The Warner Brothers 

In 1896, a Polish immigrant named Ben Warner settled in Youngstown. His son, Harry Warner already lived in Youngstown and owned a shoe repair shop. In total, 14 members of the Warner family lived, together, in the city at the turn of the century. Ben soon opened a butcher shop that eventually resided across the street from the future Warner Theater on W. Federal St. Harry meanwhile, formed a partnership with brothers Sam and Albert to open a bike shop. Their capitol was $500 borrowed from their good friend Louis Ozersky. The business, however, waned and by the start of the twentieth century, Thomas Edison’s new Kinescope had caught the Warners’ attention. Young Jack Warner had been selected to lead community sing-a-longs at the Dome Theatre. The theatre also had Kinescope or “nickelodeon’ attractions. This was to be the Warner family’s first exposure to motion pictures.     

The brothers soon decided to attempt a traveling nickelodeon show that performed in various sites around the city, including Idora Park. In 1903, they decided to open a movie theatre in New Castle, Pa. Sam ran the projector, Jack sang before and after the show, and Albert, Milton, and Harry rewound the film. The theatre flourished, however, the problem of advanced billing and inconsistent delivery of films led the Warners to create the Duquesne Amusement Supply Company. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, the exchange firm bought films for a group of theaters. The business was successful but only for a short time. The producers of the films did not approve that the supply company was making more money then they. Therefore, they began raising rental fees and sending poor or unwanted films. By 1912, the Warner brothers sold their firm in Pittsburgh and decided to produce films themselves.[1]  

By the 1920’s, Sam Warner was in Hollywood experimenting with sound and talking films. He was convinced that he and his brothers should produce and debut the first talking film. In August of 1926, “Don Juan” premiered at their New York City theatre. It was the first film ever shown with sound. This new innovation thrilled crowds and brought extraordinary success to the Warner Brothers. In 1931, the success of the film company led the Warner brothers to build an opulent theatre on West Federal St. in Youngstown. The building was also a memorial to their late brother Sam and parents. The theatre was a grand fixture in the city showing the top films of Hollywood’s golden age. In a letter to the Vindicator in May 1931 Harry Warner stated: 

    Its formal opening [the theater] is  

    both a fulfillment and a promise-

    evidence of our desire and

    willingness to keep abreast of a

    progressive city.

 However, by 1968, the theatre was failing due to the increasing popularity of home television sets. Scheduled to be destroyed and the contents sold at auction, at the very last minute Edward and Alice Powers provided the financial means to save the structure and its contents. Today as Powers Auditorium, the theatre remains full of sound from the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.[2]

 

 Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Warner and family 1926 wedding anniversary. Acc. No. JA86-4. MVHS Collection