Nixon Theatre (new)
956 Liberty Avenue,
Pittsburgh,
PA
15222
956 Liberty Avenue,
Pittsburgh,
PA
15222
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 43 comments
Opened as Victoria on September 1st, 1913 as Victoria
World’s largest steel girder
Victoria theatre under construction
New Victoria theater Sun, Sep 8, 1912 – Page 3 · Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com
It was 50 years ago today that “The Sound of Music” premiered at the Nixon. With a reserved-seat run of 106 weeks, it’s almost certainly the long-run record holder for this venue. (Anyone know of something that ran longer?) It was one of ten runs in the United States and at least 24 globally that ran the movie continuously into a third year.
1923, 1938 and 1950 grand opening ads in the photo section.
Article that RSM 3853 is talking about is at http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aagcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E2IEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7073%2C3502319
Ed Blank’s extensive and wonderful article, “What Happened to All the Old Theaters?” was in the Sunday, July 10, 1983 issue of The Pittsburgh Press. I still have the paper, although it is getting rather ragged 30 years later! But that is the date for those who have access to microfilms or if that day’s paper is available on Google News Archives.
Here are two pictures of the the theater as the Aldine in 1935/1937:
View link
View link
Apparently the ALDINE vertical was removed in 1936 or thereabouts.
It is interesting that the building that is above and to the right of the theater’s marquee in both photos (essentially surrounding the theater’s entrance) is gone in the photo posted by lostmemory on October 29, 2005, and that a vertical sign reading NIXON was installed on the beveled face of the building across the street (to which was also attached the left end of the later alley-spanning marquee).
There are some photos posted within some earlier comments of the building that has the vertical NIXON sign on it indicating that that building was the theater, but the theater was really across the alley.
never saw a film here , but I did see one of the last legit shows to play the theatre. It was a production of Sabrina Fair, around 1975 or 1976. The theatre was quite empty the night I saw the show. Was quite sad when they tore it down.If I recall correctly the space sat as a vacant lot for a long time
Bruce,
Hold on to the Loew’s Aldine program. It is really rare.
I have a theater program from the Loew’s Aldine for the week of March 9, 1925. They have a concert orchestra playing some music, and a couple of musical soloists. They are showing a newsreel, Felix the Cat in Felix Tries to Rest and the M-G-M feature The Great Divide.
John Eberson did some remodelling of this theatre around 1913.
Thank you very much, CT contributors. I appreciate the kind words.
Aside to Lost Pittsburgh: I don’t think I can lay my hands on the story about what occupies the former drive-in properties, but I do have an original of the most commented-up story I ever did: A 1983 roundup of what occupied at that time the sites of many dozens of former Pittsburgh area moviehouses.
As I recall, the indoor theaters story led to the followup on what happened to the drive-in properties.
I’ll send you a Xerox of the indoors story by postal mail if you email me at and give me your home address. I don’t think you should post it here. – Ed
Ed, In my eyes you were the Master of the movie critics in Pittsburgh. You turned your reviews into an art that I learned from. You once did an article that told about every drive-in theatre that was in the Greater Pittsburgh area and what had replaced them. I unfortunately lost it when I moved from my family home on the North Side in the early 80’s. How wonderful it has been to rediscover you on this site and read your wonderful stories again!
So true,Bill on 2001.My favorite of all time.
Great Stories Ed.
Thanks, Ed. I find looking at the Pittsburgh Press online is very addictive, not only for the movie reviews but also the movie ads and TV listings. The ads especially make me realize that it’s not just nostalgia – things really were better back then.
Some of my favorite reviews were your review of “The Exorcist” and Kap Monahan’s review of “2001”. He really seemed to get it, and to appreciate how special it was, while most of my local New York City newspaper critics most assuredly did not.
Hi, Bill. Thanks for your very kind comments.
I arrived at The Pittsburgh Press in October 1967, a year before Kap Monahan’s retirement. His departure created a space for me in the Features Department (entertainment and style/women’s/living pages).
His direct successor, though, was Tom Blakely, who had been Kap’s backup on theater and movies for about 20 years. I did TV & radio while Tom was Drama Editor. Then I moved over and succeeded him in January 1972.
I saw Kap at parties and picnics during his retirement years. He and Tom have both been gone for maybe 30 years now.
Ed Blank: I saw your name in the byline of many excellent movie reviews from the 1970’s in the Pittsburgh Press, available online for free on Google News. You’re really a fine writer – very entertaining and informative reviews. You were a worthy successor to Kaspar Monahan, who had quite a long tenure at the Press. As far as I can tell, he reviewed everything from “King Kong” (1933) to “2001” (1968). Did you know him?
Different looking marquee type on the NEW NIXON covering the alley.
The second and final Nixon Theatre – this one – was named for the first. Neither had anything to do with the late U.S. President.
Todd-AO was inaugurated with “Oklahoma,” “Around the World in 80 Days,” “South Pacific,” “Porgy and Bess” and “Can-Can,” all of which had their Pittsburgh premiere roadshow engagements at the Nixon.
WSarner was the first Todd A O then the Nixon then the Fulton.. When the Fulton closed the Norelco projectors were still up in the booth, don’t know if they are still there or not…..
This is a silly – though not an entirely irrelevant – question. After whom were the two Nixon Theaters named? I do not think this question has been addressed in the thread. Specifically, what Nixon was significant enough in Steel Town USA to have a theater named after him – or her? I very much doubt that it was Richard M.
The Nixon was still operating during the first half of the 1970s although struggling from the time the subscription series collapsed and the theater stopped getting major (true) National Touring companies.
In October 1975 the Nixon had a touring production of an all-black play called “What the Wine-Sellers Buy” with Bill Cobbs and Ron Trice.
The final production opened Nov. 27, 1975. It was conceived, choreographed and directed by Gene Kelly and was called “Gene Kelly’s Salute to Broadway.”
Its cast of 10 was headed by Howard Keel, Ken Berry, Mimi Hines and Lainie Nelson. Kelly did not visit with the production.
Most of the shows the last two to four years were threadbare productions, mainly “bus-and-truck companies.”
I cannot find a newspaper clipping to confirm this, but I believe the darkened theater was intact until after a final fire broke out in 1976.
Renewing link.
Here is a page from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dated 2/10/49:
http://tinyurl.com/6nfb7d