{"nrhp_refnum":"80003152","name":"Warner Theater","other_names":["Youngstown Symphony Center and Powers Auditorium"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"260 W. Federal Plaza","address_restricted":false,"city":"Youngstown","county":"Mahoning County","state":"OH","lat":41.10218436100007,"lon":-80.65302303699997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1980-05-31","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Entertainment/Recreation","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A large theater and office building at 260 West Federal Plaza in Youngstown, Ohio, built in 1930-1931 and designed by the Chicago firm of C. W. and George L. Rapp. It has served as the Youngstown Symphony Center and Powers Auditorium since 1969.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the building is an exceptional example of a motion picture palace, and the only surviving one of its kind in Youngstown. It was built by the Warner Brothers, a Youngstown family, as a memorial to their parents and brother Samuel. Its rococo interior is described as very well preserved, even though the exterior was remodeled in 1969.","narrative":"Built in 1930-1931 at 260 West Federal Plaza in Youngstown, this steel-framed theater and office building has masonry exterior walls and a 2,500-seat auditorium with main floor, loge, and two balconies. The Chicago architects C. W. and George L. Rapp designed it, and Heller Brothers of Youngstown built it. The Warner brothers, founders of Warner Brothers Pictures and natives of Youngstown, funded it as a memorial to their parents and their late brother Samuel. It opened on May 14, 1931, at a cost of $1,500,000, and showed motion pictures until February 1968. The grand lobby, a Spanish-style lounge, and the auditorium carry restrained Renaissance and rococo detailing. In 1968-1969 the building was converted to a symphony hall, with a stage extension, orchestra pit, acoustical shell, and a new marble front, though the original bronze doors remain. The nomination values the well-preserved interior and the link to the Warner family.","period_of_significance":"1931-1968","architect_builder":"Rapp and Rapp (C. W. and George L. Rapp, Chicago); constructed by Heller Brothers construction company of Youngstown","architectural_style":"Restrained Renaissance eclecticism with rococo details","criteria":[],"status_note":"In use as the Youngstown Symphony Center and Powers Auditorium since 1969; the front facade was remodeled with a new marquee and marble facade, while the interiors retain their character.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:12.421984-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/80003152.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/80003152/c00777999a-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/80003152/c00777999a-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Powers_Auditorium_in_Youngstown.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Powers_Auditorium_in_Youngstown.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71990136","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powers_Auditorium","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7236808"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/mahoning-county/warner-theater-80003152/"}