Thursday, February 7, 2013
One Ed Asner Facebook page is fake, as is its donation claim to Dormont's Hollywood Theater, but another—a Facebook fan page—is run by the actor's son.
One Ed Asner Facebook page is fake, as is a donation pledge to Dormont's Hollywood Theater posted there, but as it turns out, another Facebook page legitimately links fans to the actor. Asner's daughter and assistant, Liza Asner, confirmed in an email to Dormont-Brookline Patch that there does exist a Facebook fan page—not a personal page—as well as a Twitter account, that are run by associates of the actor. The fan page for Ed Asner, which has 3,833 "likes," and the Twitter account @TheOnlyEdAsner both are managed by Asner's son, Matt. When Dormont-Brookline Patch sent a question about the fake Facebook page to the Twitter account on Feb. 2, the response was this: @DormontPatch that my dear is a fake Facebook page. I have a fan page on …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Theater manager Chad Hunter said the Hollywood doesn't want to gain money or notoriety because of a hoax, and looks to move forward in a positive way.
The story of the fake Facebook page bearing actor Ed Asner’s name and a generous donation pledge to Dormont’s Hollywood Theater has brought both attention and increased donations to the Potomac Avenue landmark. Those associated with Hollywood Theater are grateful for recent donations, but theater manager Chad Hunter said this isn’t how they wanted to gain money or notoriety for the Hollywood. “We would prefer not to get attention to our cause through someone’s fraudulent, misguided attempt to draw people to us,” he said. “We’d rather get the message out in more positive ways.” Donations to Hollywood Theater’s IndieGogo campaign were at just above $4,000 on Jan. 29, the day the false post was made. Since then, donations have jumped to $5,…
Monday, February 4, 2013
The actor’s representatives confirmed Friday that Ed Asner does not have a Facebook page, and never did.
A donation pledge from actor Ed Asner to Dormont’s Hollywood Theater has turned out to be fake. Social media was buzzing last week after a post—written in first person, as though in the actor’s voice—appeared on a Facebook page bearing Asner’s name, photos and biography. The post was a pledge of support to Hollywood Theater, claiming the actor would double donations to the Hollywood's IndieGogo campaign. But on Friday, representatives associated with the actor confirmed that the Facebook account was a fake. “I guess I’m not terribly surprised,” said Hollywood Theater manager Chad Hunter. “I think initially we were all skeptical but excited, and hoping to get more news. When we didn’t get it I was starting to worry.” It's a local twist on …
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Those involved with the theater are hoping Tuesday's event is a precursor to being able to show the film frequently.
A special showing of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” at Dormont’s Hollywood Theater on Tuesday served as a precursor to what manager Chad Hunter hopes will become a regular event. The viewing was an invitation-only event, mainly for Verizon FiOS customers, to promote the film’s availability through On Demand. But Hunter said as soon as the theater is able to buy a digital projector, he plans to make “Perks” a regular on the theater’s marquee. “As soon as we get that projector, this movie will be here,” Hunter said. “We want to do a ‘Perks’-‘Rocky Horror’ double feature, maybe for a one or two-week run.” That plan hinges heavily on the theater’s ability to purchase the projector. Click here for information about that project. Tuesday’s …
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Hollywood Theater must raise $75,000 for a digital movie projector, or face going dark—possibly for good.
Letting Hollywood Theater’s screen go dark once again isn’t something theater manager Chad Hunter is willing to allow. Unfortunately, that fate is again becoming a real possibility for the Dormont landmark—the only single-screen, independent movie theater in the South Hills—if the theater can’t raise the necessary $75,000 to buy a digital movie projector. “Increasingly, it’s cheaper for studios to produce movies digitally and distribute them that way,” Hunter said. “The writing is on the wall for it … Small theaters are not part of the studios’ financial formula and we’re falling through the cracks.” Hollywood Theater frequently shows movies on 35mm film, a format that used to require 2,000-foot film reels to be shipped and delivered to …
Friday, January 4, 2013
"Rocky Horror Picture Show" will no longer be shown at Dormont’s Hollywood Theater, unless the theater can make a big jump into the digital age.
The end of 2012 also meant the end of a major event for Dormont’s Hollywood Theater—screenings of "Rocky Horror Picture Show." The classic, campy film will no longer be shown at the Hollywood, unless the theater is able to make a big jump forward into the digital age. "We're working right now to raise the money to get a digital film projecter," said Hollywood Theater manager Chad Hunter. "That's really becoming more and more important, and we're getting to the point where we'll depend on it for the future." With the loss of "Rocky Horror," the theater's need for a digital projector and other equipment updates—at a cost of $75,000—became more prevalent than ever, Hunter said. Hollywood Theater frequently shows movies on 35mm film, and when …
Friday, December 28, 2012
Hollywood Theater manager Chad Hunter talks about a big problem Dormont's Hollywood Theater faces in 2013.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Friends of Hollywood Theater hired Chad Hunter as the new theater manager, and he officially started this week.
Chad Hunter’s lifelong appreciation of old theaters has led him to one of Dormont’s greatest treasures. Hunter started Tuesday in his position as the new manager of Dormont’s Hollywood Theater, and said it’s the job he’s been waiting for since moving to the Pittsburgh area in 2009. “I grew up going to some of the theaters that are gone, and that always struck me, even when I was younger,” Hunter said. “I was just really drawn to the historical nature of the Hollywood, and I’m so glad it’s still here.” Friends of Hollywood Theater President Scott Jackson said Hunter was hired after a nine-month-long reorganization of the board of directors. He said former manager John Maggio was re-interviewed for the position, but ultimately Hunter’s …
Erin Faulk
2:50 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
I thought it was great! Glad to know now that it really was someone related to him. more ›