Warner Grand Theatre 📍478 W. 6th Street, San Pedro
The Warner Grand is a glorious art deco neighborhood movie palace in San Pedro, designed by prolific theater designer B. Marcus Priteca. It was one of three new theaters that Warner Bros. built in a six-month span from 1930-31, as they were expanding their footprint in the LA suburbs. I know this is old news, but it still boggles my mind that there was a time when film studios controlled their own theaters, where they would exclusively play their own movies.
Initially this one was called the Warner Bros. Theatre, and up through the 1990s, it had a new name and new identity every decade or so. For a long stretch beginning in the late ‘70s, it was renamed Teatro Juarez and exclusively played Spanish-language movies. It almost became an adult cinema a couple times.
The Warner Grand’s current era began in 1996, when the City of LA bought it and began renting it out for concerts, dance performances and other community cultural events. Under the stewardship of the City and the Grand Vision Foundation, it has slowly been refurbished, upgraded and given the love it needs and deserves.
As of early 2024, the Warner Grand is closed to undergo some long-delayed infrastructure improvements and restoration of the historic bits. When I visited, I spied a few parts of the ceiling beams where the white paint had been stripped back to uncover the original stenciled decorations by the Heinsbergen Decorating Company. Here’s hoping that when the theater opens again in early 2026, those stencils are revealed in all their glory.
I’m visiting all the LA landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places. Read about this one and many more at Etandoesla.com: etandoesla.com...
Still photo credits: Los Angeles Public Library & Mike Hume's Historic Theatre Photography
#lahistory #historictheaters #sanpedro #southbay #warnerbros #warnergrand #losangeles