I just read an article that said the little, single movie theater in my old Pittsburgh neighborhood is coming down. A few years ago, the private owner sold it to to Pittsburgh Filmmakers, then it closed for a while with the hopes of eventually reopening. The article says that the Concept art gallery, the longtime neighbor next door, will take ownership and expand into the space.
Hmmm. While I’m always excited for an art gallery (or any business) to need more space—especially in times of COVID—I can’t help but feel nostalgic for the memories of my first job there, selling tickets and concessions in the evening and on weekends.
Back then, premium tickets were $2.50. A large popcorn was $1.50. Of course, I think I was paid $2 an hour.
Over the course of three years, I saw ( and listened to) movies over and over there. The 1977 classic, Saturday Night Fever and American Gigolo (which I still have the huge marquee posters to). Star Trek, Urban Cowboy, Grease, The Blues Brothers.
All became the backdrop of my late teens years in dialogue and music.
The most ironic thing about working there was that I remember sitting in the cashier’s booth in between shows where I could do my homework. A small red truck would pull up to the art gallery next door, and an artist would unload several paintings at a time. Over those three years, I saw him just a few times, and I was intrigued by what he was delivering , but couldn’t leave my post to inquire.

In 1987, I moved to Charlotte, NC and, in 2010, finally had time to take oil painting classes. On my first day at Braitman Studio I was asked where I was from and when I said, “Pittsburgh”, Andy Braitman exclaimed, “Braddock Avenue!” Yes, he was the artist in the red truck that I watched longingly from the theatre window. He had his work in three galleries around the country then, and that was one. And now I was 470 miles away taking art lessons him thirty years later. It’s strange how things happen sometimes.