Whitehall Center Theater
4150 Brownsville Road,
Brentwood,
PA
15227
4150 Brownsville Road,
Brentwood,
PA
15227
6 people
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THe only time I was here was when I saw “Silence of the Lambs”.
Grew up in Brentwood, we used to go almost every Saturday Morning.
Slater’s is across the street form the Theater, Now Towne Center Giant Eagle
The Theater was named Whitehall In Brentwood and the borough next door was also Whitehall both named for the Old Whitehall Tavern That is now Slaters Funeral Home
As a kid I went many times to the Saturday afternoon matinee.$.35 admission and $.15 for a box of popcorn.The line to get in went around the block.In 1961 went to see “Gorgo” Monster movies always drew the biggest crowds.
When I first moved to Brentwood, The name of this place confused me. Doing research I found out that Whitehall Borough (next town over) was formed in 1948 (almost a decade after this center opened!) The just “stole” then name! “White Hall” was the name of a coachstop/tavern/hotel that is at the site of Slater’s Funeral home (Also in Brentwood!) Whiehall Center, The Davis farmhouse and The Point Veiw Hotel were three landmarks on Brownsville RD that were destroyed in the 2000s (Sad, I loved all 3!)
Tinseltoes: Nice article on the old Whitehall Theatre. I lived in the area from 1967 to 1991, but I don’t remember the bowling alley. Where was it located?
I grew up in Whitehall and went to this theatre often. This was one of the trio of theatres on Brownsville Road. The others being the Melrose and the Mount Oliver. When this theatre would get really crowded, I remember cars parking in the middle of the front parking lot, in addition to the regular side spaces. Later, they must of outlawed this because it would have made it tough for emergency vehicles to get through. This was a great neighborhood theatre. In the 1980’s, they use to have a once a month free movie that was sponcered by the merchants in the shopping center. The hope was you would go to the movie and return the favor by shopping at one or more of the stores there. While the Whitehall was part of the “Brentwood Whitehall Shopping Center”, it actually was located in Brentwood.
Opening night feature on October 31, 1940: “No Time For Comedy”, starring James Stewart and Rosalind Russell. Final day features on July 1, 1999: “Analyze This”, “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Doug’s 1st Movie”
The Whitehall Theatre was designed by architect Victor A. Rigaumont. Photos of the Art Moderne house appeared in Boxoffice Magazine, February 27, 1943.
Pic from May 1979:
View link
I miss the theater I went there as a kid for a few movies. I remember the mural on the wall that had imaged of famous past movies. I still remember the Green runway lights that went down the aisle. I do remember that It was run by Carmike cinemas.
The theater was located in the Whitehall Shopping Center, which was in Brentwood. The SC was razed to makeway for a Giant Eagle and the Brentwood Town Centre SC.
I don’t believe I was ever here. Wasn’t this theatre in Whitehall and not Brentwood?
Brentwood is a suburb of Pittsburgh.
Yep, both are the same.
Yes that is the correct address.
I hit a road block at the library. They had more drawings and old black and white newspaper articles that show the Whitehall in a distance.
Sounds cool Rick, thanks. Hope there is some interior shots.
I do have some good news. The historical society of Brentwood had a phone number. It direected me to the public library. They do have some pictures. The librarian said she can possibly help (even with the uplaoding of pictures.) I’ll keep you posted!
Rick…besides the public library. You may want to check and see if the county in which Brentwood is located in might have a Historical Society.
I’m going to see if the Brentwood public library may have a picture.
Rick..I like the drawing. Hope you can find a better picture of it.
Here is a drawing of the theater. Hopfully I can find a better picture of the theater.
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~angell/thsa/mysth112.jpg