Location:

On Hollywood Blvd., California.

This labor of love, designed and built by the Warner brothers is now just open for special film festivals, and is behind metal bars most of the year, while being restored in the interior.

Address: 6423-45 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90048. (West of Vine, East of Highland)

A Great Web-Site

Description and History:

This theater is the biggest one ever built in Hollywood. This grand, landmark theater is being restored to its former glory, though it looks rather sad from the outside, partailly hidden by bars and street trash.

1927 was a busy year for the Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack Warner, as they not only were putting everything at risk by making the first talkie film, The Jazz Singer, but were also building their new larger than life movie theater, known as The Warner Pacific Theater. Sam, a driven, focused person, was involved intimately with both projects. Because he was a key participant in the development of sound, his skills were needed in making the film. He also insisted in personally installing the sound system in the new theater as well. Needless to say, he unfortunately didn't get much rest or sleep. When it became obvious that the theater wasn't going to be finished in time for the film's premiere, he cursed at the theater, while in the lobby.

Sam Warner never got to see the New York premiere of their revolutionary film, or see the theater completed six months later. 24 hours before the first showing of The Jazz Singer on Oct. 1927, Sam Warner suffered a brain hemorrhage and died in Los Angeles.

Manifestations:

When the grand Warner Pacific Theater was opened to the public on April 29,1928, the other Warner brothers mounted a memorial plaque honoring Sam in the lobby.

1) Soon after the opening of the theater, the apparition of Sam Warner was seen going about his business in the theater, and in the upstair offices. He also liked to pace in the lobby.

2) Throughout the years, Sam has been a strong presence in his theater.

a) Men on a cleaning detail were terrified to see Sam's entity walk across the lobby, push the elevator button, go on the elevator and go up to the second floor! The guard wasn't frightened though, but wondered why Sam didn't just float up to the second floor.

b) The current security personnel are quite familiar with Sam, and accept his presence as being just a part of the building. His presence, whether seen or unseen, likes to ride the elevator up to the second floor offices. When finished he'll take the elevator back down to the lobby.

c) When the theater is quiet, they can hear him in the upstairs offices moving chairs, etc. Guards have seen his clear, detailed form doing his work up in these offices.

Still Haunted?

Yes.

Sam Warner isn't able to rest, because he wasn't ready to go to the other side in 1928, due to his unfinished business. He is happy helping the living run his theater. He must be very pleased now that the place is being renovated to be the showplace he envisioned it to be.