Hollywood Theater

This is great news, I only ever worked this theatre once. I ran night shift with Henry Winkler and Mike Keaton, on an all day Sat. shift. What a great place and gravy job a single theatre with a platter. The people who ran it were very nice, and as all us Pittsburghers very friendly.

I’m curious as to how the place looks on the INSIDE. It went from a 980 seat theater, with balcony to only 298 seats? So what happened to all that space that opened up after the removal of the 700 seats or so. Also, does the place still have balcony seating for movies?

I documented the restoration of the Hollywood
back in 2006-2007. I shot hundreds of images.
I created a Qtime movie of what the Hollywood
looked like before being remodeled.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2MhihbU8V8
it has music

This is from the official website, as History:
Originally built in 1924, The Hollywood building was gutted and rebuilt by Warner Bros. Theaters in the late 1940’s. Its seating capacity was about 914. The Hollywood was a deluxe second run venue, playing Warner, Universal, RKO, Disney and United Artists product. The Harris SouthHills, a mile or two away (capacity about 1300) ran the Fox, MGM, Columbia and Paramount films.

The decor of the Hollywood was art deco and featured a small balcony (seating about 100). A lower level lounge beneath the lobby included overstuffed couches and easy chairs â€" and as the popularity of television increased back in the ’50’s â€" a large screen black and white tv. The rear wall of the lobby (actually the back wall of the main auditorium) was mostly glass (usually covered with a drape that could be opened to accommodate standing room crowds who could watch the film and hear the soundtrack from speakers in the lobby ceiling).

The marquee, containing literally thousands of bulbs and two glass attraction panels, was removed when the city widened the street and the glass tile facade was replaced with stucco.

After the consent decree, the Hollywood was transferred to the Stanley-Warner circuit and was eventually sold (along with the remaining SW properties) to Cinemette Theaters. Ownership was later transferred to the Neighborhood Theaters circuit that closed the building after several years on a dollar policy. Property owner Richard Stern and his CineMagic reopened the theatre prior to its final closing.

For many years in the 1950’s and 1960’s the Hollywood Theatre, with its seating capacity of 980, was one of Stanley Warner’s main second-run neighborhood houses in Pittsburgh, and even enjoyed a spell as a first-run house in the late 1960’s. Later on, Associated Theatres bought S-W’s holdings in the area, which were then sold to Cinema World.

There were several failed attempts to bring this grand old theatre back to life.

In 2009 Motion Picture Heritage committed to re-opening The Hollywood and restoring it to her former glory.

MPH is Mid West group that rehabilitates and operates classic cinemas nationwide in conjunction with community activists. It will be subleasing the space for two years, with the option for an additional six, from the Bradley Center, which leases the building from Hollywood Partners LLP.

The Hollywood was last operated as a second-run theater by the Bradley Center between 2007 and 2008.

Plans for the 298-seat venue, which underwent more than $300,000 in renovations in 2007, include a café, an eventual liquor license and live music performances. Films will range from classics to cutting-edge indies to contemporary major studio fare, says Bill Dever with MPH.

“We don’t want the Hollywood to be just a movie theater; we want it to be a complete experience,” says Dever. “Potomac Avenue has a huge potential for restaurants and shops, so we want to help create foot traffic for our neighbors. People get a meal before or movie, or grab a beer afterward. We’ve seen situations like this where revitalized theaters have really improved local economies.”

Great news! Thanks to Mad Monkey for the upcoming schedule, above. “The Big Lebowski” on the big screen?! Wow! The street display case now sports a “B Movie Nation” poster, and another for “Clancy,” w/o date. The PopCityMedia piece (see Howard B Hass’s post, just above) mentions a film mix of “classics, indies, and contemporary studio fare.” The South Hills area has nothing else like this. Along with local families and youth, the Hollywood could draw the kind of audiences who now patronize the Harris (downtown) and the Regent Sq. (east side), two of Pittsburgh Filmmakers screens. A cafe? Bring it on! Eating out on Potomac before or after. Sure!

Yes, parking in Dormont is awful, to put it charitably. Who knows if/when that will change? But the Hollywood’s management should keep in mind that the venue is just a block from the Potomac “T” station, and the “T” runs until fairly late. W. Liberty Ave bus routes also stop just a block away. This means patronage from places like Castle Shannon, Mt. Lebo, Oakland and other parts of Pgh.

Question: an online search doesn’t turn up much about Motion Picture Heritage (Organization? Corporation?) or its Bill Devers. There’s a mention on this board of MPH’s involvement in restoring the SkyLine Drive-In, Shelbyville, IN. They’re also trying to help locals in Oakland, CA save a second-run house. Anyone have more info on MPH and Devers? Thanks.

Article about reopening full time in the future:
View link

Very good news. The theater appeared to be in fine condition when I attended during its earlier resurrection. It’s just so difficult to compete for today’s audience with first-run multiplexes. Young moviegoers especially no longer relate to the concept of waiting to see a film at a lower price. It’s all about oopening days and opening weekends no matter what the cost.

I am VERY HAPPY to hear that this GEM of a cinema may re-open! I live in NY BUT plan to visit the theatre when it re-opens!

When it does open PEOPLE IN SURROUNDING MUST SUPPORT IT! This means going on a REGULAR basis. Some people on this board posted that they loved the theatre and were upset when it closed. However they only ATTENDED IT ONCE OR TWICE!

At $3.00 a pop under the former operator how could anyone choose to watch a DVD on a small screen at $5.00 from Blockbuster or Hollywood Video VS go a GRAND MOVIE PALACE to see a flick on the BIG SCREEN in 35mm with dirt cheep popcorn, candy,drinks and a friendly staff?

Even though I lived in Oakland, I often drove out to the South Hills Theater to see movies since it had a large auditorium and the presentation was perfect. Bob Stone and Jim Baker owned the theater as well as Mode Art Films which was also located in the building. Mode Art produced industrial films and documentaries. During the day when the theater was closed, the Mode Art crew would do post-production on their films from positions in the balcony. Hidden in the ceiling above the balcony were film screens and loud speakers which could be lowered during those projects. I applied for a job with Mode Art and spoke to Mr. Stone. There were no positions open at that time, but he gave me a pass to the theater.

The projectionists always gave a good show. I remember on time when the music that was played before the movie began blended in with the opening music of the film. Classy.

In later years, a group of film buffs would gather in the lobby to buy, sell and swap movie memorabilia.

As the movie business changed, as well as people’s viewing habits, large theaters were no longer necessary. DVDs, home theaters and downloaded movies will continue to shape the movie industry. I doubt that it will never return to the way it was. That’s why we have memories.

I’ve always loved that yellowish marquee from the 1980 photo; so classic and nostalgic! In the 60’s when the Hollywood was owned by Harris-Warner, there was a WB logo (not the famous shield, though) mounted in the center, between the displays. If I can find a copy of that photo, I’ll try to post it.

Eventually, somebody will reopen it (yet again) and KEEP it open.

Here is a June 2008 article about the closing. No recent news about any re-opening.
http://tinyurl.com/5pa2ja

Yes, I’m also interested in knowing if anyone has expressed interest in the theatre. Does anyone know if whether the lessor or the lessee
owns all the equipment and furnishings.