The Warner Theatre, An Historic Landmark

Erie PA

Since its grand opening in 1931, the Warner Theatre has established itself as a major cultural center for the Erie region.  Millions have passed by the freestanding original ticket booth or kios made of solid bronze through the beautiful front doors stepping into the luxurious gold-gilded grand lobby.  The patrons see the beauty of rich tapestries and French gold-backed mirrors.  A regal staircase with exquisite bronze banisters leads them through an archway of marble and draped tapestry to the mezzaine.  European glass and crystal chandeliers create soft lighting that enhances the grandeur of a structure unmatched in stature, opulence and beauty.  

Warner Brothers, today one of the world's largets producers of film and televisio entertainment, commissioned the building of the Warner Theatre in 1929.  The design goal for their luxury movie palaces was to create an environment "twice as rich and three times more fanciful than life".  Designed by architects Rapp & Rapp, the theatre was constructed at a cost of $1.5 million Depression-era dollars!  The Chicago architectural firm built some of the nation's most ornate theatres including New York City's Times Square Paramount. Rabb & Rabb represented partners, Cornelius W. Rabb and George L. Rapp.  The company based in Chicago was founded in 1909.  Active from 1906-1965 the office designed over 400 theatres including the Chicago Theatre in 1921 and the Oriental Theatre in 1926.  Others were the Uptown Theatre in Chicago completed in 1925 and the Shea's Buffalo completed in 1926. 

Warner Brothers also appointed the world-renowned Rambusch Studios in New York City to decorate the interior.  Rambusch created a lavish art deco interior that would invite generations of theatre-goers to a palace of magnificence and fantasy.  Considering the quality of the design and cost of the building materials used, the theatre would be virtually impossible to replace today.  It was Erie's first and has remained Erie's only deluxe downtown picture palace with a seating capacity of 2,250.

When the Warner Theatre opened its doors April 10, 1931 more than 8,000 colored lights illuminated the 10-ton marquee that announced the feature film on opening night, The Millionaire starring James Cagney.  Excitement and wonder of the patrons regarding the palatial splendor of the breathtaking new showplace filled the atmosphere!  And it does to this day!

In its early history, the theatre hosted various traveling shows.  As well as presenting the pick of the major film releases, the theatre became an important link in the vaudeville circuits of the 1930s.  On November 8, 1931, the Warner formally initiated a vaudeville season.  Bob Hope made an appearance that November telling stories while sitting downstage on a barrel. 

The Warner Theatre's stage has been host to many world-renowned performers through its years which include the following:  Tony Bennett, Milton Berle, Victor Borge, George Carlin, Johnny Cash, Chicago, Nat King Cole, Harry Connick, Jr., David Copperfield, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tommy Dorsey, Bob Dylan, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, B.B. King, Jay Leno, The Letterman, Guy Lombardo, Johnny Mathis, Lorrie Morgan, Righteous Brothers, Mark Russell, Jerry Seinfeld, Andy Williams, Trisha Yearwood and many others.  

The Warner Theatre's Mighty Wurlitzer organ Opus 2153 once rose out of the floor and into the corner of the orchestra pit providing music for vaudeville shows and accompanied the early talking motion pictures.  Warner Brothers eventually donated the organ to the Western Reserve Chapter of American Theatre Organ Enthusiasts in 1969.

The Warner was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.  Today, it hosts concert and Broadway theatre performances and is home to the Erie Philharmonic directed by Maestro Daniel Myer.

Maestro Daniel Myer

Erie Philharmonic Orchestra

Fast forward to 2023 and the good news is the Warner Theatre now has its second organ thanks to Dennis and Margaret Unks from Millcreek PA.  They had an amazing theatre organ in their home and eventually decided to donate it to the Warner Theatre.  During a long career in the organ supply business, Mr. Unks spent 25 plus years collecting parts and building the organ. 

"Well, it really goes back to 1965.  It's an accumulation of parts that I've collected over  many years and of course this is about as large as you're going to get for a home installation".  The Wurlitzer console is big and through Wi-Fi, it played ranks of 1,500 pipes built into two chambers in the lower level of the Unks' home.  It was tied to percussion instruments, pianos and several hidden instruments behind the wooden shades that swelled the sound of the organ including chimes, xylophone, sleigh bells and a glockenspiel.  

The timing of the gift was perfect with the final phase of the Warner Theatre restoration on the horizon at the time Dennis made his offer to the Warner.  Where to house the organ as well as chambers for its pipes and other instruments were all included in the design phase that saw the theatre's stage and dressing room areas expanded.  

Organs like this, with a history of playing live music during silent movies, are enjoying a wonderful resurgence of appreciation for movie nights, classical music concerts, pops, educational tours and much more.  The Unks 1924 Wurlitzer organ 21-rank is double the size of the pipe organ the Warner Theatre housed between 1931 and 1969.  A distinct type of pipe organ, the theatre organ took the place of the orchestras that would play music and sound effects to accompany silent films. One person could perform on a theatre organ what it might take several orchestra members to play.  More than 6,500 theatre organs were installed in theatres across the United States in the early 20th century, but only about 40 remain in their original homes today.  

A little background about Dennis and Margaret Unks goes back to when they first met in 1958.  The location was in the summertime in the Motor City better know as Detroit, Michigan.  Margaret Duffy rode in the backseat while another couple drove her through the suburbs of Detroit on the way to pick up her future husband.  It was their first date and that is when she heard it upon her arrival to meet Dennis Unks .. Dennis playing the organ, an electronic organ popular in most homes, at the time. She still recalls the song, a beautiful rendition of Lullaby of Birdland which singers such as Ella Fitzgerald have famously performed.  The music Dennis Unks played that day wasn't uncommon for the times even if it seems so today.  Had he never met Margaret, he likely never would have met her father who introduced Dennis to the man who put a crazy idea in his head!

"Dad knew someone who had a pipe organ in his home," said the now Margaret Unks, whose father coincidentally installed church organs for a living.  "It was small, but Dad took him to see it.  Dennis came out and said .. "someday we have to have this and here we are".  ""Here" turned out to be the couple's Millcreek Township home and the rest is history! 

"The possibilities for the Warner are exciting. The console will live on stage in a piano storage room and then when we need to use it we can roll it onto the stage, set it up, plug it in and we're ready to go.  The organ can activate the pipes from anywhere on stage because it is wireless."

Steve Weiser

Executive Director, Erie Philharmonic Orchestra 

At the time the Unks organ Millcreek Dennis and Margaret were sad to see it leave their home, but they were very pleased the Warner Theatre will be its new home.

"Well, the difficult thing about it is giving the organ away because it has been part of this home for over 20 years, but it's going to find a good home and we're happy that it is going to the Warner Theatre.  It igoing to be exposed to many people including kids who have no idea what something like this is all about".

"Having to part with the organ will be similar to losing a member of the family.  The whole process is certainly bittersweet".

Dennis Unks

This organ is a special gesture to the Warner Theatre, to its patrons and to the City of Erie. Thank you, Dennis and Margaret Unks.  The keyword is .. posterity.