Soldiers & Sailors Hall Marks 25th Anniversary Of "Silence Of The Lambs" With Spooky Fundraiser
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- One of the most memorable images from the film "Silence of the Lambs" was a scene depicting Hannibal Lecter imprisoned in a cage.
It's been 25 years since Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Oakland was transformed into Hannibal's temporary jail.
A close replica of the cage has now been rebuilt. It stands in the third floor ballroom, just like the original. The cage is the centerpiece of a Thursday evening fundraiser.
"This is where they shot the elevator scene when they were looking for Hannibal Lector." Soldiers & Sailors President John McCabe says.
He says a fake elevator car was built in the doorway of the auditorium.
McCabe adds that the esteemed hall in Oakland plays a major role in the film.
"They shot some scenes down here on the first floor, and then they move up, of course, to the ballroom, which is where the cage scene was filmed," McCabe said.
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Set designer Chris Gilgour's main job is constructing frightening scenes for Hundred Acres Manor in Bethel Park. But lately, he's been fabricating Hannibal's cage.
"Really, it's just a matter of watching the film, and looking at behind the scenes photos, and any references you can find from the film itself, that's what we refer to," he explains.
Adding to the spooky theme of Thursday night's party, they'll have a tarot card reader and a psychic on hand. Will hors d'oeuvres include Hannibal's favorite: "Fava beans and a nice chianti?"
The museum president responds, "I don't know about the beans, but I think we're going to have a chianti punch."
For more information on Thursday night's party, visit SoldiersAndSailorsHall.org at this link.