Mount Oliver Theater

Paul Fortini on May 1, 2007 at 8:41 pm

It was open until at least the late 1960s/early 1970s. I have a VHS tape called STEEL CITY TRACTION/THE SOUTH SIDE LINES, which deals with Pittsburgh streetcars. The Mount Oliver Theater is seen in a few scenes. Streetcars ran on Brownsville Road until 1971, although their descendants—Light Rail Vehicles—continue to serve other parts of Pittsburgh.

kencmcintyre on April 13, 2010 at 6:50 pm

The interior must be sizable-I would like to see some photos.

Joe Vogel on August 31, 2014 at 11:48 pm

This project noted in the April 6, 1929, issue of The Film Daily could have been the Mount Oliver Theatre:

“New Pittsburgh House Opening Next Month

“THE theatre which Harris Amusement Co. is erecting in Mt. Oliver section of Pittsburgh, Pa, will probably be opened during May. The house will seat 1,600, will be equipped with Vitaphone-Movietone. Cost in the neighborhood of $450,000. No name chosen although it may be called the Harris Hill Top.”

A list of theaters showing The March of Time published in the January 10, 1938, issue of Life included two houses in Mt. Oliver: The Harris Mt. Oliver Theatre and a house called the Rialto Theatre. I found a reference to the Rialto being next door to a funeral parlor that was at 228 Brownsville Road, but it didn’t say in which direction. There was also a reference to a theater called the State in Mt. Oliver.