Dormont's Hollywood Theater slated to reopen

Hollywood loves a good comeback story.

And in Dormont, a nonprofit group hopes the Hollywood Theater's comeback is permanent this time around.

The Friends of the Hollywood Theater, a nonprofit organization formed in November 2010, announced Wednesday that the Hollywood would reopen May 4, with a screening at 6 p.m. of "The New Metropolis," a PBS documentary about America's suburbs.

This is not the first time a group has tried to revive the Hollywood, a single-screen cinema at 1449 Potomac Ave. The theater, which includes a balcony, concession area and projection booth with 35 mm and Dolby digital capabilities, underwent $300,000 in renovations and then reopened in 2009.

Two years ago, the Franklin, Ind.-based nonprofit Motion Picture Heritage Corp. was running the show. But a bad winter, a poor economy and a culture where multiplexes, megaplexes and Netflix are king all added up to bad news for the Hollywood. Last May, citing a lack of customers, the Motion Picture Heritage Corp. closed the Hollywood.

Yet even as the theater was closing, there was talk in the community about reopening it again.

The Friends of the Hollywood Theater -- composed of an 11-member board and a 25-member advisory board that includes people with backgrounds in business, management, accounting, fundraising, marketing, public relations and programming -- have worked the last several months to prepare to reopen the theater in May, according to a news release.

The theater will open on a part-time basis in May, with a busier screening schedule planned for June.

The nonprofit's plan is to rent the facility and then hold fundraisers, apply for grants and seek donations to raise enough money to buy the building.

The group hopes to show not only movies, but also serve as a community center for film festivals, concerts and special events such as screenings of sports games and awards shows. Planned future events at the theater include the 48 Hour Film Project and the "Rocky Horror Picture Show."

Tax deductible donations can be made to "Friends of the Hollywood Theater" and mailed to Box 7902, Pittsburgh, PA 15216.

Information: http://thehollywooddormont.org.

First published on March 24, 2011 at 12:00 am