Warren Theatres
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Warren Theatres was founded by Bill Warren in Wichita, Kansas.
There are eight theatres owned and operated by the company, and 1 currently under construction:
- Warren Theatre East: Wichita
- Warren Theatre West: Wichita
- Old Town Warren Theatre: Wichita (downtown)
- Palace Theatre: Wichita
- Premier Palace Theatre: Wichita
- Palace Theatre: Springfield, Missouri
- The Movie Machine: Wichita
- Warren Theatre (Under Construction) Moore, Oklahoma
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[edit] History
Bill Warren began his cinema marketing career as a ticket-taker at Wichita's Miller Theatre. Within his first year, while still a sophomore in high school, Warren was promoted to Theatre Manager of the Miller, becoming the youngest manager in the Fox Theatre Chain.
Warren approached Pizza Hut Corporation Founder Frank Carney with a proposal to invest $1,000 in an innovative theatre concept. Four years later, their Company, American Entertainment, built the region's first multi-screen theatre. During the '80s, the firm grew to symbolize both high quality film entertainment and sound business practices.
In 1990, Warren introduced a new concept to Midwest film-goers. The Palace West, Wichita's first $1 cinema, opened for business showing extended run and "encore" presentations of first-run films. In 1991, a second Wichita Palace opened, featuring 10 screens and the very latest in theatre amenities and technical wizardry.
Throughout his career, Warren has maintained a fondness, almost a reverence, for the old movie theatres. With its opulent decor, "The Warren Theatre" represents Bill Warren's tribute to those palatial movie houses of the past. But it is something more. Incorporating the world's most advanced sound, computerized operations and the ultimate in patron comforts, this theatre also represents Bill Warren's belief in the future of motion picture entertainment. Like someplace you'd see in the movies.
[edit] About the Warren Theatres
This section pertains to the theatres under the Warren Theatre name.
The exterior: Whether you call it "Streamlined Art Deco," or "Miami Art Deco," the Warren's distinctive glass, stone and steel exterior stirs the imagination. Punctuated by a massive bull-nose marquee, the Theatre's unique architectural style recalls images of Hollywood premieres and Cinema's "Golden Age."
Stone for the bulding's exterior was quarried and cut in South Dakota, and shipped by rail to Wichita.
Like many of the Warren's features, the main poster ("One Sheet") display is a one-of-a-kind design, tailored exclusively for this theatre.
The lobby: From custom-crafted door handles to sculpted ceilings bathed in neon, everything about The Warren says "elegance."
Authentic terrazzo floors were a hallmark of the early movie palaces. The craftsmen who designed and installed this floor represent Southwestern Terrazzo, one of the few remaining firms in the U.S. still doing authentic terrazzo. They report the last time they installed terrazzo in a movie theatre was in the 1940's.
Striking art deco patterns are etched into glass throughout the theatre. Created by New Mexico artist Valerie Arber, these etched glass pieces accent the main entrance, box office and concession areas, malt shop, restrooms, and each auditorium entrance. The Warren's interior contains tons of imported marble and granite. Notice the solid granite countertops in the concession areas and box office, the granite countertops and floors in the restrooms; and marble-and-granite accents in the entry to the main theatre.
Murals were a staple of grand theatre design in the first half of this past century. Often depicting themes of industry or fantasy, these immense paintings set the mood for movie-goers with their bigger-than-life characterizations of historical or contemporary figures. Local artist and nationally-acclaimed illustrator Dave LaFleur has researched and recreated the world of Mythology and the Zodiac for The Warren Lobbies.
Throughout the Theatre's Lobbies, hallways and auditoriums, one can see evidence of the classic movie house motif. Plaster moldings and giant faux marble-and-glass pilasters are the work of California artisans who pioneered the "movie house renaissance" in 1985, and were commissioned by Disney Studios to restore The El Capitan in Hollywood. The Warren project consists of nearly two thousand running feet of custom plaster molding that was cast in a Berkeley workshop and shipped in to Wichita. Specialists from as far away as Ireland were flown to Wichita for the installation and finish work.
Literally miles of neon lighting, most of which is hidden from view, course through the Warren's inner sanctum, casting a soft, surreal glow throughout.
Concession Stands: The Warren incorporates the most advanced theatre concessions operation in the region.
