Wayne Massey
March 13, 1965 - February 5, 2025
I know it’s cliché to say to know Wayne was to love him, but for Wayne, this fits the bill. He was genuinely kind and funny, and his knowledge of films, music, and trivia was extraordinary. He was such an integral part of the Hollywood Theater and Jump Cut that it’s hard to imagine our world without him.
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Over the past few weeks, I’ve struggled to find the right words to share the news of Wayne’s passing. I can’t express it better than Sandy Stuhlfire—founding board member of Friends of the Hollywood Theater and Horror Realm Co-Owner—so I’ve asked for permission to share her words instead:
We lost our very dear friend, Wayne Massey, this week.
Even if you don’t know Wayne by name, you probably know Wayne. Some people know him as Sticks Downey. Some people know him as the longtime drummer of Molasses Barge, a Pittsburgh doom metal band. Some may know him from the old Hollywood Theater in Dormont, where he helped run the theater, slung popcorn and programmed some cool, offbeat stuff under the Deuce Comes to Dormont film series. Wayne was a member of the board of directors of Jump Cut Theater and you could often find him working admissions at Jump Cut shows at the Parkway Theater in McKees Rocks and other venues. And lastly, he and his wife, Allison Kaminski, worked admissions at Horror Realm for several years. Wayne also moderated some of the celebrity panels at Horror Realm. He had a wealth of knowledge about many different genres of music, exploitation and horror films, and the 42nd Street New York (the Deuce) grindhouse subculture. No doubt you’ve had a really great conversation with him about any of those topics. All of this is why we love him and will miss him terribly. Wayne and Allison are family to us. Rest in peace.
Wayne's passing leaves a profound void not only in our organization, but in our personal lives as well, and we will miss his presence immensely.
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Susan Mazur
Board President
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