'Sleepy' Vandergrift transformed into fictional television town

Nick and Jodie Edder's two kids are young enough that they won't remember visiting the set of a television show in their hometown of Vandergrift.

Emma, 3, and Noah, 6 months, are also going to have to be a lot older before they're able to watch that show — the Cinemax series “Banshee,” now filming its fourth season in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

The Edders were among a smattering of people who came out on a sunny, summer-like day Monday to get a glimpse of the production under way in the heart of town.

Crews were seen working along Grant Street, where an old storefront has become the Banshee Sheriff's Department, and outside the Casino Theater, which has become Banshee City Hall.

“It looks really good how they fixed everything up,” Jodie Edder, of Vandergrift, said outside the fictional sheriff's department, complete with its own marked cars and an SUV parked out front.

The couple was getting pictures of their kids to save the memory, even though they've never seen the show.

“We can tell them, ‘You were here when they were filming this,' ” Nick Edder said.

For the most part, regular everyday Vandergrift life was co-existing with the often extraordinary life in Banshee — a fictional Pennsylvania town where a thief has assumed the identity of the town's sheriff. The series' first three seasons were filmed in North Carolina; it moved to Pennsylvania after that state ended its film tax incentive.

“It's no longer Vandergrift. It's Banshee-Vandergrift,” said Kathy Walton of Gilpin, who was taking pictures of the Banshee buildings for family living outside the area.

“They're all curious because we've been talking about it,” she said. “The town is so empty. Look at all this activity!”

Trucks, cranes and equipment were parked along streets and filled parking lots, with hundreds of crew members working to get things ready for filming indoors and out.

“It's interesting, all the equipment,” attorney Charles Fox III said at his office at the corner of Grant and Columbia. “I haven't seen any stars yet, but I suppose they're here somewhere.”

It's not the first time Vandergrift has taken on a different identity.

About five years ago, the borough became Paradise, Ohio, for the movie “I Am Number Four.”

“Vandergrift hasn't had this much activity and excitement going on for decades,” Council President Brian Carricato said outside Vandergrift's municipal building, which has been re-signed as the “Banshee Municipal Building,” and has another sign proclaiming it as the “Historic Borough of Banshee.”

Except for a few parking complaints, Vandergrift police Chief Joe Caporali said things were going smoothly.

“They've been working with the town really well,” he said.

It was business as usual Monday at Pugliese Flowers & Gifts, despite being directly across the street from the sheriff's department set. Only occasionally did crew stop people from walking by on Grant, while cameras were rolling inside and extras walked by on the sidewalk.

“The cast and everyone that's part of it is really super nice,” Pugliese employee Jessica Pollick said.

Not only did the filming not interfere with Mother's Day, a busy day for the shop, some of the crew — many of whom are local — bought flowers for their moms, according to floral designer Tammy Hall

“It's brought a spark of new life into town,” Hall said.

G&G Restaurant owner Debi Kakias said she's been getting business at breakfast, lunch and dinner from all the production people who have been in town for a month preparing for filming.

“We're usually busy. It seems to be more busy. There seems to be a lot of people roaming around,” she said. “I think it's terrific. I love it. This is wonderful for this town.”

Tees-n-Tops owner Mark Albert has produced some Banshee hats he's given to crew members and shirts such as one proclaiming that “There's A New Sheriff In Town,” and another with the hashtag, “#getbehindbanshee.”

“I think it's great for Vandergrift. We're behind them 100 percent,” he said. “Vandergrift is a very sleepy little town. The last two weeks it's been excitement. It's nice to see activity.”

Albert said he had never heard of the show before it came to the area. Now, he's finished watching the second season and says he's hooked.

“I think it's great,” Albert said. “I'm glad I started to watch it.”

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4701 .