AMC Waterfront 22 — Attraction in West Homestead

Besides Nicole Kidman, No Stars. I brought a friend to the AMC Waterfront 22 for an IMAX viewing of Dune Two for her birthday earlier this week and the experience was immersive…But for all the wrong reasons. As a first-time visitor to this theater, the lack of visible staff and way-finding markers left us unsure where to go. Upon finding the wing to our theater, we were acknowledged by a ticket taker who’s attitude could only be described as OVER IT. She covered her eyes by placing both hands over her face and then shook her head as we approached. Everyone has their bad days, but why should yours become mine? Let’s move on to Auditorium 13, where, upon entering, we were greeted by a balmy air which smelled strongly of spoiled, spilled soda. Taking our seats, I found these to be of the plastic-shelled, fold-down type which are notoriously uncomfortable for longer viewings and, with an excess of previews, held us in agony for almost three-and-a half-hours. I should mention, my particular seat, J12, likely still has busted seat springs, which causes whomever’s seated there to sink about three inches lower than intended. Because it was my friend’s birthday and I wished for a smooth experience on her behalf, I didn’t complain immediately. Thanks to no fresh air circulating at any point during the viewing, by the time the film had ended, I was drenched in a full-body sweat and we were made thirty minutes late for our dinner reservation because of the aforementioned barrage of trailers. [Honestly, Theaters Should Publish The ACTUAL Start Times Of Films…I Have Things To Do Besides Watch Nicole Kidman Saunter Into An AMC Theater In A Sparkly Michael Kors Jumpsuit. I’m Already Here, Duh!] I’m certain, based on the number of number sweat-soaked T-shirt backs I witnessed exiting our auditorium into the main hall, leaving the AMC Waterfront 22 was as much a relief to others as it was to us. This was not a prestige experience nor a baseline pleasant one. Akin this review, I was too hot and bothered to enjoy or even remember most of the film…Which says quite a bit with respect to Dune Two. In the lavishly surreal advert, Miss Kidman claims, “AMC Theaters. We make movies better.” Naw, Gurl. You’re Wrong. ● This review is being left after returning to the theater in person, outlining the issues with my experience, requesting a refund, and being told by the manager that no refund was owed to me. He went on to explain that none of the issues raised herein could be fixed and that it was my duty to report the issues immediately so they could be addressed. Whut? Strangely, he claimed the thermostat is controlled remotely from somewhere outside of the building with no input available from the theater itself which led me to ask whether there was any real point to complaining about the muggy and acrid auditorium conditions then or now. He dismissively rebutted my claim about the broken seat by stating the design I’ve described isn’t the type of seat installed in that auditorium. I was painfully there and, can assure you, it is. I’m going to hold fast to my promise never to return. If anybody’s read this far, I urge you to vote with your wallet and not patronize AMC 22 Waterfront in the first place. Your lower spine, sense of smell, and sweat glands will thank me. [Bonus Clip! The ticket taker who bizarrely covered her face during my first visit was the same one who summoned the manager today. Because I’d interrupted her staring contest with her phone when I greeted her, she didn’t spare me a generous eye-roll. And this was before being cut off while I was explaining my purpose for being there. I’ve never looked it up, but AMC must stand for Atrociously Mistreated Customers. Get that paycheck, Miss Kidman, because you’re actually the only one really doing anything in...

22 screens

On September 29, 1998, Loews Cineplex Entertainment announced plans to enter the Greater Pittsburgh area with two new megaplexes. Just a few years later, one of these theatres, located in North Versailles, would be closed, having operated from November 23, 1999 to June 28, 2001. The other, the Loews Waterfront Theatre in West Homestead, would prove to be an enormous success.

Built on the site of a steel mill abandoned in 1986, Loews Waterfront, with its 22 screens and stadium-style seating, was the 108,000-square-foot anchor to Continental Real Estate’s 265 acre development of retail, residential, and office space. Opened on May 5, 2000, the theatre’s exterior was marked by a blend of squat, golden Moroccan columns and hand-cut tile, while the interior featured liberal use of red, yellow, and purple, all designed by architect David Rockwell. Topping the facility’s large concession island was, among other things, a ten foot-tall replica of a Coca-Cola cup.

