PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

Tom Savini has traveled all over the world making on-screen mayhem — but Bloomfield has always been home.

“I’ve been in the same house I was born and raised in for 77 years,” the filmmaker and special-effects master says. “There’s a lot of Pittsburgh in me.”

In addition to his hundreds of credits in the world of special effects, Savini has also appeared in acting roles in such films as “From Dusk Till Dawn,” “Django Unchained” and both versions of “Dawn of the Dead.” His career and achievements are well documented in the 2020 book “Savini: The Biography,” but we wanted to learn about the makeup specialist’s local picks. We asked: What is Tom Savini’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Eide’s Entertainment. “Eide’s is a like a horror convention in one building.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“That would be the hot meatloaf sandwich at Ritter’s Diner — with mashed potatoes and everything covered in thick, hot gravy.”

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“Pennies From Heaven” by The Skyliners

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

“The Halloween Parade here in Bloomfield. The mayor comes through on Halloween! That’s pretty cool.”

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

The 1990 remake of “Night of the Living Dead” (Savini’s feature directing debut)

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“The South Side has changed, almost overnight … I can’t believe what’s happened. Shops are closing; restaurants aren’t doing business anymore.”

Where’s the first place you take out-of-town guests?

The Carnegie Museum of Art. When Quentin Tarantino came to town, however, Savini took him first to Primanti Bros. — and then to Eide’s Entertainment.

If you could bring back one Pittsburgh place or restaurant that’s no longer there, which would you pick?

“That’s easy — Del’s [in Bloomfield] … I grew up going to Del’s. People used to send me on errands to Del’s, picking up their pizzas.”

You get one Incline ride with any Pittsburgher, living or dead. Who is it?

Charles Bronson