Source:Residents-and-mgm/content
Ben-Hur Street residents are turning out "en masse" to see MGM's "Ben-Hur" on the screen Wednesday night at the Warner Theater!
Forty residents of that tiny obscure Pittsburgh residential street, near the Wilkinsburg line, will be the guests of the theatre management, as well as the Carlton House Hotel, where they will have a pre-show dinner.
A chartered Greyhound bus will pull up to the corner of Dunfermline St. and Ben-Hur at 5:45 p. m. Wednesday and load the party for their evening.
Ben-Hur Street itself is a dead-end street, so narrow the bus wouldn't be able to go down the street and turn around to get out.
At 6:30 dinner will be at the Town and Country Restaurant of the Carlton House.
Ben-Hur St. was named by Andrew Carnegie, in honor of his friend, Gen. Lew Wallace, author of the best-selling novel. It was originally part of the Thomas and Lucy Carnegie estate. It was developed in 1921.
Perhaps the most famous resident of Ben-Hur Street was millionaire art critic George David Thompson. He lived for some 10 years at number 7422, from 1922 until sometime in the early 30's.
Another Ben-Hur Streeter is Mrs. James M. Graham, of number 7421, who was "Miss Massachusetts" in 1950—and fifth place runner-up in the Miss America Pageant.
Of the 20 families now living on Ben-Hur Street, Mrs. David F. McKown has lived there the longest—since 1922. Other long-time residents include Mrs. Stella S. Bellinger, at 7433, and Mrs. G. Norman Reis, at 7429.
Tradition has it that Andrew Carnegie himself planted the row of maple trees that line the street. Residents will tell you that Ben-Hur Street is a wonderful place for children to play; there is virtually no traffic, as it is a dead-end at one end and has a private gate at the other end. Ben-Hur residents are friendly folk—and all have helped with the arrangements for "Ben-Hur Street Night" at the Warner. Mrs. John F. Connors, of 7445—a "newcomer" of only 25 years residence, acted as informal "Chairman."
One complaint the Ben-Hur Street residents do have . . . their street needs paving—and they're afraid the street department has lost them!
