I visited Hollywood Theater for the first time a few months ago to see the holiday classic Christmas Vacation on the big screen. It was a free event I found though Facebook. I decided to give it a whirl since its a favorite Christmas movie of mine and I've been frequently told about Dormont's downtown charm.
Unfortunately there was a lot of construction going on along the main street, and it was bitter cold the evening of the event, so we bee-lined it into the theater. We were welcomed with an abundance of holiday spirit. Santa greeted groups at the door, as did one of the theater managers. Most patrons were dressed in ugly holiday sweaters for a contest. The lobby pulsed with life.
Concessions were also extremely reasonably priced. I think we bought a large popcorn for less than or about $5. They also sell booze and offer BYOB, which I didn't realize until after I arrived.
The theater itself was roomy, comfortable and retained some character from yesteryear. My complaint with another newly built independent theater in the city is that the seating was borderline claustrophobic. This was the exact opposite experience. There was plenty of room to stretch out and move around.
The mood and tone the whole night was cheerful, although a few groups seemed to get a little rowdy by the end. Some of these groups seemed to be going through a lot of beer.
Overall this was an amazing experience. It seems like they play a mix between current movies, independent movies and classics seldom to hit the big screen at chain theaters. Dormont dwellers are lucky to have a gem like this in their neighborhood.