Zombie Research Society
The Monroeville Mall in Pennsylvania is known to film fans all around the world thanks to George A. Romero’s zombie cult classic Dawn of the Dead. The location has even become something of a holy site for fans of the genre; often hosting a number of special events such as The Living Dead Weekend, an annual celebration of zombies, Romero, and the film itself.
Despite its historical significance, very little actually remains of the original structure. After years of repairs, renovations, and improvements, the Monroeville Mall has become almost unrecognizable. And about three years ago the last remaining relic, a small footbridge featured in the film, was dismantled and moved to the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.
But thanks to local sculptor and filmmaker Christian Stavrakis, Romero’s contribution to Pennsylvania, independent film, and the zombie genre itself finally has a permanent home!
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the production of Dawn of the Dead at the Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, PA … The Mall has long been a destination for fans of George’s work from all over the world, and now – with the blessing of the Mall’s management – a permanent memorial to George may be installed, in the form of a bronze portrait bust sculpted by myself and sponsored by Cryptic Pictures, a company which wouldn’t exist without his inspiration.
The sculpture, based on a picture taken of Romero during the original 1978 press release for Dawn of the Dead, can be found in a small courtyard outside of Dick’s Sporting Goods; the very same location that hosted a memorial after his death in 2017. Stavrakis hopes that his monument will serve as a spot of inspiration for independent filmmakers and artists alike.
Of course, the Zombie Research Society is just happy that our friend and Advisory Board member George A. Romero is finally being honored with something more than a gift shop or photo display at the Monroeville Mall. It’s a wonderful tribute to a man that changed film forever; this beautiful bronze bust is a long overdue memorial, and we would like to thank Christian Stavrakis, his sponsors, and all of you that contributed to the Indiegogo campaign!
For more information, please check out the original Indiegogo campaign or visit this amazing article by Alexis Sottile online at SyFy Wire for additional details and more exclusive pictures!