We went to see "Michael Crawford" or whatever the title is (George Clooney) and found the theater very clean and well staffed (but not too busy as it had just reopened). I am glad it has reopened and I can't believe that Mills is just 8 min. farther; I am sure it is much farther, like 15-20 min. from Waterworks. I do hope Waterworks does show the same fare as Regent Sq. Would anyone like to form a committee to press Kelly-Strayhorn to show films on nights when not used for performances? I think there is a market for this. On Wed, 14 Nov 2007, James H. Joseph wrote:

Waterworks Cinema had been on a downhill slide for years and the prior owners merely exacerbated the decline by cutting, cutting, cutting employees, etc. My best guess is that they were on a slide and the opening of Cinemark at the Mills was the coup d'grace. The prior owners probably had an expensive lease since when the theater opened it was a prime location (before Loew's and before the Mills) and they were losing money because the rent was astronomical. The owner of the Waterworks shopping center likely refused to renegotiate the lease on the they that the theater would not close its doors. But it did. Then the shopping center had a confrontation with reality and had to ask itself, "Self, what do we do with a big box of a building in the rear of a shopping center." The answer was probably scary, so they negotiated a new lease at a much lower rent with the new owner who will operate the theater on the model of the Manor in Squirrel Hill (probably won't work in that location, but a nice try). We'll have to see how this plays out. Despite the convenience, the seats and the theater design at the Mills makes the extra travel time (8 minutes) worth it - at least to me.

On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:04:05 -0500, Ward and MR Kelsey wrote: | We were just there this afternoon for "American Gangster"--an | excellent, but violent, movie--and the place looks the same, | including prices. I agree we should support them, but I can't | figure out why the prior owners closed it in the first place. | Does anyone know? | | Ward Kelsey | | On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:24:17 -0500 Suzie salo | writes: | || Hey-I recently discovered that Waterworks Cinema has reopened. || They will show blockbusters and some lesser known art/foreign || films. We should all support them. || || || Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live || OneCare! Try now!

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James H. Joseph 6030 Bunkerhill Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206-1156

Vox412.661.8896 Fax412.661.4023

As a HP resident I feel that the waterworks theater is just one component of a shopping center.... but it is an important one economically. People often shop and eat in the waterworks plaza before and after the show. If the new owners cannot afford a lot of upgrades for the theater from the beginning it is because they are just getting started. I happen to know from observation that they spent a lot of time and money doing work there before opening. Not all of the expense and upgrades are in the lobby, I am sure a lot goes on behind the scenes that we never see. They certainly arent ever going to afford other upgrades if they are not getting customers. And if the shoppers all go to the mills to the movies they will spend their money there too and leave waterworks in the dust. You are thinking in a very shortsighted manor. I do not want to go all the way to the mills to shop when the waterworks stores all leave and start moving to the mills. Traffic is a nightmare and will only get worse if no one is shopping at waterworks. Support your local theater, not everyone can afford to build a new mega center. The main thing is the movie anyway and that is the same everywhere. I say cudo's to the new owners for bringing our theater back. I havent been to the movie's since it closed but now I have a place to go. Debi "James H. Joseph" <jjoseph@stargate.net> wrote: Waterworks Cinema had been on a downhill slide for years and the prior owners merely exacerbated the decline by cutting, cutting, cutting employees, etc. My best guess is that they were on a slide and the opening of Cinemark at the Mills was the coup d'grace. The prior owners probably had an expensive lease since when the theater opened it was a prime location (before Loew's and before the Mills) and they were losing money because the rent was astronomical. The owner of the Waterworks shopping center likely refused to renegotiate the lease on the they that the theater would not close its doors. But it did. Then the shopping center had a confrontation with reality and had to ask itself, "Self, what do we do with a big box of a building in the rear of a shopping center." The answer was probably scary, so they negotiated a new lease at a much lower rent with the new owner who will operate the theater on the model of the Manor in Squirrel Hill (probably won't work in that location, but a nice try). We'll have to see how this plays out. Despite the convenience, the seats and the theater design at the Mills makes the extra travel time (8 minutes) worth it - at least to me. On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:04:05 -0500, Ward and MR Kelsey wrote: | We were just there this afternoon for "American Gangster"--an | excellent, but violent, movie--and the place looks the same, | including prices. I agree we should support them, but I can't | figure out why the prior owners closed it in the first place. | Does anyone know? | | Ward Kelsey | | On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:24:17 -0500 Suzie salo | writes: | || Hey-I recently discovered that Waterworks Cinema has reopened. || They will show blockbusters and some lesser known art/foreign || films. We should all support them. || || || Boo! Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live || OneCare! Try now! ---------- James H. Joseph 6030 Bunkerhill Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206-1156 Vox412.661.8896 Fax412.661.4023 -- --------------------------------- Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now.