One item that is slightly incorrect is the expansion of the building being prevented. The original building only extended to the location of screen 8. Screens 9 and 10 along with a few offices were added on after the building first opened. I believe screens 1 and 2 were divided at that time to become screens 1-4. screen 3 became screens 5-6 and screen 4 became 7-8. Even when split, screens 5-8 (originally 3 and 4) held 500+ each. The original projector portals were still in the projection booth at their original locations, just covered or painted over. It was also evident on the second floor where the original staircase to the projection booth and manager’s office was located before the renovation.
What is true however are the lifetime passes. Every single Wilkins Twp resident who lived on the street behind the theater had free admission. The free pass sheet was normally pretty light on weekdays and through the weekends we’d occasionally get into multiple pages of people using passes for admission.
Another bit of trivia… there was a locker on the second floor that held Star Wars posters, standees and other promo materials from the original run of each movie until about a year before the building closed. It was interesting to see. There was actually an entire room at one point with a giant Paramount logo on the wall that was completely loaded with old movie promo materials until we cleaned it out around 2003.
Was 301 Park Manor the actual address?
Even when working at Showcase East, everything we had for West only listed it as Park Manor Drive with no address. This building was mostly a clone of the East location for those who were never there, however this one actually got a few upgrades over the years.
There were MANY issues with the structure itself which ultimately led to it’s closing. The lobby roof was falling apart, every AC unit was ancient and in need of replacement, the entire building needed new carpeting, the area of the building that held screens 1-4 was slowly sinking, the main sewage pipe below the building had ruptured which led to backup in every bathroom and concession stand, hundreds of seats needed replaced, frequent issues with the thx and dolby equipment on screens 7 and 8, most of the projection equipment was late 70s vintage with modifications made along the way, the parking lot was a giant sinkhole waiting to happen, the sidewalks were buckling, etc.. Each of these issues combined with low attendance after the Loews Waterfront and Destinta theaters opened made it a little difficult to convince National Amusements to do anything but close this location. The original construction plans for the shopping center now in it’s former location included the old building….but I guarantee once they got a look at lack of sewage pipe and condition of the structure itself…it had to come down. (Also… I worked there from 2000 – 2004 when the building closed)
One item that is slightly incorrect is the expansion of the building being prevented. The original building only extended to the location of screen 8. Screens 9 and 10 along with a few offices were added on after the building first opened. I believe screens 1 and 2 were divided at that time to become screens 1-4. screen 3 became screens 5-6 and screen 4 became 7-8. Even when split, screens 5-8 (originally 3 and 4) held 500+ each. The original projector portals were still in the projection booth at their original locations, just covered or painted over. It was also evident on the second floor where the original staircase to the projection booth and manager’s office was located before the renovation.
What is true however are the lifetime passes. Every single Wilkins Twp resident who lived on the street behind the theater had free admission. The free pass sheet was normally pretty light on weekdays and through the weekends we’d occasionally get into multiple pages of people using passes for admission.
Another bit of trivia… there was a locker on the second floor that held Star Wars posters, standees and other promo materials from the original run of each movie until about a year before the building closed. It was interesting to see. There was actually an entire room at one point with a giant Paramount logo on the wall that was completely loaded with old movie promo materials until we cleaned it out around 2003.
Another former National Amusements site.
Showcase Pittsburgh East
Showcase Pittsburgh West
Showcase Pittsburgh North
and Northway Mall Cinemas 8
I worked here from 1997 – 2000 when it closed as “Cinematropolis”. It amuses me how much everything still looks like it did 13 years ago.
Was 301 Park Manor the actual address? Even when working at Showcase East, everything we had for West only listed it as Park Manor Drive with no address. This building was mostly a clone of the East location for those who were never there, however this one actually got a few upgrades over the years.
Technically…. The final date may have been in Sept, but we worked in that building through November of 2004.
There were MANY issues with the structure itself which ultimately led to it’s closing. The lobby roof was falling apart, every AC unit was ancient and in need of replacement, the entire building needed new carpeting, the area of the building that held screens 1-4 was slowly sinking, the main sewage pipe below the building had ruptured which led to backup in every bathroom and concession stand, hundreds of seats needed replaced, frequent issues with the thx and dolby equipment on screens 7 and 8, most of the projection equipment was late 70s vintage with modifications made along the way, the parking lot was a giant sinkhole waiting to happen, the sidewalks were buckling, etc.. Each of these issues combined with low attendance after the Loews Waterfront and Destinta theaters opened made it a little difficult to convince National Amusements to do anything but close this location. The original construction plans for the shopping center now in it’s former location included the old building….but I guarantee once they got a look at lack of sewage pipe and condition of the structure itself…it had to come down. (Also… I worked there from 2000 – 2004 when the building closed)