Arsenal Theater
4109 Butler Street,
Pittsburgh,
PA
15201
4109 Butler Street,
Pittsburgh,
PA
15201
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I just located a lady who remembers this theater as she grew up in Lawrenceville PA.
Anyone have any pictures of the Arsenal Theater? I spent many Saturdays there watching movies all day long for 50 cents. I guess it was in 65 or 66 I watched the wrecking ball have it’s way with the Arsenal.
Mike
Excellent, Chuck. Thanks.
Ed, I found some info on the Arsenal, not sure as to its accuracy and mybe you can verify. Opened as you said in 1915 and was owned by Rowland & Clark, Warner Brothers took over the theatre in 1930 and continued to operate the theatre through different subsidiaries until it closed in 1965. Initial seating listed at 1130.
Renewing link.
That’s what Ed already posted. I have no reason to doubt him.
I think you’re right. PNC Bank, the large building, is at 4101. The next building is H&R Block, which is 4113. The theater would have between the two buildings, which is the parking lot. Looks like the theater has been demolished.
When you click on the map button above, the photo shows a parking lot to the right of a large building which could be a bank.
Ed, there is a bank at 4112 Butler. All of the buildings on the odd side of the street, including 4109, look old. Are you sure the theater was razed for a parking lot?
Still listed in 1955 with 1,134 seats.
I, too, found estimates of the capacity as being both 1,134 and 882.
The theater dates to 1915 and closed in either 1965-66. I got there only a couple of times – once when the Carroll Baker film “Sylvia,” partially shot in Pittsburgh, was doubled with a reissue of “Psycho.”
The last film may have been “Mary Poppins.”
The theater was razed and the property used for a bank’s surface parking lot.
A long time projectionist who worked there, and lived in Etna, used to tell me they called it the Terminal. He said the lamps had an exhaust leak, with out much air flow in the booth, was hotter than the hinges to the gates of hell he would say. Always hated when the Business agent asked him to work there.
Norelco
Operating since at least 1941 when it is listed in that year’s edition of Film Daily Yearbook with a seating capacity of 882. It was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management.
Still listed as under Warner Bros. control in 1950, the seating capacity given in the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. was 1,134.