Theatre Foundation Travels to the Oaks

The Oaks Theater’s monthly “Cine Brunch” event will have a busload of extra guests this Saturday.

The Denis Theatre Foundation, a Mt. Lebanon nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and reopening that neighborhood’s historic movie theater, will lead a group of film lovers and friends to Oakmont this Saturday morning for the Oaks’ screening of "An American in Paris."

“We often tell people how great it is to have a theater that’s right in the neighborhood,” foundation Executive Director Valerie Golik said. “The Oaks has that. It’s a great neighborhood theater in comfortable surroundings. Those kinds of theaters that are walkable from the schools and the shops, those are priceless.”

Mt. Lebanon’s Denis Theatre originally opened in 1938, and operated continuously until its closing in 2004. At that time, it was a four-screen theater specializing in independent and foreign films; the foundation has plans to renovate and restore three of those screens and add a performance space, meeting rooms and more.

Oakmont’s iconic Oaks Theater, frequently praised as one of the best movie theaters in the Pittsburgh area, is the same age as the Denis, and is one of only a few remaining neighborhood theaters in Allegheny County.

Denis Theatre Foundation board member Mary Jo Meenan recognized the similarities between the two and presented Golik—a new addition to the foundation, on the job since January—with the idea of using a trip to the Oaks as a major fundraiser. It proved to be a popular idea.

“We found that there was tremendous interest,” Golik said. “In no time at all, people were very excited to have this opportunity.”

A large group of Denis supporters and neighbors will leave Mt. Lebanon at 9 a.m. to arrive at the Oaks in time for the 10 a.m. brunch supplied by the Oakmont Bakery. On the ride back, local film teacher Elaine Wertheim will lead a group discussion on "An American in Paris."

The Cine Brunch series at the Oaks is a monthly event featuring a classic film and a light brunch at the theater for one price. "An American in Paris," a best picture Oscar winner from 1951, stars Pittsburgh's own Gene Kelly as a painter far from home. The film is a beautifully choreographed musical featuring a number of classic Gershwin compositions, such as “‘S Wonderful” and “I Got Rhythm.”

Ultimately, the aim of the trip is to demonstrate the unique impact of a neighborhood theater on the community—something that Golik says is temendous in Oakmont, and will hopefully become a fact of life in Mt. Lebanon once again.

“When you come out of (the Denis,) we’ll have some great little areas where you can sit down with your friends and maybe have a cappuccino from our concession stand, and discuss the film,” she said. “We see it as a place that will be lively throughout the day.”

Tickets for the Denis Theatre Foundation trip—including the film, brunch, transportation from Mt. Lebanon to the Oaks and back and a discussion by Elaine Wertheim—are $20 and are available at denistheatre.org. Golik says that space on the bus is extremely limited at this point, but seats are still available. Tickets for brunch and the film directly at the Oaks are $12 and available at theoakstheater.com or 1-888-71-TICKETS.

Photos courtesy of The Historical Society of Mount Lebanon.