The Little-Known Story Of The Warner Theatre In Connecticut And How It’s Made A Big Comeback

There's something so magical about historic theaters. These buildings speak back to a time when going out to movies or a show was a special event. Sadly, over the years, many of these historic theaters have been demolished or repurposed, but we're lucky enough to still have a number of historic theaters in Connecticut, like the beautiful Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport. The Bijou has been welcoming guests since 1909, but there's another old theater in the Nutmeg State that's got a history almost as long. The beautiful Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT is opened up in 1931 and is the largest performing arts venue in Northwest Connecticut. It's a stunning piece of architecture, but it hasn't always been that way! Let's take a peek into this historic theater in Connecticut.

The Warner Theatre was built by Warner Brothers Studio and opened up in 1931 as a movie palace.

It saw several decades of success, and was noted for its architectural beauty.

In 1955, the theater was damaged by the terrible floods that plagued the state. It remained open after repairs, but by the 1960s, the business was struggling.

The rising popularity and affordability of home televisions drastically reduced the appeal of going to the cinema, and movie palaces all over the country closed in the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1981, the property was put up for sale and was slated for demolition.

A grass-roots organization formed and raised funds to save and restore the Warner over the ensuing decades.

The theater reopened in 1983 and all renovations were completed by 2003, restoring the Warner to its former glory.

Today, the Warner Theatre hosts concerts and performances and is the largest performing arts center in Northwest Connecticut.

For more information about this great historic theater in Connecticut including a schedule of upcoming events, check out the Warner Theatre website or the Warner Theatre Facebook page.

The Torrington area has some wonderful trails! Take a peek at AllTrails to see some of the best hikes in Torrington, CT.