Former ‘Friends of Hollywood Theater’ group finds a new home in Carnegie

Ice cream lovers and classic film buffs living in Carnegie now have something to smile about.
The area’s landmark ice cream parlor, The Flying Squirrel located at 241 E. Main St., is now home to Jump Cut Theater.
Formerly known as “Friends of the Hollywood Theater” that operated in their namesake’s theater in Dormont, Jump Cut Theater brings B-movies, art house films and special screenings to a location starved for entertainment.
And the group will continue to operate the ice cream parlor.
“Everything is more-or-less identical,” said Jump Cut Theater Operations Manager Joseph Morrison when asked about the group’s new identity. “Our mission is to preserve classic theater while maintaining the artistic aspect of the industry. Everybody in Carnegie – from the borough council to the zoning board – has been super great about welcoming us to the neighborhood. This is a great opportunity for us to provide entertainment to the area, and we’re committed to the long-term here.”
Morrison said the theater is currently using a 16-millimeter projector and has 22 seats open to the public, but the group plans to improve seating capacity to 45 chairs.
“Forty-five seats per show is a good number,” Morrison said. “If you have that many people here seven days a week, that means you’re reaching an audience.”
Morrison said the theater will feature classic films, quirky art house movies, its well-known Breakfast and a Movie event, Noir Nights, and the Cinema in Neighborhoods programs. Morrison will also bust out eclectic films from his personal collection for the theater’s brand new Alternative Content screening series.
Opened in 2015 by owner Melanie Luke, The Flying Squirrel ice cream parlor doubled as a toy emporium before she decided to close the shop in April.
Morrison’s group and his staff spent seven years at the Hollywood Theater in Dormont before the theater’s sale to Pittsburgh’s Historical Theater Society of America in February. Shortly after the sale, the group began searching for a new home.
“We’ll be more careful with our lease agreements in the future,” Morrison said of the group’s experience at the Hollywood Theater. “Our leases will now be written agreements and not just handshakes.”
But now Morrison and his staff are solely focused on bringing entertainment to the residents of Carnegie and its surrounding neighborhoods. And that includes serving ice cream in the theater’s concession area.
“We’re all learning how to scoop ice cream,” Morrison said with a laugh.
Visit www.jumpcuttheater.org for more information about the group.