Don Brockett's Pittsburgh (An Almost Home Video)
Date: 1988
Format: VHS
Company/Organization: Hollywood Films
© Copyright 1988 by Hollywood Films, Inc.
Description
Veteran film actor and television personality Don Brockett takes a zany, loving and satirical look at the city and people of Pittsburgh. Featured is Barbara Russell, Brockett's long-time comedy partner as well as special appearances by Liz Miles, radio jocks Jimmy and Steve, Patty Burns, and a host of Pittsburgh Glitterati.
Images
Notes
At one point in this film, Don Brockett plays the piano in his home and a piece of artwork can be seen hanging on the wall above the piano. This art was created by Peggy Lipschutz in Episode 1083 of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
As Mr. Brockett sits at the piano in his home, a late 1970's Musical Trolley can be seen sitting atop the piano.
Scenes from Mr. Brockett's visit to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum include a stop at the replica Neighborhood of Make-Believe which includes shots of King Friday XIII, Queen Sara Saturday, Henrietta Pussycat, and X the Owl.
Credits
Executive Producer: Mark H. Lister
Conceived and Performed by Don Brockett
Edited by Martin G. Barron
Featuring: Jimmy Roach, Steve Hansen, Bull Moose Jackson, Gary Dixon, Andrea Lively, Liz Miles, Patty Burns
Created and produced entirely in the Pittsburgh area (or thereabouts).
A Hollywood Films Presentation
Copyright 1988 Hollywood Films, Inc.
Neighborhood Archive Review
05-Mar-2014
Don Brockett's Pittsburgh is one of the most random things I have watched in a long time. Imagine someone gave you a microphone and said they would follow you around your town with a camera while you cracked jokes and talked with the locals. This is exactly what seems to take place in Don Brockett's Pittsburgh.
In this 1988 film, Mr. Brockett travels throughout Pittsburgh and visits many popular locations including Dinosaur Hall at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Pittsburgh Zoo, and the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. His commentary includes humor, unexplained randomness, and even borderline awkward interactions.
The humor? Great one-liners such as when Mr. Brockett stands next to a buffalo skeleton, puts his finger in the animal's eye socket, and mentions that he asked the buffalo to "keep an eye out for him."
The unexplained randomness? Constantly, throughout the film, Mr. Brockett asks others to say "Tito Copobianco." Mr. Copobianco was the director of the Pittsburgh Opera but no explanation is ever provided as to why his name is constantly mentioned.
And the borderline awkward? Mr. Brockett, many times in the film, rubs noses and steals kisses from women half his age. Maybe it's because I know him best as the Neighborhood's Chef Brockett, but this just seemed a little creepy.
Besides Brockett's, a few other familiar Neighborhood faces show up in this film including Barbara Russell and Michael Moricz.
Other than these few familiar faces and one or two random mentions, this film contains little in the way of direct Neighborhood content. Still, at one point in this film, Mr. Brockett plays the piano in his home and a piece of artwork can be seen hanging on the wall above the piano. I felt like I had seen this picture before and after a quick search through the Neighbohrood Archive, I realized that I had. It was created by Peggy Lipschutz in Episode 1083 of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
Since creating a page for Don Brockett's Pittsburgh on the Neighborhood Archive site, I have been contacted by the film's producer, Mark Lister who stumbled upon the site by chance. Based on my correspondence with Mr. Lister, I get the feeling that copies of this film are hard to find; however, if you ever have the chance, I'd recommend spending an hour with Don Brockett's Pittsburgh!