The University of Pittsburgh isn’t calling this one fright night at the library, but officials are promising “a ghoulish good time,” when Pitt opens part of its George A. Romero collection to the public at the Hillman Library from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 23.
University officials said the free event will feature a display of photos, unproduced scripts, posters, news clips and other artifacts from the late Pittsburgh filmmaker George A. Romero’s professional and personal archives.
Many consider Romero, a Pittsburgh filmmaker whose horror films date back to the classic 1968 film “Night of the Living Dead,” the godfather of zombie cinema.
Romero fans can also enjoy a horror make-up booth, film clips, staged readings of the iconic filmmaker’s movie scenes, and Romero trivia at the Hillman Library.
The filmmaker, who died in 2017, at 77, came to Pittsburgh in the late 1950s to study graphic arts at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. He launched his career making commercials and shorts, including some for another iconic Pittsburgh production, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Romero’s family and business associates donated his archives to Pitt earlier this year.
The Pitt party is among a series of events planned in honor of Romero this month, including special films and speakers. A complete listing of events is available on the George A. Romero Foundation website.
