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| - Ah, the good old Monroeville Mall. I grew up in Pittsburgh in the 80's and 90's not even realizing the significance of the city's very important status as the birthplace of the Romero zombie films (until college, that is). When I finally saw "Dawn of the Dead" (filmed at the Monroeville Mall in the 1970's, it was ironically at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, a cool and properly creepy location, but decidedly not Pittsburgh.
I actually had no idea that Monroeville Mall even had this little exhibit/tribute. On my visit home I drove out to the mall with my fiance, who is obsessed with zombies. We were almost to our last stop in the mall before heading home (a comic and collectibles shop) when we decided to go into the arcade. There in the back was a room with the smallest miniature golf course I've ever seen, and the "Monroeville Zombies" exhibit. I was more excited for my fiance to see this than I was myself, but I was thrilled that it's there. The exhibit is a very thorough collection of zombie memorabilia with posters, props, and explanations of the genre, as well as its connection to the City of Pittsburgh. There's also a video playing in a loop: A documentary about George Romero's zombie films, the people involved, and how he made them.
In the back of the exhibit as you turn the corner is a dark section filled with life-sized zombies and related monsters from popular culture, including Zombie Michael Jackson from the "Thriller" video. Back out in front by the register you can buy all kinds of zombie T-shirts and collectibles. This is a good place to get your zombie fan gear, but save some money for the House of the Dead store in Lawrenceville.
This tiny zombie exhibit in the famous mall is definitely worth it for the consummate Zombie/Romero fan.
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