Squirrel Hill Theatre
5824 Forward Avenue,
Pittsburgh,
PA
15217
5824 Forward Avenue,
Pittsburgh,
PA
15217
7 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cinemagic Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Architects: Edgar A. Kwalwasser
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Mar 10, 2010 — After seventy-four years, Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill theater closes
- May 1, 2009 — Remembering Cinerama (Part 29: Pittsburgh)
Opened by Warner Bros Circuit Management Co. on February 2, 1937 with George Brent in “God’s Country and the Woman”. The Squirrel Hill Theatre was one of the last of the dying breed of neighborhood movie theatres.
The Squirrel Hill Theatre is located near the intersection of Murray Avenue and Forward Avenues in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh.
Last operated by CineMagic, screening first run and independent films, it was closed on March 30, 2010. The theatre was demolished in May 2021.
Contributed by
Rick Aubrey
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Recent comments (view all 31 comments)
Mr. Bean.
“I’m not sure why there is a preservation effort underway when the space where the theater sits is scheduled to be part of the redevelopment effort.”
It’s because some of us don’t like AMC and still appreciate the fare that smaller theatres like this, the Manor, and the Regent Square show. Besides, this country has gotten too over condo-ized and small businesses like these theatres provide welcome relief.
You are right though. They could have done a better job on the remodeling. There are independent cinemas that still hold their own against the big chains.
Back in high school I made regular Pittsburgh movie pilgrimages from Youngstown, and saw some classics at the Squirrel Hill: “Cries and Whispers” (April 1973); “Day for Night” (New Year’s Day 1974); “A Brief Vacation” (Memorial Day 1975); “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (Dec. ‘75); etc.
The theater had a very sophisticated, big city feel (similar to some NYC theaters of the time like the Coronet, Sutton and Paris), and I vaguely remember a nearby restaurant that we would go to while in Squirrel Hill (Poli’s maybe?) Great memories.
I only saw one film at this theater. I loved the setup and the neighborhood atmosphere but the presentation was terrible. Picture quality was extremely poor, the print was scratched, and an amp was blown. Sad to hear it closed, with some improvements it could have been very nice.
I remember when “Becket” opened here in mid-1964. It kept playing into the fall until I believe they had to just stop it, despite its success, because they had to do a renovation to prepare for the roadshow of “My Fair Lady.” This renovation allowed them to concentrate on more roadshows such as “Doctor Zhivago,” “The Agony and the Ecstasy,” and “The Lion in Winter.” It was designed with gold curtains and gold walls. I don’t remember the color of the seats and carpets. It was a smaller theater in comparison to the downtown ones.
February 2nd, 1937 grand opening ad in photo section.
The obituary of Squirrel Hill architect Edgar A. Kwalwasser in the August 6, 1998, issue of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette listed alterations to the Squirrel Hill and Manor Theatres among his works. As Kwalwasser established his practice in 1951, the remodeling of the Squirrel Hill Theatre that he handled might have been the one for Stanley-Warner in 1956, or it might have been a later one.
Whatever happened to this place? Was it ever demolished?
Early this year plans were afoot to turn the Squirrel Hill Theatre into a live music venue, but they never cane to fruition. Then on June 29 the Pittsburgh Patch web site posted a brief article leading with this news:
I’ve found nothing more recent about the redevelopment project, so it’s possible that the theater building is still standing, though if so it probably won’t be for long.Some years ago the late rapper Mac Miller, who had once lived in the neighborhood, considered buying the theater for use as a live performance venue, but that plan too failed to materialize. The growing popularity of the neighborhood has probably made the site too valuable for theatrical use.
The building has been demolished.
Closed March 3, 2010. Demolished May 2021.