We went downtown to see more than a few movies here in the late 1970s. It was unique, being in an upscale “mall” in a converted bank — very cool for its time.
I believe Ed is mistaken that Cinema Wexford was a late-run bargain house. When I was growing up in the 1970s/early 80s, they had first-runs for the North Hills area — “Heaven Can Wait”, “10”, “Grease”, and “Norma Rae” to name a few. They were also the only theater in Pittsburgh to show “My Brilliant Career”, the late 70s Australian film that introduced Judy Davis. (Also, they often had kiddie matinees of “Willy Wonka…” when I was in elementary school.)
I worked at this theatre during high school and my first summer of college. We had an odd assortment of movies in those years… first-runs that didn’t go to the bigger, newer Showcase Cinemas, some foreign/art house stuff, cheesy horror movies, and the “big” movie from our sister theater, the North Hills, after they got another feature. There were two good-sized screens and one “mini” in the back. There are very few of these types of theatres left.
West Hills was a 4-screen theater that showed independent/foreign films in the 1980s. Films I saw there included Kiss of the Spider Woman, Blue Velvet, Baghdad Cafe, and My Life as a Dog.
Movies I remember seeing at this theater: Car Wash, Ice Castles, The Outlaw Josie Wales, Capricorn One, Smoke.
My first viewing of “Star Wars” was at this theater. Drove all the way from the North Hills!
We went downtown to see more than a few movies here in the late 1970s. It was unique, being in an upscale “mall” in a converted bank — very cool for its time.
I saw tons of movies here as a kid. In the late 80s, they had some independent films and then closed shortly thereafter.
It was open until at least 1978, because my dad took me to see “Death on the Nile” there — the only movie I saw at The Sewickley Theater.
I believe Ed is mistaken that Cinema Wexford was a late-run bargain house. When I was growing up in the 1970s/early 80s, they had first-runs for the North Hills area — “Heaven Can Wait”, “10”, “Grease”, and “Norma Rae” to name a few. They were also the only theater in Pittsburgh to show “My Brilliant Career”, the late 70s Australian film that introduced Judy Davis. (Also, they often had kiddie matinees of “Willy Wonka…” when I was in elementary school.)
I worked at this theatre during high school and my first summer of college. We had an odd assortment of movies in those years… first-runs that didn’t go to the bigger, newer Showcase Cinemas, some foreign/art house stuff, cheesy horror movies, and the “big” movie from our sister theater, the North Hills, after they got another feature. There were two good-sized screens and one “mini” in the back. There are very few of these types of theatres left.
West Hills was a 4-screen theater that showed independent/foreign films in the 1980s. Films I saw there included Kiss of the Spider Woman, Blue Velvet, Baghdad Cafe, and My Life as a Dog.