Thanks. While the Squirrel Hill had gotten run down, it was one of the few places in the ‘Burgh that would show art & indie licks as well as the mainstream ones. The others would be the Manor and the Regent Square, where my husband and I have seasons passes. I was very fortunate to have all three within walking distance to my house.
Don’t get me wrong, I like big budget mainstream films as much as the next person. Indeed me and my girlfriends got our “chick testosterone” up one niight and headed to the Dependable Drive-In to see “GI Joe”> But I really enjoy fare like “The Last Station”, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, etc and venues that show what I like (and my husband likes) are disappearing.
Here’s a list I did on Pittsburgh area cinemas View link for another site. It’s sad how many have closed recently. Fortunately the Hollywood is up and running again and hopefully the Denis will be soon. But neither of these are close to my house.
I thought for a moment that this was the old South Hills/Cinema 4. I did a Google Maps “Streetview” search on the address and “2885 West Liberty Avenue” appears to have been a Evans TV Store. Unless the Dormont Theatre was a storefront/nickelodeon, there’s nothing to indicate a theatre was ever here.
My husband has a book on Pittsburgh Railways in the early 1960s. There are a couple of photos of Pittsburgh streetcars passing this theatre, which was already closed by this time.
I was at the nearby American Airlines Training Center for a week-long seminar. Some of my colleagues and I took a cab over here to see a show. Not a bad place to see a movie.
I really hope that this place succeeds. It failed under previous management. My husband and I saw “Dreamgirls” here and we really enjoyed the theatre.
Here’s hoping the Denis does well too.
SusanD
commented about
Cinema 4on
Jul 22, 2009 at 1:07 pm
That’s a shame. Just what we all need, another boring chain drug store! I’ve never been the the SHT/C4, but here’s hoping the renovated Denis and Hollywood Theatres can make a go of it.
Are any former Cinemettes still in business?
“This is probably the record for the largest closed multiplex,”
No, the Loews' 20 North Versailles opened in 1999 and closed in 2001.
The address should be Cheswick, PA 15024. Cheswick doesn’t use the Pittsburgh Zipcodes like Penn Hills, Greentree, and Dormont do.
Penn Hills does get a bad rap. There are plenty of good areas in Penn Hills.
Squirrel Hill is now closed. Update to my list above.
Hey, I tried to post this story last week!
Norelco,
Thanks. While the Squirrel Hill had gotten run down, it was one of the few places in the ‘Burgh that would show art & indie licks as well as the mainstream ones. The others would be the Manor and the Regent Square, where my husband and I have seasons passes. I was very fortunate to have all three within walking distance to my house.
Don’t get me wrong, I like big budget mainstream films as much as the next person. Indeed me and my girlfriends got our “chick testosterone” up one niight and headed to the Dependable Drive-In to see “GI Joe”> But I really enjoy fare like “The Last Station”, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”, etc and venues that show what I like (and my husband likes) are disappearing.
Here’s a list I did on Pittsburgh area cinemas View link for another site. It’s sad how many have closed recently. Fortunately the Hollywood is up and running again and hopefully the Denis will be soon. But neither of these are close to my house.
Yep, what a shame.
TLSLOEWS,
I used to be in a Pittsburgh-based band called EPONYMOUS. These days I give music lessons.
I believe this place is sitting vacant now.
I know tlsloews. I was here the week it opened.
Well said, Beansie. I like multi-plexes but you echoed my sentiments. I think there should be room for the small operator too.
tlsloews,
Don’t get me wrong, I like this place. It’s just a little far from my house.
I thought for a moment that this was the old South Hills/Cinema 4. I did a Google Maps “Streetview” search on the address and “2885 West Liberty Avenue” appears to have been a Evans TV Store. Unless the Dormont Theatre was a storefront/nickelodeon, there’s nothing to indicate a theatre was ever here.
Mike Rivest,
The link doesn’t work.
I’m hoping this place can get renovated.
With the advent of VCRs, this had to be one of the last porno theatres anywhere.
My husband has a book on Pittsburgh Railways in the early 1960s. There are a couple of photos of Pittsburgh streetcars passing this theatre, which was already closed by this time.
Somebody just bought the Silverdome for pennies on the dollar. What will become of this place?
I was at the nearby American Airlines Training Center for a week-long seminar. Some of my colleagues and I took a cab over here to see a show. Not a bad place to see a movie.
Any news on this place?
The Three Rivers Film Festival is going on here right now. I encourage everyone to attend.
It’s a shame this place closed. Pittsburgh is losing its independent, locally-owned cinemas.
I really hope that this place succeeds. It failed under previous management. My husband and I saw “Dreamgirls” here and we really enjoyed the theatre.
Here’s hoping the Denis does well too.
That’s a shame. Just what we all need, another boring chain drug store! I’ve never been the the SHT/C4, but here’s hoping the renovated Denis and Hollywood Theatres can make a go of it.