warner Theater – Milwaukee – some old footage plus new footage as of January 2010. Watch for new web site and facebook postings coming soon on this web site.

mheaton
mheaton on January 9, 2010 at 8:01 pm

sdowns, Yes we talked with Marcus corp. on Jan. 5 and found out the situation for purchase (it is for sale). After some further talks we were able to get into the theater on Thur. Jan. 7 . We had only a two hour notice otherwise I would have posted here for anyone interested. We did a brief evaluation of the current condition with some rehab experts.
We have formed a 501-c-3 non-profit org. in order to purchase and preserve (like the Pabst Mansion or the Minneapolis Schubert Theater). We have some funding lined up already. Later, we will be announcing meetings for anyone interested in supporting this.

sdowns
sdowns on January 9, 2010 at 3:45 pm

mheaton, did the meeting you spoke for in early January ever take place, what was the outcome??

Life's Too Short
Life's Too Short on January 4, 2010 at 11:29 am

warner22.jpg is my favorite. A classic lounge with plastic 70’s chair in the corner. Looks seriously uncomfortable.

redfishpaw
redfishpaw on January 3, 2010 at 11:56 pm

Also, here is an earlier photo set taken by myself
with the twinning still intact:

Repost:
Here are 27 interior photos which I took in 1995 (at closing).
These were scanned and first appeared online in Sept 2006.
http://www.pbase.com/redfishpaw/warner
posted by redfishpaw on Oct 23, 2006 at 9:51am

redfishpaw
redfishpaw on January 3, 2010 at 11:51 pm

No, The Warner (Grand 1&2) is now a single screen. The twinning has been removed. There are links above with 2007 photos showing the twinning removed.

pointer to photos from earlier post by BWChicago:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ctid1903
posted by BWChicago on Sep 30, 2007 at 7:46pm

mheaton
mheaton on December 23, 2009 at 7:55 pm

As of Dec. 12 there has been formed a business and arts consortium to investigate taking on the Warner-Grand Theater in Milwaukee. After prelim meetings with the Marcus Corp. There will be an open meeting for anyone with any interest in the Warner (even just verbal support)in order to form a public support non-profit guild (like the opera guild or the symphony guild). This meeting will happen either the first or second week of January 2010. If there is any interest of readers of this web site please reply here and the details will be forthcoming.
N.S. -mheaton

mheaton
mheaton on December 12, 2009 at 6:55 pm

I have seen nothing in the last few weeks on this site about the current status of the Warner Theater (as of Dec. 12, 2009) – There is a meeting scheduled for early Jan. 2010 in Milwaukee involving a consortium of Performing arts entities and the Warner may well be the project they take on. If someone has some info please forward here and/or I will provide private email address for same. Time is running out. The organization will meet with Marcus as well.
Norman S. – m.heaton,org

mheaton
mheaton on November 29, 2009 at 9:00 pm

Norman Schonteich representing the Myron Heaton Chorale and the Ellevine C. Heaton Institute. Making inquiry about the Warner/Grand theater. If there is an independent source of information about the current status of the theater please let me know. Also, a source for blueprints or floor plans. We have already been in touch with the Marcus Corp. We are looking for an “un-filtered” source of information. I would greatly appreciate any help you might be able to give.
N. Schonteich via MHEATON, Inc.

sdowns
sdowns on October 23, 2009 at 10:00 pm

Hi there, I just found this site and I wanted to sign up. I have not even had time to read all that there is here about the old Warner. I was the manager of the house in the mid 70’s when the man was living in the walls, I found him. This is such a flashback! that theater was a wonderfull place (still is) I think I still have my copy (LP) of ‘midnight at the center’ preformed on the Kimball by Paul Wesley. If any one has any questions I could try to fill in some of the blanks as I was there when the theater was cut in two.