Warner Theatre

Hello all! Thought you may be interested in this. According to a large original poster that I have in my Indy collection: The Stanley(I’m assuming the Warner was known as the Stanley at this time?) & Gateway Theatres, Downtown, PGH, hosted a Live Closed-circuit telecast of the Indy 500 on Memorial Day, May 30th, 1968.
Indy 1968 Poster

“Midway” definitely played at the Gateway Theater during the summer of ‘76 (in Sensurround). I’m pretty sure the Gateway closed in June, 1980 with “Friday the 13th.”

I emailed some friends left in Pittsburg to see what they know about the Warner.

I am so glad that my ramblings actually provided useful information. I left Pittsburgh in 1982 and upon reviewing the list of movies above, I can’t be sure that I actually saw a movie there since Earthquake (December 1974). I would have sworn that I saw Midway (June 18, 1976) with Sensurround there but I don’t see it on the list and apparently Logan’s Run was playing that same week so that can’t be correct. So, I can only verify up to Dec. 1974.

The Warner could have been divided into two to three screens in the late 70’s early 80’s like some of the other downtown Pittsburgh theaters did by walling off their balcony and installing two small screens up there; or was it one small screen up top and two on the bottom? Somehow I think this happened but I can’t be sure. No one left alive in my family that would have remembered. I hope someone reads this and recalls whether the Warner was divided or not.

The first impression as a 14 year old going to the Warner for the first time to see Earthquake (1974) was that the theater was very ornately decorated and that this was going to be a living history lesson of theaters of the past. The architecture was beautiful even if it did show it’s age. I loved it. The balcony was closed for this Sensurround engagement, probably for safety purposes. The next striking thing was that the screen was very different from any screen that I had ever seen. It was not only curved, but very deeply curved. If I remember correctly, it was almost 180 degrees cylinder which meant that the seats started a fair distance back from the center of the screen with a large stage under the footprint of the screen. Further, an octagonal projection booth with three windows was smack in the middle of the audience. My dad would tell me that the three Cinerama projectors would be housed in there, but it had since been retrofitted with a single projector with a special lens to bend the image to project onto the screen. Sorry to say, the lens/screen combination really distorted the image at the corners but you accepted this after a while just because of the shear size of the screen.

Waiting in the hallway off the lobby leading to the theater for the previous showing to be over presented it’s own anticipation as the Sensurround vibrations from the dam-bursting scene came through to rattle the old plaster of the walls. This was going to be fun! Entering the theater I saw the big horn speakers hanging high in the air on both sides of the screen plus some big horn speakers way in the back. The Sensurround effects really shook the balcony adding creaks and moans to the recorded sounds. Though I really didn’t think that Sensurround really shook the seats or added anything more than a little vibration to the air in your lungs, it sure made the theater creak in ways that were terrifying making you look back to see if you were far enough away from the balcony in case it fell in. Were the cracks in the plaster there before Earthquake or because of Earthquake?

Long live the Warner, in our memories.

Right now a Washington, PA outfit owned by Jack Piatt called Millcraft is renovating the former Lazarus Department Store into Piatt Place with condominiums and shops. They currently have the inside track to developing more of the Fifth Avenue and Wood Street areas that have become such a blight. They have expressed an interest in acquring the Warner property and making it into an entertainment center with a multiplex cinema, music clubs, and other things. We can only hope that this comes into being. All this, of course, was discussed under the rule of the late mayor Bob O'Connor. Now it is up to Luke Ravenstahl to continue the downtown redevelopment.

Oh My LuisV….I am glad you enjoyed your visit to Pittsburgh. You are right it was once a great city to live in but no longe. No one has a reason to go downtown anymore. At one time there was kaufmanns, Pittsburgh’s oldest store now Macy’s, Gimbels, and Joseph Horn comapany. Great clothiers and jewelry shops as well, but now nothing. Worst of all at one point it had 7 movie theaters within a three block radius where you saw your show which by the way was at the former Stanley Warner theater, the Stanley, now called something else. The only real theater that survived it all is Heinz hall formally the Penn Theater. It is beautiful. They love to put new restaurants downtown and now build lofts at high prices but no reason for people to go there as it is nothing but a getto. You are right out of the theater and no mans land. The Mayor has a big challenge ahead of him, but he is fighting a losing battle as the mob boys and unions control that city and they are not about to lose one cent from what is going on now, which is nothing. Yes Kennywood is one great park, and a national landmark as well. Keep well.

Oh Krypton Cowboy are you one of the Cinemette crowd of supporters? Thank you for correcting my spelling, that is what I would expect. Cinemette was nothing but blood sucking evil men who drained everything they got their hands on and then left a tiotal wasted mess that could only reach a bulldozer. The theater was not good for anything. As to who they are, they were part of the Associated Theaters Chain of management and owners that went out and Formed this mess. They should all be put in jail for their goings on in Pittsburgh. As to the film companies supporting the Chatham, where are the film companies any way. They are long gone from film rown on the Blvd of the Allies now arn’t they. The theaters are not to blame for not wanting to go downtown. What about the department stroes leaving, and now Saks wants out, not to mention the headquarters for Mellon Bank. Pittsburgh is a mess, it will always be and as a former Pittsburger I know from experience. There is absolutely nor reason to go downtown or even live in this poor city.

I hearrd a very, very nice rumor (and possibly very welcome rumor) about what will happen to the Warner. I was told that this may become a theater once again!!!!! :)

Here is an article out of the Tribune Review that helps back this up.
View link

The organ in the Warner was a small, old Wurlitzer 2-manual. What was left of it was salvaged many yaers ago by the Pittsburgh Area Theatre Organ Society. Several years back we purchased all leftover parts of it from them. It’s been out of the building for quite a long time.

The Chatham Cinema opened on October 25 1966 and was owned by Morris Finkle, owner of the Shadyside, Mt Oliver, Arcade and was his first run house. I was the opening Asst Mrg. The opening film was Paramounts “Alfie” starring Michael Caine. It played for six months to the day, followed by “Barefoot In The Park”, Wait Until Dark, The Odd Couple, and Taming of the Shrew. This was a beautiful theater not exactly in the downtown and had plenty of parking and that great old Red Coach Grill upstairs. Then, you got it, Cinemmette got its hand on it and it was just ruined. I was so sorry to leave that place…it was great. The hanging changelier in the main lobby was imported from Italy and was georgeous. Lines would form every Friday and Saturday night to see the films, did not matter what they were. It was one of the greatest times in my life.

The organ does indeed exist! It’s on the second floor in the far side of the food court. The last store in the food court had to close on 2/28/06 so its possible that the food court may be closed soon. If you want to see it, you should hurry!