Historic theater museum opening wide in New Castle

NEW CASTLE – After six years of limited access, the Historic Warner Cascade Theatre Museum Warner Brothers Studios is having a grand opening to the public from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

This free event is for families, film buffs and anyone interested in history. The public is invited to tour the museum, which is on the site where brothers Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner first opened the Cascade Picture Palace on Feb. 2, 1907, a historic space that is recognized by the Commonwealth. It was the start of the Warner Bros. film empire.

At the museum, visitors are welcomed by a mural by Ken Cole of the street as it was in the day, a prime site for photo opportunities.

Gerald Kern, president and trustee of the museum, said the museum is New Castle's unique historical attraction.

Spend the afternoon surrounded by Warner Brothers memorabilia including antique movie projectors. Enjoy refreshments and meet special guest Cass Warner, an actress, writer, producer and director who is the granddaughter of Harry Warner.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the experience of what it was like more than 110 years ago to sit in one of the first movie theaters and watch a story unfold on the screen before them. They can sit in plush seats in a small theater and watch the first storytelling movie ever shown there, "The Great Train Robbery," which Edwin S. Porter first showed to a New York audience in 1903. When the film was first shown in New Castle, the Warner Brothers had a hand-cranked projector with a sheet on the wall for a screen and rented chairs from Echol's Funeral Home that had to be returned when the show was over.

Initial opening:Movie history: Museum opens

Now, the theater is a pleasant state-of-the art experience with comfortable seats and fully carpeted. A part of the ambiance is a Charlie Chaplin figure ready at the ticket window to take the customer's nickel for the show and the concession stand that displays Good 'n Plenty, large Tootsie Rolls and Cracker Jack and other candies popular in the day.

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It’s the opportunity to spend an afternoon immersed in the huge collection of movie memorabilia that Warner Brothers brought to the world including "Rin Tin Tin," many classic movies and Looney Tunes with Bugs Bunny.

To help with the celebration Bugs Bunny will be there for photo opportunities and the cost will benefit the museum.

Kern said they will celebrate its 100th anniversary on April 4, 2023, and the grand opening is helping to launch that celebration.

A copyrighted wall displays the photo history of the Warner Brothers from their parents, Benjamin and Pearl, who were born in a section of Russia that later became Poland. Harry, Albert and Sam were born there and Jack was born in Canada before the family emigrated to the United States. The Warner history is extensively documented at the museum.

"Although the museum has been open on a limited basis for several years, we wanted to complete some major displays and expand others before holding a proper grand opening. The finishing touch was the installation of carpeting throughout the museum. Come join us and introduce your family and friends," Kern said. "Remember, there is only one Warner Brothers' first theatre and our museum is established in Warner Brothers Studios."

Robert Vargo, curator, past president and founder of the Foundation Group International, established in 1976, has been involved in the design renovation and operation of theaters, restaurants, places of worship and other performance venues in Europe, Central America and New Zealand.

"The museum officially opened in 2016 and we have been planning this grand opening for when all the renovation was completed," Vargo said.

History in the making:Warner Bros. first theater to reopen in New Castle

About 15 years ago, the brick façade of the building fell into the street. No one was hurt, but the city wanted it demolished. Cass Warner was contacted by Kern and she had the situation evaluated. Warner Brothers pledged $150,000 and the state of Pennsylvania matched the grant, and the building was saved. A historical marker also marks the spot.

What: Grand Opening

Where: Warner Cascade Theatre Museum, 11 S. Mill Street, New Castle.

Riverplex Atrium - enter on Mill Street.

When: 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday

Admission: Free

Information: (724) 614-6541

The Warner Theatre in Erie also was recently renovated and is open to the public.

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This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: First Warner Bros. theater re-emerges as historical film museum in New Castle