Few People Know The Real Reason Behind Pittsburgh Becoming Known As Hollywood East
By Beth Price-Williams|Published March 01, 2024
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
We’ve all been there. We’re watching a movie or TV show and see our hometown and immediately point it out. That likely happens a lot for movie buffs, especially those of us from Pennsylvania, where countless Hollywood films and television shows have been shot over the decades. The film and television industries have come calling so often that Pittsburgh is now referred to as Hollywood East.
With its breathtaking skyline, charming neighborhoods, and diverse landscape – within minutes from downtown, you’ll find sprawling suburbs and lush green farmland – Pittsburgh is a natural star.
Filmmaking has played a significant role in this former steel city, dating back to 1914. In the more than 100 years that have followed, Pittsburgh has hosted Hollywood hundreds of times.
More than 250 movies and television shows have been filmed in the Pittsburgh region, including The Silence of the Lambs, The Dark Knight Rises, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, the latter of which tells the story of beloved Pittsburgh-area native (Latrobe) Mister Rogers.
Mister Rogers was filmed in the WQED Studios in Pittsburgh, too, for its entire run from 1968 to 2001.
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The natural and architectural characteristics of Pittsburgh, and Southwestern Pennsylvania, and the support of locals and businesses, make the area a prime choice for filmmakers, but there are also several financial incentives.
Pennsylvania offers a film tax credit of 25 percent to filmmakers that spend a minimum of 60 percent of their project’s – including movies, television shows, television commercials, and game shows – production budget in Pennsylvania.
Feature film productions that book stays of 30 days or longer at local hotels are also exempt from the Hotel Occupancy Sales Tax in Pennsylvania, which currently stands at six percent.
Did you know that Pittsburgh is often considered Hollywood East? Are you surprised? Let us know in the comments! Then take a peek at these Hollywood movies and TV shows that were filmed in Pittsburgh. Are any of your favorites on the list? Next time you’ve got a few hours free, curl up with a big bowl of popcorn and watch one of these famous Pennsylvania movies.
