Pittsburgh Film History: On Set in the Steel City

by John Tiech

Overview

Pittsburgh has been part of the film industry since the days of silent film. Yet, it was not until the 1951 classic Angels in the Outfield—set at Forbes Field—that the Steel City had its first major role on the silver screen. Greater Pittsburgh's film and television industry has since produced everything from the beloved children's program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood to the cult classic Night of the Living Dead. Most recently, Christopher Nolan has chosen to set the conclusion to his Batman trilogy in the city. From the first nickelodeon and "film row" of those early days to the locations and cutting-edge sets of today, local author John Tiech takes a behind-the-scenes tour of Pittsburgh cinema.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781609497095
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	07/17/2012
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	703,453
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

John Tiech is a lifelong resident of the Pittsburgh area and an English college instructor. At a very young age, he had a passion for film and television. After a decade of research, he is one of very few individuals with the extensive and accurate knowledge about the history of Pittsburgh cinema. He is friends with many members of the Pittsburgh film community and has even been part of local movie productions such as The Dark Knight Rises and Won't Back Down.

Table of Contents

1 The Genesis of Pittsburgh Film 7

2 Pittsburgh Classics 9

3 Chilly Billy 11

4 Fred Rogers and His Legacy 13

5 Night of the Living Legends 17

6 The Straggling Seventies 23

7 Dawn of the Pittsburgh Film Industry 27

8 Diverse Filmmaking 35

9 Day of the Dead 45

10 Hollywood of the East 50

11 Demme God 63

12 The Remake 72

13 The Pittsburgh Film Office 76

14 Five Years of Full Time 78

15 The Canadian Effect 98

16 Lights! Camera! Life Support! 109

17 Perseverance 123

18 Pittsburgh Rises 141

Bibliography 145

Index 155

About the Author 159

Editorial Reviews

"It's a handy and fascinating tour through our own Tinsel Town." —Kristofer Collins, Pittsburgh Magazine

"Film and television buffs will find this book interesting." —Al Holliday, Pennsylvania Magazine

"In 'Pittsburgh Film History,' subtitled 'On Set in the Steel City,' he [Tiech] chronicles the scores of movies for TV and the big screen made here. Many are recent notables, as with 'The Dark Knight Rises,' but he also mentions TV titles such as 'Silent Witness' with Valerie Bertinelli, 'Criminal Justice' starring Forest Whitaker and 'Bump in the Night' featuring Christopher Reeve." —Barbara Vancheri, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

From the Publisher