Pop Bowser poses by the Denis Theater’s ticket booth on opening night, June 1, 1938. For many years, Bowser worked at the theater. The $250,000 building was designed by architect Victor Rigaumont in a “Functional-Moderne style” and erected in 114 days. Sam DeFasio was the first manager. Pittsburgh Motor Coach Company started service to Mt. Lebanon about 1927. A March 1, 1932, Pittsburgh Press article reported the Motor Coach Company, which charged 25 cents a ride, objected to the competing Oriole Motor Coach Company’s plans to lower its rates to 20 cents. In the 1960s, four bus lines served Mt. Lebanon: Pittsburgh Railways, Oriole, Bigi, and Greyhound, the latter of which stopped at the Denis Theater.1964 image of the Denis Theater1938 image of the inside of the Denis Theater1938 image of the inside of the Denis Theater1938 image of the inside of the Denis Theater1938 image of the inside of the Denis TheaterDenis Harris opened the Denis Theater in 1938 (the original marquee included the name “Harris”). The one-screen theater had seating for 1,200. Picture taken 19381938 image of the inside of the Denis TheaterDenis Theater marquee in an undated photo1972 image of Denis Theater marqueeDenis Theater, Washington Road 1994Denis Theater, Washington Road 2004Women at the Denis Theater’s opening night, June 1, 1938.Pop Bowser poses by the Denis Theater’s ticket booth on opening night, June 1, 1938. For many years, Bowser worked at the theater. The $250,000 building was designed by architect Victor Rigaumont in a “Functional-Moderne style” and erected in 114 days. Sam DeFasio was the first manager. The Pittsburgh Press hailed the theater’s air conditioning system and Carrara Structural Glass front that gave the theater “distinction.”
