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 …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The next Breakfast and a Movie is a Christmas special—"White Christmas—set for Dec. 23.
Christmas is in the air, and Dormont's Hollywood Theater is celebrating with a special Dec. 23 showing of "White Christmas." The movie will be the theater's next event for the Breakfast and a Movie program, a new item on the theater's schedule, and one that has taken off. Friends of Hollywood Theater member Margaret Jackson said she and Heavenly Blumling, who organized the program, wanted to come up with a new way for local businesses to work together. Now preparing for the fourth Breakfast and a Movie, they are confident they've found a hit, so to speak. “We were just looking for an idea that would be nice for the community and nice for the theater, and also easy to do,” Jackson said. “I knew that the Oaks [Theater in Oakmont] was doing …
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Break out your inner Princess Leia. Or Ghostbuster. This costume contest has prizes.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Erin Faulk
-
Thursday, October 25, 2012
If you could be a character from any movie, who would you be? This Saturday is your chance to be that character, and win some prizes for it. The Hollywood Halloween Costume Party is this Saturday, Oct. 27, at Dormont's Hollywood Theater. The theater invites patrons to break out their inner Princess Leia, Inigo Montoya, Wicked Witch, or any other favorite character—four people will win prizes for the best costumes. The event runs from 8 to 11 p.m. Here are just a few things it will include: At midnight, the Junior Chamber of Commerce Players, Pittsburgh’s official Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadow Cast, will present a special Halloween performance of the classic 1975 musical that stars Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon. Admission for this show is…
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The Pittsburgh Foundation's Day of Giving is Wednesday, Oct. 3. See how you can help some local organizations.
Several nonprofit organizations in the Dormont and Brookline area are eligible to receive some extra donations from the Pittsburgh Foundation on Wednesday. The foundation will match a pro-rated amount of all money donated to specific organizations from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on the PittsburghGives Day of Giving. Here are local entities that are eligible: The minimum gift per organization is $25. The maximum gift that an individual can give per organization that will be matched is $10,000. Nonprofits will receive a check with total donations and Pittsburgh Foundation match within 30 days of Day of Giving. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.pittsburghgives.org. Follow Dormont-Brookline Patch on Facebook and Twitter. For …
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 …
Monday, July 9, 2012
Hollywood Theater's new membership program calls donors "co-stars" and "producers."
The Friends of Hollywood Theater have launched a program that will give movie lovers great deals while helping the Dormont movie theater. Memberships come in five levels—ranging from $45 to $1,000 annually—each with discounts on movies and concessions as well as free movie passes. The $45 basic level includes $5 admission to films ($2 off regular admission), a free refill on a small soda and popcorn, one free movie pass, and discounts on special events. The $150 “Co-Star” level includes $5 admission for two to films, two free refills on small sodas and popcorns, 10 free movie passes, and discounts on special events. The $1,000 “Producer” level comes with two free admissions, free refills on any size soda and popcorn, and a private …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Dormont’s Hollywood Theater celebrated its first anniversary of re-opening last weekend, and from the looks of it’s May marquee, there’s no slowing down.
Dormont’s Hollywood Theater has gone from hoping for success to hosting the Ghostbusters, all in one year that has seemed to fly by for those who brought the theater back to life. The Hollywood celebrated its one-year anniversary last weekend, with a lineup that included “Ghostbusters” (1984), “Psycho” (1960), “The Big Lebowski” (1998) and a full day of Elvis specials, complete with live entertainment. Such high-impact weekends are becoming the norm at the Hollywood, and to Friends of the Hollywood Theater President Scott Jackson, that’s a really good sign. “We’ve made it past a year and we’re going strong,” Jackson said. “We feel like we’ve accomplished something just in hitting that milestone.” Jackson said one of the biggest challenges …
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
A “Night of the Living Dead” screening on Saturday will raise funds to save a local relic of the classic horror film.
Why is it important to save a cemetery chapel in Evans City? Gary Streiner said he’s been asked this about 3,000 times in the past few months, and each time he answers, the response is more meaningful. Streiner, with the help of “Night of the Living Dead” fans, hopes to raise enough money by screening the 1968 film to save the Evans City Cemetery Chapel, which appears in the opening scene of the movie. The event is Saturday, Feb. 4, at Dormont's Hollywood Theater. “Right now, we still have (director) George Romero around. We still have a lot of the original cast and crew around to do signings, so hard core fans can still meet them,” Streiner said. “But we’re all getting up in age a bit and there’s going to be a time when we’re not around …
Monday, January 30, 2012
The auto dealer is the first local organization to sponsor films at the Hollywood through the theater’s sponsorship program.
The Friends of Hollywood Theater will partner with #1 Cochran for a classic film series that will play at the Dormont theater over the next few months. The series will start with Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9. The organization also plans to sponsor a showing of the musical “West Side Story,” as well as classics “Casablanca,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” and the western “Shane.” The series is part of a sponsorship program instituted by the Friends organization that allows local businesses and individuals to sponsor a film that will play to the public at the Hollywood. Scott Jackson, president of the Friends’ board of directors, released a statement about the partnership last week. "The Friends board is excited about this …
Erin Faulk
9:11 am on Thursday, February 7, 2013
This is the weirdest story I've ever covered. more ›