Pittsburgh PA: Who’s Making Movies Today?

WHY GO: There are all kinds of reasons to visit Pittsburgh PA  – the film industry is but one.

With three rivers, 446 bridges (the most of any city in the world, including Venice), and a New Yorkish downtown, Pittsburgh PA makes a compelling backdrop for movies.

Both Frank Gorshin (original Riddler on Batman TV show) and Michael Keaton (original Tim Burton movie Batman) were from Pittsburgh. So is it just a coincidence that This City serves as model for Gotham City?

The Steel City also boasts a “pet monster” – the Zombie. George Romero and Russ Streiner met in Pittsburg and, in 1968, made the very first Zombie-as-flesh-eating-fiend-flick – Night of the Living Dead –in Evans City, Butler County PA, about 30 miles north. Streiner now serves as the Board Chair of the Pittsburgh Film Office, successfully marketing his hometown to filmmakers.

Known as “Hollywood of the East,” Pittsburgh PA has been the backdrop to hundreds of movies since silent films were the rage, with more being made here every week.

So this Getaway focuses on publicly accessible movie locations in Pittsburgh, and organized tours to get the most out of a trip here; providing a unique guide to attractions, restaurants and hotels that, even if you have never been here, might seem very familiar to you. Consult this Getaway Mavens post about the art and rebellious side of Pittsburgh PA for more to do. 

Pittsburgh PA of the Movies

VISIT: Duquesne Incline

Find the top of this steep funicular in the tony Mount Washington neighborhood – a section of million dollar homes and condos perched way above the city. The Duquesne Incline opened on May 20, 1877.

Pitched at 30.5 degrees, and running 793 ft as it clickity-clacks 6 MPH uphill, riding the incline should be on every Pittsburgh visitor’s to do list. From the observation deck of the incline, you’ll get a spectacular overview of Pittsburgh and its many set locations, including:

On the Incline itself – Next Three Days (2010), Flashdance

Heinz Field – blown up in Dark Knight Rises (using a foot high overlay and lots of post-production enhancements).

PNC Building – Abduction

31^st Bridge on Allegheny River – Striking Distance (in fact, the first call to just-formed Pittsburgh Film Office was regarding this 1993 Bruce Willis Action flick).

TOUR: Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark

Once rendering 9,000 tons of molten iron from iron ore per day and producing 1,200 tons of iron, this furnace and others just like it fed the Victorian-age building boom all the way through 70’s urban renewal.

“There were once 75 of these blast furnaces in the area. In the 1930’s, Pittsburgh was dark at noon,” says Ron Baraff, Director of Archives for Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation, a Big Steel conservation and preservation organization.

The Carrie Furnace closed in 1978 and was abandoned for over 30 years before being rescued by Rivers of Steel volunteers.

A stabilized ruin, the Carrie Furnace is Pittsburgh’s last one standing, and, for obvious reasons, a darling of “Apocalyptic” filmmakers and other fans of postindustrial decay.

Among the many movies, shows and music videos filmed here is the very dark, all-star vehicle, Out of the Furnace. Christian Bale chased Woody Harrelson through the base of the furnace, and no – those weren’t real rocks used in the head-bashing sequences. You can still see man-made foam stone on a behind the scenes tour.

The Carrie Furnace made an appearance in the opening scene of Mrs. Soifel, and was backdrop to a BBC Documentary on Andrew Carnegie. During your tour, you’ll learn about the process of steelmaking, filmmaking and history of this region. Tours May-Oct, Wed – Sun, several times a day, $24 adults, $14 kids.

VISIT: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum, Oakland Neighborhood

Built to honor Civil War Veterans in 1910, this fantastic building also serves as a magnificent 2,600 auditorium for graduations, official events and performances (Bruce Springsteen played here in May ’14 for his friend Joe Grushecky’s Reunion Show), as well as a museum to recognize all Allegheny County veterans of wars from the American Revolution until now.

But movie buffs will want to come here for another reason. The “Cage” scene from Silence of the Lambs was filmed in the upstairs ballroom, which has since been spruced up for weddings and the like. Still, visiting the space might prompt you to ask for some fava beans and a nice Chianti. Open Mon-Sat 10-4, free.

TOUR: Cathedral of Learning Nationality Rooms, Oakland Neighborhood

This Pittsburgh neighborhood, three miles from downtown, is university central. It’s where Carnegie Mellon U. and University of Pittsburgh, as well as the Carnegie Museums and Phipps Botanical Garden are located.

But for lovers of the offbeat, plan to see the University of Pittsburgh’s “Cathedral of Learning” – home to twenty-nine “Nationality Rooms.” Think of it as “Winterthur on Campus.”

The building– a 42-story cloud-piercing Gothic Revival edifice – is worth visiting in itself. The “Cathedral” made an appearance in the Mothman Prophesies, 42, and The Wonder Boys.

But the functioning classrooms, designed in exacting detail to represent different cultures at various time periods across the world, are the real draw.

There’s an 18^th Century Russian Peasant home, an Early 17^th Century Scottish room, an 18^th century Swedish cottage, a room from Ireland representing the mid 900’s that contains a set of chairs with carved Irish Wolfhound armrests (to ward off evil spirits).

