Warnors Center for the Performing Arts has big plans, including renovations, concerts, wine and classic movies to bring the Fresno community together.

Warnors Theatre has booked several highly anticipated shows, including .38 Special, Rick Springfield and Cheap Trick. Tickets are still available and range from $65-$250.

According to Rich Juarez, the director of the Warnors Center — which also includes live venues Frank’s Place and Star Palace — they are expecting an audience of 1,000-2,000 for the concerts. In addition, Warnors Theatre is also hosting a first-ever wine walk fundraising on Oct. 21.

“There’ll be five different stations where we’re doing your walk into the theater, getting a tour and learning the history of the theater from the 1920s and ‘30s and everybody who’s actually played here,” said Juarez. “While you’re walking your stations with different wineries, you can sample the wines. It’s kind of like a little wine expo with the history of the Warnors at the same time.”

A general admission Wine Walk ticket is $45. An $85 ticket includes dinner and entertainment.

As Warnors Theatre first began life as a Pantages vaudeville house and later a movie cinema, they are also bringing back classic movies like the 1931 “Frankenstein” and many more from October to December. Juarez said people can watch for free if they donate canned food or to Toys for Tots, which they also can get a free soda and popcorn. Kids can go in for free during Halloween to watch Hocus Pocus if they dress up in costume.

Warnors Theaters has existed since 1928 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the things that stands out from modern theaters is its original pipe organ, which in many ways is more priceless than the theater. It’s the only one of its kind still operational in its original home, and in addition to organ sounds, it also makes other noises as an accompaniment to silent movies.

“What makes this one different that didn’t happen for decades later, is that there’s a drum set or a banjo and a guitar. There are vocal bells and all the different percussion instruments that are on it that weren’t really made until, like the late ‘30s and ‘40s that were added to the organ,” said Juarez. “And at that time, it was like the highest in technology, which was amazing.”

Juarez said that when people go to watch a movie in the Warnors Theatre, the organ will be playing along with the film, giving people a sense of nostalgia for an era they likely never experienced.

“It was really cool to see a little kid in here with their great grandparents or a teenager in here with their parents,” said Juarez.“When they come in for the first time, they see the Warnors Theatre, the chandelier in the ceiling.”

The need to raise funds is highlighted by the reason Warnors Theatre doesn’t screen movies in the summer. The infrastructure is more than a century old. The AC isn’t quite up to the task.

“It’s not efficient in any kind of way,” Juarez said. “If we want to keep the room set to around 70 degrees, then we can’t do it because of the original system.”

The Warnors Center is looking toward grant opportunities to improve the infrastructure. But they still encourage people to visit because of the experience and history it has with Fresno.

“It’s something that people can’t get anymore, and we would start losing stuff like this if people don’t visit or support it,” said Juarez.