The posters of coming attractions are already gone from the Squirrel Hill Theater. After 74 years, the six-screen movie house on Forward Avenue has closed its doors.

It is the latest Squirrel Hill landmark to disappear under the weight of competition from The Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead less than two miles away. Just around the corner was Poli's Restaurant, which went dark in 2005. Then the Barnes & Noble bookstore, a more recent retail arrival, closed its doors shortly after Christmas, punching another hole in the neighborhood's cultural life.

The theater had a special place in the hearts of many patrons, although it was hard to say it provided the optimum movie-going experience. One former customer told the Post-Gazette, "The theater might have been a dump, but it was our dump, and it was one of the last neighborhood theaters in the city."

That summed up the feelings of many who frequented a cinema that was known for screening both arty films and commercial hits, but never figured out how to dampen the sound of the bowling alley next door.

Sure, parking could be a challenge, but it was never impossible. Besides, it was all part of the Squirrel Hill experience. You could have tea at the nearby Tango Cafe before seeing "The Hurt Locker," then hike up Murray Avenue for dessert.

The loss of the Squirrel Hill Theater will be felt by those who could tolerate its eccentricities and forgo the comforts of the modern cineplex. Such movie lovers will be able to see the same fare elsewhere, but not with all the quirky charms.

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