Living Dead Museum and Cemetery in Evans City, Pennsylvania
The Living Dead Museum is a celebration of Zombies in Pop Culture. It is in the center of Evens City and about 30 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. If you are into zombies, then this is the place to go. If your not, I would skip it because it will have little meaning for you.
It has a wonderful collection of props, memorabilia, and interactive experiences to enjoy. I also love the fact that they have a fabulous timeline wall with all kind of different horror films.
The hours are only Friday and Sunday noon to 5 pm, Saturday 10 am to 6 pm. But if you have a group, it is possible that you can make an appointment for a Monday to Thursday viewing. Tickets are $5 for persons over 13 and those under 12 are free with an adult. But check their web site for changes.
Once a year Evens City host a Living Dead Weekend. In 2019, it was in September. If your interested in a weekend devoted to the Living Dead, check with the museum for the dates on the next weekend planned.
The Living Dead Museum also has a wonderful zombie themed merchandise which is also available on their website at all times of the year.
I enjoyed visiting the museum but it takes less then an 1 hour to go through so enjoy lunch in town and head out the the cemetery to see where the movie was filmed. Or drop by Mars which is just around the block, i.e. 6 miles away and make a full day of it.
The cemetery is up a winding twisty country road around the bend from the museum. It is easy to miss so look for signs and ask direction because the GPS wasn’t all that great for me…lol
One you get to the top of the hill, your nightmares come to life. It is best to go on a cloudy overcast day to bring out the horror. But do remember that the cemetery closes at dusk and they still have services for the newly dead. Be respectful while you are here or they might not let you leave….
Every where you look you see the movie. The sites are hunting. But also take a moment to remember the service men who have died. There is a memorial for them.
Brief History
Night of the Living Dead was co-written and directed by George Romero with a budget of $144,000 and premiered on October 1, 1968. A cult classic, the Library of Congress has preserved a copy for culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.
The movie led to five other films also directed by Romero. Plus the most well known remake which was directed by Tom Savini. It also helped develop the horror film industry on a new level.
Night of the Living Dead was released before the film rating system was in place. Horror films at the time were part of the Saturday afternoon matinee and most of the audience consisted mostly of pre teens and teens but younger children also come.
The initial release created an outrage. The young children many have seen horror films before but this film was different from the playfully scary to down right gut chilling terrifying. It took the nation by storm and became the most profitable horror film ever produced outside a major studio earning over $12 million after a decade of play just in the US and $30 million internationally.
Over 50 years later, the film still ranks on major Greatest or best movie list. It was groundbreaking for the horror film industry and had effects on society as it had race and gender issue mixed into it. The main female character was portrayed as weak and incapable of defending herself.
But on the upside, the main African American male character was depicted as a capable calculating man who could protect himself and those around him. A majority of films as the time portray African American males as lazy and incompetent but in the end, the character was shoot and killed by policemen because they view him as a threat.