Warner Theatre Verified listing

The Warner Theatre, located at 513 13th Street NW in Washington, D.C., is a historic venue renowned for its architectural elegance and cultural significance. Originally opened on December 27, 1924, as the Earle Theatre, it was designed by noted theater architects C. Howard Crane and Kenneth Franzheim. The theater was initially built as a movie palace presenting live vaudeville and first-run silent movies. In 1947, it was renamed the Warner Theatre in honour of Harry Warner, one of the founders of Warner Bros. 

Over the decades, the Warner Theatre has undergone several transformations. During the 1950s and 1960s, it flourished with roadshow blockbuster films like Ben-Hur, Dr. Zhivago, and Hello, Dolly!. However, by the 1970s, like many large movie palaces of the era, it experienced a decline. It briefly regained prominence in the mid-1970s as a rock venue, even hosting the Rolling Stones for an unannounced show in 1978. The theater eventually closed to the public in 1989.

After a significant restoration, the Warner Theatre reopened on October 1, 1992, and has since re-established itself as a premier venue for concerts, live music, and events in Washington, D.C. In 2024, the theater celebrated its centennial, marking 100 years of historic moments and setting the tone for its next act as D.C.'s "Monument to Entertainment." Today, it continues to host a diverse array of performances, contributing richly to the city's vibrant cultural landscape.