Events seek Zombies to help in fundraisers
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Like a mad scientist, or a smart marketer, Gary Streiner has been cutting out replicas of George A. Romero's oversize black eyeglasses and sprinkling some broken pieces of glass, wood and mortar into tiny plastic caskets.
The souvenirs, priced to save or sell, will be part of a special screening of "Night of the Living Dead" Saturday at the Hollywood Theater, 1449 Potomac Ave., Dormont. A Facebook-driven campaign aims to have 1 million people watch the horror classic at the same time to celebrate the director's 72nd birthday.
Doors open at 2:30 p.m. and the movie will screen at 4 p.m. Admission is $6, with proceeds to benefit the repair of the Evans City Cemetery chapel appearing in the film's early minutes as a brother and sister exit their car with a foam, flowered cross and walk toward a grave.
The campaign, which has raised $14,000 so far, has been picking up steam and clever fundraising ideas. Take the little plastic caskets that a fan located.
Mr. Streiner, a sound engineer on the landmark 1968 movie who has been spearheading the effort, said he bought 100 of the novelties meant to hold miniature glow-in-the-dark skeletons. "I cracked them open, took the skeleton out and I'm putting pieces of the chapel -- little broken pieces of glass and wood and also some mortar," inside, he said Monday.
They will be for sale for $10 on Saturday, and fans also can buy wristbands, posters, T-shirts and hoodies. Moviegoers also will get to see Ella Mae Smith, reportedly the only surviving Evans City ghoul, among other guests.
Organizers hope to spoof a famous photo showing a movie audience in which all patrons are wearing 3-D glasses and staring in the same direction. For a "NOLD" twist, customers will don special glasses that mimic Mr. Romero's. Roughly 140 to 160 pairs of the glasses will be free but Mr. Streiner hopes patrons might donate a dollar or so for the commemorative spectacles fashioned from heavy card stock.
The Steel City Zombies, meanwhile, are organizing an Eat Your Heart Out Zombie Valentine's Day Party to raise money to fix the chapel.
It will start at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Oakmont Tavern, 814 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont, and tickets will be $3, available at the door. You must be 21 or over to attend, and the evening will feature drawings, drink specials and other money makers.
For information about both events, go to www.fixthechapel.com and click on "Events" and then advance to the February calendar.
First Published January 31, 2012 12:00 am
