Popcorn aplenty at Pitt’s many theaters

Like most major cities, the Pittsburgh landscape is dotted with a wide variety of movie… Like most major cities, the Pittsburgh landscape is dotted with a wide variety of movie theaters. Pittsburgh offers a good balance of huge multiplexes and smaller, more intimate and independent cinemas – and almost all are easily accessible via the Port Authority bus system.

Perhaps the largest theater in the area is the AMC Loews at the Waterfront. This crown jewel of the outdoor mall at the Waterfront is a sight to behold, looking more like a palace than a movie theater. The inside is no different, hearkening back to the days of classic Hollywood with retro architecture and decoration. The theaters themselves are quite modern, though – large and comfortable, even featuring premium seating.

Loews offers the most screens of any of the theaters featured in the Pittsburgh area but offers little beyond the latest big-name releases. Occasionally some smaller films will appear there near the end of their runs. For the car-impaired, a number of buses will whisk you away to this theatrical experience: The 59U will take you right to the front doors, while the 61C, 61D and 61F all stop right past the bridge hanging over the Waterfront, within easy walking distance of Loews.

The other major theater close to Oakland is the Southside Works Cinema at Southside Works. While not quite as large as Loews, it is otherwise quite similar, down to the sprawling interior and comfortable stadium-seating theaters. However, the theater offers a number of advantages over its larger competition: On Thursdays it offers $6 student tickets with a valid school ID. This theater is nestled in the center of the Southside Works, a slightly more upscale outdoor mall than the Waterfront. Transportation is slightly more of an issue. Street parking is minimal, often requiring costly garage parking, and the only bus that goes to the Southside Works from Oakland is the 59U, only at certain hours – be sure to check the bus before you get on.

The Squirrel Hill area offers two smaller but more easily accessible theaters. Featuring only four theaters, the Manor Theater on Murray Avenue is among the smallest in the city. However, it is one of the few havens for smaller releases and independent films in Pittsburgh and is significantly less expensive than the multiplexes. The other is the Squirrel Hill Theater, only a few blocks further down on Forward Avenue, which offers six theaters and a slightly more mainstream selection. The theaters in both are somewhat small but clean and of decent quality. The best part is the ease of access to these theaters – any of the 61 buses will stop at Forbes and Murray, within walking distance of both theaters, and the 61C, 61D and 61F in particular will stop steps away from the Squirrel Hill Theater.

Finally, the smallest theaters in Pittsburgh – each showing only a single film at a time – are a trio of theaters run by the Pittsburgh Filmmakers. The Melwood Screening Room is close to campus in North Oakland. The Harris Theater is in the heart of Downtown, accessible by almost any bus going down Fifth Avenue. Finally, the Regent Theater is probably the least accessible of the three – you’ll have to get on any of the 67 line of buses and make a significant walk. The films showing at these theaters change quite frequently and are almost never mainstream releases. The theaters show everything from student films to independent releases to time-honored classics. Schedules are available at www.pghfilmmakers.org.

Pittsburgh offers something for everyone, whether you want to see a blockbuster on a monolithic screen or see the latest Oscar contender in a cozy atmosphere. And thanks to the bus system, you don’t even need a car to have a fun movie night.