Penthouse I & Penthouse II was a twin 16mm porn theater in the early ‘70s. I for straight, & II for gay male films. New owners from NYC added stages lighting and sound for strippers and the occassional live sex act. A third theater was added to the third floor, and that building became a live sex multi-plex with 25 cent movie booths to boot. With the Bizarre, Liberty, Art Cinema, the Edison hotel, and the one near the bus station, and several more across the rivers, Pittsburgh was a “pornocopia” of fleshly entertainment. Thank God it’s all gone!
Featured Century Model JJ 35-70mm projectors and Ashcraft Carbon Arc lamphouses. 6 channel sound system was by RCA. Water cooling for the silver carbon contacts used a heat exchanger system made from an old automobile radiator. I’m sure they went to xenon lamps before 1980. Stanley-Warner did a fine job on this theater and the South Hills Village, a similar design and size on the other side of the metro.
The Forum was very light beige and white decor in the auditorium. Lots of statues of Roman warriors were there, too. The curtain did not part in the center. It traveled from left to right instead!? The entrance to the projection booth was directly into a private door off the parking lot behind the theater. Many shifts there, I saw nobody. Of course, running across the street for a snack between changeovers could be accomplished quite easily. Lawn chairs on the sidewalk contributed to a festive working atmosphere. Ah, the good old days. I remember “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to The Forum” playing there.
I used to meet your dad every week after we finished our shifts at the theaters we each worked. Your father was a genius, and he designed many innovations which contributed to the excellent quality of the presentation in the old South Hills. Fortunately, I worked there before the fourplexing debacle happened, and it was at thr time, the most beautful and technologically excellent theater in the area, bar none.
Penthouse I & Penthouse II was a twin 16mm porn theater in the early ‘70s. I for straight, & II for gay male films. New owners from NYC added stages lighting and sound for strippers and the occassional live sex act. A third theater was added to the third floor, and that building became a live sex multi-plex with 25 cent movie booths to boot. With the Bizarre, Liberty, Art Cinema, the Edison hotel, and the one near the bus station, and several more across the rivers, Pittsburgh was a “pornocopia” of fleshly entertainment. Thank God it’s all gone!
As I was reading this, a sign that said, “Strand Bowling” flashed in my brain. I open the picture, and there it is. Thanks Mr. Aubrey.
Featured Century Model JJ 35-70mm projectors and Ashcraft Carbon Arc lamphouses. 6 channel sound system was by RCA. Water cooling for the silver carbon contacts used a heat exchanger system made from an old automobile radiator. I’m sure they went to xenon lamps before 1980. Stanley-Warner did a fine job on this theater and the South Hills Village, a similar design and size on the other side of the metro.
The Forum was very light beige and white decor in the auditorium. Lots of statues of Roman warriors were there, too. The curtain did not part in the center. It traveled from left to right instead!? The entrance to the projection booth was directly into a private door off the parking lot behind the theater. Many shifts there, I saw nobody. Of course, running across the street for a snack between changeovers could be accomplished quite easily. Lawn chairs on the sidewalk contributed to a festive working atmosphere. Ah, the good old days. I remember “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to The Forum” playing there.
mooviebuff,
I used to meet your dad every week after we finished our shifts at the theaters we each worked. Your father was a genius, and he designed many innovations which contributed to the excellent quality of the presentation in the old South Hills. Fortunately, I worked there before the fourplexing debacle happened, and it was at thr time, the most beautful and technologically excellent theater in the area, bar none.
Was owned by the Green Brothers. Ralph and Miller. Interesting duo, them brothers. Smallest projection booth in the world.