Warner Brothers Theatre
Also known as: Warner Bros. San Pedro Theatre; Warner Grand Theater
Why it's listed
Opened on January 20, 1931, this 1,600-seat movie palace in downtown San Pedro was built by Warner Brothers at a cost of $500,000 and was the first sound-equipped theater in the South Bay area. Architect B. Marcus Priteca designed the reinforced concrete building in a Moderne style with Art Deco ornamentation, including fluted columns, chevron and zigzag patterns, a marquee and a vertical blade sign. Five retail storefronts line the 6th Street facade. Inside, the auditorium features a starburst ceiling, an ornate proscenium arch and metallic paint finishes. It was one of three similar Warner theaters built in Los Angeles suburbs; the Huntington Park theater was divided into two, and the Beverly Hills theater was demolished in 1989. Later known as the Juarez Theater, it reopened as a variety arts center in 1993 and was bought by the City of Los Angeles. Exterior, layout and most original materials remain intact, and rehabilitation continues.
Significance in brief: It is an outstanding and largely intact example of the 1930s neighborhood movie palace, and the only one of three sister theaters built by Warner Brothers in Los Angeles suburbs that remains intact. It was designed by prominent theater architect B. Marcus Priteca in Moderne and Art Deco styles. Its rehabilitation has been central to redevelopment efforts in downtown San Pedro.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98001633, listed January 21, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | January 21, 1999 |
| Reference number | 98001633 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931 - 1949 |
| Architect / builder | Priteca, B. Marcus |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Moderne and Art Deco |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Los Angeles since the mid-1990s and operated as a movie house and performing arts center, with a phased rehabilitation underway. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.73872, -118.29232 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98001633.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7969723
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.