Here's a running list of upcoming screenings of silent film with live music by Jeff Rapsis.
• Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Thief of Bagdad" (1926) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of this
eye-popping cinematic spectacle; starring Fairbanks in top form as
Arabian
adventurer who must complete a series of epic tasks to save his beloved.
Timeless tale told imaginatively and on a grand scale, complete with
cutting edge special effects.Silent film
on the big screen with live music: the Coolidge's
long-running 'Sounds of Silence' program recreates the experience of
early cinema so today's audiences can experience why movie-goers first
fell in love with the silver screen.
• Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, 2 p.m.: "It's the Old Army Game" (1926) starring W.C. Fields, Louise Brooks; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Burn off those Thanksgiving weekend extra calories with laughter. Uproarious 1926 silent comedy in which W.C. Fields plays Elmer Prettywillie, a druggist kept awake by clamorous garbage collectors, a nosy woman seeking a 2-cent stamp, bogus land deals, and phony fortunes in a non-stop comedy of errors. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro" (1920)
starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Greenfield
Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. Douglas Fairbanks Sr. stars in the still-thrilling original adaptation.
Great crowd-pleaser that had an enormous impact on popular culture,
including inspiration for the "Batman" comic book series. Tickets $10.50 adults;
$8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Sunday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097. The eye-popping silent film sci-fi masterpiece of German filmmaker Fritz Lang is a vintage look at things to come. Restored version includes nearly a half-hour of lost footage that was rediscovered in Argentina in 2008. Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $14, Center for the Arts members $12.
• Friday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.: "Oliver Twist" (1922) starring Jackie Coogan, Lon Chaney;
at the Park Theater, 19 Main St., Jaffrey, N.H.; (603) 532-9300; https://theparktheatre.org/ The original silent film adaptation of the famous tale by Charles Dickens. Part of the Park Theatre's annual 'Dickens Fest'; includes an early 10-minute adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol' produced in 1910 by Thomas Edison. General admission $15 per person; buy tickets online or at
the door.
• Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, time about 3 p.m.: "The Lost World" (1925) at the 50th Annual Sci-Fi Marathon presented by the Case Western Reserve University Film Society, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. Live music for 'The Lost World,' a featured attraction in this year's annual 36-hour (!) sci-fi marathon at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. First-ever movie adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary tale of British explorers who discover prehistoric creatures still thriving atop a remote South American plateau. Great entertainment; ground-breaking special effects by the same team that later created 'King Kong' mesmerized early movie audiences and remain impressive today.
• Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Wild Orchids" (1928) starring Greta Garbo; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826. An older man takes his young wife across the South Pacific to the island nation of Java, where he plans to invest in tea plantations. Aboard ship, she witnesses a passenger hitting one of his servants. The violent man is immediately taken by the beauty of this mysterious woman and resolves to make her acquaintance, marking the start of a dangerous romantic triangle leading to an unforgettable climax in the jungle. Join us for a series of silent film programs with live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown Manchester. Tickets $10.
• Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, 5 p.m.: "To Be Announced" (1925); Campton Historical Society,
Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H. Silent film program preceded by potluck supper
beginning at 5 p.m. Film program to start approximately 6:15 p.m. Free
and open to the public!
• Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, March 1, 2025, Kansas Silent Film Festival at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Scheduled to accompany 'Something New' (1920) melodrama starring Nell Shipman. Annual pilgrimage to multi-day celebration of silent film with live music. Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org. My 26th consecutive year of attending this festival, which includes during the pandemic in 2021, when it was held online but we recreated it in New Hampshire. See you in the Sunflower State!
• Saturday, March 8, 2025, Time to be announced: 3rd Annual Lois Weber Film Festival. More details to come.
• Sunday, March 9, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 7:30 p.m.: "Before They Could Speak: Laurel & Hardy in the Silent Film Era" starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy; The Walker Lecture Series, Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince Street, Concord, N.H. Free and open to the public. See the famous comedy duo when they got their start during the silent film era, prior to the transition to talkies. Films include 'Two Tars' (1928), 'The Finishing Touch' (1928), and 'You're Darn Tootin'' (1928).
• Saturday, March 29, 2025, 7 p.m.: "To Be Announced"; at the Blazing Star
Grange Hall, North Road in Danbury, N.H. (Preceded by "soup and bread"
dinner at 6 p.m.) Join us for a silent film
program in a historic (and authentic) small town N.H. Grange Hall. Soup
and bread supper served at 6 p.m., $5 per person; movie shown at 7 p.m.,
suggested donation of $5 per person.
• Sunday, March 30, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Show People" (1928) starring William Haines, Marion Davies; directed by King Vidor; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826. Young Peggy Pepper (Marion Davies) ventures to Hollywood to make her mark in drama, but finds an unexpected (and unwelcome) flair for slapstick comedy. King Vidor directed this entertaining valentine to an art form that would soon be swept aside by talking pictures. Full of cameos of stars ranging from Charlie Chaplin to Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Join us for a series of silent film programs with live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown Manchester. Tickets $10 per person.
• Sunday, April 13, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, April 27, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, May 17, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. Join us for a series
of silent films and live music in a wonderfully restored town hall in
Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission free, donations
accepted, with proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Sunday, May 18, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA";
Leavitt Theatre,
259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. Join us for a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre, celebrating its 100th anniversary. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Saturday, June 7, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.com. Join us for a series of silent films and live music in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission free, donations accepted, with proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Sunday, June 8, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA";
Leavitt Theatre,
259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. Join us for a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre, celebrating its 100th anniversary. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Saturday, July 12, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.com. Join us for a series of silent films and live music in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission free, donations accepted, with proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA";
Leavitt Theatre,
259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. Join us for a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre, celebrating its 100th anniversary. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Sunday, July 27, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA";
Leavitt Theatre,
259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. Join us for a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre, celebrating its 100th anniversary. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. Join us for a series
of silent films and live music in a wonderfully restored town hall in
Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission free, donations
accepted, with proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA";
Leavitt Theatre,
259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. Join us for a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre, celebrating its 100th anniversary. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.com. Join us for a series of silent films and live music in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission free, donations accepted, with proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.com. Join us for a series of silent films and live music in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission free, donations accepted, with proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA";
Leavitt Theatre,
259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. Join us for a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre, celebrating its 100th anniversary. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, 7 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. Join us for a series
of silent films and live music in a wonderfully restored town hall in
Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission free, donations
accepted, with proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
