Art Deco movie palace opened in 1931 and hosts film series, musicals, plays and concerts. Closed for renovations and scheduled to reopen in late 2026.
The Warner Grand Theatre is a 1931 Art Deco movie palace on 6th Street in downtown San Pedro, and one of the best-preserved theaters of its kind in Southern California.
Renovation and reopening
The City of Los Angeles closed the theater on January 1, 2024, for long-needed upgrades: accessibility, plumbing, electrical work and earthquake retrofitting, keeping its historic features intact. The renovation also adds new restrooms, a guest lounge and a roof terrace. The theater is scheduled to reopen in December of 2026. Just in time for the San Pedro City Ballet annual production of the Nutcracker.
Grand Vision Foundation, the nonprofit that supports the theater, posts reopening news and events.
History
The Warner Grand opened on January 20, 1931, with a Hollywood-style premiere. Warner Bros. hired architect B. Marcus Priteca, known for the Pantages theaters, to design three Art Deco theaters, in San Pedro, Beverly Hills and Huntington Park. The San Pedro theater is the only one of the three still intact, and it was the first theater in the South Bay built for sound films.
Inside, look for the lobby’s decorative ceilings, etched-glass chandeliers and tiled fountains, the double staircase to the mezzanine, and the auditorium’s stenciled ceilings and organ screens. The theater was billed as “The Castle of Your Dreams.”
From 1991-1996 singer Lee Michaels (Do You Know What I Mean) owned and lived in the theater and used it as his living room.
After years of decline, the City of Los Angeles bought the theater in 1996. Its Department of Cultural Affairs runs it for films, concerts, plays and community events, and it is a popular filming location.
Nearby
The theater anchors the downtown arts district. The Arcade Building, galleries, restaurants and bars are within a block or two, and on the first Thursday of each month downtown hosts an art walk.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Warner Grand Theatre open?
Not yet. It closed on January 1, 2024, for renovation and is scheduled to reopen in December 2026.
When was the Warner Grand Theatre built?
It opened on January 20, 1931.
Who designed the Warner Grand Theatre?
Architect B. Marcus Priteca, who also designed theaters for the Pantages chain.