Hollywood Theater Officially Changes Hands

DORMONT, PA - The Hollywood Theater has officially changed hands and will reopen Friday with the top-grossing movie in the country: “Black Panther.”

The Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Theatre Historical Society of America, whose mission is to preserve historic theaters, has purchased the theater and is promising upgrades to the century-old movie house.

The theater is adding the latest digital technology projection while maintaining dual 35mm projectors for film presentations. It will also be made accessible to populations that have a hard time seeing movies, with new headset-based assisted listening and descriptive listening devices.

Also, the lobby has also been repainted and carpets steam-cleaned. Other new improvements to the space are planned.

Despite the improvements made and promised, the ownership change did not come without controversy. An online petition asking that the sale of the theater be canceled amassed more than 2,500 electronic signatures.

Opponents to the sale expressed concern that the society’s plans to turn the Hollywood into a second-run movie house would eliminate the diverse cinematic offerings from the Friends of the Hollywood Theater. That group previously booked the theater’s films and had expressed a desire to buy the building from previous owners Kelly-Reilly-Nell-Barna Associates.

But the new owners have announced what appears to be a diverse selection of films. After a two -week run of “Black Panther” the theater will settle into a schedule of newer Hollywood films, documentaries, art house films and special events.

The Hollywood also will screen an array of classic films such as “Singing in the Rain” (1952), “The Godfather” (1972) and “The Sound of Music” (1965) as part of an expanded “Breakfast and a Movie,” program every month, instead of every six weeks.

The Junior Chamber of Commerce Players will continue to host “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975) every other Saturday night at midnight.

Randy Collins, who grew up in Pittsburgh and has a film studies degree from the University of Pittsburgh, is returning to the city from San Francisco to become the theatre’s new manager.

Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $6 for children and seniors and $5 for THS and Hollywood members.

Photo via Markowitz Communications.