The $22 million building’s gilded mezzanine level featured the Loews Club, a lounge and cafe that patrons could enter prior to or after their show for a $5 cover charge. Offering a full-service bar, this area also included a restaurant menu with items such as the Grilled Angus Steak Burger, a Caribbean Orange Rum Chicken dish, and a Chocolate Espresso Brownie Tower. Reservations for the Loews Club were accepted, over the phone or in person, up to three days in advance and included pre-selected theatre seat tickets which could be retrieved at the Loews Club box office. A private elevator would usher patrons to the Club’s coat check, intimate seating alcoves and sofas, and fireplaces. Access to the Club allowed customers to view movies from plush, oversized leather-like seats located at the top and center of the stadium sections within seven adjoining auditoriums. The bar and furnishings were a blend of polished woods, tufted upholstery, and painted-glass light fixtures. Back-lit photos of Oscar winners graced the space and Viewmasters on the tables featured images of the available dessert options.

Loews Waterfront was the last remaining theater operated by the company in the Pittsburgh area when it became part of the AMC Theatres circuit after the latter’s purchase of Loews Cineplex Entertainment. The others were the previously mentioned North Versailles location, Loew’s Penn, and Loew’s Ritz, which operated at 219 Fifth Avenue from 12/14/1923 through 4/30/1954.

Contributed by Damien Farley

The road

Keep a little fire burning; however hidden

He walked out in the gray light and stood and he saw for a brief moment the absolute truth of the world. The cold relentless circling of the intestate earth. Darkness implacable. The blind dogs of the sun in their running. The crushing black vacuum of the universe. And somewhere two hunted animals trembling like ground-foxes in their cover. Borrowed time and borrowed world and borrowed eyes with which to sorrow it.

Listen to me, he said, when your dreams are of some world that never was or some world that never will be, and you're happy again, then you'll have given up. Do you understand? And you can't give up, I won't let you.

No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.

On this road there are no godspoke men. They are gone and I am left and they have taken with them the...

I would give zero stars if it was an option. They offer tickets for movies with CAPTIONS for deaf individuals online, and have no problem taking their money, but will NOT deliver and will not give you a full refund for their inadequacy. They don't even know if they can fix the problem, but still have no problem selling tickets for CAPTIONED movies on their website- leaving it in the hands of the customer to put in the work to make things right when all you wanted to do was go see a movie with your family. Do NOT go to this theater unless you want to have to go through the line of command to advocate for yourself and your hard earned money.

"DISCRIMINATION AGAINST A PROTECTED CLASS

I am so beyond disgusted by the AMC in waterfront . 9 of my siblings and cousins drove 45 minutes to the waterfront to watch Final Destination Bloodlines, and switched our tickets from Robinson to Waterfront specifically so that my sister could enjoy the movie with the rest of us. Mind you we drove from Cresent, Moon, coraopolis, and McKeesport to see this movie.

We get there, and no captions. Immediately I went to guest services, and I spoke to the manager Kevin, basically he said there was nothing they could do about it, they would refund us (but couldn’t refund the full amount because we bought the tickets online), and then said we could come back tomorrow for the showing at 3:40pm. I asked if they didn’t play it today how could they guarantee if we come all the way back out here tomorrow that the issue would be resolved, they couldn’t. While this was happening another man who was not with us came out to also complain, and they didn’t even try to speak to him, they immediately asked me to interpret. Another woman and her granddaughter came out to complain and only offered the device, no refund.

After they basically told us they couldn’t play the movie today, I suggested to make the situation right what they should do is go into the theater and offer everyone in there WHO PAID FOR OPEN CAPTION and did not receive the service they paid for a refund, and an alternate showing. The manager KEVIN refused. He stated that if anyone wanted a refund or assistance they would have to come to them. When I expressed that the people who would be affected by this wouldn’t be able to communicate with him, and I’d be happy to interpret while I was still there, he said absolutely not he’d “figure it out” . So I told him to go ahead and try to assist the man who STILL AFTER 30 MINUTES didn’t receive help, he pulled out a sheet of paper to write on, and the man still asked me and my sister what was going on. My sister, my brother and i took it upon ourselves to go back into the theater and tell everyone ourselves. About 15 people...