Denis Theatre – Mt. Lebanon, PA

#historictheatresday – Everyone here at THS would like to thank Alex Parrish and Elaine Wertheim for providing today’s tour of the Denis Theatre in Mt. Lebanon! Our archivist, Pat Seymour, even provided a helping hand to install the theatre’s latest fundraising poster while we were there.

According to the Denis Theatre Foundation page, the Denis Theatre, a grand one-screen moviehouse with a capacity of over 1200, opens on Mt. Lebanon’s main street in 1938.  The marquee in the original architectural plans reads “HARRIS”.

In 1960, the Denis Theatre is sold to Ernest A. Stern, owner and president of Associated Theaters.  The sale includes the South Hills, Liberty, and J. P. Harris Theaters. At the time, Stern also owns the Forvm Theater in Squirrel Hill, an art house.

The open mezzanine of Denis Theatre is closed off and second auditorium built in 1965, and the Denis Encore opens as first art house in South Hills with larger seats and modern décor and includes first run films such as To Sir With Love (considered “art” at the time for its controversial theme), and The Graduate, which has an exclusive first-run in Pittsburgh at the Denis and Forvm Theatres.  Billed as art film it becomes a blockbuster, running 25 weeks at the Denis.  Lines regularly go around corner and down Alfred Street.  It eventually explodes into mainstream theaters.

In 1974, the Associated Theaters are sold to Cinemette, which declares bankruptcy in 1978, and allows Stern to regain possession of the theatres he sold, and more.

By 1981, the main Denis auditorium is “twinned” and projection booth relocated to front of the balcony.  The remaining balcony area becomes a small auditorium. Denis now has four screens.  The Associated Theatres are sold to Jeff Lewine of Cinema World, although Stern retains ownership of the building for the Denis.  He passes away that year, and the business is taken over by his son, Richard Stern.

Cinema World sells theater business to Carmike in 1993, but Stern regains the Denis, groups it with Manor and Bellevue theaters and forms CineMagic.  He closes the Denis briefly in 1994 for updating the carpeting, seats, and restrooms.  Stern eventually becomes business partners with Milo Ritton, and the Stern-Ritton business partnership dissolves nearly ten years later.  Ritton takes possession of Denis and closes it.

In 2007, Denis Theatre put on the market and purchased by Raja, a Mt. Lebanon entrepreneur, and the Denis Theatre Foundation is formed as a non-profit organization.  The Foundation signs 15-year lease, with plans to renovate and reopen the theater and is granted 501(c)(3) status, making contributions exempt from federal income tax the following year.

Elaine and Pat updating fundraising information at the Denis Theatre.

With the help of professional fundraising counsel, A. L. Brourman Associates, and several grants from The Pittsburgh Foundation and other contributors, the design phase of the Denis renovation began in October, 2013.  The Board announces a new vision for the theatre, which includes two theaters on the main floor, seating 200 and 100 patrons, respectively,  In addition, a learning center screening room, as well as a concession stand and comfortable lounge area with visual art year-round have been added to the design.

Patrick Seymour, Elaine Wertheim, and Alex Parrish outside the Denis Theatre for #historictheatresday

We support their continued efforts to restore and renovate the Denis, and you can learn more about the theatre’s history and how you can help by visiting their website: http://www.denistheatre.org

If you find this story fascinating, we have a treasure trove of information about the history of your favorite theatres. Sign up for an account on historictheatres.org and enter through the STAGE DOOR!

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