Encompassing many individual patron service stations the concession island is designed for maximum efficiency and minimum wait-times.
Systems are fully computerized for fast service and short lines.
Custom-designed canopy, one-of-a-kind menu board and decorative accents are reminiscent of an earlier time.
Popcorn at the Warren is topped with real butter, just like in the "good old days."
Auditorium Interiors: The Warren attempts to recapture the art of showmanship in motion picture exhibition. According to industry sources, the 21st Street Warren is the first multi-screen theatre in the nation to fully appoint every auditorium in the motif of the grand movie house of the '30s and '40s.
The 13th Avenue Warren features 20 separate theatre auditoriums, and the 21st Street Warren features 17. While similarly ornamented, each is unique varying in screen size, seating capacity, curtain design and color accents. At the time of completion, The 21st Street Warren was one of less than 20 theatres worldwide to feature every type of motion picture sound processing technology available. These include DTS (Digital Theatre Sound), SDDS (Sony Digital), Dolby Digital and George Lucas' THX Digital Stereo. (To qualify for THX technology, a theatre must be designed from the ground up to Lucasfilm specifications.) Seats were custom-designed and manufactured to the Warren's own specifications by one of the nation's most respected theatre seat companies. With additional tufted upholstering, custom cup-holder arm rests and a rich velour fabric, these recliner-style seats offer a higher back and wider seat cushion than any other theatre seat in the city. Despite higher backrests on every seat, movie-goers at the Warren enjoy an unimpared view of the screen thanks to fully staggered seats and tiered floors in every auditorium. If the carpet pattern looks familiar, perhaps you're old enough to remember it from the theatres of your youth. U.S. Axminster, one of the nation's oldest carpet mills, resurrected a pattern from its theatre archives of the '30s, and incorporated the Warren's own color scheme. The grand movie palaces of yesteryear did more than show movies... they unveiled them. Every auditorium in the Warren is equipped with waterfall curtains which rise majestically at the beginning of the feature presentation. (Our main auditorium actually features two sets of curtains.) Remember the neon-lit clock? And the curtain-draped exits?
The Team that designed the theatres: Bill Warren's vision and specifications for the Warren Theatre were brought to life by the Architectural Team of RON SPANGENBERG and RANDY PHILLIPS of Spangenberg-Phillips Architects.
The Experience: It should be apparent by now that we want your visit here to be special. The Warren has been designed as more than just a place to watch a movie; this is a destination. And to that end, we've tried to think of everything:
The Warren Box Office offers customer service stations both inside, and outside, to minimize any wait.
Ticketing is fully computerized, with capabilities for advance sales for upcoming shows.
Our 24-Hour Automated Ticket Machine (ATM), located in front of each theatre, accommodates credit card purchases at any time of the day or night.
Show schedules are staggered to eliminate long lines and crowded hallways.
The Warren staff, dressed in period uniforms reminiscent of the Radio City Music Hall, is committed to putting service back into the theatre business. If you have a question or need help, just ask. That's what we're here for.
[edit] About the Palace Theatres
This section pertains to the Palace and Premier Palace Theatres.
The three Palace Theatres all have a memorable pink exterior. They each contain a number of THX certified auditoriums, though unlike the Warren Theatres, they are not considered "luxury" theatres, but "budget" theatres. They do not have the waterfall curtains over the screens, or the space-foam chairs. The Palace Theatre in Wichita runs sub-run shows for $2.00 a ticket.
[edit] The Movie Machine
The Movie Machine replaced the theatre in the Towne West Square Mall in Wichita, after heavy renovation. All of the auditoriums are THX certified.
[edit] The Old Town Warren
The Old Town Warren in Wichita Kansas was one of the first theatres in the country to allow patrons to order food by the touch of a button in every auditorium. All auditoriums feature stadium seating.
[edit] Warren Theatre East
Also Called the East 13th Street Warren Theatre, it contains 20 auditoriums, all are THX certified, and feature stadium seating.
[edit] Warren Theatre West
Also called the Warren Theatre 17 or West 21st Street Warren Theatre. It contains 17 auditoriums, all are THX certified. Ten of the auditoriums contain stadium seating.
[edit] Sources
All information on this page is taken from the Warren Theatres official website. A link can be found in the external links section.
