Your friendly neighborhood theater...

First, let me introduce myself and give you some background. My name is Adam, and I’m the manager of The Oaks Theater. I’ve been with the theater for quite some time now. I started as a part-time projectionist when I was in college, at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where I was a student in the film program. I was a fan of the theater when I applied for the job, thinking that the chances of me getting it were pretty slim. Apparently stranger things have happened, or I applied at the right time, because I got it. It was a great place to work while I was working on my degree, especially for a film buff and indie filmmaker such as myself.  I gradually worked my way up, eventually taking over as the full time manager towards the end of 2011.

When I took over running the theater, I had my work cut out for me. The building had just recently been put up for sale by the owners, and we were coming out of a lull in business.  Some of our programming had become very niche and specific, in an attempt to bring in new customers, which my have alienated some of our regulars. I’ve been with the theater long enough to see various managers try various things with their programming, and I think over time, we had gotten off track.

One of the things I love about the Oaks is it’s versatility. In contrast to other theaters in the area, which are generally known for one thing, there is no one thing that we are known for.  We are tough to nail down, and I like it like that. My approach has been to offer a wide range of shows for our customers. We show everything from first run Hollywood films, smaller independent films, cult classics, crowd pleasers, fan favorites, operas, ballets, special events, and everything in-between. I want to offer a little something for everyone.

Small, neighborhood theaters are all but extinct these days. They are truly a dying breed. These theaters depend on community support to keep their doors open, and we are no exception. I plan on using this space to give everyone a peak behind the scenes of the issues that independent theaters are facing these days, and connect with the community that has supported us for 74 years.  I love this theater, and as a fan and Oakmont resident, I want to do everything I can to keep it going into the future.

So keep an eye out for my posts, and stop by and say “Hi” to me next time your are in the area.

Adam Morgan

Manager, The Oaks Theater.