I hate to see any cinema close. I’ve lived in the Shadyside/Squirrel Hill areas all my life (I’m in my early 30s) and I used to come here a lot. Even into my adulthood, my friends and I would always combine a shopping trip to Monroeville Mall with a movie, either here or at the mall cinemas.
As Rick Aubrey says above, Monroeville has nothing. Well movie-wise it doesn’t. I’m no expert, but I think a well run movie house could still do good business here, what with the mall, other nearby shopping, and restaurants. A new cinema at the mall might do really well.
Also the address above is incorrect. The Showcase wasn’t in Monroeville proper. It was in Wilkins Township, with a Pittsburgh mailing address. Its address should be:
I remember when I was 16 or 17 seeing the movie “Clerks” here (a Generation-X moive if there ever was one). By then it was the Beehive and yes, the Beehive made a mess of it trying to look “eclectic”.
Oh shut up with the whole “government intrusion” thing! I think it’s a great idea. Don’t you think the public has a right to know what they are eating? No one’s saying you can’t order megatubs of popcorn and buckets of pop. And you are certainly free to ignore the calorie counts if you want to.
Man, do you people sleep with your little foil hats on too?
“I’m not sure why there is a preservation effort underway when the space where the theater sits is scheduled to be part of the redevelopment effort.”
It’s because some of us don’t like AMC and still appreciate the fare that smaller theatres like this, the Manor, and the Regent Square show. Besides, this country has gotten too over condo-ized and small businesses like these theatres provide welcome relief.
You are right though. They could have done a better job on the remodeling. There are independent cinemas that still hold their own against the big chains.
Interesting that a 12 screen multiplex should be demolished after only 14 years. Of course here in the Pittsburgh Area, we have the infamous Loews 20 North Versailles which opened in 1999 and closed in 2001. We also have the Star City 14/Screenworks 14 which only lasted a few years too (and was a really nice theatre).
I’d like to see this theatre cleaned up and reopened. Even though this wasn’t the cleanest or most modern cinema, I used to like coming here. I really don’t like the AMC Loews Waterfront at all. I’m glad the Manor and Regent Square are still open (and within walking distance).
It’s in the Waterfront, which is a shopping center/“lifestyle center” built on the site of the old US Steel Homestead Works. Where once high paying industrial jobs existed, now low-paid sales clerks ring up sales of goods made in China at places like Target and Abercrombie & Fitch.
The Waterfront itself is okay, but the rest of Homestead remains devastated by the loss of the mills and it’s ancillary businesses like Mesta Machine. Check out my reviews of the Waterfront View link here. Be sure to click on the two Youtube clips for songs about Homestead.
And despite what I said above, and despite that I like this place’s archeitecture, I’m beginning to dislike this theatre.
Milanp,
I hate to see any cinema close. I’ve lived in the Shadyside/Squirrel Hill areas all my life (I’m in my early 30s) and I used to come here a lot. Even into my adulthood, my friends and I would always combine a shopping trip to Monroeville Mall with a movie, either here or at the mall cinemas.
As Rick Aubrey says above, Monroeville has nothing. Well movie-wise it doesn’t. I’m no expert, but I think a well run movie house could still do good business here, what with the mall, other nearby shopping, and restaurants. A new cinema at the mall might do really well.
Also the address above is incorrect. The Showcase wasn’t in Monroeville proper. It was in Wilkins Township, with a Pittsburgh mailing address. Its address should be:
3455 William Penn Hwy
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
I remember when I was 16 or 17 seeing the movie “Clerks” here (a Generation-X moive if there ever was one). By then it was the Beehive and yes, the Beehive made a mess of it trying to look “eclectic”.
Review on Yelp.
View link
If I ever get out that way, I’ll write one too.
Some reviews of the place
View link
Any idea when this place closed?
It’s a shame that’s happening. A lot of people just don’t get how great going to an old cinema can be. (And I’m only in my early 30s).
Oh shut up with the whole “government intrusion” thing! I think it’s a great idea. Don’t you think the public has a right to know what they are eating? No one’s saying you can’t order megatubs of popcorn and buckets of pop. And you are certainly free to ignore the calorie counts if you want to.
Man, do you people sleep with your little foil hats on too?
Paul, I believe you are correct.
Loews 20 North Versailles was another one. It was only open from 1999-2001.
Mr. Bean.
“I’m not sure why there is a preservation effort underway when the space where the theater sits is scheduled to be part of the redevelopment effort.”
It’s because some of us don’t like AMC and still appreciate the fare that smaller theatres like this, the Manor, and the Regent Square show. Besides, this country has gotten too over condo-ized and small businesses like these theatres provide welcome relief.
You are right though. They could have done a better job on the remodeling. There are independent cinemas that still hold their own against the big chains.
I’m glad this place is staying open. They play a nice mix of movies here.
Besides, Pittsburgh already has too many shuttered multiplexes and cinemas.
So the description of this place should be updated to state that it will remain open.
I think I saw the early 90s version of “Dracula” here.
Interesting that a 12 screen multiplex should be demolished after only 14 years. Of course here in the Pittsburgh Area, we have the infamous Loews 20 North Versailles which opened in 1999 and closed in 2001. We also have the Star City 14/Screenworks 14 which only lasted a few years too (and was a really nice theatre).
Here’s some news on a fundraiser they tried to hold. Alas the snow gods of this past year weren’t kind to them View link
Here are some cool photos http://www.denistheater.org/Construction/Archive
I’d like to see this theatre cleaned up and reopened. Even though this wasn’t the cleanest or most modern cinema, I used to like coming here. I really don’t like the AMC Loews Waterfront at all. I’m glad the Manor and Regent Square are still open (and within walking distance).
Yet another Pittsburgh cinema closes.
What a waste—to demolish a 16 screen multiplex that’s less than 10 years old.
Of course here in Pittsburgh, we have the Loews 20 North Versailles which opened in 1999 and closed in 2001.
My Chicago friend Catherine (who used to be on this site) says Chicago’s McClurg Court was like this place.
Oh I hope nobody inferred anything racial by my above comment.
John,
That’s why I prefer the Manor, even if it’s a little dingy.
Cinemagic closed the nearby Squirrel Hill. I hope they keep the Manor open. They show movies here that AMC won’t.
TSLOEWS,
It’s in the Waterfront, which is a shopping center/“lifestyle center” built on the site of the old US Steel Homestead Works. Where once high paying industrial jobs existed, now low-paid sales clerks ring up sales of goods made in China at places like Target and Abercrombie & Fitch.
The Waterfront itself is okay, but the rest of Homestead remains devastated by the loss of the mills and it’s ancillary businesses like Mesta Machine. Check out my reviews of the Waterfront View link here. Be sure to click on the two Youtube clips for songs about Homestead.
And despite what I said above, and despite that I like this place’s archeitecture, I’m beginning to dislike this theatre.
It’s amazing that Monroeville had at least three theatres and now none are left.
I still think this would be a great area for a new or modernized cinema.
I vaguely remember this cinema. Interesting how the cinema marquee was refashioned as the dollar store sign.
Norelco,
I was born in 1977 so I don’t remember any of those theatres you listed. Still, what a rich movie going experience you’ve had.