Celebrating Romero

The visionary filmmaker’s archives help him live on

The University of Pittsburgh’s decision to acquire the archives of George A. Romero is a laudable one, preserving the visionary filmmaker’s work in his adopted hometown for all to view.

Romero, who died in 2017 at the age of 77, was regarded as a horror film pioneer. He came to be known as the “Father of Zombie Film.” His movies, most notably “Night of the Living Dead,” found a permanent place in the pop culture canon thanks to Romero’s blend of frights, laughs and social commentary.

Over more than 40 years of filmmaking, Romero wrote and/or directed 19 films. Along the way, he amassed screenplays (produced and unproduced), production notes, props, posters and more. Pitt has now acquired this collection, pulling together three separate archives that once belonged to his widow, Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, his daughter, Tina Romero, and his business partner, Peter Grunwald.

The preservation of these materials at Pitt is a triumph for two reasons:

First, Romero, though originally from New York City, championed

Pittsburgh throughout his life. After attending Carnegie Mellon University, Romero stuck around and set most of his films in the area. Various filming locations, including Evans City Cemetery and the Monroeville Mall, have now become hubs for fan meetings and celebrations. Keeping Romero’s archive in the city, accessible to local residents and outside scholars, helps to strengthen and maintain his ties to Pittsburgh.

Second, Romero’s filmmaking and writing is among the most influential in cinema. Offering Pitt students and the general public the opportunity to study the material and glean information about filmcraft will further extend Romero’s influence, helping to inform the filmmakers of tomorrow.

“George was a natural teacher,” Mr. Grunwald told the Post-Gazette’ s Marylynne Pitz. “He would have loved knowing that his collection would be used to educate and inspire future generations .”

Pittsburgh is a town that adores its heroes and loves its champions. Few people have loved and championed Pittsburgh more than George Romero did. The city is lucky to have so much of his legacy right here at home, where it belongs.