A new elevator is visible on the exterior back wall of the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A new elevator is visible on the exterior back wall of the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The historic Warner Grand Theatre, which has been closed and undergoing extensive renovations since 2024, is getting close to reopening in San Pedro on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The historic Warner Grand Theatre, which has been closed and undergoing extensive renovations since 2024, is getting close to reopening in San Pedro on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The exterior of the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Councilmember Tim McOsker speaks outside the historic Warner Grand Theatre in downtown San Pedro before restoration begins on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The historic Warner Grand Theatre hosts a final lobby walk-through for the public before restoration begins in downtown San Pedro on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The historic Warner Grand Theatre hosts a final lobby walk-through for the public before restoration begins in downtown San Pedro on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Architect Zoltan Pali discusses the exterior of the historic Warner Grand Theatre in downtown San Pedro before restoration begins on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The final lobby walk-through for the public before restoration begins on the historic Warner Grand Theatre in downtown San Pedro on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The historic Warner Grand Theatre hosts a final lobby walk-through for the public before restoration begins in downtown San Pedro on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Layers of paint visible during a final lobby walk-through of the historic Warner Grand Theatre in downtown San Pedro on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
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A new elevator is visible on the exterior back wall of the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Downtown San Pedro’s historic Warner Grand Theatre is prepping for yet another opening night in its almost 100-year history.
Expected to be closed for at least two years for a series of renovations, the 1931 Warner Brothers movie palace — purchased by the city of Los Angeles in 1931 — will partially open late this year for limited performances, debuting with the San Pedro Ballet’s “Nutcracker” (Dec. 11-13) and later before Christmas for the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
More limited programing is expected to be featured through early 2027.
“We’ve worked with the contractor and management team to be put in a position to open for the end of the year,” Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker said in a telephone interview. “We have the certificate of occupancy so we could do the Nutcracker and “‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”
Also planned is a Dec. 9 reception and “sneak peek” sponsored by Grand Vision, the support group, and the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the improvements to the entry area, the new elevator, and additional bathrooms, he said.
Meetings have occurred frequently in the council office, McOsker said, to monitor the progress. Among the goals was to “make sure the whole of the building works together” which included electrical and lighting systems. New windows and other rehabilitation in keeping with the historic look of the theater have been also underway in both the interior and exterior of the building.
The theater opened on Jan. 20, 1931, as a first-run movie house for Warner Bros., the city of Los Angeles purchased the property in 1996 for $1.2 million to rescue it from threats of demolition or conversion.
The closure went longer than anticipated, with the doors officially closing in January 2024 for several months of prep work. And while work isn’t completely finished, much of the process is now finished — enough to host some upcoming events — which is especially good news for San Pedro’s historic downtown business district which was hit hard by the long closure.
“It’s going to be so beautiful,” said Liz Johnson, the longtime executive director of the Grand Vision Foundation, anticipating the roll-out of openings ahead.
While there is still work to do, McOsker said the theater is now on track to host some programming going forward, though some areas may need to be set off for ongoing work.
For San Pedro’s downtown restaurants and other businesses, said Ryan Blaney, president and CEO of the San Pedro Property Owners Business Improvement District (PBID), seeing activity once again at what has been a hub of the historic downtown will be welcome.
The closure, while needed, was “devastating in one word,” Blaney said of how it especially impacted restaurants in the area.
“Restaurants will be full and it will bring back more economic vitality to the downtown,” he said.
The downtown group also is looking at new ownership of the Topaz building — a 12-story office tower at 226 W. Sixth St. built in 1990 — has been empty but is getting ready for new residential occupancy. Some downtown interests are hoping a few of the lower floors can be set aside for offices, something that could further help downtown businesses, Blaney said.
“We lost two things (in the downtown),” Blaney said, “Topaz and all the business people who used go out for lunch, but also the Warner Grand” that brought the loss of weekend visitors with no entertainment draw.
While much of the theater’s exterior remains shrouded, Blaney said the theater will be worth the wait based on photos he’s seen.
Work included essential upgrades such as ADA accessibility, plumbing, electrical, and earthquake retrofitting. Plans also called for keeping historic elements intact.
Additional bathrooms and an exterior elevator were among improvements.
Construction groundbreaking took place on December 16, 2024, after a year of preparations.
Priorities included:
A new main lobby elevator and stage lift
Major plumbing and restroom upgrades with ADA accessibility and more restrooms in the lower lobby
Historic paint restoration throughout the lobbies
A new gathering space adjacent to the mezzanine lobby
HVAC, electrical, and Fire Life Safety system upgrades
Stylish new main lobby concession stands
An upgraded IT network and security system
Historically influenced carpeting in the lobbies
A full reopening for complete programming schedules will take a while longer, city officials said, but news that select programming is set to begin in December 2026 has been a boost, local downtown supporters said.
Warner Bros. built three matching regional theaters in Southern California (Beverly Hills, Huntington Park, and San Pedro). The Beverly Hills location was torn down in 1988 and the Huntington Park location was converted into a gym. That left the San Pedro theater as the sole survivor in its original form.
The Warner Grand has been used for concerts, plays, lectures, film festivals, and other live events as well as for movies.
To inaugurate the reopening of the theater, the San Pedro City Ballet will present five performances of “Nutcracker” on Dec. 11, 12, and 13.
The performance will feature 150 dancers ages 4 through adult from the South Bay community with also performances especially for hundreds of local school children.
“Although we were fortunate to be able to continue our performances at other theatres in the South Bay, there is nothing more special than returning home,” said Cindy Bradley, artistic director of San Pedro City Ballet in a written statement. “The excitement is felt throughout the entire studio and at every rehearsal.”
The presentation marks the 20th season of the company’s performance of “The Nutcracker” at the Warner Grand Theatre.
Tickets go on sale October 1 and range from $45-$58. For tickets and complete performance information, visit sanpedrocityballet.org or call . Showtimes are 7 p.m. Dec. 11; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 12; and 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 13.
Tickets range from $45 to $58. Go to sanpedrocityballet.org/.