Find the circa 1510 world globe in the Polish room.  It was the first to depict North America as a separate continent. Also see an illuminated mosaic of Constantine in the church-like interior of the Romanian Room. Open during school hours when class is not in session. Free.

TOUR: Burgh, Bits and Bites Food Tour

Sylvia, founder/tour-guide, runs two-hour food tours in five diverse Pittsburgh neighborhoods. (That’s two hours in each ‘burg). Sign up for the Brookline Tour if you want a taste of old and traditional meshed with newfangled Pittsburgh establishments.

According to one Yelper, Marne O, “When I was looking to buy a house, I turned to Brookline because I knew they had a great coffee shop and a taco stand.”

The coffee shop was Cannon Coffee (now closed) that was famous for its locally roasted coffee and Open Mic Wednesday Nights.

The Taco Stand remains right outside Las Palmas Mexican Grocery Store – and the tacos are so good, there are lines down the street all year.

But Brookline also has Pitaland, owned by Lebanese expat, Joe Chahine, who’s been coined “the Willy Wonka of Pita Making.” Chahine is more than happy to show you the apparatus that turns out 2,000 pitas an hour.

You’ll watch the whole process from dough making to final product while learning about Joe’s American immigrant success story. And then, of course, you’ll get a taste of as many hot pitas (with humus) as you can eat.

On Sylvia’s tour, you’ll try fresh-baked morsels at bakeries (DeLuca Bros. and the Party Cake Shop), a slice at Antionio’s Pizzeria and stop into Sal’s Barber Shop, which has been providing gentlemanly haircuts since 1947.

Though Sal’s no longer offers shaves, shelves on the walls are lined with shaving mugs. They are a reminder that in the past, customers would leave their own personal mugs with the barber; the more mugs, the better the barber. Apparently, Salvatore Bondi (who passed away in early 2014) and “Little Sal,” his son, were and are the tops. Food tours $43 per person. Check website for dates and times.

Restaurant Film Locations Pittsburgh PA

EAT/BREAKFAST: De Luca’s Restaurant

Longtime local favorite, DeLuca’s, in the film-worthy ethnic Strip District, was one location for the failed 1992 movie, Passed Away. Good thing food reviews are better.

Man Vs. Food came here, and it was a tossup. You’ll gorge on the Steel City Breakfast of Champions – short-stack, eggs, home fries, Hotcake Sundaes, or anything else from a huge menu.

EAT/SHOP: Enrico Biscotti

In the Strip District, this incredible bakeshop gets raves for its signature biscotti, macaroons and bread. No surprise that actor Scott Bao (Chachi) learned to bake bread here for his movie The Bread, My Sweet. He ultimately loved the craft so much he’d bake off-set and give his creations away. You, too, can take a 3-hour bread-baking class ($85/person) or indulge in a First Friday Dinner. Only 30 seats, so call for reservations.

EAT: Primanti Brothers/Strip District – A Favorite of Pittsburgh PA Movie Actors

Word has it that Jake Gyllenhaal while filming Southpaw in summer 2014 loved this local sandwich shop. And so do I. Unpretentious and plain good, you can watch your baloney hogie being grilled from your table upstairs.

EAT/DINNER: Butcher and the Rye

Location of another bar scene from Father’s and Daughters (notice a theme?), this sister restaurant of Meat and Potatoes excels in both food and wit.

Barn wood walls, Mason jar hanging lamps, a splendid backlit bar that features a whopping 517 types of whiskey; Butcher and the Rye has zeroed in on the meat-eating-hooch-swilling-rustic-barn zeitgeist. Small plates like Crispy Pig Wings ($9) and Bone Marrow ($15) are friggin’ awesome.

EAT/DINNER: Grand Concourse

This place is to Pittsburgh what Tavern on the Green is to New York – an iconic, singularly set enticing restaurant, where food, though very good, is incidental.

Originally the very swanky 20’s-grand train station, visitors go gaga over the stained glass roof, sweeping marble staircase and river views.

Flashdance, Next Three Days, Love and Other Drugs, and a slew of lesser known movies were filmed here. Waiters, donning black suit vests, are sometimes enlisted as film extras. General Manager, Tony, shared that he played a bartender in Love and Other Drugs – shot in the popular Grand Concourse bar, the Gandy Dancer.

Where to Stay in Pittsburgh PA Movie Splendor

STAY: Omni William Penn, Where Pittsburgh PA bound movie stars stayed.

Old fashioned, stately and traditionally elegant, the Omni has seen quite a few Hollywood stars come through its doors. Bob Hope proposed to his girlfriend here, and Kirsten Stuart auditioned for the Twilight Series downstairs in the ballroom (a common casting area in town).

But the most interesting story involves a bubble machine left over from a Pittsburgh PA film premier and the bandleader, Lawrence Welk. Welk’s sound was termed “Champaign Music” – because it was as “light and bubbly as Champaign.”

While he was playing a set at the William Penn, a band manager decided to employ the bubble machine. Welk loved the bubbles so much, they became a signature of his act. Rooms and Packages from $150.