Fake Ed Asner Endorses Struggling Dormont Theater
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Hollywood Theater in Dormont has to raise $75,000 by the end of this year to switch over to digital projectors or it will have to close its doors.
When it appeared that legendary actor Ed Asner had stepped in to help, the theater's manager was surprised and confused.
Monday, Asner's public relations representative said he too was confused as to who is actually behind the bizarre situation.
The Facebook post from the fake Ed Asner page reads "Help the Hollywood Theater! One of Pittsburgh's last historic neighborhood cinemas. I have found memories of visiting this venue as a much younger man while visiting relatives. I'll double every donation!"
Theater manager Chad Hunter was excited but skeptical when he saw the post. He tried sending a thank you message to Asner via the social media website but never heard back. That's when he got suspicious.
A representative for "Charles Sherman Public Relations" who represents Asner says the page is fake and that the actor has never had a Facebook page. They have no idea where this started, but say they would like to get to the bottom of it.
The Hollywood Theater says the link the faux page provided was actually legitimate and because of the Asner impersonator, the theater received $750 to $1,000 for the indiegogo.com campaign.
Hunter says he hopes those who donated didn't only do so because of the Asner money match but says the theater will refund those donations if need be.
He's looking beyond this hoax as the theater is hoping to announce a grant that may come through to help with the digital projector installation fund.
Asner's only connection to Pittsburgh is a cousin.
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