Such a shame to see what happened to this theater. Ten or fifteen years ago, it seemed as if it had been renovated; the beautifully lighted marquee glowed brightly and the interior decoration inside the theater was really one of the nicest I’ve ever seen anywhere. The whole theater was on par with the restoration Disney did on the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.
From the news articles posted on this website, dated July 6, 2007, you can see pictures of the beautiful interior decor at this website:
I remember seeing Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty there when I was a toddler – perhaps the first movie I ever saw in a theater. Thereafter fond memories of most of the Disney films from the 1960s – Absent Minded Professor, etc., and also some Hammer horror flicks.
I also remember those lighting sconces on the walls. They had the feel of a medieval castle.
I didn’t know this theater had a porn past. Seems like a very odd neighborhood for that. I lived in NYC from Sept 1974 thru 1981 and during that whole period the Carnegie Cinema was a repertory theater showing classic films. I used to look forward to their schedules every month. And the same goes for Bleeker Street Cinema, for that matter.
In the 1970s they held amazing summer-long festivals. I remember at least one MGM retrospective, and at least one devoted to classic Warner Brothers films. I think Olivia deHavilland showed up at their screening of ANTHONY ADVERSE.
This theater went up in the late 1960s in a smallish strip mall that was anchored by Zayre’s Department store (an early version of Target type stores). The 3 theaters were always small – it was the beginning of the era of small multiplexes and the division of the grand old theaters still standing into multiple screens. This theater showed 2nd run movies after they left the downtown theaters. I remember seeing some horror films there, and BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID.
Here is an article I found in the Pittsburgh Press microfilms at Carnegie Library:
Wednesday, April 29, 1959
Perry Theater Closing Its Doors
One of Pittsburgh’s best known neighborhood theaters is closing its doors this weekend. The house lights will dim for the last time Sunday night at the Perry Theater on Perrysville Avenue at East Street, and the showing of THE JOURNEY with Yul Brenner and Deborah Kerr will close some 30 years of theater history. James Balmer, general manager for the John P. Harris Corp. which has operated the theater since it was built on the site of the old Drew homestead, confirmed cancellation of the lease today. The building’s future is uncertain, M. J. Zahniser, vice president of the Commonewealth Real Estate Co. which is managing the property for the Drew estate said he is entertaining several proposals for use of the building, but nothing definite can be announced now. There have been recurring reports that the building may be converted to use as a supermarket, but this was discounted in view of the lack of adequate off street parking. There is a possibility that the structure might be used as a bowling alley, Mr. Zahniser said. A Harris spokesman said all equipment will be removed excepting the seats and carpeting.
This theater was located right next door to Perry High and eventually the building was used as an annex to the school. When I attended school there in the 1970s, they held shop classes there. Within the past 10-15 years, the original building was torn down and replaced with a more modern structure as annex to the school. I believe they have a gym or swimming pool in the new facility.
Bette & Joan festival; 1977
Such a shame to see what happened to this theater. Ten or fifteen years ago, it seemed as if it had been renovated; the beautifully lighted marquee glowed brightly and the interior decoration inside the theater was really one of the nicest I’ve ever seen anywhere. The whole theater was on par with the restoration Disney did on the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.
From the news articles posted on this website, dated July 6, 2007, you can see pictures of the beautiful interior decor at this website:
http://www.jamesgordongallery.com/crestweb/
Wonderful job James Gordon!!
I remember seeing Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty there when I was a toddler – perhaps the first movie I ever saw in a theater. Thereafter fond memories of most of the Disney films from the 1960s – Absent Minded Professor, etc., and also some Hammer horror flicks.
I also remember those lighting sconces on the walls. They had the feel of a medieval castle.
Check out this vintage photo from 1927. Dorothy Gish is on the marquee and the coming attraction is Fritz Lang’s METROPOLIS.
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/garden%20theater
I didn’t know this theater had a porn past. Seems like a very odd neighborhood for that. I lived in NYC from Sept 1974 thru 1981 and during that whole period the Carnegie Cinema was a repertory theater showing classic films. I used to look forward to their schedules every month. And the same goes for Bleeker Street Cinema, for that matter.
In the 1970s they held amazing summer-long festivals. I remember at least one MGM retrospective, and at least one devoted to classic Warner Brothers films. I think Olivia deHavilland showed up at their screening of ANTHONY ADVERSE.
This theater went up in the late 1960s in a smallish strip mall that was anchored by Zayre’s Department store (an early version of Target type stores). The 3 theaters were always small – it was the beginning of the era of small multiplexes and the division of the grand old theaters still standing into multiple screens. This theater showed 2nd run movies after they left the downtown theaters. I remember seeing some horror films there, and BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID.
On the site now is a Panera Bread restaurant.
Here is an article I found in the Pittsburgh Press microfilms at Carnegie Library:
Wednesday, April 29, 1959
Perry Theater Closing Its Doors
One of Pittsburgh’s best known neighborhood theaters is closing its doors this weekend. The house lights will dim for the last time Sunday night at the Perry Theater on Perrysville Avenue at East Street, and the showing of THE JOURNEY with Yul Brenner and Deborah Kerr will close some 30 years of theater history. James Balmer, general manager for the John P. Harris Corp. which has operated the theater since it was built on the site of the old Drew homestead, confirmed cancellation of the lease today. The building’s future is uncertain, M. J. Zahniser, vice president of the Commonewealth Real Estate Co. which is managing the property for the Drew estate said he is entertaining several proposals for use of the building, but nothing definite can be announced now. There have been recurring reports that the building may be converted to use as a supermarket, but this was discounted in view of the lack of adequate off street parking. There is a possibility that the structure might be used as a bowling alley, Mr. Zahniser said. A Harris spokesman said all equipment will be removed excepting the seats and carpeting.
This theater was located right next door to Perry High and eventually the building was used as an annex to the school. When I attended school there in the 1970s, they held shop classes there. Within the past 10-15 years, the original building was torn down and replaced with a more modern structure as annex to the school. I believe they have a gym or swimming pool in the new facility.