I did some fill-in work here, when I wasn’t working at the Warner or the Chatham. I remember seeing “Star Trek – The Motion Picture” here in 1979. I understand that movie was originally supposed to play at the Warner. However at the time Star Trek – TMP was released (December 7, 1979), the Warner was still doing good business with “Apocalypse Now” and they didn’t want to change features yet. The Warner ended up getting “The Black Hole” on December 21st for its 1979 Christmas release.
There was a modern elegance to this theatre. Very classy. One of the unique features of it was the entrance from the parking lot, in addition to the main entrance.
On my recent trip to Chatham Center, I tried to go to the theatre entrance from the parking lot. There was a wood barricade that blocked access from the parking area. There was a door in the barricade that allowed a view through a crack in the doorframe. You could see inside that they were using the rear entrance way as a junk area. There were paint cans, bags of sand, pieces of wood, etc. Very sad.
If the theatre were to be reopened, many people standing at the lower Washington Place gate at Consol Energy Center could not help but see it. It is right there. It could be potential draw of business.
@rivoli157. You’re welcome! I’m glad you like the pictures. I will be posting more.
I understand some people from Duquesne University were looking at the Chatham recently. It would be an ideal location for them. Of all of the theatres left downtown, it is the only one that hasn’t been gutted (like the Warner, Gateway, or the Fiesta). It still has the basic structure in place, even though it needs a lot of work. I know a group of people have recently re-opened the Hollywood in Dormont. Perhaps the same thing might happen for the Chatham Cinema. I would really like to see that happen.
I used to work at both the Warner and the Chatham in the early 1980’s. I will be adding some pictures soon of both of these great old theatres, along with the other downtown movie houses. I also have some old photos of the Greater Pittsburgh Drive-In I will be adding.
@csepe: I am not sure what is left of the Fiesta. The Art Institute was using it for classrooms for some time. I am not sure if they just covered up the slanted floor, or if they gutted the whole auditorium. The escalator and front lobby were still pretty much the same, but beyond that, it was pretty much modernized. In don’t know if it could easily be converted back to a theatre. The Chatham needs new seats and some TLC, but it probably would have a better chance. Now if somebody rich would just buy the place…..
I was an usher at the Chatham for some great movies like Excalibur, Tess, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was a very classy theater, as were the people who came there.
I was at Chatham Center recently, and I asked the security guard if there was any way that I could see the inside of the theater. He told me that the seats were removed, and that the entire theater needed a lot of work. He said it would be better for me to remember it the way it was.
The rear entrance from the parking lot is boarded up and the front of the building is bricked up. Such a waste. It’s too bad they can’t use it for something.
I used to work at both the Chatham and the Warner in the early 1980’s. I will be adding some pictures soon of both of these great old theatres, along with the other downtown movie houses. I also have some old photos of the Greater Pittsburgh Drive-In I will be adding.
I did some fill-in work here, when I wasn’t working at the Warner or the Chatham. I remember seeing “Star Trek – The Motion Picture” here in 1979. I understand that movie was originally supposed to play at the Warner. However at the time Star Trek – TMP was released (December 7, 1979), the Warner was still doing good business with “Apocalypse Now” and they didn’t want to change features yet. The Warner ended up getting “The Black Hole” on December 21st for its 1979 Christmas release.
There was a modern elegance to this theatre. Very classy. One of the unique features of it was the entrance from the parking lot, in addition to the main entrance. On my recent trip to Chatham Center, I tried to go to the theatre entrance from the parking lot. There was a wood barricade that blocked access from the parking area. There was a door in the barricade that allowed a view through a crack in the doorframe. You could see inside that they were using the rear entrance way as a junk area. There were paint cans, bags of sand, pieces of wood, etc. Very sad. If the theatre were to be reopened, many people standing at the lower Washington Place gate at Consol Energy Center could not help but see it. It is right there. It could be potential draw of business.
@rivoli157. You’re welcome! I’m glad you like the pictures. I will be posting more.
I understand some people from Duquesne University were looking at the Chatham recently. It would be an ideal location for them. Of all of the theatres left downtown, it is the only one that hasn’t been gutted (like the Warner, Gateway, or the Fiesta). It still has the basic structure in place, even though it needs a lot of work. I know a group of people have recently re-opened the Hollywood in Dormont. Perhaps the same thing might happen for the Chatham Cinema. I would really like to see that happen.
I used to work at both the Warner and the Chatham in the early 1980’s. I will be adding some pictures soon of both of these great old theatres, along with the other downtown movie houses. I also have some old photos of the Greater Pittsburgh Drive-In I will be adding.
@csepe: I am not sure what is left of the Fiesta. The Art Institute was using it for classrooms for some time. I am not sure if they just covered up the slanted floor, or if they gutted the whole auditorium. The escalator and front lobby were still pretty much the same, but beyond that, it was pretty much modernized. In don’t know if it could easily be converted back to a theatre. The Chatham needs new seats and some TLC, but it probably would have a better chance. Now if somebody rich would just buy the place…..
I was an usher at the Chatham for some great movies like Excalibur, Tess, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was a very classy theater, as were the people who came there.
I was at Chatham Center recently, and I asked the security guard if there was any way that I could see the inside of the theater. He told me that the seats were removed, and that the entire theater needed a lot of work. He said it would be better for me to remember it the way it was.
The rear entrance from the parking lot is boarded up and the front of the building is bricked up. Such a waste. It’s too bad they can’t use it for something.
I used to work at both the Chatham and the Warner in the early 1980’s. I will be adding some pictures soon of both of these great old theatres, along with the other downtown movie houses. I also have some old photos of the Greater Pittsburgh Drive-In I will be adding.