Loews 20 North Versailles

200 Loews Drive,
North Versailles, PA 15137

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on August 4, 2022 at 2:43 pm

Built on the Greater Pittsburgh Drive-In Theatre’s former spot on Route 30 was the David Rockwell-architected Loews North Versailles. The 20-screen, $20 million megaplex had 4,200 seats with its largest auditorium seating 635 and sporting a 60 foot screen. But with competition from the Destinta Theatre nearby at Pittsburgh Plaza in Versailles and Loew’s own Waterfront 22 within ten miles opening in 2000, this was going to be a financial challenge.

In 2001, Loews Cineplex Circuit filed for bankruptcy protection likely able to duck creditors in some of its failed new locations in overbuilt situations. The Loews 20 North Versailles fit the bill perfectly and was quickly shuttered on June 28, 2001.

Jacktheram
Jacktheram on September 21, 2017 at 4:55 pm

I remember going there when it first opened in 1999. I was still mad that the Greater Pittsburgh Drive In was torn down to make room for the movie thearter, but blamed wal mart more, still mad about it all these years later. Just wish wal mart would have closed as quickly as the show. Anyway, I only liked going to this show because it was never crowded and close to my house, but still can,t believe it closed as fast as it did. I was hoping when it closed they would have made it a maxi saver show. Too many thearters in the area with the Desenta theater, now the Phoenix Theater in North Huntington and the Loews in the Homestead Waterfront. Should have built a 2 screen Greater Pittsburgh Two Drive In instead of the movie theater on that property, right.

MrWolf98
MrWolf98 on December 4, 2016 at 9:58 pm

Another example why they should not close down theatres with 20+ screens

theatrefan
theatrefan on August 31, 2015 at 11:28 pm

Does any part of this former Loews Theatre still exist inside? or has it all been torn out to make way for the Flea Market. This had to be one of the shortest lifespans of any theatre during the multiplex building boom in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 21, 2014 at 1:08 pm

November 23rd, 1999 grand opening ad in photo section

StrangeStephen
StrangeStephen on March 3, 2014 at 10:55 pm

@muviebuf The old theatre building shares a parking lot with a WalMart. A true two-headed monster took down the Greater Pittsburgh Drive-In.

muviebuf
muviebuf on January 22, 2013 at 2:42 pm

The real sad commentary was that Lowes tore down the really nice drive in (5 screens if I recall correctly) that was on the site so as to build this complex.

DTK
DTK on January 21, 2013 at 11:06 pm

I installed the projection equipment in this theatre in October 1999 using over 2000 zip ties. In march of 2001, i cut out over 2000 zip ties. Maybe I should have used Velcro? This theatre was actually much nicer than Destinta, but the location, unruly moviegoers, the unskilled “projectionists” and the “New York” attitude of Loews guaranteed few return customers.

John Fink
John Fink on June 9, 2012 at 1:48 am

Check out their Facebook page – fascinating – it looks like they’ve half-gutted the theatre with venders popping up all over the corridors and lobbies, almost something out of the third world.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini on February 7, 2011 at 2:25 pm

www.rossispopup.com

An inglorious fate for what should have been a great cinema.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 8, 2010 at 7:47 pm

Simply put over screening in many medium size cities to larger ones.Pure greed.

SusanD
SusanD on August 31, 2010 at 9:03 am

Paul, I believe you are correct.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini on May 2, 2010 at 7:51 pm

I think it’s now something called “Rossi’s Buyer’s Depot”.

fred1
fred1 on March 3, 2010 at 3:37 pm

It seems that Pittsburgh is a dead market.

SusanD
SusanD on March 3, 2010 at 3:02 pm

I know tlsloews. I was here the week it opened.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 28, 2010 at 5:13 pm

Hard to believe this theatre only lasted a little over a year.

SusanD
SusanD on January 10, 2008 at 11:44 am

Now that I think about it, wasn’t this place down the road from the drive-in? I’m beginning to think it wasn’t on the same site.

br91975
br91975 on December 11, 2007 at 9:32 am

Does anyone have any recent photos of the interior and/or exterior they could post?

SusanD
SusanD on November 14, 2007 at 3:48 pm

I can remember when this place first opened. My brother and I drove out here during the opening week. That was the only time I was ever at this theatre, although I’d been to the drive-in when I was a teenager. I honestly believe that the drive-in was a lot more fun.

It was a huge miscalculation to build this place. I wonder if the drive-in would still be in business today if it wasn’t bulldozed to build this hulk.

raubre
raubre on September 12, 2006 at 2:48 pm

I can take a picture of the buliding this week sometime.

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini on March 3, 2006 at 9:45 am

Found an article on this place

View link

And an article with a photo

View link

Paul Fortini
Paul Fortini on March 3, 2006 at 9:36 am

Does anybody have photos of this place or know of any photos? I’d like to see what it looked like when it was in business and as it is now.