Rick is absolutely right. It is absolutely atrocious that there are no theaters left in this bustling commercial area, with its world famous mall and row after row of busy shopping centers and restaurants. C'mon AMC, Pacific, Loews and Regal – step up to the plate: take a look at Western PA – this is a hugely profitable opportunity. The Waterfront complex has proven what business a state-of-the-art theater can attract. “If you build it, they will come…”
Thanks Rick :) It’s too bad that the city of New Kensington hasn’t tried to restore this place into a performing arts venue – perhaps it could help launch another try at revitalizing the city.
I remember the long lines for “Jaws” back in 1975 that extended all the way down to 6th and Penn. I also remember the following year the giant “ape paw prints” that were painted on the sidewalk leading to the Gateway to promote the upcoming run of “King Kong”.
We sure had a lot of great downtown movie theaters – Warner, Stanley, Gateway, Fulton, Loews Penn, Fiesta – those were the days.
Does anyone know if the Showcase Cinemas North (near Wexford) are still in existence? They were nice in their heyday (and just about the only place left to see a film in the North Hills area) but last time I was there on a visit back to Pittsburgh (around 2002) they were in deplorable condition.
I used to go to this theater back in the late 70’s while in high school when it showed ahem “adult films”. I remember it closing – does anyone know whatever became of its space?
The Bellevue Theater originally was a single (huge) screen auditorium before being remodeled and split into two “shoeboxes” in the late 70’s. It was a wonderful neighborhood theater for many years when Cinemette operated it, before it was sold and allowed to deteriorate. I saw many films there as a child – “Planet of the Apes” and “Sound of Music” to name a few. The sad demise of this theater seems to be in step with the slow gradual decline of a once-vibrant Bellevue.
The Hampton Theater (actually theaters as it was a two-plex) was located on Route 8 in the Hampton Plaza (a few miles south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit). It anchored the plaza along with the now-gone VIP North 2001 nightclub for many years. The theater opened in the early 70’s – I was there that opening weekend. It was a great suburban “neighborhood” theater in which I saw many films over the years – “Star Wars”, “Close Encounters” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” to name a few. The last film I saw there was “Manhunter” back in the mid-80’s before I relocated to Los Angeles. I believe the theater closed around 1989 when it was a second-run house, likely the victim of the success of the Showcase Cinema North which opened up several miles away. It’s space became a sporting goods store before the plaza was remodeled; its old location is now a Sears hardware store. Still have many fond memories there!
Rick is absolutely right. It is absolutely atrocious that there are no theaters left in this bustling commercial area, with its world famous mall and row after row of busy shopping centers and restaurants. C'mon AMC, Pacific, Loews and Regal – step up to the plate: take a look at Western PA – this is a hugely profitable opportunity. The Waterfront complex has proven what business a state-of-the-art theater can attract. “If you build it, they will come…”
(By the way, awesome one-liner, MovieMatty!)
Thanks Rick :) It’s too bad that the city of New Kensington hasn’t tried to restore this place into a performing arts venue – perhaps it could help launch another try at revitalizing the city.
I remember the long lines for “Jaws” back in 1975 that extended all the way down to 6th and Penn. I also remember the following year the giant “ape paw prints” that were painted on the sidewalk leading to the Gateway to promote the upcoming run of “King Kong”.
We sure had a lot of great downtown movie theaters – Warner, Stanley, Gateway, Fulton, Loews Penn, Fiesta – those were the days.
Does anyone know if the Showcase Cinemas North (near Wexford) are still in existence? They were nice in their heyday (and just about the only place left to see a film in the North Hills area) but last time I was there on a visit back to Pittsburgh (around 2002) they were in deplorable condition.
I used to go to this theater back in the late 70’s while in high school when it showed ahem “adult films”. I remember it closing – does anyone know whatever became of its space?
The Bellevue Theater originally was a single (huge) screen auditorium before being remodeled and split into two “shoeboxes” in the late 70’s. It was a wonderful neighborhood theater for many years when Cinemette operated it, before it was sold and allowed to deteriorate. I saw many films there as a child – “Planet of the Apes” and “Sound of Music” to name a few. The sad demise of this theater seems to be in step with the slow gradual decline of a once-vibrant Bellevue.
The Hampton Theater (actually theaters as it was a two-plex) was located on Route 8 in the Hampton Plaza (a few miles south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit). It anchored the plaza along with the now-gone VIP North 2001 nightclub for many years. The theater opened in the early 70’s – I was there that opening weekend. It was a great suburban “neighborhood” theater in which I saw many films over the years – “Star Wars”, “Close Encounters” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” to name a few. The last film I saw there was “Manhunter” back in the mid-80’s before I relocated to Los Angeles. I believe the theater closed around 1989 when it was a second-run house, likely the victim of the success of the Showcase Cinema North which opened up several miles away. It’s space became a sporting goods store before the plaza was remodeled; its old location is now a Sears hardware store. Still have many fond memories there!