Two Pittsburgh movie moguls (sort of) will participate in a conference in Cleveland that sounds like something the Steeltown Entertainment Project might aspire to, whenever it gets around to following up on last fall's pep rally.

Charlie Humphrey, executive director of Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and Dawn Keezer, director of the Pittsburgh Film Office, will attend the Cleveland Entertainment Conference, scheduled for May 15.

The idea behind the daylong event, according to its organizers, is to "promote the regional entertainment industry by providing an educational forum and the resources needed to develop local talent while incorporating community support."

For information: www.clevelandentertainmentconference.com.

Not on the list

MovieMaker magazine compiles an annual list of top cities for filmmakers. The precise criteria seem to change from year to year. While previous lists have included Canadian locations, the latest list refers to itself as a list of "the best places in the U.S. to live and make movies."

So what places made the cut? Austin, Texas, came out at No. 1, followed by (in order), New York City; Boston; Philadelphia; Orlando, Fla.; Las Vegas; Portland, Ore.; Chicago; and Houston.

Hollywood-on-the-Mon got left out -- again. Pittsburgh hasn't even gotten an honorable mention on any of the magazine's lists, which began in 2001.

Well, this used to be America's most livable city, too.

Short subjects

Benjamin Burtt, the Oscar-winning sound editor of "Star Wars," "E.T." and "Raiders of the Lost Ark," will be the commencement speaker Sunday at his alma mater, Allegheny College in Meadville, where he graduated in 1970 with a degree in physics. ... Speaking of the Oscars, mark your calendar. Next year's ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 27. ... The locally produced movie "Speilburgh," which premiered last month at the Byham Theater, will be shown again tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. at the Penn Hills Cinema, where most of it was filmed. Writer-director Andrew Zehner will attend.

-- By Ron Weiskind, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Loews' celebration

As part of its "Founder's Day" celebration, Loews Cineplex Entertainment is hosting "Happy Hour at the Movies" select weekdays through May 13. From 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday this week and next, the chain will sell a small popcorn for $1.

Any moviegoer whose first or last name is Marcus will get free admission to Loews through May 13. Throughout the year, patrons who come to the movies on their birthdays will receive a free super combo, which is one large soda and large popcorn. And, while there may not be many takers on this one, Loews will grant free admission for the remainder of the year to moviegoers who are 100 or older. Proper identification is required.

Tomorrow, between 7 and 8 p.m., a time capsule will be buried outside the 22-screen Loews in West Homestead. Promotional movie items will be given away and the first 100 patrons to bring items for the time capsule will be treated to chicken-and-pineapple skewers.

It's all part of the chain's "Founder's Day" in honor of Marcus Loew, who was born May 7, 1870. He sold lemons and newspapers at age 6, quit school at 9 and opened his own company at 18.

Loew entered the entertainment business in 1904, when movies were typically shown in vaudeville houses or viewed through penny-arcade machines. He became one of the earliest motion picture exhibitors when he replaced arcades, first in Cincinnati and New York and then elsewhere, with theaters.

Loews Cineplex Entertainment was formed in 1998 with the merger of Loews Theaters and Cineplex Odeon Corp. Its megaplex at the Waterfront opened in 2000.

-- By Barbara Vancheri, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette