Here's a listing of screenings that have gone by.
• Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "The Lost World" (1925) starring Wallace Beery; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551. First-ever movie adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary tale of British explorers who discover pre-historic 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. Silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Tickets $10 per person. Rescheduled from Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.• Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Greenfield Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St., Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece follows the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Tickets $10.50 adults; $8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, 2 p.m. "Daughter of the Dawn"
(1920); the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay
Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. One of the few
silent films made with an entirely Native American cast. Filmed in
Oklahoma in 1920; the story, played by an all-Native American cast of
300 Kiowas and
Comanches, includes a romantic rivalry, buffalo hunts, a battle, village
scenes, dances, deceit, courage, hand-to-hand combat, and a happy
ending. Long thought lost until a print surfaced in 2005 in Oklahoma
City. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from
1913 now fully restored; shows weekly programs of silent films with live
music.
• Wednesday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.: Lon Chaney Halloween Creepfest! "The Unknown" (1927) and 'West of Zanzibar' (1928), both starring Lon Chaney and directed by Todd Browning; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826.
Two very weird late silent thrillers, both starring Chaney at the peak of
his career and directed by Todd Browning. In 'The Unknown' (1927), Chaney
plays 'Alonzo the Armless,' a circus knife-thrower (he uses his feet!)
with a dark past who lusts after trapeze artist Joan Crawford, who is
pursued by the circus strong man, but she has a phobia about being held
by a man. See where this is going? In 'West of Zanzibar' (1928),
Chaney plays a vaudeville magician who loses use of his legs in an
accident but still journeys to Africa to seek revenge on the wealthy
businessman (Lionel Barrymore) who stole his beloved. Join us for a series of silent film programs with live music in a
wonderful restored theater in downtown Manchester. Tickets $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, 7:30 p.m.: "Dracula" (1931) starring Bela Lugosi; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Universal's original sound version of Dracula featured the inspired
casting choice of Bela Lugosi in the title role, but virtually no music!
So this Halloween, we present 'Dracula' with an added musical score by
Jeff Rapsis, our resident silent film accompanist. Tickets $17 per person.
• Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney;
Leavitt Theatre,
259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this
silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly
in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Just in time for Halloween! Join us for a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since. Tickets $15 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, 2 p.m.: "The Bat" (1927), directed by Roland West; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. A
masked criminal who dresses like a giant bat terrorizes the guests at
an old house rented by a mystery writer. Early horror film thought lost
until recent rediscovery. Remember: in silent film, no one can hear you
scream! Silent film on
the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a
1914 moviehouse and theater. For more info, call the theater box office
at
(617) 625-5700. Tickets $17 per person.
• Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington St., West Newton, Mass.; (617) 964-8074. Experience the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—and some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. Timeless silent film on the big screen and with live music. Admission price $15 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, 2 p.m.: "Der Golem" (1920); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. In
16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates a giant creature from clay,
called the Golem. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in
order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution. Early German
fantasy flick from 1920 anticipates Frankenstein story. 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. 19, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.com. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Just in time for Halloween! 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.
• Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; First Congregational Church of Reading United Church of Christ, 25 Woburn St., Reading, Mass. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Suggested donation $10 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, 4 p.m.: "The Cat and the Canary" (1927) directed by Paul Leni;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097. Can a group of distant relatives survive the night in a haunted house to
learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic
thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Just in time for
Halloween, a movie filled with deep shadows, dark secrets, and a
surprisingly timeless mix of humor and horror that will keep you
guessing. Remember: in silent film, no one can hear you scream!
Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $14,
Center for the Arts members $12.
• Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, 7:30 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence; Pothole Pictures, Memorial Hall, 51 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls, Mass.; (413) 625-2896; www.facebook.com/potpix/ As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries to make the
grade even as storm clouds gather—and romance brews with the daughter of
a rival ship owner. Film climaxes with legendary cyclone sequence, one
of Buster's best. Admission $10 per person at the door.
• Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1926) starring Buster Keaton; Moultonborough Public Library, 4 Holland St, Moultonborough, N.H.;
(603) 476-8895. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece follows the story of
a
Confederate
railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the
great films of any era! Enjoy a classic silent film with live music.
Free and open to the public; attendees are asked to register in advance
at moultonboroughlibrary.org; look under the 'Events' area.
• Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, 4:30 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) and "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Celebrate international Silent Movie Day (yes, it's a thing!) with a double helping of two of Buster Keaton's classic features. Join us for a pair of silent comic icon Buster Keaton's classic features. In 'Sherlock Jr.,' amateur detective Buster works to bust open the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local theater. In 'Our Hospitality,' Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Tickets $17 per person.
• Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, 12 noon: "La Roue" (1923) directed by Abel Gance; Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.; (617) 876-6837; http://brattlefilm.org. Celebrate International Silent Film Day (which is Sunday, Sept. 29) by experiencing this epic drama from legendary French filmmaker Able Gance. The film he produced prior to 'Napoleon' (1927), 'La Roue' is no less ambitious; a newly restored version consists of four parts that take an astounding seven hours to screen. Join us for a rare and unforgettable cinematic experience. Admission $25 per person.• Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, 2 p.m.: "Seven Chances"; Havenwood Heritage Heights Retirement
Community, 149 East Side Drive, Concord, N.H.; (603) 229-1266. Private screening not open to the public. In this 1925 farce, Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an
unexpected inheritance of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7
p.m. that very day. One of Keaton's best comedies, climaxed by one of
the great chase scenes in all film, silent or otherwise.
• Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "The Gold Rush"
(1925) starring Charlie Chaplin; Riverwoods Durham, 14
Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, N.H.; private screening not open to the
public. The
Little Tramp prospects in the Klondike in
Chaplin's silent comedy epic. Full of classic laugh-out-loud sequences
and heartfelt drama. Scenes include Chaplin's famous Thanksgiving Dinner made out of a
shoe, the bun dance, and a scene where Chaplin's hungry cabin mate
imagines the Little Tramp as a succulent chicken.
• Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, 2 p.m.: "The Show" (1927) directed by Tod Browning; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Rarely
screened MGM melodrama starring John Gilbert, Lionel Barrymore.
Performers in a Budapest sideshow encounter love, greed, and murder
in a twisted and bizarre tale of backstage drama! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Speedy" (1928) starring Harold Lloyd; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.com. Harold's final silent feature cis a tribute to New York City, baseball, and the idea that nice guys can indeed finish first, highlighted by one of the most exciting races to the finish in all silent cinema. Complete with an extended cameo from none other than Babe Ruth! 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, Sept. 18, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton;
Leavitt Theatre,
259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. In 'The
Cameraman,' Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a
newsreel
photographer. Can he get a break and get the girl? Classic visual comedy
with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers; set in NYC and includes
1920s shots of Midtown Manhattan and the old Yankee Stadium.Join us for
a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, 8 p.m.: "The Unknown" (1927)
starring Lon Chaney, Joan Crawford, directed by Tod Browning;
Epsilon Spires, 190 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vt.;
www.epsilonspires.org. Tickets $20. Circus-themed thriller in which Chaney
plays 'Alonzo the Armless,' a knife-thrower (he uses his feet!)
with a dark past who lusts after trapeze artist Joan Crawford, who is
pursued by the circus strong man, but she has a phobia about being held
by a man. See where this is going? Epsilon Spires is an organization
illuminating the relationships between
creative arts, natural sciences and sustainability using multimedia
platforms. Epsilon Spires operates out of a renovated Baptist church
built in 1868.
• Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Speedy" (1928) starring Harold Lloyd; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588; The Rex Theatre.
Lloyd's final silent feature finds him at
the peak of his career playing
a baseball-crazed go-getter forced to rescue the business of his
girlfriend's father from being destroyed by thugs. Filled with great
scenes of 1920s NYC, with notable cameo by baseball's Babe Ruth. Tickets
$10 per person. Join us for a series of silent film programs with live
music in a
wonderful restored theater in downtown Manchester.
• Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "Running Wild" (1927)
starring W.C. Fields; Greenfield
Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net.
In one of his best silent roles, W.C. Fields plays a hen-pecked husband
who lacks the courage to stand up to his domineering wife—until an
inadvertent encounter with a hypnotist completely upends the family's
domestic status quo. A great showcase for the younger Fields' abilities
in pantomime and visual humor.Tickets $10.50 adults;
$8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925) starring Charlie Chaplin; The Rex Theatre,
23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826.
The Little Tramp prospects in the Klondike in
Chaplin's silent comedy epic. Full of classic laugh-out-loud sequences
and heartfelt drama. Tickets $10 per person. Join us for a series of
silent film programs with live music in a
wonderful restored theater in downtown Manchester.
• Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, 2 p.m.: "Spite Marriage" (1929) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre,
Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Our Silent Comedy Summer
Series concludes with Keaton's final silent feature, which finds the
poker-faced comic smitten so
much by stage actress Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian) that he joins the
cast of her production. But the fun really begins when she impulsively
asks Buster to marry her just to get even with an old flame. Classic
Keaton comedy, underrated and full of great routines, and featuring a
shipboard climax reminiscent of Keaton's classic comedy 'The Navigator.'
Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Last Laugh" (1924) starring Emil Jannings, directed by F.W. Murnau; Ludlow Auditorium, 37
Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. Towering performance by Jannings as aging doorman at posh city hotel
whose unexpected change of jobs robs him of self-respect and identity.
Directed by Murnau as a purely visual tale devoid of any dialogue
intertitles. A masterpiece of the silent cinema celebrating its 100th anniversary! Silent film with live music in
the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall in Ludlow,
Vt.
• Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "The Pagan" (1929) starring Ramon Novarro, Renée Adorée; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551. Rarely screened late silent film shot on location in Tahiti! A carefree South Seas native falls for the half-caste ward of a religious white man who desires her for himself. Silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, 12:30 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.
Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great
achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the
first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle
scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that
remain thrilling even today. See it for yourself! Silent film on
the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a
1914 moviehouse and theater. For more info, call the theater box office
at
(617) 625-5700.
• Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, 8 p.m.: "The Cameraman"
(1928) starring Buster Keaton, at the Alton Town Gazebo in Alton Bay,
N.H. Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel
photographer. Can he get a break and get the girl? Classic visual comedy
with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers; set in NYC and includes
1920s shots of Midtown Manhattan and the old Yankee Stadium. Silent film under
the stars at the
Alton Town Gazebo in Alton Bay, N.H. Sponsored by the Alton Old Home
Week Committee.
• Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Speedy" (1928) starring Harold Lloyd;
Leavitt Theatre,
259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. Lloyd's final silent feature finds him at
the peak of his career playing
a baseball-crazed go-getter forced to rescue the business of his
girlfriend's father from being destroyed by thugs. Filled with great
scenes of 1920s NYC, with notable cameo by baseball's Babe Ruth. Join us for a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, 1 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) and "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington St., West Newton, Mass.; (617) 964-8074. Admission $20 per person; buy tickets online at Eventbrite. Join us for a pair of silent comic icon Buster Keaton's classic features. In 'Sherlock Jr.,' amateur detective Buster works to bust open the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local theater. In 'Our Hospitality,' Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real!
• Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
(1921) starring Rudolph Valentino; Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. Sweeping drama of a divided family with
members caught up on opposites
sides during World War I. Breakthrough film for Rudolph Valentino,
introducing the sultry tango and launching him to stardom. The real
deal! Shown both in honor of the 110th anniversary of World War I's
outbreak and the anniversary of Valentino's untimely death in 1926. 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, July 28, 2024, 2 p.m.: "Tramp Tramp Tramp" (1926) starring Harry Langdon; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. As part of our Silent Comedy Summer Series, rediscover forgotten comedian Harry
Langdon in his first-ever feature film. Riotous comedy about a
cross-country foot race. Co-stars Joan Crawford (unbelievably) as
Harry's love interest. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, July 27, 2024, 11:30 a.m.: 2nd Annual Silent Movie Fest: The Show Must Go On;
Johnson Hall Opera House, 280 Water St., Gardiner, Maine. Hosted by
noted film archivist Ed Lorusso. Films to be screened include 'A
Tin-Type Romance' (1910); 'The Awakening of Ruth' (1917); and 'The
Seventh Day' (1922). All films are set in or made in Maine; all have
been preserved and restored by Lorusso. Tickets $20 to $25 per person.
Presented in conjunction with the Augusta Colonial Theatre; for more
info and to buy tickets, visit Eventbrite.
• Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence;
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. As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries to make the
grade even as storm clouds gather—and romance brews with the daughter of
a rival ship owner. Film climaxes with legendary cyclone sequence, one
of Buster's best. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Sunday, July 21, 2024, 4 p.m.: "Show People" (1928) starring Marion Davies, William Haines, directed by King Vidor;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097. A silent film about the silent film business! 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.
Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $14,
Center for the Arts members $12.
• Saturday, July 20, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. In 'The Cameraman,' Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel
photographer. Can he get a break and get the girl? Classic visual comedy
with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers; set in NYC and includes
1920s shots of Midtown Manhattan and the old Yankee Stadium. 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, June 19, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Show People" (1928) starring Marion Davies, William Haines;
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. A silent film about the silent film business! 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. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Sunday, June 16, 2024, 2 p.m.: "The Kid Brother" (1927) starring Harold Lloyd; Wilton Town Hall Theatre,
Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Often cited as Lloyd's
masterpiece, this ambitious silent film
comedy/drama tells the story of Harold Hickory, youngest son of a
powerful rural sheriff. When his father is unjustly jailed, Harold is
forced to prove himself and clear his father's name. The first offering
installment in our Silent Comedy Summer Series! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, June 14, 2024, 6 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer. Can he get a break and get the girl? Classic visual comedy with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers; set in NYC and includes 1920s shots of Midtown Manhattan and the old Yankee Stadium. Ticket info TBA.
• Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a
backwoods feud in the 1830s
pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains.
Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a
dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Saturday, June 8, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Thief of Bagdad"
(1924) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. 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. 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, May 29, 2024, 6 p.m.: "The General" (1926) starring Buster Keaton;
Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a
Confederate
railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the
great films of any era! Join us for a summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since.
• Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925) starring Charlie Chaplin; Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501. The Little Tramp prospects in the Klondike in
Chaplin's silent comedy epic. Full of classic laugh-out-loud sequences and heartfelt drama. 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, May 19, 2024, 2 p.m.: "College" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Just in time for graduation! Freshman Buster, an inveterate bookworm, arrives at a college campus to find sports is the only sure-fire route to popularity—and to win the girl of his dreams. One of Keaton's most gag-filled comedies offers timeless visual humor and a look at the silent star's athletic prowess. 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 11, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925) starring Charlie Chaplin; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.com. The Little Tramp prospects in the Klondike in Chaplin's silent comedy epic. Full of classic laugh-out-loud sequences and heartfelt drama. 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.
• Saturday, May 11, 2024, 2 p.m.: "Speedy" (1928) starring Harold Lloyd; The Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Road, Middlebury, Vt. Lloyd's final silent feature comedy finds him at the peak of his career playing a baseball-crazed go-getter forced to rescue the business of his girlfriend's father from being destroyed by thugs. Filled with great scenes of 1920s NYC, with notable cameo by baseball's Babe Ruth. Free and open to the public.
• Friday, May 10, 2024, 8 p.m.: "The Last Laugh" (1924)
starring Emil Jannings, directed by F.W. Murnau;
Epsilon Spires, 190 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vt.;
www.epsilonspires.org. Tickets $20. Towering performance by Jannings as aging doorman at posh city hotel
whose unexpected change of jobs robs him of self-respect and identity.
Directed by Murnau as a purely visual tale devoid of any dialogue
intertitles. A masterpiece of the silent cinema celebrating its 100th anniversary! Epsilon Spires is an organization
illuminating the relationships between
creative arts, natural sciences and sustainability using multimedia
platforms. Epsilon Spires operates out of a renovated Baptist church
built in 1868.
• Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 6 p.m.: "Speedy" (1928) starring Harold Lloyd; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Lloyd's final silent feature finds him at
the peak of his career playing
a baseball-crazed go-getter forced to rescue the business of his
girlfriend's father from being destroyed by thugs. Filled with great
scenes of 1920s NYC, with notable cameo by baseball's Babe Ruth.
• Sunday, April 28, 2024, 2 p.m.: "The Last Laugh" (1924) starring Emil Jannings, directed by F.W. Murnau; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Towering performance by Jannings as aging doorman at posh city hotel
whose unexpected change of jobs robs him of self-respect and identity.
Directed by Murnau as a purely visual tale devoid of any dialogue
intertitles. A masterpiece of the silent cinema celebrating its 100th anniversary! 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 21, 2024, 2 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.
The eye-popping silent film sci-fi masterpiece of German filmmaker Fritz
Lang is a vintage look at things to come. 'Metropolis' stands as
an stunning example of the power of film to tell a compelling
story without words, and reach across the generations to touch
movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Silent film shown on
the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a
1914 moviehouse. Buy tickets online or at the door: $17 per person; $13 members; $12 seniors/child. For more info, call the theater box office
at
(617) 625-5700.
POSTPONED FROM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 DUE TO WEATHER • Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 7:30 p.m.: "The Kid Brother" (1927) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; The Walker Lecture Series, Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince Street, Concord, N.H. Free and open to the public. Often cited as Lloyd's masterpiece, this ambitious silent film comedy/drama tells the story of Harold Hickory, youngest son of a powerful rural sheriff. When his father is unjustly accused, Harold is forced to prove himself and clear his father's name. Program includes a Lloyd short comedy.
• Sunday, April 7, 4 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925) starring Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097. In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans;
inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. Based on
the classic 19th century historical novel by Gen. Lew Wallace. One of
the
great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a
legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill.
Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12,
Center for the Arts members $10.
POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 DUE TO WEATHER • Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 7:30 p.m.: "The Kid Brother"
(1927) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; The Walker Lecture Series,
Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince Street, Concord, N.H. Free and open
to the public. Often cited as Lloyd's masterpiece, this ambitious silent
film
comedy/drama tells the story of Harold Hickory, youngest son of a
powerful rural sheriff. When his father is unjustly accused, Harold is
forced to prove himself and clear his father's name. Program includes a
Lloyd short comedy.
• Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 1 p.m.: "Short Italian and French Comedies,"
part of Cinema Ritrovato 2024; University of N.H, Memorial Union
Building (the "MUB"), 83 Main St., Durham, N.H. On this year's program:
two Italian short comedies from the
"Lea" series, a French short comedy from the "Leontine" series, and
Charlie Chaplin's Keystone-era short comedy "Mabel's Busy Day" (1914).
Free and open to the public!
• Monday, April 1, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923)
starring Harold Lloyd; Greenfield
Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. The iconic
image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown
clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has
lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big
screen and with an audience. Tickets $10.50 adults;
$8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Saturday, March 30, 2024, 2 to 5 p.m.: "Shoes"
(1916), 2nd Annual Lois Weber Film Festival at the Elm Theater, 35 Elm
Court, Millbury, Mass. 'Shoes' is a remarkably frank and progressive
feminist film by the great
Lois Weber, one of the most prolific and high-ranking directors of the
silent era. One of Universal's biggest box office successes of 1916.
• Friday, March 29, 2024, 5:30 p.m.: "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928) starring Renée Falconetti; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Danish director Carl Dreyer's intense recreation of the trial of Joan of Arc set new standards for cinematography and expanded the language of film in new directions. Extreme close-ups, expressionistic photography, and a stellar cast (including, in the title role, the only film performance of legendary stage actress Renée Falconetti) combine to create a movie-going experience that remains riveting today. Tickets $16 per person.
• Thursday, March 28, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Ten Commandments" (1923), directed by Cecil B. DeMille; The Rex Theatre,
23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588. Long before Charlton
Heston played Moses in Technicolor, director Cecil
B. DeMille filmed this silent blockbuster on a grand scale. Many say it
surpasses the remake—see for yourself as we mark the Christian
calendar's Holy Week with this ground-breaking (and Red Sea-parting)
Biblical epic. Join us for a series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per
person general admission.
• Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 7 p.m.: "He Who Gets Slapped" (1924) starring Lon Chaney; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. After Baron Regnard (Marc MacDermott) steals both his greatest invention and his wife, scientist Paul Beaumont (Lon Chaney) loses all self-regard and joins a circus sideshow to become the most famous clown in France, known as “He Who Gets Slapped” by other clowns. When Paul falls in love with bareback rider Consuelo (Norma Shearer), she and her partner, Brazo (John Gilbert), mock him. He is heartbroken, but determined to shield Consuelo when Regnard shows sudden romantic interest in her. Paired with 'Blood Ship' (see below); double feature part of the Somerville's 'A Tale of Two Studios' series. Silent film on the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a 1914 moviehouse and theater. Tickets online or at the door: single feature $16 per person, members $12; double feature $18 per person; members $14. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 6:45 p.m.: "The Blood Ship" (1927) starring Hobart Bosworth; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. Shown in 35mm. An American silent drama film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Hobart Bosworth, Jacqueline Logan, and Richard Arlen. A disgraced sea captain signs on as a hand on a cargo ship, which turns out to be captained by the tyrannical man who ruined his reputation. The other crewmen have mostly been shanghaied aboard and are kept in line by the captain and his brutal first mate. The former captain begins to plot a mutiny to take control of the ship from their brutal regime. A 35mm print (missing the final reel) of this film was held at the Academy Film Archive in Los Angeles. The final reel was located in 2007. Later that year, the film was screened in its entirety for the first time since its original release. Paired with 'He Who Gets Slapped' (see above); double feature part of the Somerville's 'A Tale of Two Studios' series. Silent film in 35mm on the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a 1914 moviehouse and theater. Tickets online or at the door: single feature $16 per person, members $12; double feature $18 per person; members $14. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Sunday, March 24, 2024, 2 p.m.: "King of Kings" (1927) directed by Cecil B. DeMille; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Long before he played Old Man Gower in 'It's a Wonderful Life,' actor
H.B. Warner tackled the much meatier role of Jesus Christ in this Cecil
B. DeMille blockbuster. Just in time for Easter; crucifixion scene comes
complete with earthquake, landslides, and a cast of thousands. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, March 15, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Last Command" (1928)
directed by Josef Von Sternberg, starring Emil Jannings; Cinematheque
at the Cleveland
Institute
of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. Admission
$15; $12 for members, students, and those under 25. Intense drama about a
former high-ranking military officer in Czarist
Russia now reduced to playing extra in 1920s Hollywood. Towering
performance in the lead role helped Emil Jannings win 'Best Actor' at
the first-ever Academy Awards. Goes beyond the usual cliches of romantic
drama to explore the nature of power as well as the unreality of the
nascent movie business itself. The result: a timeless mediation on life,
love, and loss that transcends its era. Also: 'Menilmontant' (1926).
Director Dimitri Kirsanoff, eschewing intertitles in favor of the
musical language of “absolute cinema,” makes a poetic realist film avant
la lettre, a seedy Parisian tale in which two orphans are brutally
exploited by a pimp. Silent film with
live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
• Sunday, March 10, 2024, 1:30 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924); Bedford Public Library, Bedford, N.H.; The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and which has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Silent film with live music, part of a monthly series of performances at my hometown's public library.
• Saturday, March 9, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr."
(1928) starring Buster Keaton; at the Blazing Star
Grange Hall, North Road in Danbury, N.H. (Preceded by "soup and bread"
dinner at 6 p.m.) As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries
to make the
grade even as storm clouds gather—and romance brews with the daughter of
a rival ship owner. Film climaxes with legendary cyclone sequence, one
of Buster's best. 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.
• Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "Way Down East" (1920) starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551. Thrill to director D.W. Griffith's legendary melodrama. Will wronged
woman Lillian Gish be rescued from the ice floes before she meets her
doom? Filmed partly in New Hampshire and Vermont in the Connecticut
River Valley! Silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Monday, March 4, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "The Passion of Joan of Arc"
(1928)
starring Renée Falconetti; Greenfield
Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit
www.gardencinemas.net. Danish director Carl Dreyer's intense recreation
of the trial of Joan of
Arc set new standards for cinematography and expanded the language of
film in new directions. Extreme close-ups, expressionistic photography,
and a stellar cast (including, in the title role, the only film
performance of legendary stage actress Renée Falconetti) combine to
create a movie-going experience that remains riveting today. Tickets
$10.50 adults;
$8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Sunday, March 3, 2024, 2 p.m.: "Why Worry?" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Rich
hypochondriac Harold Lloyd takes a restful voyage to South America, only
to become embroiled in a full-scale revolution! Regarded as one of Lloyd's most original feature comedies. 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. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, Kansas Silent Film Festival at
Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Film I'm accompanying: 'Captain
January' (1924) starring 'Baby Peggy' and Hobart Bosworth. Annual
pilgrimage to multi-day
celebration of silent film with live music. Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org.
My 25th 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!
• Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, 2 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) starring Lon Chaney; Colonial Theatre, 95 Main Street, Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; https://thecolonial.org/.
Join us for a 100th anniversary screening of the original screen
adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel
about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless
drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax!
Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1924.
Free admission! (Screening postponed from Sunday, Jan. 28.)
• Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, 7 p.m.: "Speedy" (1928) starring Harold Lloyd, Barbara Kent; The Rex Theatre,
23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588. Romantic comedy
perfect for Valentine's Day. Lloyd's final silent feature finds him at
the peak of his career playing
a baseball-crazed go-getter forced to rescue the business of his
girlfriend's father from being destroyed by thugs. Filled with great
scenes of 1920s NYC, with notable cameo by baseball's Babe Ruth. Join
us for a series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per
person general admission.
• Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, 2 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Silent film shown in 35mm prints on the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a 1914 moviehouse and theater. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, 4:30 p.m.: "The Navigator" (1924) starring Buster Keaton; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Just in time for Valentine's Day! Buster Keaton sets sail in his classic
comedy about a spoiled rich couple marooned all alone on a drifting
ocean liner. Visual comedy at its finest! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown for more than a
century. Tickets $16 per person.
• Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, 7 p.m.: "The Flying Ace" (1926); Aviation Museum of New Hampshire,
27 Navigator Way, Londonderry, N.H.; (603) 669-4820. Admission: $10
general public; members free! For Black History Month, join us for an
early all-Black motion picture added to the National Film Registry in
December 2021. The only surviving feature of Norman Studios of
Jacksonville, Fla., 'The Flying Ace' tells the story of a WWI pilot
tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance of a railroad payroll. A
rare example of 'race' cinema, produced for audiences in black-only
theaters commonly found at the time in segregated parts of the nation.
Part of the Aviation Museum's "Exploring Aviation" series, sponsored by
Grappone Auto.
• Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "Flesh and the Devil"
(1926)
starring Greta Garbo, John Gilbert; Greenfield
Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net.
Just in time for Valentine's Day! Garbo and Gilbert steam up the camera
lens in this torrid romance set in
19th century European high society. MGM's box office smash was aided by
the pair's off-screen love affair. See it for yourself! Tickets $10.50
adults;
$8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Saturday, Feb. 3, 2023, 5 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925) starring Charlie Chaplin; Campton Historical Society,
Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H. The Little Tramp prospects
in the Klondike in
Chaplin's silent comedy epic. Full of classic laugh-out-loud sequences
and heartfelt drama. 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!
• Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "Seven Chances"
(1925) starring Buster Keaton; Riverwoods Durham, 14
Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, N.H.; private screening not open to the
public. In this 1925 farce, Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an
unexpected inheritance of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7
p.m. that very day. One of Keaton's best comedies, climaxed by one of
the great chase scenes in all film, silent or otherwise.
POSTPONED TO SUNDAY, FEB. 18 • Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, 2 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) starring Lon Chaney; Colonial Theatre, 95 Main Street, Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; https://thecolonial.org/. Join us for a 100th anniversary screening of the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel
about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless
drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1924. Free admission!
• Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, 2 p.m.: "The Last Command" (1928) starring Emil Jannings; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456. Intense drama about a former high-ranking military officer in Czarist
Russia now reduced to playing extra in 1920s Hollywood. Towering
performance in the lead role helped Emil Jannings win 'Best Actor' at
the first-ever Academy Awards. Goes beyond the usual cliches of romantic
drama to explore the nature of power as well as the unreality of the
nascent movie business itself. The result: a timeless mediation on life,
love, and loss that transcends its era. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, 6:30 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1922)
starring Charlie Chaplin; Greenfield
Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit
www.gardencinemas.net. The Little Tramp prospects in the Klondike in
Chaplin's silent comedy epic. Full of classic laugh-out-loud sequences
and heartfelt drama. See it for yourself! Tickets $10.50 adults;
$8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Why Worry?" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Coolidge Corner
Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org.
Rich hypochondriac Harold Lloyd takes a restful voyage to South America,
only to become embroiled in a full-scale revolution! One of Lloyd's
funniest feature comedies. Preceded by the holiday-themed short comedy
'Big Business' (1929) starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. 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. 10, 2023, 4 p.m.: "My Best Girl" (1927) starring Mary Pickford, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. In a big city department store, what happens when romance blossoms
between a humble clerk and the store owner's son? A sparkling “rich man, poor girl” romantic comedy from
1927 starring screen icon Mary Pickford with Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, her
future husband. Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12,
Center for the Arts members $10.
• Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1922)
starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Greenfield
Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. Blockbuster adaptation of the
tales of Robin Hood and his merry men. Massive sets, great action, and
Doug Fairbanks in the lead made this the top grossing film of 1922! See it for yourself! Tickets $10.50 adults;
$8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925) starring Charlie Chaplin; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The Little Tramp prospects in the Klondike in
Chaplin's silent comedy epic. Full of classic laugh-out-loud sequences and heartfelt drama. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925) starring John Gilbert, Renée Adoree; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. We salute Veterans Day with this sweeping saga about U.S. doughboys signing up and shipping off to France in 1917, where they face experiences that will change their lives forever—if they return. MGM blockbuster directed by King Vidor; one of the biggest box office triumphs of the silent era. Silent film shown in 35mm prints on the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a 1914 moviehouse and theater. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, 7 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925) starring John Gilbert, Renée Adoree; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.com. We salute Veterans Day with this sweeping saga about U.S. doughboys signing up and shipping off to France in 1917, where they face experiences that will change their lives forever—if they return. MGM blockbuster directed by King Vidor; one of the biggest box office triumphs of the silent era. 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.
• Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, 2 p.m.: "A Sailor-Made Man" (1921) starring Harold Lloyd; "Shoulder Arms" (1918) starring Charlie Chaplin; The Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Road, Middlebury, Vt. Special salute to Veterans Day courtesy two of the masters of silent comedy. In 'Sailor Made Man' (1921), pampered socialite Harold Lloyd enlists in the U.S. Navy to impress his girlfriend, only to discover he can't leave after the first afternoon. In 'Shoulder Arms' (1918), the Kaiser will never recover after Charlie's Little Tramp is deployed to the European battlefields of World War I. See what it was like to serve one's country more than a century ago while enjoying timeless visual comedy with live music. Free and open to the public.
• Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, 8 p.m.: "Wings" (1927)
starring Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen;
Epsilon Spires, 190 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vt.;
www.epsilonspires.org. Tickets $20. In honor of Veterans Day, a sweeping
drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great
achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the
first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle
scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that
remain thrilling even today. Epsilon Spires is an organization
illuminating the relationships between
creative arts, natural sciences and sustainability using multimedia
platforms. Epsilon Spires operates out of a renovated Baptist church
built in 1868.
• Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "The Three Musketeers" (1921) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance
Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Original screen adaptation that set the bar for movie versions of The
Three Musketeers as well as for the swashbuckler genre itself. An
action-adventure tale of a young Gascon, D'Artagnan, whose dream is to
join the King's Musketeers, and travels to Paris to do so. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, 5 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925) starring Charlie Chaplin; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. The Little Tramp prospects in the Klondike in Chaplin's silent comedy epic. Full of classic laugh-out-loud sequences and heartfelt drama. Shown as part of the theater's 'Foodie Film Festival' by virtue of Chaplin's famous Thanksgiving Dinner made out of a shoe, the bun dance, and a scene where Chaplin's hungry cabin mate imagines the Little Tramp as a succulent chicken. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown for more than a century. Admission prices and more info to come.
• Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "The Scarlet Letter" (1926) starring Lillian Gish; Greenfield Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St., Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. Splashy MGM adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic tale of old New England, with Lillian Gish in the leading role as Hester Prynne. After having a child out of wedlock, a young Puritan woman is pressured to reveal the name of her lover. Ah, the good old days! Tickets $10.50 adults; $8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, 7:30 p.m. "Raffles the Amateur Cracksman"
(1925); the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay
Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. Raffles, the
debonair society burglar, can’t resist a dare, when a noted
criminologist claims that he would prevent a threatened theft in the
home of an upper crust family. Of course, Raffles gets the pearls, but
he promises the beautiful Lady Gwendolyn that he will return them and
reform. With House Peters, Miss Du Pont, Hedda Hopper, Walter Long. Dir.
King Baggott (Not to be confused with the John Barrymore version
(1917), in which the story line is somewhat different.) Plus short
subjects. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from
1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music.
• Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Dracula" (1931) starring Bela Lugosi; at the Park Theater, 19 Main St., Jaffrey, N.H.; (603) 532-9300; https://theparktheatre.org/
Universal's original sound version of Dracula featured the inspired
casting choice of Bela Lugosi in the title role, but virtually no music!
So this Halloween, we present 'Dracula' with an added musical score by
renowned silent film accompanist (and N.H. resident) Jeff Rapsis.
Celebrate Halloween with an all-time classic horror film accompanied by
live music. General admission $10 per person; buy tickets online or at
the door.
• Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Magician" (1926), starring Paul Wegener, Alice Terry; directored by Rex Ingram; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The Magician' concerns a scientist (Paul Wegener) who uses an ancient spell to reanimate a dead body. The secret missing ingredient is, of course, the blood of a virgin, making it a good bet for Halloween. Directed by the great Rex Ingram (who helmed 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' in 1921), 'The Magician' is a film I've never done before and only recently learned about. The theater was kind enough to add it to their schedule, so off we go. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, 7 p.m.: "The Cat and the Canary" (1927); Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. Can a group of distant relatives survive the night in a haunted house to
learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic
thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Just in time for
Halloween, a movie filled with deep shadows, dark secrets, and a
surprisingly timeless mix of humor and horror that will keep you
guessing. Remember: in silent film, no one can hear you scream! 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.
• Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, 7:30 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Get in the mood for Halloween with one of the all-time classic
thrillers. Long before
Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film
adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the
pantheon of both horror and romance. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown for more than a century. Admission prices and more info to come.
• Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) starring Lon Chaney; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/. Join us for a 100th anniversary screening of the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel
about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless
drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax! Join us for a series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Experience the original
silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous
'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—and some critics
believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually
become creepier with the passage of time. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "Lon Chaney Double Feature"; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance
Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Two strange late silent thrillers, both starring Chaney at the peak of
his career and directed by Todd Browning, who would later helm the cult
film 'Freaks' (1932). In 'The Unknown' (1927), Chaney
plays 'Alonzo the Armless,' a circus knife-thrower (he uses his feet!)
with a dark past who lusts after trapeze artist Joan Crawford, who is
pursued by the circus strong man, but she has a phobia about being held
by a man. See where this is going? In 'West of Zanzibar' (1928),
Chaney plays a vaudeville magician who loses use of his legs in an
accident but still journeys to Africa to seek revenge on the wealthy
businessman (Lionel Barrymore) who stole his beloved. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; Coolidge Corner
Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org. Get in the mood for Halloween with one of the all-time classic
thrillers. Long before
Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film
adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the
pantheon of both horror and romance. Silent film on the big screen with live music: the Coolidge's
long-running 'Sounds of Silents' program recreates the experience of
early cinema so today's audiences can experience why movie-goers first
fell in love with the silver screen.
• Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, 6 p.m. "The Cat and the Canary"
(1927); Townsend (Mass.) Public Library, 12 Dudley
Road, Townsend, Mass.; (978) 597-1714; http://www.townsendlibrary.org.
Perfect for Halloween! Can a group of distant relatives survive the
night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find
out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni.
Co-sponsored by the Townsend Senior Center. Silent film with live
music; free admission and
program open to the public.
• Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Red Kimona" (1925) starring Priscilla Bonner; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A small-town girl finds escape from her cruel home life in the arms of a handsome stranger. She soon finds herself working as a prostitute in New Orleans, desperately clinging to the belief that he really loves her. This untenable situation soon leads to violence, with unforeseen life-changing consequences. 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. 7, 2023, 7 p.m.: "My Best Girl" (1927)
starring starring Mary Pickford, Charles "Buddy" Rogers; Brandon Town
Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. In a big city department store, romance
blossoms between a humble stockroom clerk and the store owner's son—who
is already engaged! A sparkling “rich man, poor girl” romantic comedy
from 1927 starring screen icon Mary Pickford and Charles 'Buddy Rogers,'
her future real-life husband. 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. 1, 2023, 4 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) starring Lon Chaney;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Join us for a 100th anniversary screening of the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel
about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless
drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax. Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12,
Center for the Arts members $10.
• Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, 7 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
(1923) starring Lon Chaney; Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry;
sponsored by Derry Public Library. Join us for a 100th anniversary
screening of the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic
novel
about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless
drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax.
Timeless silent film on the big
screen
and with live music. Free admission! For more information, contact the
Derry Public Library at (603) 432-6140.
• Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Our Hospitality"
(1923) starring Buster Keaton; Havenwood Heritage Heights Retirement
Community, 149 East Side Drive, Concord, N.H.; (603) 229-1266.
Private screening not open to the public. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a
backwoods feud in the 1830s
pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains.
Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a
dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real!
• Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/. In this 1925 farce, Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an
unexpected inheritance of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7
p.m. that very day. One of Keaton's best comedies, climaxed by one of
the great chase scenes in all film, silent or otherwise. Join us for a series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, 2 p.m.: Salute to Marion Davies and Q & A with author Lara Gabrielle; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Join us for a salute to iconic 1920s star Marion Davies, including a screening of "Show People"
(1928) plus a Q & A / book-signing with Lara Gabrielle, author of
the recently published 'Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion
Davies.'
In "Show People," 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. 'Show People' to be shown via
35mm print on
the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a
1914 moviehouse. Tickets on sale soon. For more info, call the theater
box office
at
(617) 625-5700. Screening and author book-signing in partnership with Porter Square Books, Porter Square Shopping Center, 25 White St., Cambridge, Mass.
• Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, 2 p.m.: Salute to Marion Davies and Q & A with author Lara Gabrielle; Harbor Theater, 185 Harbor Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, Maine; 207-633-0438; https://boothbaycinema.org/. Join us for a salute to iconic 1920s star Marion Davies, including a screening of "Show People"
(1928) plus a Q & A / book-signing with Lara Gabrielle, author of
the recently published 'Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies.'
In "Show People," 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. Admission prices $10 per person, $8 for members. Screening and author book-signing in partnership with Sherman's Books of Boothbay Harbor, 5 Commercial St., Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
• Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, 7:30 p.m.: Salute to Marion Davies and Q & A with author Lara Gabrielle; Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Join us for a salute to iconic 1920s star Marion Davies, including a screening of "Show People"
(1928) plus a Q & A / book-signing with Lara Gabrielle, author of
the recently published 'Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies.'
In "Show People," 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. Plus a Q & A / book-signing
with special guest Lara Gabrielle, author of the
recently published 'Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies.' Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged. Screening and author book-signing in partnership with Balin Books, Somerset Plaza, 375 Amherst St./Route 101A, Nashua, N.H.; (603) 417-7981.
• Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, 6 p.m.: "The Ten Commandments"
(1923) directed by Cecil B. DeMille;
Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123;
http://www.leavittheatre.com. Long before Charlton Heston played Moses
in Technicolor, director Cecil
B. DeMille filmed this silent blockbuster on a grand scale. Many say it
surpasses the remake—see for yourself as we celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the film's original release. Join us for a summer season
of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "Scaramouche" (1923) starring Ramon Novarro, Alice Terry; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. When a nobleman murders his best friend, a lawyer becomes a revolutionary with his heart set on vengeance. Swashbuckler based on the best-selling 1921 novel by Rafael Sabatini. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Sept 10, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Fire Brigade" (1926) starring Charles Ray, May McAvoy; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. MGM thriller features spectacular firefighting sequences; 35mm print of 2021 restoration by the Library of Congress and the Film Foundation. Part of the 'Silents, Please!' series at the Somerville Theatre, a 1914 moviehouse. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, 7 p.m.: "The Freshman" (1925) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. We welcome football season with Harold Lloyd's
blockbuster hit about a college boy who dreams of gridiron greatness. One of Lloyd's all-time best! 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, Sept. 6, 2023, 6 p.m.: "Haldene of the Secret Service" (1923) starring Harry Houdini;
Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123;
http://www.leavittheatre.com. In Houdini's final starring vehicle, he
plays the son of a detective slain by a gang of counterfeiters. Seeking
vengeance, he rescues a girl (Leslie) from the gang, but is thrown into
river by them for dead, and escapes. Join us for
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "Our Hospitality"
(1923)
starring Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge; Greenfield
Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net.
Silent comic
Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s
pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains.
Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a
dramatic river rescue in which Buster almost lost his life for real.
Join us for this special 100th anniversary screening! Tickets $10.50
adults;
$8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "My Best Girl" (1927); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance
Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
In a big city department store, what happens when romance blossoms
between a humble clerk and the store owner's son? A sparkling “rich man, poor girl” romantic comedy from
1927 starring screen icon Mary Pickford with Charles 'Buddy Rogers,' her
future husband. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Divine Lady" (1929) starring Corrine Griffith; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Frank Lloyd won the 'Best Director' Oscar for this romantic melodrama about the scandalous love affair between British naval hero Horatio Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, 7 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925) starring Charlie Chaplin; Heald Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall, 37 Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. The Little Tramp prospects in the Klondike in Chaplin's silent comedy epic. Silent film with live music in the lovingly restored Heald Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall in Ludlow, Vt.
• Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, 6 p.m.: "A Woman of Paris" (1923) directed by Charlie Chaplin, starring Edna Purviance;
Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123;
http://www.leavittheatre.com. Charlie's full-length drama about kept woman (Edna Purviance) who runs into her former fiancé and finds herself torn between love and comfort. No
Little Tramp here, as Charlie stays behind the camera except for a
small role as a porter in a train station. Join us for asummer season of
movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Beau Brummel" (1924) starring John Barrymore; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Opulent silent drama about the rise and fall of the famous London
gentleman, a commoner who nevertheless circulates in royal circles due
to his influence and sartorial prominence. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, 7 p.m.: "The Ten Commandments"
(1923); Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.com. Long before Charlton Heston played Moses
in Technicolor, director Cecil
B. DeMille filmed this silent blockbuster on a grand scale. Many say it
surpasses the remake—see for yourself as we celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the film's original release. 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, Aug. 16, 2023, 6 p.m.: Comedy double feature! "The Pilgrim" (1923) starring Charlie Chaplin and "Bell Boy 13"
(1923) starring Douglas MacLean;
Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123;
http://www.leavittheatre.com. Two vintage comedies, one by a world
famous performer and another from one unjustly forgotten. In 'The
Pilgrim,' Chaplin's tramp impersonates a man of the cloth, with
unexpected results. Chaplin's final short film. In 'Bell Boy 13,'
Douglas MacLean plays a disowned heir who takes a menial job at a hotel
to be near his sweetheart. Join us for
the 100th season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, 8 p.m.: "Safety Last"
(1923) starring Harold Lloyd, at the Alton Town Gazebo in Alton Bay, N.H. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown
clock is just one highlight of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost
none of its power over audiences. See for yourself as we celebrate the
100th anniversary of the movie's original release. Silent film under the stars at the
Alton Town Gazebo in Alton Bay, N.H. Sponsored by the Alton Old Home Week Committee.
• Sunday, July 30, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Apple Tree Girl" (1917) starring Shirley Mason; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Rarely screened early feature film produced by Thomas Edison. Shirley
Mason stars as a poor girl who goes to live with a wealthy aunt and her
snooty cousin. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, July 26, 2023, 6 p.m.: "Zaza" (1923) starring Gloria Swanson;
Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123;
http://www.leavittheatre.com. Romance set in France in which Swanson plays a hot-tempered provincial
actress who gets entangled with a married diplomat. Swanson's ebullience
in Zaza was unfeigned; she called it "the fastest, easiest, most
enjoyable picture I ever made." Join us for a summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Ononko's Vow" (1910);
Deerfield Community Center (part of Historic Deerfield), 16 Memorial
St., Deerfield, Mass. In 1910, the Edison Company released Ononko’s Vow, an early
silent movie filmed on location in Deerfield and Whately, Mass. View a newly digitized version of this almost-forgotten film
followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Carolyn Anderson, silent film
historian and Professor Emerita of Film and Television at UMass Amherst,
and Dr. Margaret Bruchac, Associate Professor of Anthropology,
Coordinator of Native American and Indigenous Studies, and Associate
Faculty in the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the University of
Pennsylvania.
• Sunday, July 23, 2023, 4 p.m.: "The Kid Brother" (1927) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Often cited as Lloyd's masterpiece, this ambitious silent film
comedy/drama tells the story of Harold Hickory, youngest son of a
powerful rural sheriff. When his father is unjustly accused, Harold is
forced to prove himself and clear his father's name. Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12,
Center for the Arts members $10.
• Saturday, July 22, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Our Hospitality"
(1923) starring Buster Keaton; The Strand Theatre, 345 Main St.,
Rockland, Maine; (207) 594-0070. Celebrate the Strand's 100th birthday
with classic silent comedy in which Buster unknowingly stumbles into the
middle of a long-running family feud. Ticket price: an astonishing 25
cents per person, general admission! Then, at 4:30 p.m., it's Marion
Davies in "Little Old New York," another 1923 box office hit: a
light-hearted comedy drama in which Marion Davies plays identical twins
orphaned on their crossing to America in the early 1800s. The film is
presented in cooperation with Ben Model of Undercrank Productions and
the Library of Congress. Ticket price: astonishing 25 cents per person,
general admission. For more info, visit www.rocklandstrand.com.
• Wednesday, July 19, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance
Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate
railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the
great films of any era! Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, July 16, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Circle" (1925) starring Eleanor Boardman, Joan Crawford, directed by Frank Borzage; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Set among the aristocrats of Edwardian Britain, a comedy about an unhappy woman who considers leaving her dull husband for another man. Based on the 1921 play The Circle by W. Somerset Maugham. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, July 15, 2023, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great movies of any era! 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 12, 2023, 6 p.m.: "Our Hospitality"
(1923) starring Buster Keaton;
Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123;
http://www.leavittheatre.com. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a
backwoods feud in the 1830s
pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains.
Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a
dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Join
us for a summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic
Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, July 9, 2023, 2 p.m.: Salute to Canada Double Feature! "Mantrap" (1926) starring Clara Bow and "The Canadian" (1926); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com.
To mark "Canada Day" (July 1), we salute our neighbors with a double
helping of vintage cinema set north of the border. In 'Mantrap' (1926),
silent-era 'It" girl Clara Bow stars in a battle-of-the-sexes comedy
about a big city divorce lawyer hoping to get away from it all at a
Canadian wilderness retreat. 'The Canadian' (1926) stars Thomas Meighan
in the tale of a pioneering couple homesteading in Alberta, where they
battle bad weather and financial woes. Both titles shown via 35mm prints
from the Library of Congress on
the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a
1914 moviehouse. For more info, call the theater box office
at
(617) 625-5700.
• Wednesday, June 21, 2023, 6 p.m.: "The Covered Wagon"
(1923);
Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123;
http://www.leavittheatre.com. Epic Western adventure and top hit of
1923. Two wagon caravans converge at what is now Kansas City, and
combine for
the westward push to Oregon. On their quest the pilgrims experience
desert heat, mountain snow, hunger, and Indian attack. Join us for a
summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic Leavitt
Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater
opened in 1925 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, June 18, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Chaplin's breakthrough comedy/drama finds the Tramp raising an infant
against all odds. Highlighted by amazing work of five-year-old Coogan,
who delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of
cinema. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a
tear." 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 14, 2023, 6 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923)
starring Harold Lloyd; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit,
Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. The iconic image of
Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown
clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has
lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big
screen and with a lot of other people—the way it was meant to be shown!
Join us for a summer season of movies and entertainment at the historic
Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a
summer-only theater opened in 1925 and barely changed since. Admission
$12 per person.
• Sunday, June 11, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Wind" (1928) starring Lillian Gish; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A frail young woman from the east moves in with her cousin in the west,
where she causes tension within the family and is slowly driven mad.
Towering, intense performance by Lillian Gish in one of MGM's last major
silent dramas; told with visual style by Swedish director Victor
Seastrom. One of the all-time silent classics and not to be missed. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, June 4, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Our Hospitality"
(1923) starring Buster Keaton; The Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge
Road, Middlebury, Vt. Silent comic
Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s
pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains.
Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a
dramatic river rescue in which Buster almost lost his life for real!
Free and open to the public; guests required to wear face masks.
• Saturday, June 3, 2023, 7 p.m.: "The Temptress" (1926) starring Greta Garbo, Antonio Moreno; Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.org. MGM drama with Garbo destroying the lives of men on two continents. Unusual in
that the film was made with two very different endings per order of
studio boss Louis B. Mayer; we'll screen both of them.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, May 31, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924) starring Betty Bronson, Ernest Torrence; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/. Celebrate summer's arrival with the original silent film adaptation of J.M.
Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling
children as they follow Peter to Never Land to do battle with the
evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children
of all ages. Join us for a series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Sunday, May 28, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Speedy" (1928) starring Harold Lloyd; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Lloyd's final silent feature finds him at the peak of his career
playing a baseball-crazed go-getter forced to rescue the business of his
girlfriend's father from being destroyed by thugs. Filled with great
scenes of 1920s NYC, with notable cameo by baseball's Babe Ruth. The final installment in
a series featuring silent films either set in or filmed in New York
City. 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 20, 2023, 7 p.m.: "The Pilgrim"(1923) starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance, plus other Chaplin short comedies; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. The clergy, Westerns, child discipline and baking are among sources of laughter in The Little Tramp's last-ever non-feature-length movie, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. 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.
• Friday, May 19, 2023, 8 p.m.: "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans" (1927) starring Janet Gaynor, George O'Brien, directed by F.W. Murnau; Epsilon Spires, 190 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vt.; www.epsilonspires.org. Tickets $20. Academy Award-winning romantic drama. Critics rank this visually stunning fairy tale about joy, sadness, hope, and love as among the best silent pictures ever made. Epsilon Spires is an organization illuminating the relationships between creative arts, natural sciences and sustainability using multimedia platforms. Epsilon Spires operates out of a renovated Baptist church built in 1868.
• Sunday, May 14, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Docks of New York" (1928) directed by Josef von Sternberg; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Set in late 19th century New York, roughneck stoker Bill Roberts gets
into unexpected trouble during a brief shore leave when he falls hard
for Mae, a wise and weary dance-hall girl. Intense and moving 1928
silent drama from legendary director Josef von Sternberg. 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 10, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "Girl Shy" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance
Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Join us for the original rom-com, a Harold Lloyd
gem starring
one of the masters of silent comedy and featuring an unforgettable
race-to-the-church finish. See Harold's best work as he intended it: on
the big screen, with live music, and with an audience. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, May 7, 2023, 2 p.m.: Buster Keaton 'Boats and Trains' Double Feature! "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) and "The General" (1926); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com.
Two Keaton classics in which Buster creates large-scale comedy with big
machines. In 'Steamboat Bill, Jr.' (1928), Buster plays the effete
college-educated son of a rough-hewn riverboat
captain who must help his father fight a domineering businessman—who
just happens to be the father of Buster's girlfriend. In 'The General'
(1926), Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece tells the story of a
Confederate
railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. Both
titles shown via 35mm prints from the Library of Congress on
the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a
1914 moviehouse. For more info, call the theater box office
at
(617) 625-5700.
• Sunday, April 30, 2023, 2 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton, Marceline Day; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel
photographer. Can he get a break and get the girl? Classic visual comedy
with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers; set in NYC and includes
1920s shots of Midtown Manhattan and the old Yankee Stadium. The latest
installment in a series featuring silent films either set in or filmed
in New York City. 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 23, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Lights of Old Broadway" (1925) starring Marion Davies; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Set in late 19th century NYC, Marion Davies plays twins orphaned in
childhood who grow up unaware of each other but whose lives intertwine
much later on, with comic and dramatic results! Lavishly produced 1925
MGM release preserved by the Library of Congress. Part of a series of
silent films either set in or filmed in New York City. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, April 22, 2023, 4:30 p.m.: "Laughter on the Menu: a Silent Comedy Food Festival"
starring Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, and Laurel
& Hardy; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.;
(401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/.
Part of a Food Film Festival sponsored by Discover Newport! On the bill
of fare: 'The Rink' (1916) starring Charlie Chaplin; 'The Cook' (1918)
starring Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton; 'That's My Wife' (1929)
starring Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy; and 'The Immigrant' (1917)
starring Charlie Chaplin. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown for more than a
century. Admission $15.
• Saturday, April 15, 2023, 5:30 p.m.: "The Seahawk" (1924); Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St.; Newburyport, Mass.; www.thechmm.org; 978-462-8681. Swashbuckling historical adventure on the high seas about an English noble sold into slavery who escapes and turns himself into a pirate king. Based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini; later remade into a talkie starring Errol Flynn. Program of silent film with live music open to the public. Tickets $10 adults, $5 under 12.
• Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "The Ten Commandments" (1923); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Long before Charlton Heston played Moses in technicolor, director Cecil B. DeMille filmed this silent blockbuster on a grand scale. Many say it surpasses the remake. See for yourself in this 100th anniversary screening! Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Wednesday, April 5, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/.
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. Join us for a series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Sunday, April 2, 2023, 4 p.m.: "The Ten Commandments" (1923) directed by Cecil B. DeMille;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Long before Charlton Heston played Moses in technicolor, director Cecil
B. DeMille filmed this silent blockbuster on a grand scale. Many say it
surpasses the remake. See for yourself in this 100th anniversary screening! Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12,
Center for the Arts members $10.
• Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 7:30 p.m.: "The Lodger"
(1927) starring Ivor Novello, directed by Alfred Hitchcock; The Jane
Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/.
A serial killer is on the loose in fog-bound London. Will the murderer
be caught before yet another victim is claimed? Suspenseful early British thriller directed by a very young Alfred
Hitchcock. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown for more than a century. Tickets $15; members $13.
• Sunday, March 26, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Regeneration" (1915) directed by Raoul Walsh; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A powerful slum melodrama produced in 1915 on location on New York's lower East Side, with a gaggle of authentic low-life types performing alongside professional actors. Drirected by Raoul Walsh; one of the first U.S. feature-length films, released the same year as D.W. Griffith's 'The Birth of a Nation.' Part of a series of silent films either set in or filmed in New York City. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Monday, March 20, 2023, 7:30 p.m.: "The Navigator" (1924) starring Buster Keaton. Coolidge Corner
Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org.
Buster Keaton sets sail in his classic comedy about a spoiled rich
couple marooned all alone on a drifting ocean liner. Visual comedy at
its finest! Preceded by Keaton's short comedy 'One Week' (1920). 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.
• Saturday, March 18, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Why Worry?"
(1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; at the Blazing Star
Grange Hall, North Road in Danbury, N.H. Join us for a silent film
program in a historic (and authentic) small town N.H. Grange Hall. Rich
hypochondriac Harold Lloyd takes a restful voyage to South America, only
to become embroiled in a full-scale revolution! One of Lloyd's funniest
feature comedies. Preceded by the short comedy 'Number Please' (1920).
Free and open to the public; suggested donation of $5 at the door.
• Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "Hangman's House" (1928) directed by John Ford; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance
Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Just in time for St. Patrick's Day! A woman marries the wrong man in
this intense melodrama set in Ireland. Features a nail-biting horserace
sequence that shows silent film story-telling at its best. Directed by a
young John Ford, taking a break from Westerns; notable as the first
film appearance of John Wayne in a bit part. Monthly silent film series
at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, March 12, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Little Old New York" (1923) starring Marion Davies; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
An Irish girl comes to 19th century New York disguised as a boy to
claim a fortune left to her brother who has died. Top notch
entertainment boasting lavish production values; among 1923's highest
grossing pictures. Transferred from 35mm print via a Kickstarter
campaign supported by Town Hall Theatre patrons! The first in a series
of silent films either set in or filmed in New York City. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Monday, March 6, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen; Greenfield Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St., Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. See it for yourself! Tickets $10.50 adults; $8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Sunday, March 5, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Annie Laurie" (1927) starring Lillian Gish and "Cinderella" (1914); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com.
Celebrate Women's History Month with two rarely screened films
featuring the leading-est ladies of early Hollywood. 'Annie Laurie'
(1927) is a rarely-screened MGM epic about Scottish clan battles
featuring silent-era megastar Lillian Gish as leading lady while legions
of men in kilts do battle. Plus, an early adaptation of 'Cinderella'
(1914) starring film industry pioneer Mary Pickford. Both titles shown
via 35mm prints from the Library of Congress on
the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a
1914 moviehouse. For more info, call the theater box office
at
(617) 625-5700.
• Thursday, March 2, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "The Kid Brother"
(1927) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Riverwoods Durham, 14
Stone Quarry Drive, Durham, N.H.; private screening not open to the
public. Often cited as Lloyd's masterpiece, this ambitious silent film
comedy/drama tells the story of Harold Hickory, youngest son of a
powerful rural sheriff. When his father is unjustly accused, Harold is
forced to prove himself and clear his father's name.
• Friday, Feb. 24 through Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, Kansas Silent Film Festival at
Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Annual pilgrimage to multi-day
celebration of silent film with live music. Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org.
My 24th 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. I'll accompany
'Bellboy 13' (1923), a short Douglas MacLean feature, plus a passel of
short films and whatever else they throw at me. See you in Kansas!
• Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Man With A Movie Camera"
(1929), directed by Dziga Vertov. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St.,
Cambridge, Mass.; (617) 496-3211. Classroom screening of landmark
cinematic portrait of life in the early Soviet Union at the end of the
silent era. For Laura Frahm’s “Art of Film” course.
• Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, 2 p.m.: "My Best Girl" (1927) starring Mary Pickford, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
In a big city department store, what happens when romance blossoms
between a humble clerk and the store owner's son? In case you missed
Valentine's Day: a sparkling “rich man, poor girl” romantic comedy from
1927 starring screen icon Mary Pickford with Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, her
future husband. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "The Smart Set" (1928) starring William Haines, Alice Day; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance
Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Get ready to ride in a romantic comedy set in the rarefied world of
1920s championship polo. Arrogant aristocrat Tommy Van Buren (William
Haines)
calls himself "America's gift to polo," while his female fans think
he's the most gorgeous creature on four legs. The one exception
is plucky Polly (Alice Day), whose polo-playing father is replaced by
Tommy prior to an international tournament. Can the star-crossed pair
find true love among the ponies, polo mallets and privilege? Monthly
silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.Tickets $10 per person, general admission, available
online or at the door.
• Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, 4:30 p.m.: "The Temptress" (1929) starring Greta Garbo; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Just in time for Valentine's Day, MGM drama with Garbo destroying the lives of men everywhere. Unusual in
that the film was made with two very different endings per order of
studio boss Louis B. Mayer; we'll screen both of them. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown for more than a century. Admission prices and more info to come.
• Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923); The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/.
The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown
clock is just one highlight of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost
none of its power over audiences. Join us for a series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927)
starring Ivor Novello, directed by Alfred Hitchcock; Greenfield Garden
Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. A
serial killer is on the loose in fog-bound London. Will the murderer
be caught before yet another victim is claimed? Suspenseful early
British thriller directed by a very young Alfred
Hitchcock. Tickets $10.50 adults; $8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, 5 p.m.: "The Kid Brother" (1927) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Campton Historical Society, Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H.; Campton Historical Society. Often cited as Lloyd's masterpiece, this ambitious silent film comedy/drama tells the story of Harold Hickory, youngest son of a powerful rural sheriff. When his father is unjustly jailed, Harold is forced to prove himself and clear his father's name. 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!
• Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, 7:30 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927) starring Ivor Novello, directed by Alfred Hitchcock; Coolidge Corner
Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org.
A serial killer is on the loose in fog-bound London. Will the murderer
be caught before yet another victim is claimed? Suspenseful early British thriller directed by a very young Alfred
Hitchcock. Silent film on the big screen with live music: the Coolidge's
long-running 'Sounds of Silents' program recreates the experience of
early cinema so today's audiences can experience why movie-goers first
fell in love with the silver screen.
• Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, about 4:30 p.m.: "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1916) at the 48th Annual Sci-Fi Marathon presented by the Case Western Reserve University Film Society, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. Live music for '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,' a featured attraction in this year's annual 36-hour (!) sci-fi marathon at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Early version of the classic Jules Verne tale, feature that pioneered underwater photography techniques.
• Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, 7 p.m.: "Battling Butler" (1926), starring Buster Keaton; Cinema Detroit, 4126 3rd Ave, Detroit, Mich.;
(313) 482-9028, www.cinemadetroit.org. Climb into the ring with Buster,
who
plays Alfred Butler, a pampered rich idler with the same name as a
feared boxing champion. When a girl he's pursuing thinks he's the
actual fighter, Keaton has no choice but to start training. Tickets $16
plus $1.50 fee, available online in advance or at the door.
• Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, 2 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is just one highlight of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See for yourself as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the movie's original release. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, 3 p.m.: "Our Hospitality"
(1923) starring Buster Keaton; Greely Center for the Arts, 303 Main St.,
Cumberland, Maine. Tickets $10. Silent comic
Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s
pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains.
Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a
dramatic river rescue in which Buster almost lost his life for real!
Student Council on Activities fundraiser, with all proceeds going to
Spring Spirit Week at Greely High School.
• Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, 1:30 p.m.: "The Kid Brother" (1927) starring Harold Lloyd; Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St., Nashua, N.H.; (603) 589-4600; https://nashualibrary.org/. Often cited as Lloyd's masterpiece, this ambitious silent film comedy/drama tells the story of Harold Hickory, youngest son of a powerful rural sheriff. When his father is unjustly jailed, Harold is forced to prove himself and clear his father's name. Free admission, public welcome! Special note: Nashua is where I grew up, so this marks my long-awaited hometown debut as a professional performing musician. How fitting for it to be at the Nashua Public Library, where I first learned about vintage cinema via books and movies borrowed in the 1970s (in the era before home video) on my way home from Spring Street Junior High School. I expect to choke up.
• Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, 4 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; the Colonial Theatre, 95 Main St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; https://thecolonial.org/. 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. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as
an stunning example of the power of film to tell a compelling
story without words, and reach across the generations to touch
movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Tickets $12 adults, $8.50 youth, general admission.
• Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, 6:30 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927)
directed by Fritz Lang; Greenfield Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St.,
Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net.
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. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as
an stunning example of the power of film to tell a compelling
story without words, and reach across the generations to touch
movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Tickets $10.50
adults; $8.50 students, seniors, and veterans.
• Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. 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. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as an stunning example of the power of film to tell a compelling story without words, and reach across the generations to touch movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Admission $15; members $13.
• Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, 7:30 p.m.: "The Night Cry" (1926) starring Rin Tin Tin; Coolidge Corner
Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org.
In "The Night Cry," legendary canine hero Rin Tin Tin must clear his
name after being
accused of killing sheep, all while battling one of the most unusual
non-human villains in cinematic history! Silent film on the big screen
with live music: the Coolidge's long-running 'Sounds of Silents" 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. 11, 2022, 4 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. 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. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as an stunning example of the power of film to tell a compelling story without words, and reach across the generations to touch movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12, Center for the Arts members $10.
• Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "Three's a Crowd"
(1927)
starring Harry Langdon; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance
Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
In his directorial debut, Harry stars as a slum-dweller who invites a
freezing pregnant woman into his home.
Nursing mother and child back to health, he achieves his dream of having
a family...or so he believes. A film that'll put you in the mood for
the holiday season. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Barbed Wire" (1927) starring Paula Negri, Clive Brook; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. During World War I, the French government commandeers a family farm for
use as a camp for German POWs, setting the local population at each
other. Intense drama about forbidden love and the human condition with a
special holiday twist. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, 8 p.m.: "Our Hospitality"
(1923) starring Buster Keaton; Epsilon Spires, 190 Main Street,
Brattleboro, Vt.; www.epsilonspires.org. Tickets $20. Silent comic
Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s
pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains.
Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a
dramatic river rescue in which Buster almost lost his life for real!
Epsilon Spires is an organization illuminating the relationships between
creative arts, natural sciences and sustainability using multimedia
platforms. Epsilon Spires operates out of a renovated Baptist church
built in 1868.
• Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Lonesome" (1928) directed by Paul Fejos, starring Barbara Kent and Glenn Tryon; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Part-talking comedy/drama following two working-class residents of New York City over a 24-hour-period on the July 4 weekend, from a chance meeting at Coney Island to the beginnings of love. Remarkable ground-breaking visual effects to capture the Jazz-age energy of the Big Apple. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Her Sister From Paris"
(1925) starring Constance Talmadge, Ronald Colman; Brandon Town Hall
and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.org. The scene: Europe. The cast: Rich
people. Get swept off your feet by not
one but two privileged ladies, both played by amazing actress Constance
Talmadge, who was Buster Keaton's sister-in-law. 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, Nov. 16, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "So's Your Old Man"
(1926) starring W.C. Fields; The Flying Monkey Movie House and
Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Terrific silent comedy with Fields as a henpecked and unsuccessful
inventor whose encounter with a young woman makes him the talk of his
small town. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in
Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, 2 p.m.: "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930) starring Lew Ayres; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
In honor of Veterans Day: the classic anti-war film that took Best
Picture honors at the second Academy Awards. During World War I, a group
of young Germans are sent to the Western Front, where their idealism is
destroyed by the realities of trench warfare. Rarely seen silent
version released to theaters that had yet to convert to talking
pictures. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Nov. 10, 2020, 7:30 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton, N.H.;
(603) 3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. In honor of Veterans Day, a sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great
achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the
first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle
scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that
remain thrilling even today. Co-sponsored by the Aviation Museum of N.H. Admission free, donations accepted to benefit Aviation Museum.
• Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, 3 p.m.: "A Program of Short Comedies and Surprises" (1921); Gloucester Meetinghouse / Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, 10 Church St., Gloucester, Mass. Chaplin's short comedy 'The Floorwalker,' Buster Keaton in 'The Haunted House,' and Chaplin's feature 'The Kid' (1921) are highlights of a program of short films that are long on laughter. A great family afternoon at the movies! Admission $15; students with ID $5; kids under 12 free. Visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org for tickets and info.
• Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, 7:30 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Just in time for Halloween! A serial killer is on the loose in fog-bound London. Will the murderer be caught before yet another victim is claimed? Suspenseful British thriller directed by a very young Alfred Hitchcock. 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. 29, 2022, 11:59 p.m.: "London After Midnight" (1927), reconstruction starring Lon Chaney; Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org. The legendary lost Lon Chaney movie reconstructed from still photos and other materials to bring this missing film back from the dead. The kick-off of a 12-hour pre-Halloween vampire marathon. See for yourself at this special midnight screening — if you dare! Ticket price TBA, available at door or online at www.coolidge.org.
• Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, 6 p.m.: "Der Golem" (1920); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Get ready for Halloween with one very weird flick! In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates a giant creature from clay, called the Golem. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution. Early German fantasy flick anticipates Frankenstein story. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F. W. Murnau; at the newly opened Park Theater, 19 Main St., Jaffrey, N.H.; (603) 532-9300; https://theparktheatre.org/ Celebrate Halloween with one of the all-time classics: the original vampire film, this loose adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the years go by. See it for yourself on the 100th anniversary of its original release! Admission prices and more info to come.
• Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Bells" (1926)
starring Lionel Barrymore, Boris Karloff; Warner Town Hall, Warner, N.H.
Screening sponsored by the
Telephone Museum of N.H. (Yes, New Hampshire has a telephone museum!)
Strange tale of Lionel Barrymore as an innkeeper in a small Central
European town with a lurid secret, with Boris Karloff as a visiting
clairvoyant who is poised to expose it. Genuinely haunting picture from
obscure Chadwick Pictures.
• Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Cat and the Canary" (1927) directed by Paul Leni; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/.
Perfect for Halloween! Can a group of distant relatives survive the
night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find
out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Join us for a series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922)
directed by F.W. Murnau; the Colonial Theatre's Showroom, 20 Commercial St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; www.thecolonial.org. Just in time
for Halloween: the original vampire film, this loose
adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the
years go by. See it for yourself on the 100th anniversary of its
original release! Ticket prices adults $12; kids 10 and under $5.
• Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, 7:30 p.m.: "Maciste in Hell" (1925); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Just in time for Halloween! An Italian film in which a virtuous man is tempted by Satan and winds up in the Underworld. But will enough of his virtue survive to battle the demons of hell? A rarely screened early fantasy featuring highly imaginative visual design. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Frankenstein" (1931) starring Boris Karloff; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Live music for the early talkie horror classic, which has virtually no musical score. Presented at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 1914 moviehouse and theater committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film whenever possible. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main
Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Just in time for Halloween: the original vampire film, this loose
adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the
years go by. See it for yourself on the 100th anniversary of its
original release! 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.
• Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera"
starring Lon Chaney; Derry Public Library, 64 East Broadwway, Derry,
N.H. Get in the mood for Halloween with one of the all-time classic
thrillers. Long before
Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film
adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the
pantheon of both horror and romance. Timeless silent film on the big
screen
and with live music. Free admission! For more information, contact the
Derry Public Library at (603) 432-6140.
• Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "Faust" (1926) starring Emil Jannings; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Director F.W. Murnau's last silent film made in Germany is a visually
stunning adaptation of the Faust legend, with Emil Jannings in a
towering performance as Mephisto.Part of a series of 1926 films that
recently entered the public domain. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, 4 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922)
directed by F.W. Murnau; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St.,
Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Just in time
for Halloween: the original vampire film, this loose
adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the
years go by. See it for yourself on the 100th anniversary of its
original release! Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse
that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $18, Center for the Arts
members $15.
POSTPONED, RESCHEDULED TO SUNDAY, NOV. 20 • Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Lonesome" (1928) directed by Paul Fejos, starring Barbara Kent and Glenn Tryon; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Part-talking comedy/drama following two working-class residents of New York City over a 24-hour-period on the July 4 weekend, from a chance meeting at Coney Island to the beginnings of love. Remarkable ground-breaking visual effects to capture the Jazz-age energy of the Big Apple. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Greed" (1924)
directed by Erich von Stroheim; Cinematheque at the Cleveland
Institute
of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. Admission
$15; $12 for members, students, and those under 25. Celebrate Silent
Movie Day (one day late) with a version of legendary director Erich von
Stroheim's out-of-control masterpiece 'Greed,' originally eight hours
long, but was cut down to a more normal
length (in this case, just over two hours) for commercial release.
Sudden fortune won from a lottery ruins the lives of the three people
involved; Von Stroheim's work brought silent film drama to new
heights of intensity. Rare chance to see this film on the big
screen with live music. Silent film with
live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
• Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022: "Woman in the Moon" (1929), directed by Fritz Lang; Cinema Detroit, 4126 3rd Ave, Detroit, Mich.; (313) 482-9028. Celebrate Silent Movie Day with this grand sci-fi
adventure epic about the first rocket ship to the moon. The
rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang
(director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for
all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with
melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Pondering a vision of the
future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers.
• Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, 6 p.m.: "Dr. Mabuse, Der Spieler" (1922) directed by Fritz Lang; Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.; (617 876-6837); http://brattlefilm.org. Celebrate International Silent Film Day with Fritz Lang's legendary early crime thriller masterpiece—all 4½ hours on the big screen with live music. A sprawling look at decadence and immorality in Weimar-era Germany; the illegal nightclubs and gambling dens feature eye-popping visual design. A crime thriller involving hypnosis and mind control that's very 1920s, but also a study in human nature that transcends its era. And the guys wear monocles!
• Friday, Sept. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022: "Keaton/Kelly: Gotta Dance" at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, 205 E. Madison Ave, Iola, Kansas. Accompanying films for an annual celebration of silent film comedian Buster Keaton, born in nearly Piqua, Kansas. This year's theme, 'Gotta Dance,' explores the connection between Keaton and legendary dance icon Gene Kelly; special guests include Kelly's spouse Patricia and Dana Stevens, author of the recent Keaton book 'Camera Man.' I'm scheduled to do music for 'The Cameraman' (1928), 'Steamboat Bill, Jr.' (1928), and perhaps other films. For more info and to purchase a pass to the three-day event, visit https://www.bowluscenter.org/iolakeaton/
• Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "Sparrows" (1926) starring Mary Pickford; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
'Sparrows,' Mary Pickford’s penultimate silent film, is a Dickensian
tale of orphans living on a baby farm run by an evil caretaker. The
movie boasts highly stylized sets, including an ominous-looking
alligator swamp, and atmospheric cinematography that shows the growing
influence of German expressionist cinema on American filmmakers in the
1920s. Part of a series of 1926 films that recently entered the public
domain. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Les Vampires, Part 2" (1915) directed by Louis Feuillade; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A rare chance to see this legendary 10-chapter French espionage serial on the big screen; seven hours of cinema shown over two days. An intrepid reporter and his loyal friend battle a bizarre secret society of criminals known as The Vampires. Chapters 7 through 10. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Les Vampires, Part 1" (1915) directed by Louis Feuillade; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A rare chance to see this legendary 10-chapter French espionage serial on the big screen; seven hours of cinema shown over two days. An intrepid reporter and his loyal friend battle a bizarre secret society of criminals known as The Vampires. Chapters 1 through 6; the rest of the story on Sunday, Sept. 18. 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. 14, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Flying Ace" (1926); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Early all-Black motion picture added to the National Film Registry this past December. The only surviving feature of Norman Studios of Jacksonville, Fla., 'The Flying Ace' tells the story of a WWI pilot tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance of a railroad payroll. A rare example of 'race' cinema, produced for audiences in black-only theaters commonly found at the time in segregated parts of the nation. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Flying Ace" (1926); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Early all-Black motion picture added to the National Film Registry this past December. The only surviving feature of Norman Studios of Jacksonville, Fla., 'The Flying Ace' tells the story of a WWI pilot tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance of a railroad payroll. A rare example of 'race' cinema, produced for audiences in black-only theaters commonly found at the time in segregated parts of the nation.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, Sept. 7, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Last Laugh" (1924) starring Emil Jannings; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com.
Towering performance by Jannings as aging doorman at posh city hotel
whose unexpected change of jobs robs him of self-respect and identity.
Directed by F.W. Murnau as a purely visual tale devoid of any dialogue
intertitles. A masterpiece of the silent film! Join us for another
season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great
silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and
barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "Son of the Sheik" (1926); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The screen's original Latin lover in his most famous role, that of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassad, ruler of a vast desert empire and conqueror of many a woman's heart. Prepare to swoon! Exotic adventure film that captured the imagination of early movie audiences. Shown in honor of the 96th anniversary of Valentino's untimely death in August 1926 at age 31. Part of a series of 1926 films that recently entered the public domain. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, 4 p.m.: "The Yankee Clipper" (1927) starring William Boyd; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Seagoing action and adventure! Two clipper ships, one British and one American, race from China to Boston in the 1840s, with a massive tea contract and national pride in the balance. Produced by none other than Cecil B. Demille! Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $18, Center for the Arts members $15.
• Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927); Heald Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall, 37 Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. A serial killer is on the loose in fog-bound London. Will the murderer be caught before yet another victim is claimed? A suspenseful British thriller directed by a very young Alfred Hitchcock. Silent film with live music in the lovingly restored Heald Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall in Ludlow, Vt.
• Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Blood and Sand" (1922); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Rudolph Valentino in his first starring role, as a sexy bullfighter in this 1922 romantic thriller. Will Rudy choose the pure love of Carmen, or the sinister charms of the exotic Doña Sol? Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person• Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, 8 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr."
(1928) starring Buster Keaton, at the Alton Town Gazebo in Alton Bay, N.H.
As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries to make the
grade even as storm clouds gather—and romance brews with the daughter of
a rival ship owner. Film climaxes with legendary cyclone sequence, one
of Buster's best. Silent film under the stars at the
Alton Town Gazebo in Alton Bay, N.H.
• Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Beverly of Graustark" (1926) starring Marion Davies; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Gender-bending comedy in which Davies stars as an American cousin of a
European prince—and with whom she must switch places to keep the kingdom
from unraveling. Part of a summer-long series of programs spotlighting
the ladies of the silent screen. Shown
with live music at a theater where movies have been playing since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Blood and Sand" (1922) starring Rudolph Valentino; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Valentino in his first starring role, as a sexy bullfighter in this 1922 romantic thriller. Will Rudy choose the pure love of Carmen, or the sinister charms of the exotic Doña Sol? 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.
• Friday, Aug. 12, 2022, 5:45 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) starring Buster Keaton; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588; https://www.palacetheatre.org/film.
Amateur detective Buster works to bust open
the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the
crime drama at a local theater. Silent film with live music is on the
Opening Night program of the first-ever Manchester International Film
Festival. Join us for timeless silent film on the big screen in a
wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester.
• Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Mantrap" (1926)
starring Clara Bow, Ernest Torrence, Richard Dix; Leavitt Theatre, 259
Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Battle-of-the-sexes comedy; city boy Richard Dix tries to win his
girlfriend by taking up the rugged cowboy life, only to find it not so
rugged. Rarely screened comedic gem from the height of the silent era. Join us for another
season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great
silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and
barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
RESCHEDULED FROM 7/23 DUE TO HEAT • Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Buster Keaton Double Feature";
Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main
Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Two
classic Keaton silent comedies! In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), Keaton plays a
small-town movie projectionist
who dreams of being a detective. In 'Battling Butler' (1926), Keaton
plays Alfred Butler, a pampered rich idler with the same name as a
feared boxing champion. When a girl he's pursuing thinks he's the
fighter, Keaton has no choice but to start training. 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.
• Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, 7:30 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923)
starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro
St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. The
iconic
image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown
clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has
lost none of its power over movie-goers. See it for yourself on the big
screen and with an audience.Admission $15 general public, $13 members.
• Saturday, July 30, 2022, 11:59 p.m, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920), starring
Conrad Veidt, Werner Krauss, directed by Robert Weine; Coolidge Corner
Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org.
More than a century after its release, the German expressionist film
widely
regarded as the world's first horror movie still has capacity to creep
out audiences. See for yourself at this special midnight screening — if
you dare! Ticket price TBA, available at door or online at
www.coolidge.org.
• Wednesday, July 27, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Temptress" (1926) starring Greta Garbo; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com.
MGM drama with Garbo destroying the lives of men everywhere. Unusual in
that the film was made with two very different endings per order of
studio boss Louis B. Mayer; we'll screen both of them. Join us for
another
season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great
silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and
barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, July 24, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Within the Law" (1923) starring Norma Talmadge; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Silent screen dramatic star Norma Talmadge plays a shopgirl wrongly imprisoned, and bent on revenge. Filmed on location in New York City! Part of a summer-long series of programs spotlighting the ladies of the silent screen. Shown with live music at a theater where movies have been playing since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED TO SATURDAY, AUG. 6 DUE TO HEAT • Saturday, July 23, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Buster Keaton Double Feature";
Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main
Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Two
classic Keaton silent comedies! In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), Keaton plays a
small-town movie projectionist
who dreams of being a detective. In 'Battling Butler' (1926), Keaton
plays Alfred Butler, a pampered rich idler with the same name as a
feared boxing champion. When a girl he's pursuing thinks he's the
fighter, Keaton has no choice but to start training. 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 20, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/.
Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece tells the story of a
Confederate
railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the
great movies of any era! Join us for a series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Wednesday, July 13, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Battling Butler" (1926) starring Buster Keaton; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Keaton plays Alfred Butler, a pampered rich idler with the same name as a feared boxing champion. When a girl he's pursuing thinks he's the fighter, Keaton has no choice but to start training. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Wednesday, July 6, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "The Strong Man" (1926) starring Harry Langdon; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
With World War I over, baby-faced soldier Harry Langdon searches for
the girl who sent such moving letters to him in the trenches. Directed
by a very young Frank Capra, 'The Strong Man' is today hailed as
Langdon's best feature, and also one of the greatest comedies of the
silent film era. Part of a series of 1926 films that recently entered
the public domain. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Adventures Robin Hood" (1922) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com.
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of this blockbuster adaptation of the
tales of Robin Hood and his merry men. Massive sets, great action, and
Doug Fairbanks in the lead made this the top grossing film of 1922! Join us for another
season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great
silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and
barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Wednesday, June 22, 2022, 7 p.m, "The Kid Brother" (1927), starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org.
Often cited as Lloyd's masterpiece, this ambitious silent film
comedy/drama tells the story of Harold Hickory, youngest son of a
powerful rural sheriff. When his father is unjustly jailed, Harold is
forced to prove himself and clear his father's name.Screening part of
the Coolidge's long-running 'Sounds of Silents' series. Tickets $23 per
person at door or online at www.coolidge.org.
• Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 7 p.m.: "For Heaven's Sake" (1926) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Wealthy playboy Harold (who buys new cars based on how they match the color of his pants) falls for a young gal working for her father's church in the slums, giving rise to one of the best movie taglines ever: "A Man With a Mansion. A Miss With A Mission." Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, June 12, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Rosita" (1923) starring Mary Pickford, directed by Ernst Lubitsch; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Costume drama based on the opera 'Don César de Bazan' by Jules Massenet. Pickford plays a Spanish street singer whose mockery of the King Charles II gets her into hot water—until the lecherous King gets the hots for her! Part of a summer-long series of programs featuring the ladies of the silent screen. Shown with live music at a theater where movies have been playing since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, June 11, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Adventures of Robin Hood"
(1922) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Brandon Town Hall and Community
Center, Main
Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Celebrate
the 100th anniversary of this blockbuster adaptation of the
tales of Robin Hood and his merry men. Massive sets, great action, and
Doug Fairbanks in the lead made this the top grossing film of 1922! 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.
• Friday, June 10, 2022, 8 p.m.: "It" (1927) starring Clara Bow; Epsilon Spires, 190 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vt.; www.epsilonspires.org. Tickets $15. A romantic comedy that came to epitomize the Jazz Age of the 1920s. 'It' tells the story of a sassy shop girl who sets her sights on the handsome and wealthy boss of the department store where she works. The two are from completely different circles of society, but will attraction be strong enough to bridge the gap in their backgrounds? Epsilon Spires is an organization illuminating the relationships between creative arts, natural sciences and sustainability using multimedia platforms. Epsilon Spires operates out of a renovated Baptist church built in 1868.
• Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "The Black Pirate" (1926) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The granddaddy of all pirate films, with Fairbanks as an athletic young aristocrat who seeks revenge by joining the pirate band responsible for his father's death. Part of a series of 1926 films that recently entered the public domain. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.• Wednesday, June 8, 2022, "Silent Film Program" at Great Brook Middle School, Antrim, N.H. Annual program of silent film/live music to end the school year. Program includes Buster Keaton films 'One Week' and 'Go West.'
SORRY, CANCELLED • Sunday, June 5, 2022, 2 p.m.: "To Be Announced"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Silent film shown on
the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a
wonderful 1914 moviehouse and theater committed to keeping alive the
experience of 35mm film whenever possible. For more info, call the theater box office at
(617) 625-5700.
• Sunday, May 22, 2022, 2 p.m.: "The First Auto" (1927) starring William Demarest, Barney Oldfield; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
In honor of the annual Indianapolis 500 (held next weekend), a
nostalgic look back to the era when newfangled automobiles began
replacing the horse and buggy. A film with plenty of vintage cars and
some great old-time racing scenes. And yes, that's the William Demarest
who went on to play "Uncle Charlie" in the 1960s sitcom 'My Three Sons.'
Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, May 15, 2022, 4 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $18, Center for the Arts members $15.
• Saturday, May 14, 2022, 7 p.m.: "For Heaven's Sake" (1926) starring Harold Lloyd and Jobyna Ralston; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Wealthy playboy Harold (who buys new cars based on how they match the color of his pants) falls for a young gal working for her father's church in the slums, giving rise to one of the best movie taglines ever: "A Man With a Mansion. A Miss With A Mission." 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, May 11, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "Bardelys the Magnificent" (1926) starring John Gilbert; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Stand aside, Douglas Fairbanks, as John Gilbert tries his hand at swashbuckling in this big-budget MGM historical extravaganza about exploits of an unjustly disgraced French nobleman. A major film long thought lost until a single print was recently discovered in France.Part of a series of 1926 films that recently entered the public domain. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Friday, May 6, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Chaplin's breakthrough comedy/drama finds the Tramp raising an infant
against all odds. Highlighted by amazing work of five-year-old Coogan,
who delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of
cinema. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a
tear." Admission $12 general public, $10 members.
• Sunday, May 1, 2022, 5 p.m. "Grandma's Boy" (1922) starring Harold Lloyd; at the newly opened Park Theater, 19 Main St., Jaffrey, N.H.; (603) 532-9300; https://theparktheatre.org/ Part of the Park Theatre's 100th anniversary celebration. A cowardly young man must learn to conquer his fears before dealing with a larger menace to his community. Riotous small town comedy that helped propel Harold Lloyd into the most popular movie comedian of the 1920s. Timeless silent film on the big screen and with live music. Fundraiser with $50 individual ticket price.
• Sunday, May 1, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Man With A Movie Camera" (1928), directed by Dziga Vertov; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Avant garde early Soviet documentary showing daily life, filmed primarily in Kiev and Odessa, Ukraine. A revolutionary film showing the potential of cinema, made all the more poignant by recent events. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, April 29, 2022, 6 p.m., "Old Ironsides" (1926) starring Wallace Beery, Esther Ralston; Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St.; Newburyport, Mass.; www.thechmm.org; 978-462-8681; www.thechmm.org. A grand adventure on the high seas set in 1798, when the newly built warship 'USS Constitution' is sent across the Atlantic to the Barbary Coast of North Africa to do battle with pirates and earn its nickname. Silent film with live music in historic harbor-side museum. Admission $15.• Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "Battling Butler" (1926) starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Our series of films newly in the public domain continues with Keaton's riotous boxing comedy. Keaton plays Alfred Butler, a pampered rich idler with the same name as a feared boxing champion. When a girl he's pursuing thinks he's the fighter, Keaton has no choice but to start training. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, April 24, 2022, 2 p.m.: "La Bohème" (1926) directed by King Vidor, starring Lillian Gish, John Gilbert; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Big MGM drama based on Puccini's 1896 opera La Bohème. Lillian Gish and John Gilbert star in a tragic romance in which a tubercular seamstress sacrifices her life so that her lover, a bohemian playwright, might pen his masterpiece. Shown in digital format. Silent film shown on the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a 1914 moviehouse and theater. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, April 23, 2022, approximately 4:30 p.m.: "Der Golem" (1920) at the 47th Annual Sci-Fi Marathon presented by the Case Western Reserve University Film Society, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. Live music for 'Der Golem,' a featured attraction in this year's annual 36-hour (1) sci-fi marathon at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In 16th-century Prague, a Rabbi creates a giant creature from clay, called the Golem. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution, but then complications ensue. Early German fantasy movie based on Central European folklore anticipates Frankenstein story.
• Friday, April 22, 2022, 8 p.m.: "Nanook of the North" (1922)
directed by Robert Flaherty; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute
of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. First,
'Nanook': Classic 1922 documentary tells the story of Inuit hunter
struggling to survive in far-north Canada. Breakthrough film that used
the motion picture camera to take audiences to far-away places
ordinarily unreachable. 100th anniversary screening! (Followed by extra added attraction 'Straight is the Way,' a newly re-issued feature from 1921.) Silent film with
live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
• Thursday, April 21, 2022, 7:30 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925) starring Ramon Novarro and a cast of thousands; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/. Join us for a new series of silent film programs with live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown Manchester. In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans; inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. Based on the classic 19th century historical novel by General Lew Wallace. One of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill. Timeless silent film on the big screen! Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Sunday, April 17, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Othello" (1922) starring Emil Jannings; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
We complete our review of 1922 with some silent Shakespeare. The Bard's
immortal tragedy brought to the screen in this early German version. In
the title role: Emil Jannings, who would later go to Hollywood and win
first 'Best Actor' Academy Award in 1929. 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 13, 2022, 7 p.m., "The General" (1926) starring Buster Keaton; Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org.
Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a
Confederate
railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the
great films of any era! Screening part of the Coolidge's long-running
'Sounds of Silents' series. Followed by Q & A with Dana Stevens,
author of recent book 'Camera Man' about Keaton. Tickets $23 per person
at door or online at
www.coolidge.org.
• Sunday, April 10, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925) starring Ramon Novarro and a cast of thousands; "Showroom" venue, 20 Commercial St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033 https://thecolonial.org/. Just in time for Easter!
In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans;
inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. Based on
the classic 19th century historical novel by Gen. Lew Wallace. One of
the
great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a
legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill.
Timeless silent film on the big screen!
Admission $15 per person.
• Sunday, April 3, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Flesh and Blood" (1922) starring Lon Chaney and "The Man From Beyond" (1922) starring Harry Houdini; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. We
continue celebrating the 100th anniversary of films released in 1922
with two famous names in two obscure movies. In 'Flesh and Blood,'
escaped convict Lon Chaney hides out in Chinatown and plots revenge. In
'The Man From Beyond,' illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini plays
an Arctic adventurer frozen for 100 years! Discovered and thawed out,
he searches for his reincarnated lost love. Admission free, donations of
$10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, March 27, 2022, 2 p.m.: "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1922) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of this blockbuster adaptation of the
tales of Robin Hood and his merry men. Massive sets, great action, and
Doug Fairbanks in the lead made this the top grossing film of 1922!
Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, March 25, 2022, 7 p.m.: "L'Inferno" (1911) part of Cinema Ritrovato 1922; Portsmouth Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth, N.H.; (603) 436-2400; www.themusichall.org.
Taking more than three years to produce, 'L'Inferno' stands as the
first full-length feature film from Italy. Loosely adapted from
L'Inferno, the first canticle of Dante's Divine Comedy. Shown as part of
a three-day "Cinema Ritrovato" retrospective organized by the
University of New Hampshire. Tickets $15 adults; $12 seniors 60+,
students, military/veteran/first responder; UNH students free with ID.
• Sunday, March 13, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Smilin' Through" (1922) starring Norma Talmadge; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, one of the top box office hits of 1922: a
Norma Talmadge romantic drama set in the Emerald Isle. Story
encompasses love, passion, murder, war, ghosts—something for everyone!
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 9, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "The Winning of Barbara Worth" (1926) starring Ronald Colman, Vilma Banky, and Gary Cooper; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Epic Western drama about the settling and irrigation of California's
Imperial Valley, once a wasteland but now an agricultural paradise. Shot
on location by director Henry King in Nevada's Black Rock desert, one
of the first films to take audiences to the wide open spaces of the
great American West. With a young Gary Cooper playing a key role. Part
of a series of 1926 films that recently entered the public domain.
Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Thursday, Feb. 24 through Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, Kansas Silent Film Festival at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Annual pilgrimage to multi-day celebration of silent film with live music. Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org. Doing accompaniment for one feature, Oscar Micheaux's 'Within Our Gates' (1920) and a number of short films. My 22nd consecutive year of attending this festival, not counting the 2021 pandemic, when it was held online but we recreated it in New Hampshire.
• Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Flying Ace" (1926); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org. In honor of Black History Month, a screening of an early all-black motion picture added to the National Film Registry this past December. The only surviving feature of Norman Studios of Jacksonville, Fla., 'The Flying Ace' tells the story of a WWI pilot tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance of a railroad payroll. A rare example of 'race' cinema, produced for audiences in black-only theaters commonly found at the time in some parts of the nation. Tickets $12 general admission, $10 members.
• Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, 2 p.m.: "When Knighthood Was in Flower" (1922); Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Continuing our series of 100th anniversaries of films from 1922: Marion
Davies goes medieval in this epic big budget costume picture that put
her on the map as a top Hollywood star. Romantic drama scored big at box
office; the second-highest grossing film of 1922. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, 8 p.m.: "The Last Command"
(1928) starring Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent, William Powell, directed
by Josef von Sternberg; Epsilon Spires, 190 Main Street, Brattleboro,
Vt.; www.epsilonspires.org. Tickets $15. Intense drama about a former high-ranking military officer in Czarist
Russia now reduced to playing extra in 1920s Hollywood. Towering
performance in the lead role helped Emil Jannings win 'Best Actor' at
the first-ever Academy Awards. Goes beyond the usual cliches of romantic
drama to explore the nature of power as well as the unreality of the
nascent movie business itself. The result: a timeless mediation on life,
love, and loss that transcends its era. Epsilon Spires is an organization illuminating the relationships between
creative arts, natural sciences and sustainability using multimedia
platforms. Epsilon Spires operates out of a renovated Baptist church
built in 1868.
• Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, 7 p.m.: "The Flying Ace"
(1926); Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington,
Mass.; (781) 646-4849. In honor of Black History Month, a screening of
an early all-black motion picture added to the National Film Registry
this past December. The only surviving feature of Norman Studios of
Jacksonville, Fla., 'The Flying Ace' tells the story of a WWI pilot
tasked with solving the mysterious disappearance of a railroad payroll. A
rare example of 'race' cinema, produced for audiences in black-only
theaters commonly found at the time in some parts of the nation. Ticket
price and more details to come.
• Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, 7:30 p.m.: "Girl Shy" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/. Join us for a new series of silent film programs with live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown Manchester. Celebrate Valentine's Day with the original rom-com, a Harold Lloyd gem starring one of the masters of silent comedy and featuring an unforgettable race-to-the-church finish. See Harold's best work as he intended it: on the big screen, with live music, and with an audience. Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "The Temptress" (1926) starring Greta Garbo; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. MGM drama with Garbo destroying the lives of men everywhere. The perfect antidote for Valentine's Day. Part of a series of 1926 films that recently entered the public domain. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, 5 p.m.: "Straight is the Way" (1921); Campton Historical
Society, Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H.; Campton Historical Society. An early crime drama/comedy set in the
small town of "Hampton Center, New Hampshire," released 100 years ago
and not screened since its original run—until now! Recently transferred
from a rare surviving print at the U.S. Library of Congress and now
available on digital media. Join us for this Cosmopolitan Pictures chestnut from a century ago, and enjoy seeing
Hollywood's image of the Granite State back in the day. 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!
• Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, 7:30 p.m.: "The General" (1926) starring Buster Keaton; The Jane Pickens Theatre, 49 Touro St., Newport, R.I.; (401) 846-5474; https://janepickens.com/. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Part of a book tour promoting Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century, a recently published Buster Keaton biography by critic Dana Stevens, who will have a conversation with Prof. Matt Ramsey, head of the film department at Salve Regina University. Admission $12.
• Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Blood and Sand" (1922) starring Rudolph Valentino; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Just in time for Valentine's Day: Rudolph Valentino in his first starring role, as a sexy bullfighter in this 1922 romantic thriller. Will Rudy choose the pure love of Carmen, or the sinister charms of the exotic Doña Sol? Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, 6 p.m.: "The Man From Beyond" (1922) starring Harry Houdini; Greenfield Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St., Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. In one of a series of adventure films made by Harry Houdini, the legendary illusionist and escape artist plays a man frozen 100 years in the Arctic who returns to civilization to reclaim his reincarnated love. What better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Greenfield's annual Winter Carnival? Admission, $10 per person; $8.50 students/seniors.
• Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Simba" (1928) produced by Martin and Osa Johnson; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
"The Johnsons: Adventure's First Couple" includes a screening of
'Simba,' their 1928 feature documentary. Program is part of the 2022
Humanities Series of the Aviation Museum of N.H. 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. 26, 2022, 6:30 p.m.: "For Heaven's Sake" (1926) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Wealthy playboy Harold (who buys new cars based on how they
match the color of his pants) falls for a young gal working for her
father's church in the slums, giving rise to one of the best movie
taglines ever: "A Man With a Mansion. A Miss With A Mission." The first
in a series of 1926 films newly in the public domain as of 2022. Monthly
silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Nanook of the North" (1922) directed by Robert Flaherty; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Classic 1922 documentary tells the story of Inuit hunter struggling to
survive in far-north Canada. Breakthrough film that used the motion
picture camera to take audiences to far-away places ordinarily
unreachable. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED to Saturday, April 23! • Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, approximately 6:30 p.m.: "Der Golem"
(1920) at the 47th Annual Sci-Fi Marathon presented by the Case Western
Reserve University Film Society, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. Live music for 'Der Golem,' a featured
attraction in this year's annual 36-hour (1) sci-fi marathon at Case
Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In 16th-century Prague, a Rabbi creates a giant creature from clay,
called the Golem. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order
to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution, but then complications
ensue. Early German fantasy movie based on Central European folklore anticipates Frankenstein story.
• Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, 8:45 p.m.: "The Marriage Circle"
(1924) directed by Ernst Lubitsch; Cinematheque at the Cleveland
Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450.
It's the World According to Lubitsch: in Vienna, Dr. Franz Braun (Monte
Blue) and his wife, Charlotte (Florence Vidor), are exceptionally happy
in their marriage until Charlotte's best friend, Mitzi (Marie Prevost),
starts flirting with Franz. Mitzi's suspicious husband, Professor Josef
Stock (Adolphe Menjou), hires a detective to investigate her
infidelities, and the inquiry soon begins to focus on Franz. Silent film
with live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
• Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, 7 p.m.: "Hands Up!"
(1926) starring Raymond Griffith; Cinematheque at the Cleveland
Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450.
Uproarious comedy in which a southern spy must work every angle to
prevent a shipment of western gold from reaching Union forces. Silent
film with live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
• Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, 7:30 p.m.: "Spies" (1928) directed by Fritz Lang; Cinema Detroit, 4126 3rd Ave, Detroit, Mich.; (313) 482-9028. Director Fritz Lang's tale of espionage was the forerunner of all movie spy sagas, packed with double agents, hi-tech gadgets, beautiful (and dangerous) women, and an evil genius with a plan to take over the world, mwah-ha-ha-ha! Silent film with live music at Detroit's premier venue for great movies.
• Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, 2 p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1922); Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
We launch a celebration of 100th anniversaries with this 1922 classic
comedy that launched Harold Lloyd into feature-length films. Small town
weakling seeks courage to be a man. Will he find it? Timeless humor!
Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, 8 p.m.: "The Phantom Carriage" (1921); Epsilon Spires, 190 Main Street, Brattleboro, Vt.; www.epsilonspires.org. Tickets $15. Swedish silent film directed by and starring Victor Sjöström, based on the 1912 novel Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness! (Körkarlen) by Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf. In the film, Sjöström plays a drunkard named David Holm who, on the night of New Year's Eve, is compelled by the ghostly driver of Death's carriage to reflect on his past mistakes. Epsilon Spires is an organization illuminating the relationships between creative arts, natural sciences and sustainability using multimedia platforms. Epsilon Spires operates out of a renovated Baptist church built in 1868.
• Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, 2 p.m.: "The Strong Man" (1926) starring Harry Langdon, directed by Frank Capra; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. With World War I over, baby-faced soldier Harry Langdon searches for the girl who sent such moving letters to him in the trenches. Directed by a very young Frank Capra, 'The Strong Man' is today hailed as Langdon's best feature, and also one of the greatest comedies of the silent film era. A great way to finish off Christmas weekend. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, 4 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. 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. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as an stunning example of the power of film to tell a compelling story without words, and reach across the generations to touch movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $18, Center for the Arts members $15.
• Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, 5:30 p.m and again at 7:30 p.m. "Straight is the Way" (1921); in the Stonyfield Theatre at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. An early crime drama/comedy set in the small town of "Hampton Center, New Hampshire," released 100 years ago and not screened since its original run—until now! Recently transferred from a rare surviving print at the U.S. Library of Congress and now available on digital media. Join us for the theatrical re-premiere of this Cosmopolitan Pictures chestnut from a century ago, and enjoy seeing Hollywood's image of the Granite State back in the day. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $12 per person, members $10.
• Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Paths to Paradise" (1925) and "Hands Up!" (1926), both starring Raymond Griffith; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Rediscover the forgotten Raymond Griffith, the 'Silk Hat Comedian,'
whose unique character and sly wit made him a major player in 1920s
Hollywood. In 'Paths to Paradise,' Griffith is a jewel thief forced to
match wits with a female rival. 'Hands Up!' (1926), set during the U.S.
Civil War, finds Griffith as a Confederate spy assigned to prevent a
shipment of gold to support the Union Army. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Hot Water" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Fresh off the triumphant success of his building-climbing comedy
'Safety Last' (1923), Harold Lloyd stars in a movie about an even more
challenging predicament: average everyday life. You know, including a
mother-in-law! An under-appreciated and rarely screened gem designed to
be seen with a live audience. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, 7 p.m.: "College" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Head back to school with freshman Buster, who arrives at a college campus to find sports is the only sure-fire route to popularity. One of Keaton's most gag-filled comedies offers timeless visual humor and a look at the silent star's athletic prowess. 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.
• Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921) starring Rudolph Valentino; The Colonial Theatre's "Showroom" venue, 20 Commercial St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033 https://thecolonial.org/. Honor Veterans Day and the 100th anniversary of one of the great wartime epics with this screening of 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,' director Rex Ingram's landmark box office smash that introduced both Rudolph Valentino and the tango! Sweeping drama of a divided family with members caught up on opposites sides during World War I. Admission prices and more info to come.• Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, 6:30 p.m.: "The Big Parade"
(1925) starring Ramon Novarro; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. We mark Veterans Day with MGM's landmark film, a sweeping saga about U.S. doughboys signing up and shipping off to France
in 1917, where they face experiences that will change their lives
forever—if they return. Starring
John Gilbert and directed by King Vidor, an epic that set the standard
for generations of war movies to come. Timeless silent film on the big screen
and with live music. General admission $10. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Der Golem" (1920);
Newbridge on the Charles, 5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, Mass. Private
function. In 16th-century Prague, a Rabbi creates a giant creature from clay,
called the Golem. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order
to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution, but then complications
ensue. Early German fantasy movie based on Central European folklore anticipates Frankenstein story.
• Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org. Cap off the Halloween season with the original vampire movie! This loose adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the years go by. Tickets $23, available online; part of the Coolidge's long-running 'Sounds of Silents' series.
• Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: "Dracula" (1931) starring Bela Lugosi; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Universal's original sound version of Dracula featured the inspired casting choice of Bela Lugosi in the title role, but virtually no music! So this Halloween, we present 'Dracula' with an added musical score by Jeff Rapsis our resident silent film accompanist. Film shown in 35mm on the big screen at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Where East is East" (1929) directed by Tod Browning, starring Lon Chaney; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Our mini-series of rarely screened silent films from legendary director
Tod Browning concludes with his last surviving collaboration with actor Lon Chaney. Chaney, as "Tiger Haynes," a jaded animal
trapper in the jungles of Laos, cares only for his young daughter,
Toyo, who plans to marry a circus owner's son. But the couple's
happiness is threatened by the appearance of a mysterious woman, leading
to a shattering climax. 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. 30, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922), directed by F. W. Murnau; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Just in time for Halloween: the original vampire film, this loose adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the years go by. See it for yourself! Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Outside the Law" (1920) and "The Unholy Three" (1925), both directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Two disturbing silent crime thrillers, both
starring Chaney at the peak of his career and directed by Tod
Browning, who would later helm the cult film 'Freaks' (1932).
'Outside the Law' features Chaney as a San Francisco gangster who frames
a former rival and turns his young daughter to a life of crime. In 'The
Unholy Three,' Chaney plays a criminal with a talent for ventriloquism
who runs a pet store that fronts a masterful scheme for fleecing
unsuspecting wealthy clients. A double dose of Lon Chaney will make it a
Halloween you'll
never forget! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: "The Blackbird" (1926) directed by Tod Browning, starring Lon Chaney; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Our mini-series of rarely screened silent films from legendary director
Tod Browning continues with a weekend of twisted melodramas starring
Browning's favorite actor, Lon Chaney. In 'The Blackbird,' Chaney leads a
double life as a criminal mastermind of the London slums and also the
Bishop, his pious but deformed brother. Will the entrance of a new woman
expose his secret? Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/.
Join us for a new series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown
Manchester. Just in time for Halloween: 'Nosferatu,' the original vampire film. This loose
German adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the
years go by. See it for yourself! Tickets $10 per person general admission.
• Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, "Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; at the newly opened Park Theater, 19 Main St., Jaffrey, N.H.; (603) 532-9300; https://theparktheatre.org/ Celebrate Halloween with one of the all-time classics. Long before
Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film
adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the
pantheon of both horror and romance. Timeless silent film on the big screen
and with live music. Tickets $10 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, 2 p.m. "Stop! Look! Railroad Melodramas!"; two train-related silent films; Warner Town Hall, Warner, N.H. Screening sponsored by the
Telephone Museum of N.H. (Yes, New Hampshire has a telephone museum!) In 'The West-Bound Limited' (1923), a fired employee takes revenge on
the railroad by setting a trap for a head on collision between a
passenger train and a freight train. In 'Transcontinental Limited'
(1926), Jerry Reynolds is an aging train engineer fast approaching
retirement, but his eyes are giving out even faster! Will he still
collect his pension? Two rip-roaring train flicks, both great examples
of railroad melodramas popular during the silent era, and a great way to
celebrate this year's railroad theme of a local museum group.
• Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, 7 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
(1923) starring Lon Chaney; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center,
Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Our
annual "Chiller Theatre" Halloween silent film presentation. Lon Chaney
stars in the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel
about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless
drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax!
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.
• Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, 6:30 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera"
(1925) starring Lon Chaney; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Celebrate Halloween with one of the all-time classics. Long before
Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film
adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the
pantheon of both horror and romance. Timeless silent film on the big screen
and with live music. General admission $10. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, 4 p.m.: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
(1920) starring John Barrymore;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. John Barrymore plays both title roles in the original silent film
adaptation of the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. A
spook-tacular performance that helped establish Barrymore as one of the
silent era's top stars, highlighted by Barrymore's on-camera
transformations done without special effects. Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $18,
Center for the Arts members $15.
• Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, 2 p.m.: "White Tiger" (1923) directed by Tod Browning, starring Priscilla Dean, Raymond Griffith, Wallace Beery; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Our mini-series of rarely screened silent films from legendary director
Tod Browning continues with this crime drama about a gang that uses a
chess-playing device to gain entry to the homes of the wealthy. Silent
film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring
Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen; directed by William Wellman; The
Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/.
Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great
achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the
first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle
scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that
remain thrilling even today. See it for yourself! Tickets $12 per person
general admission; screening to benefit the non-profit Aviation Museum
of N.H.
• Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, 6 p.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.; (617 876-6837); http://brattlefilm.org. Celebrate International Silent Film Day by attending a screening with live music in a theater! Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an unexpected inheritance of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7 p.m. that very day. Can Buster somehow find the girl of his dreams while being pursued by an army of women eager to marry a soon-to-be millionaire? One of Buster's best comedies, climaxed by one of the great chase scenes in all silent film comedy. Reserved seating; tickets $14, buy online.
• Friday, Sept. 24 and Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021: "Buster Keaton Celebration" at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, 205
E. Madison Ave, Iola, Kansas. Accompanying films for the 26th
celebration of silent film comedian Buster Keaton, born in nearly Piqua,
Kansas. I'm scheduled to do music for five short films, with the
balance of the program featuring Rodney Sauer and the wonderful Mont
Alto Motion Picture Orchestra. More details online.
• Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Drifting" (1923) directed by Tod Browning, starring Priscilla Dean, Wallace Beery, and Anna May Wong; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Our mini-series of rarely screened silent films from legendary director Tod Browning opens with this hard-boiled crime drama set in a remote Chinese village and filmed on an epic scale. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Tramp Tramp Tramp" (1926) starring Harry Langdon, Joan Crawford; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Rediscover forgotten comedian Harry Langdon in his first-ever feature film. Riotous comedy about a cross-country foot race. Co-stars Joan Crawford (unbelievably) as Harry's love interest. 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.
Sorry! Cancelled due to weather! • Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, 6 p.m.: "Girl Shy"
(1924) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Slater Park, 401 Newport
Ave., Pawtucket, R.I. Join us for the original rom-com, a Harold Lloyd
gem starring
one of the masters of silent comedy and featuring an unforgettable
race-to-the-church finish. See Harold's best work as he intended it: on
the big screen, with live music, and with an audience. Tickets $10 per
person general admission. Outdoor silent film with live music on 40-foot
screen. Part of the 2021 Pawtucket Arts Festival.
• Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, 6:30 p.m.: "The Shakedown"
(1929) starring James Murray, Barbara Kent; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Recently restored boxing drama about a low-rent prizefighter who finds
reasons outside the ring to find success inside it. Recently restored;
directed by William Wyler, who would go on to a storied Hollywood career
that included directing the 1959 remake of 'Ben Hur.' Timeless silent
film on the big screen
and with live music. General admission $10. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Womanhandled" (1925) starring Richard Dix and "Go West" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
The Town Hall Theatre heads west this summer with three
months of silent westerns. From legendary classics to complete
obscurities, it's your chance to see Hollywood inventing the Western on
the big screen. Our look at silent-era Westerns concludes with the
genre's lighter side. In 'Womanhandled,' Richard Dix tries to win his
girlfriend by taking up the rugged cowboy life, only to find it not so
rugged. In 'Go West,' Buster Keaton sends up the legends of the West
with his timeless brand of visual comedy; includes perhaps the most
unlikely love story in a mainstream 1920s Hollywood film. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Mantrap" (1926) starring Clara Bow; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.The Town Hall Theatre heads west this summer with three months of silent westerns. From legendary classics to complete obscurities, it's your chance to see Hollywood inventing the Western on the big screen. Set in western Canada, 'Mantrap' tells the story of a New York divorce lawyer on a camping vacation to get away from it all, but gets more than he bargained for with Clara Bow, then fast on her way to becoming Hollywood's 'It' girl. Directed by Victor Fleming, who would go on to helm 'Gone With the Wind' (1939) and 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939). Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, 7 p.m.: "The Freshman" (1925)
starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Ludlow Auditorium, 37
Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. We welcome football season with Harold Lloyd's
blockbuster hit about a college boy who dreams of success on the
gridiron. One of Lloyd's all-time best! Free admission, with donations
accepted to support program. Silent film with live music in
the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall in Ludlow,
Vt.
• Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, 8 p.m.: "Clash of the Wolves" (1925) starring Rin Tin Tin, at the Alton Town Gazebo in Alton Bay, N.H. Canine star Rin Tin Tin saves the day in this crackerjack action picture set in the Old West, one of his best surviving feature films. See Rinty leap from cliffs and rooftops (and even climb trees!) as he aids the good guys, chases down the bad guys, and saves his own on-screen dog family from a raging forest fire. See what made Rin Tin Tin one of the most popular stars of early cinema! Silent film under the stars at the Alton Town Gazebo in Alton Bay, N.H. Tentative but details announced as available.
• Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, 8 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922),
directed by F. W. Murnau; Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St.;
Newburyport, Mass.; www.thechmm.org; 978-462-8681; www.thechmm.org.
Perfect for Friday the 13th: the original vampire film, this loose
adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the
years go by. Plus some great sailing ship sequences! See it for yourself
in an outdoor screening, weather permitting. Tickets $15.
• Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, 4 p.m.: "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"
(1916) starring Allen Halobur;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/.
Early version of the classic Jules Verne tale, feature that pioneered
underwater photography techniques. Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $18,
Center for the Arts members $15.
• Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Straight Shooting" (1917) and "Hell Bent" (1918), both starring Harry Carey and directed by John Ford; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
The Town Hall Theatre heads west this summer with three
months of silent westerns. From legendary classics to complete
obscurities, it's your chance to see Hollywood inventing the Western on
the big screen. The first westerns directed by a young John Ford, these
two films feature Harry Carey as 'Cheyenne Harry,' the outlaw with a
heart of gold. In 'Straight Shooting,' Carey plays a hired gun of cattle
rustlers; in 'Hell Bent,' Carey rescues a virtuous woman from banditos.
Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Wild Orchids" (1929)
starring Greta Garbo, Nils Asthur; Brandon Town Hall and Community
Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.org. Steamy romantic thriller just in time
for the humid doldrums of summer. An older man takes his young wife to
Java where he plans to invest in tea plantations. Aboard ship, a young
man (and member of the island's royal family) is immediately taken by
the beauty of this mysterious woman and resolves to make her
acquaintance. 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.
• Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, 6:30 p.m.: "Ben Hur"
(1925) starring Ramon Novarro; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans;
inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. One of the
great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a
legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill. Timeless silent film on the big screen
and with live music. General admission $10. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com.
Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an unexpected inheritance
of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7 p.m. that very day. Can
Buster somehow find the girl of his dreams while being pursued by an
army of women eager to marry a soon-to-be millionaire? One of Buster's
best comedies, climaxed by one of the great chase scenes in all silent
film comedy. Join us for another
season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great
silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and
barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, July 25, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Branded a Bandit" (1924) and "The Iron Rider" (1927), both starring Yakima Canutt; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
The Town Hall Theatre heads west this summer with three
months of silent westerns. From legendary classics to complete
obscurities, it's your chance to see Hollywood inventing the Western on
the big screen. Legendary horseman Yakima Canutt stars in two of his
best silent-era features: in 'Branded a Bandit,' Yak is accused of
murdering a miner whose family he was trying to aid; in 'The Iron
Rider,' Yak is cheated in a poker game, and later learns the card sharks
are wanted men, prompting a pursuit for justice. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Tuesday, July 20, 2021, 7 p.m.: "The Cameraman"
(1928) starring Buster Keaton; Brattle Theatre,
40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.; (617 876-6837); http://brattlefilm.org.
Part of the Brattle's "Movie Movies" series. In 'The Cameraman' (1928),
Keaton tries
to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer.
Can he get a break, and also get the girl? Also, Chaplin's early short
comedy 'His New Job' (1915). Reserved seating; tickets $14, buy online.
• Saturday, July 17, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Planes and Trains and Monty Banks"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Rediscover forgotten silent comedian Monty Banks, born "Mario Bianchi" in Italy and who emigrated to America to become a popular 1920s Hollywood star. In featured attraction 'Flying Luck,' (1927), hapless aviator Monty is so inspired by Lindbergh's solo Atlantic flight that he joins the U.S. Army Air Corps, where it's one comical disaster after another. Preceded by an excerpt from 'Play Safe' (1927), a hair-raising chase sequence set aboard an out-of-control freight train barreling through the California countryside.
• Thursday, July 15, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) and "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; The Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 574-4826; https://www.palacetheatre.org/rex-theatre/.
Join us for opening night of a new series of silent film programs with
live music in a wonderful restored theater in downtown Manchester.
Silent comic icon Buster Keaton breeches the fourth wall big-time in the
imaginative "Sherlock
Jr."; an old-time backwoods family feud is the focus of "Our
Hospitality." Keaton's breakthrough feature film. Tickets $10 per person
general admission.
• Sunday, July 11, 2021, 2 p.m.: "The Covered Wagon" (1923) directed by James Cruze; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
The Town Hall Theatre heads west this summer with three
months of silent westerns. From legendary classics to complete
obscurities, it's your chance to see Hollywood inventing the Western on
the big screen. 'The Covered Wagon,' the first big-budget Western epic!
Two wagon caravans converge at what is now Kansas City, and combine for
the westward push to Oregon. On their quest the pilgrims will experience
desert heat, mountain snow, hunger, and attack. To complicate matters
further, a love triangle develops, as pretty Molly must chose between
Sam, a brute, and Will, the dashing captain of the other caravan. Can
Will overcome the skeleton in his closet and win Molly's heart? The
highest-grossing box office hit of 1923! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, July 7, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Clash of the Wolves" (1925) starring Rin Tin Tin; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Canine star Rin Tin Tin saves the day in this crackerjack action picture
set in the Old West, one of his best surviving feature films. See Rinty
leap from cliffs and rooftops (and even climb trees!) as he aids the
good guys, chases down the bad guys, and saves his own on-screen dog
family from a raging forest fire. See what made Rin Tin Tin one of the
most popular stars of early cinema! Join us for another
season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great
silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and
barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, June 20, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Salomy Jane" (1914) and "The Old Oregon Trail" (1928); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The Town Hall Theatre heads west this summer with three months of silent westerns. From legendary classics to complete obscurities, it's your chance to see Hollywood inventing the Western on the big screen. 'Salomy Jane,' the sole surviving film from the California Motion Picture Corp., tells the story of a gold-mining town in 1852. In 'The Old Oregon Trail,' a farm labor dispute turns on an event that happened many years ago on the Oregon trail. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, June 19, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Girl Shy" (1924)
starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Brandon Town Hall and Community
Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.org. Celebrate spring with the original
rom-com, a Harold Lloyd gem starring one of the masters of silent comedy
and featuring an unforgettable race-to-the-church finish. See Harold's
best work as he intended it: on the big screen, with live music, and
with an audience. 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.
• Tuesday, June 15, 2021, after the lunch period: "Buster Keaton Program" at Great Brook Middle School, Antrim, N.H. Annual program of silent film/live music to end the school year, recently reinstated as Covid-19 recedes. On the bill: the classic Keaton short "One Week" (1920) plus the detective send-up "Sherlock Jr." (1924).
• Wednesday, June 9, 2021, 7 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com.
Chaplin's breakthrough comedy/drama finds the Tramp raising an infant
against all odds. Highlighted by amazing work of five-year-old Coogan,
who delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of
cinema. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a
tear." Join us for another
season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great
silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and
barely changed since. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, June 6, 2021, 2 p.m.: "The Lady of the Dugout" (1918) starring Al Jennings and "Hell's Hinges" (1918) starring William S. Hart; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.The
Town Hall Theatre heads west this summer with three
months of silent westerns. From legendary classics to complete
obscurities, it's your chance to see Hollywood inventing the Western on
the big screen. In 'The Lady of the Dugout,' legendary reformed outlaw
Al Jennings (of the real-life "Jennings Gang") spins a tale of a woman
living underground in a "dugout," or sod home; in 'Hell's Hinges'
(1918), William S. Hart stars in a raw and intense tale of a newly
arrived minister and his sister in one of the roughest towns on the
frontier. Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, June 5, 2021, 7 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro" (1920) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. 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. 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.
• Thursday, June 3, 2021, 6:30 p.m.: "Clash of the Wolves"
(1925) starring Rin Tin Tin, and also some human actors; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Canine star Rin Tin Tin saves the day in this crackerjack action picture
set in the Old West, one of his best surviving feature films. See Rinty
leap from cliffs and rooftops (and even climb trees!) as he aids the
good guys, chases down the bad guys, and saves his own on-screen dog
family from a raging forest fire. See what made Rin Tin Tin one of the
most popular stars of early cinema! Timeless silent film on the big screen
and with live music, and completely safe with social distancing and all
Covid-19 protocols in place. General admission $10. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, May 23, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Old Ironsides" (1926)
starring Charles Farrell, Esther Ralston, Wallace Beery; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
A grand adventure on the high seas set in 1798, when the USS
Constitution is launched to battle pirates of the Barbary Coast. Plus
Chapter 10, the exciting conclusion of "Officer 444" (1926), a weekly
serial in which Officer 444 pursues "The Frog," a criminal mastermind
with plans to take over the world! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, May 13, 2021, 6:30 p.m.: "L'Argent"
(1928) directed by Marcel L'Herbier; The Flying Monkey Movie House and
Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Sprawling epic from France, loosely based on Emile Zola's novel of the
same name, follows the story of a bank speculator who loses everything
but tries to recover by backing a scheme for an daredevil aviator to fly
across the Atlantic. Rediscovered work of ground-breaking cinema. Timeless silent film on the big screen
and with live music, and completely safe with social distancing and all
Covid-19 protocols in place. General admission $10. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, May 9, 2021, 2 p.m.: "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1916)
starring Allen Halobur; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Early version of the classic Jules Verne tale, feature that pioneered
underwater photography techniques. Plus Chapter 9 of "Officer 444"
(1926), a weekly serial in which Officer 444 pursues "The Frog," a
criminal mastermind with plans to take over the world! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, May 2, 2021, 4 p.m.: "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans"
(1927) starring Janet Gaynor, George O'Brien, directed by F.W. Murnau;
The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508)
647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Academy Award-winning romantic drama. Critics rank this visually stunning
fairy tale about joy, sadness, hope, and love as among the best silent
pictures ever made. Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $18,
Center for the Arts members $15.
• Sunday, April 25, 2021, 2 p.m.: "The Last Warning" (1929)
starring Laura LaPlante, directed by Paul Leni; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Mystery film about a New York producer's attempt to re-stage a play five years
after one of the original cast members was murdered in the theater.
Plus Chapter 8 of "Officer 444" (1926), a weekly serial in which
Officer 444 pursues "The Frog," a criminal mastermind with plans to take
over the world! 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 21, 2021, 7 p.m.: "Spite Marriage" (1929) starring Buster Keaton; Greenfield Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St., Greenfield, Mass.; call
(413) 773-9260
or visit www.gardencinemas.net.
Celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the opening of the Garden Cinema with
a genuine 1929 feature film. Keaton's final silent feature finds the
poker-faced comic smitten so
much by stage actress Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian) that he joins the
cast of her production. But the fun really begins when she impulsively
asks Buster to marry her just to get even with an old flame. Classic
Keaton comedy, underrated and full of great routines.
Admission, $9.50 per person; $8.50 students/seniors.
• Sunday, April 11, 2021, 2 p.m.: Doug MacLean Double Feature: "One A Minute" (1921) and "Bell Boy 13" (1923); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Two light-as-a-feather silent comedies from forgotten performer Douglas
MacLean, a popular 1920s star all but unknown to audiences today. Plus
Chapter 7 of "Officer 444" (1926), a weekly serial in which Officer 444
pursues "The Frog," a criminal mastermind with plans to take over the
world! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, April 1, 2021, 6:30 p.m.: "Ben Hur"
(1925) starring Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman; The Flying Monkey
Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.;
(603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Just in time for Easter!
In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans;
inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. Based on
the classic 19th century historical novel by Col. Lew Wallace. One of
the
great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a
legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill.
Timeless silent film on the big screen
and with live music, and completely safe with social distancing and all
Covid-19 protocols in place. General admission $10. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Note: Substituted "King of Kings" (1927) due to unavailability of film.
• Sunday, March 28, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Noah's Ark" (1928)
starring Delores Costello, George O'Brien, Noah Beery; Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Mark Easter with a dose of Biblical-themed romantic melodrama in this
big budget extravaganza that brought the 40-day flood to the big screen
on a gigantic scale. (Tragically, three extras drowned during filming,
leading to new studio rules about stunt safety.) Released as a
"part-talkie" during Hollywood's chaotic switch to sound; screened here
with original dialogue sequences intact. Plus Chapter 6 of "Officer 444"
(1926), a weekly serial in which Officer 444 pursues "The Frog," a
criminal mastermind with plans to take over the world! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, March 14, 2021, 2 p.m.: "The Bride's Play" (1922) starring Marion Davies; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a romance set in Ireland. The story: a
woman is torn between the poet who seduced her and a noble man who
truly loves her. Plus Chapter 5 of "Officer 444" (1926), a weekly serial
in which Officer 444 pursues "The Frog," a criminal mastermind with
plans to take over the world! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, March 4, 2021, 6:30 p.m.: "Planes and Trains and Monty Banks,"
transportation-related comedies starring forgotten star Monty Banks;
The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St.,
Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Rediscover forgotten silent comedian Monty Banks, born "Mario
Bianchi" in Italy and who emigrated to America to become a popular 1920s
Hollywood star. In featured attraction 'Flying Luck,' (1927), hapless
aviator Monty is so inspired by Lindbergh's solo Atlantic flight that he
joins the U.S. Army Air Corps, where it's one comical disaster after
another. Preceded by an excerpt from 'Play Safe' (1927), a hair-raising
chase sequence set aboard an out-of-control freight train barreling
through the California countryside.
Timeless silent film on the big screen
and with live music, and completely safe with social distancing and all
Covid-19 protocols in place. General admission $10. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, 2 p.m.: Kansas Silent Film Festival in New Hampshire Day 3: We
conclude our festival tribute with the original silent 'Wizard of Oz'
(1925) plus Buster Keaton in 'The Navigator' (1924); Wilton Town Hall
Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
This year's Kansas Silent Film Festival isn't happening due to the
coronavirus pandemic. In honor of this terrific annual event, we're
staging our own tribute over three days at the Town Hall Theatre, with
an emphasis on performers with Kansas ties. In our final program, we're
definitely not in Kansas anymore with the original silent version of
'The Wizard of Oz,' featuring Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man. Then it's the
timeless visual comedy of Kansas-born Buster Keaton, often called the
most silent of the silent comedians. In 'The Navigator' (1924), Buster
sets sail on a deserted ocean liner, riding a high tide of hilarity.
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. 26, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: Kansas Silent Film Festival in New Hampshire Day 1: Claire Windsor in 'The Little Church Around the Corner' (1923) and Fatty Arbuckle in 'The Round-Up' (1920); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. This year's Kansas Silent Film Festival isn't happening due to the coronavirus pandemic. In honor of this terrific annual event, we're staging our own tribute over three days at the Town Hall Theatre, with an emphasis on performers with Kansas ties. This evening it's Kansas-born star Claire Windsor in 'The Little Church Around the Corner' (1923), a labor relations melodrama with a role for Milford, N.H. native Walter Long; followed by 'The Roundup' (1920), a rarely screened feature film starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (also from Kansas) that was pulled from release following accusations of murder against the comedian, leading to a notorious series of court trials that exonerated Arbuckle, but left his career in ruins. Silent film with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED TO NEXT YEAR • Thursday, Feb. 25 through Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, 25th Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival
at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Annual pilgrimage to
wonderful two-day celebration of silent film with live music. Check it
out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org. Film titles and program details TBA. (My 22nd consecutive year of attending this festival!)
• Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, 4 p.m.: "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928) starring Maria Falconetti; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Landmark drama that chronicles the trial of Jeanne d'Arc on charges of heresy, and the efforts of her ecclesiastical jurists to force Jeanne to recant her claims of holy visions. Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $18, Center for the Arts members $15.
• Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Seventh Heaven" (1927) starring Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Celebrate Valentine's Day with Frank Borzage's legendary tale of romance
on the eve of World War I. Leading lady Janet Gaynor won the very first
Academy Award for Best Actress for his work in this moving, emotional
tribute to love that stands the test of time. Also first-ever Oscars for
Best Director to Borzage and for Best Adapted Screenplay to writer
Benjamin Glazer. Warning: Bring tissues! Plus Chapter 4 of "Officer 444"
(1926), a weekly serial in which Officer 444 pursues "The Frog," a
criminal mastermind with plans to take over the world! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, 2 p.m.: "The Freshman" (1925) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
We mark Super Bowl Sunday with Harold Lloyd's blockbuster hit about a
college boy who dreams of success on the gridiron. One of Lloyd's
all-time best! Plus Chapter 3 of "Officer 444" (1926), a weekly serial
in which Officer 444 pursues "The Frog," a criminal mastermind with
plans to take over the world! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, 6:30 p.m.: "Way Down East"
(1920) starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess, directed by D.W.
Griffith; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South
Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Griffith's enduring box-office smash sees Lillian Gish pitted against
small town New England and one very large waterfall. Features Gish as
a wronged woman who can't escape her past. Still-thrilling climax on
ice floes heading towards the falls was filmed on the Connecticut River!
Engrossing melodrama, and the silent era's fifth-highest grossing motion
picture; an audience favorite for more than a century.Timeless silent film on the big screen
and with live music, and completely safe with social distancing and all
Covid-19 protocols in place. General admission $10. Monthly silent film
series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924) starring Mary Brian, Ernest Torrence; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of
the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow
Peter to Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A
film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Plus
Chapter 2 of "Officer 444" (1926), a weekly serial in which Officer 444
pursues "The Frog," a criminal mastermind with plans to take over the
world! Silent film
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: "The Saphead" (1920) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Buster Keaton's debut in a feature-length picture, although not a Buster Keaton film. Rather, a stage adaptation in which Keaton was hired to play a role originated by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. A rare chance to see this seldom-screened landmark picture on the big screen. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: "Way Down East" (1920) starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess, directed by D.W. Griffith. Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. One of the most popular films of the silent era features Lillian Gish as a wronged woman who can't escape her past. Still-thrilling climax on ice floes heading towards the falls was filmed on the Connecticut River. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: "Spiders" (1919) directed by Fritz Lang; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Early Lang opus that anticipates Indiana Jones by three generations. An intrepid explorer looking for an Incan diamond must stay ahead of the Spider Cult, which wants it for nefarious purposes. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.• Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: "Intolerance" (1916) directed by D.W. Griffith and starring (literally!) a cast of thousands; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. D.W. Griffith's early blockbuster about man's inhumanity to man weaves together four stories spanning four eras of civilization. Filmed on a vast scale, setting a new standard for Hollywood extravagance, and new levels of editing fluency in pulling together four story climaxes simultaneously. A movie made for the big screen, and here's your chance to see it! The real deal. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: "Destiny" (1921) directed by Fritz Lang; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Years before his classic 'Metropolis,' German director Fritz Lang brought this ground-breaking expressionist fantasy to the big screen. A strange tale in which human lives are each represented by a candle, and a figure representing 'Death' grants a woman three chances to rescue her lover from a premature demise. Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
Announcing
a week-long program highlighting Fritz Lang and D.W. Griffith, the
great story tellers of early cinema. Five days of rarely shown
masterpieces on the big screen accompanied by live music.
• Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, 2 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Plus Chapter 1 of "Officer 444" (1926), a weekly serial in which Officer 444 pursues "The Frog," a criminal mastermind with plans to take over the world! Series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
CANCELLED • Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Planes and Trains and Monty Banks"; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Rediscover forgotten silent comedian Monty Banks, born "Mario Bianchi"
in Italy and who emigrated to America to become a popular 1920s
Hollywood star. In featured attraction 'Flying Luck,' (1927), hapless
aviator Monty is so inspired by Lindbergh's solo Atlantic flight that he
joins the U.S. Army Air Corps, where it's one comical disaster after
another. Preceded by an excerpt from 'Play Safe' (1927), a hair-raising
chase sequence set aboard an out-of-control freight train barreling
through the California countryside. Monthly silent film series at a
restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Beggars of Life" (1928) starring Louise Brooks, Richard Arlen, Wallace Beery; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Classic late silent drama starring Louise Brooks as a train-hopping hobo who dresses like a boy to survive. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
Postponed until Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 • Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, 4 p.m.: "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928) starring Maria Falconetti; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/.
Landmark drama that chronicles the trial of Jeanne d'Arc on charges of
heresy, and the efforts of her ecclesiastical jurists to force Jeanne to
recant her claims of holy visions. Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $18,
Center for the Arts members $15.
• Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Buster Keaton Double Feature"; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Just in time for the holidays, silent comic Buster Keaton delivers a sleighful of much-needed laughter. Join us for a pair of family-friendly vintage comedies with live musical accompaniment: in 'Go West' (1925), Keaton takes up ranch life, finding unexpected romance; in 'Battling Butler' (1926), Keaton is mistaken for a middleweight boxing champion, forcing him to train for a title fight. Timeless visual humor on the big screen and with live music, and completely safe with social distancing and all Covid-19 protocols in place. General admission $10. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H.
• Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Varieté" (1925) starring Emil Jannings; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Rediscovered masterpiece of German cinema, a visually dazzling tale of
love and betrayal among carnival people. Also, we'll take a look at
parts of the heavily censored version prepared for U.S. release, which
has major differences from the original. Monthly series of silent films
with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912.
Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED TO SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2021 • Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, 7 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro"
(1920) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Brandon Town Hall and Community
Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.org. 100th anniversary screening! 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. 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.
CANCELLED • Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Broken Blossoms"
(1919), directed by D.W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish; The Flying
Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth,
N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Can two outcasts in Edwardian London find peace and happiness in a
cruel world? Will Lillian Gish overcome her abusive father? Can Richard
Barthelmess find love in a forbidden relationship? One of the great D.W.
Griffith epics, based on a Thomas Burke novel. Monthly silent film
series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per
person.
• Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Dr. Mabuse The Gambler, Part 2" (1922) directed by Fritz Lang,
starring Rudolf Klein-Rogge; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street,
Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
A special chance to see Fritz Lang's legendary early crime thriller
masterpiece screened in two parts over two days. A sprawling look at
decadence and immorality in Weimar-era Germany; the illegal nightclubs
and gambling dens feature eye-popping visual design. A crime thriller
involving hypnosis and mind control that's very 1920s, but also a study
in human nature that transcends its era. And the guys wear monocles!
Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater
where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donation of $10
per person encouraged.
CANCELLED • Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, Time, Title TBA: Railroad-themed silent film program for New Hampshire museums.
• Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Dr. Mabuse The Gambler, Part 1"
(1922) directed by Fritz Lang, starring Rudolf Klein-Rogge; Wilton Town
Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
A special chance to see Fritz Lang's legendary early crime thriller
masterpiece screened in two parts over two days. A sprawling look at
decadence and immorality in Weimar-era Germany; the illegal nightclubs
and gambling dens feature eye-popping visual design. A crime thriller
involving hypnosis and mind control that's very 1920s, but also a study
in human nature that transcends its era. And the guys wear monocles!
Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater
where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donation of $10
per person encouraged.
CANCELLED • Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, 7:30 p.m. Title TBA;
the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles
Boulevard, Niles, Calif. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now
fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week.
Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
CANCELLED • Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920) starring John Barrymore; Colonial Theatre, 95 Main St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; www.thecolonial.org.
Tickets $10 per person, general admission. John Barrymore plays both
title roles in the original silent film adaptation of the classic
novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. A performance that helped establish
Barrymore as one of the silent era's top stars. 100th anniversary
screening! Silent film with live music in beautiful downtown theater
that originally opened as a silent movie house.
• Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, 7:30 p.m: Special Halloween Lon Chaney "Creepfest" Double Feature; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Two strange and disturbing silent thrillers, both starring Chaney at the peak of his career and directed by Todd Browning, who would later helm the cult film 'Freaks' (1932). Live music by accompanist Jeff Rapsis. In 'The Unknown' (1927), Chaney plays 'Alonzo the Armless,' a circus knife-thrower (he uses his feet!) with a dark past who lusts after bareback rider Joan Crawford, who is also pursued by the circus strong man, but she has a phobia about being touched by men. See where this is going? In 'West of Zanzibar' (1928), Chaney plays a vaudeville magician who loses use of his legs in an accident but journeys to Africa to seek revenge on the wealthy businessman (Lionel Barrymore) who stole his beloved, with shocking results. A double dose of Lon Chaney will make it a Halloween you'll never forget! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
CANCELLED• Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, 2:30 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; Greenfield Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St., Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. Celebrate Halloween with one of the all-time classics. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. And remember: in silent film, no one can hear you SCREAM! Admission, $6.50 per person.
• Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, 9 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; Greenfield Garden Cinemas, 361 Main St., Greenfield, Mass.; call (413) 773-9260 or visit www.gardencinemas.net. Celebrate Halloween by experiencing the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself...if you dare. Admission, $9.50 per person; $6.50 students/seniors.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Celebrate Halloween by experiencing the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself...if you dare. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
CANCELLED • Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; www.somervilletheatreonline.com.
Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of
'Silents, Please!,' a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a
wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the
experience of 35mm film. For more info, call the theater box office at
(617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Celebrate Halloween by experiencing the original silent film adaptation
of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these
years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best
ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time.
See for yourself, if you dare. Monthly series of silent films with live
music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission
free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, 4 p.m.: "West of Zanzibar" (1927) starring Lon Chaney, Lionel Barrymore; Claremont (N.H.) Historical Society annual meeting, Claremont Senior Center, 5 Acer Heights Road, Iconic actor Chaney is at his creepiest in this tale about a magician whose legs are paralyzed in an accident, leading to a twisted tale of revenge. Historical Society's annual meeting features screening of silent film with live music. Admission free and program open to the public.
POSTPONED to SATURDAY, OCT. 23, 2021 • Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, 7 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
(1923) starring Lon Chaney; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center,
Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Our
annual "Chiller Theatre" Halloween silent film presentation. Lon Chaney
stars in the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel
about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless
drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax!
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.
CANCELLED • Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, 8 p.m.: "To Be Announced"; Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org. Details to come! Part of the Coolidge's long-running 'Sounds of Silents' series.
• Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, 7:30 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton, N.H.; (603) 3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. Part of a mini-festival of films about flight sponsored by the Aviation Museum of N.H. Admission free, donations accepted to benefit Aviation Museum.
• Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, 6 p.m.: "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari"
(1920) starring Conrad Veidt, directed by Robert Weine; The Center for
Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/.
A century after its release, the German expressionist film widely
regarded as the world's first horror movie still has capacity to creep
out audiences. See for yourself — if you dare! Silent film with live
music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center.
Tickets $12, members $10.
• Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929) directed
by Fritz Lang; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, 40 Main St., Wilton, N.H.;
(603) 3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Grand sci-fi adventure epic about the first rocket ship
to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German
filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon'
laid the groundwork for all great outer space movie tales to come,
complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Ponder a vision
of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Free
admission; suggested donation of $10 per person to help defray
expenses. Part of the three-day "Greater New England UFO Conference and
Film Festival" at the Town Hall Theatre Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday,
Oct. 11. For more info on the three-day festival, which also celebrates
the enduring "Big Foot" legend, visit www.newenglandufo.com.
• Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, 2 p.m.: "A Woman in Grey"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
We tackle all 15 chapters of one of the few surviving serials from the
silent era. Filmed in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. by the Serico Producing Co.,
'The Woman in Grey' stands today as a surprisingly entertaining action
melodrama designed to keep audiences coming back after each week's
"cliff-hanger." We'll show the final 7 of the 15 chapters today. Monthly
series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have
been shown since 1912! Admission free, donation of $10 per person
encouraged.
• Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, 2 p.m.: "A Woman in Grey"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
We tackle all 15 chapters of one of the few surviving serials from the
silent era. Filmed in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. by the Serico Producing Co.,
'The Woman in Grey' stands today as a surprisingly entertaining action
melodrama designed to keep audiences coming back after each week's
"cliff-hanger." We'll show 8 of the 15 chapters today, with the rest
tomorrow. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater
where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donation of $10
per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Man With A Movie Camera" (1928); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/.
Russian director Dziga Vertov's celebration of daily life in the Soviet
Union. Experimental documentary with no story and no actors, but filled
with eye-popping visuals that anticipate later music/image films such
as 'Koyaanisqatsi.' Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse
in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) and "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), amateur detective Buster tried to bust open the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local theater; in 'The Cameraman' (1928), Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer. Can he get a break, and also get the girl? Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED to SATURDAY, SEPT. 18, 2021 • Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, 7 p.m.: "Tramp Tramp Tramp"
(1926) starring Harry Langdon, Joan Crawford; Brandon Town Hall and
Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.;
http://www.brandontownhall.org. Rediscover forgotten comedian Harry
Langdon in his first-ever feature film. Riotous comedy about a
cross-country foot race. Co-stars Joan Crawford (unbelievably) as
Harry's love interest. 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.
CANCELLED • Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; www.somervilletheatreonline.com.
Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of
'Silents, Please!,' a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a
wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the
experience of 35mm film. For more info, call the theater box office at
(617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
CANCELLED • Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, 7 p.m.: "Hot Water" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; www.leavittheatre.com. A rarely screened Harold Lloyd comedy feature that focuses on the life of an ordinary all-American family that slowly builds from family sit-com into wild slapstick farce. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Don Q, Son of Zorro" (1925) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. NOTE NEW STARTING TIME! Action/adventure sequel to mega-hit 'Zorro' with Fairbanks playing both son and father, and having a ball in both roles. Builds on the original film to create a hugely entertaining swashbuckler that shows how far Hollywood had come in just five years. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, 2 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro" (1920) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. NOTE NEW STARTING TIME! 100th anniversary of the break-through adventure film where Fairbanks discovered his talent for playing swashbuckling heroes of yore. Still pleasing crowds a century after it first hit theaters! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $510 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Why Worry?" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Wealthy hypochondriac Harold gets caught up in a south-of-the-border uprising, finding romance along the way. One of Lloyd's wackiest outings; he co-stars with an actual giant. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, 4 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) and "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/.
In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), amateur detective Buster tried to bust open
the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the
crime drama at a local theatre; in 'The Cameraman' (1928), Keaton tries
to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer.
Can he get a break, and also get the girl? Silent film with live music
in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12,
members $10.
CANCELLED • Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, 11 a.m.: "Safety Last" (1923); The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/.
The iconic image of comedian Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a
downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy
that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on
the big screen and with an audience! Silent film with live music in a
renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12,
members $10.
CANCELLED • Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, 7 p.m.: "The Freshman"
(1925) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Ludlow Auditorium, 37
Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. We welcome football season with Harold Lloyd's
blockbuster hit about a college boy who dreams of success on the
gridiron. One of Lloyd's all-time best! Silent film with live music in
the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall in Ludlow,
Vt.
• Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, 7:30 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill Jr." (1928), starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries to make the grade even as storm clouds gather—and romance brews with the daughter of a rival ship owner. Film climaxes with legendary cyclone sequence, one of Buster's best. Part of 'Silent Film Comedy Week' due to lack of first-run movies in release. General admission $10 per person, with proceeds to support the Town Hall Theatre.
• Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, 7:30 p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1922), starring Harold Lloyd; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
A cowardly young man must learn to conquer his fears before dealing
with a larger menace to his community. Riotous small town comedy that
helped propel Harold Lloyd into the most popular movie comedian of the
1920s. Part of 'Silent Film Comedy Week' due to lack of first-run movies
in release. General admission $10 per person, with proceeds to support
the Town Hall Theatre.
• Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, 7:30 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921), starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Chaplin's landmark comedy/drama about a man who raises an infant against all odds. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a tear." Highlighted by amazing performance of four-year-old Coogan, who matches Chaplin pratfall for pratfall. Part of 'Silent Film Comedy Week' due to lack of first-run movies in release. General admission $10 per person, with proceeds to support the Town Hall Theatre.
CANCELLED • Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, 8 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton. Silent film with live music outdoors at Alton Bay, N.H. more details to come!
• Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, 7:30 p.m.: "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" (1926), starring Harry Langdon, Joan Crawford; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com.
Rediscover forgotten comedian Harry Langdon in his first-ever feature
film. Riotous comedy about a cross-country foot race. Co-stars Joan
Crawford (unbelievably) as Harry's love interest. Part of 'Silent Film
Comedy Week' due to lack of first-run movies in release. General
admission $10 per person, with proceeds to support the Town Hall
Theatre.
• Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, 7:30 p.m.: "The General" (1926), starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Part of 'Silent Film Comedy Week' due to lack of first-run movies in release. General admission $10 per person, with proceeds to support the Town Hall Theatre.
• Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Robin Hood" (1922), starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. NOTE NEW STARTING TIME! The original big screen adaptation of the legendary bandit of Sherwood Forest. Sword-fighting and archery abound as Fairbanks forsakes his noble identity as the Earl of Huntingdon to become Robin Hood, robbing the rich to give to the poor, all the while pursuing the hand of his beloved Lady Marian. Filmed on an epic scale! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED to SATURDAY, AUG. 14, 2021 • Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020, 7 p.m.: "Wild Orchids" (1929) starring Greta Garbo, Nils Asthur; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Steamy romantic thriller just in time for the humid doldrums of summer. An older man takes his young wife to Java where he plans to invest in tea plantations. Aboard ship, a young man (and member of the island's royal family) is immediately taken by the beauty of this mysterious woman and resolves to make her acquaintance. 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.
CANCELLED • Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, 7 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924) starring Betty Bronson, Mary Brian; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; www.leavittheatre.com. The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Three Ages" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Keaton's first feature-length comedy interweaves tales of romance from three epochs: the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, and "Modern Times," meaning 1920s California. See why Buster is regarded as one of the great clowns of the silent era. Monthly silent film series at a restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 26, 2020, 2 p.m.: "The Three Musketeers" (1921) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. NOTE NEW STARTING TIME! Original screen adaptation that set the bar for movie versions of The Three Musketeers as well as for the swashbuckler genre itself. An action-adventure tale of a young Gascon, D'Artagnan, whose dream is to join the King's Musketeers, and travels to Paris to do so. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED TO FUTURE DATE • Sunday, July 26, 2020, Time TBA: Hands Up! (1926) starring Raymond Griffith; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. Uproarious comedy in which a southern spy must work every angle to prevent a shipment of western gold from reaching Union forces. Silent film with live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
POSTPONED TO FUTURE DATE • Sunday, July 26, 2020, Time TBA: The Marriage Circle (1924) directed by Ernst Lubitsch; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. It's the World According to Lubitsch: in Vienna, Dr. Franz Braun (Monte Blue) and his wife, Charlotte (Florence Vidor), are exceptionally happy in their marriage until Charlotte's best friend, Mitzi (Marie Prevost), starts flirting with Franz. Mitzi's suspicious husband, Professor Josef Stock (Adolphe Menjou), hires a detective to investigate her infidelities, and the inquiry soon begins to focus on Franz. Silent film with live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
CANCELLED, WILL RETURN IN 2021 • Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, July 26, 2020: The Western New York Movie Expo, Delavan Hotel and Spa, 6164 Transit Road in downtown Buffalo, N.Y. Three-day successor to Cinefest, annual vintage film festival in Syracuse, N.Y. that ended in 2015. Details TBA, but prepare for another multi-day avalanche of vintage film and collectibles in the City of Light, or the Nickel City, or the Queen City, or...well, pick your favorite nickname.
• Sunday, July 12, 2020, 2 p.m.: "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924) starring Douglas Fairbanks; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. NOTE NEW START TIME! Eye-popping 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. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED to SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2021 • Saturday, July 11, 2020, 7 p.m.: "Planes and Trains and Monty Banks"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Rediscover forgotten silent comedian Monty Banks, born "Mario Bianchi" in Italy and who emigrated to America to become a popular 1920s Hollywood star. In featured attraction 'Flying Luck,' (1927), hapless aviator Monty is so inspired by Lindbergh's solo Atlantic flight that he joins the U.S. Army Air Corps, where it's one comical disaster after another. Preceded by an excerpt from 'Play Safe' (1927), a hair-raising chase sequence set aboard an out-of-control freight train barreling through the California countryside.
CANCELLED • Thursday, July 9, 2020, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; www.leavittheatre.com. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Wednesday, July 1, 2020, 7:30 p.m.: "Silent Film Program"; Newbridge on the Charles, 5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, Mass. Private function.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Sunday, June 28, 2020, 4 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923); The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. The iconic image of comedian Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience! Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12, members $10.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Thursday, June 25, 2020, 7 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; www.leavittheatre.com. Chaplin's breakthrough feature, a story with "a smile, and perhaps a tear," blends comedy and pathos in equal measures; five-year-old Coogan delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of cinema. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Sunday, June 21, 2020, 4:30 p.m.: "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924) starring Douglas Fairbanks; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Eye-popping spectacle starring swashbuckling star Douglas Fairbanks Sr. 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. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Saturday, June 20, 2020, 7 p.m.: "Girl Shy" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Celebrate spring with the original rom-com, a Harold Lloyd gem starring one of the masters of silent comedy and featuring an unforgettable race-to-the-church finish. See Harold's best work as he intended it: on the big screen, with live music, and with an audience. 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.
CANCELLED • Friday, June 19, 2020, 9 a.m.: Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. Our 10th annual presentation to some of the brightest kids in southern New Hampshire! Program details to be announced.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Thursday, June 18, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Harry Houdini Double Feature"; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. General admission $10 per person. Rare surviving films from the great illusionist's brief movie career. In 'Terror Island' (1920) Houdini stars as a swashbuckling inventor who steers his high-tech submarine to a forbidden tropical isle to rescue the woman he loves; in 'The Man From Beyond' (1922), Houdini plays a man frozen 100 years in the Arctic who returns to civilization to reclaim his reincarnated love. Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Sunday, June 14, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Title TBA"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of 'Silents, Please!,' a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
CANCELLED • Thursday, June 11, 2020, 8 p.m.: "To Be Announced"; Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org. Details to come! Part of the Coolidge's long-running 'Sounds of Silents' series.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Sunday, June 7, 2020, 4:30 p.m.: "Noah's Ark" (1928) starring Dolores Costello, George O'Brien; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Big budget Hollywood Biblical epic that uses the story of Noah's Ark to probe the carnage of World War I. Part-talkie notorious for spectacular flood sequences in which extras actually drowned! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged. Rescheduled from Sunday, April 12.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Sunday, May 24, 2020, 4:30 p.m.: "The Navigator" (1924) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A nautical-themed afternoon with silent film comic Buster Keaton. Set sail with Buster's classic comedy 'The Navigator,' which finds two wealthy socialites adrift on a giant ocean liner. Timeless visual comedy. Preceded by Keaton's short film 'The Boat' (1921). Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Thursday, May 21, 2020, 7 p.m.: "Tell It To The Marines" (1926) starring Lon Chaney, William Haines; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; www.leavittheatre.com. U.S. Marine Sergeant O'Hara (Lon Chaney) has his hands full training raw recruits, one of whom, 'Skeets' Burns (William Haines), is a particular thorn in his side...especially when it comes to romancing nurse Nora Dale. Great way to honor the upcoming Memorial Day weekend! Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
POSTPONED to Saturday, Nov. 21 • Saturday, May 16, 2020, 7 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro" (1920) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. 100th anniversary screening! 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. 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.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Sunday, May 10, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Harold Lloyd Double Feature" starring Harold Lloyd at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Two rarely screened Harold Lloyd features together in 35mm prints directly from the Lloyd vault! In 'Hot Water' (1924), Harold goes sit-com in a tale about family strife 1920s-style, complete with overbearing mother-in-law, new car, and haunted house hijinks. In 'For Heaven's Sake' (1926), wealthy playboy Harold (who buys new autos based on how they match the color of his pants) falls for a young gal working for her father's church in the slums, giving rise to one of the best movie taglines ever: "A Man With a Mansion. A Miss With A Mission." Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of 'Silents, Please!,' a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
POSTPONED to FUTURE DATE TBA • Thursday, May 7, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Why Worry?" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. General admission $10 per person. Wealthy hypochondriac Harold gets caught up in a south-of-the-border uprising, finding romance along the way. One of Lloyd's wackiest outings; he co-stars with an actual giant. Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
POSTPONED to SUNDAY, JUNE 28 • Sunday, May 3, 2020, 4 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923); The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. The iconic image of comedian Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience! Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12, members $10.
POSTPONED to Sunday, Oct. 4 • Sunday, April 26, 2020, 4:30 p.m.: "A Woman in Grey"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We tackle all 15 chapters of one of the few surviving serials from the silent era. Filmed in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. by the Serico Producing Co., 'The Woman in Grey' stands today as a surprisingly entertaining action melodrama designed to keep audiences coming back after each week's "cliff-hanger." We'll show the final 6 of the 15 chapters today. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donation of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED to Saturday, Oct. 3 • Saturday, April 25, 2020, 4:30 p.m.: "A Woman in Grey"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We tackle all 15 chapters of one of the few surviving serials from the silent era. Filmed in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. by the Serico Producing Co., 'The Woman in Grey' stands today as a surprisingly entertaining action melodrama designed to keep audiences coming back after each week's "cliff-hanger." We'll show 9 of the 15 chapters today, with the rest tomorrow. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donation of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED • Sunday, April 19, 2020, 1 p.m. "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Black Rocks Village Community Center, Fremont, N.H. Invitation-only screening. In this 1925 farce, Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an unexpected inheritance of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7 p.m. that very day. One of Keaton's best comedies, climaxed by one of the great chase scenes in all film, silent or otherwise.
POSTPONED TO SUNDAY, JUNE 7 • Sunday, April 12, 2020, 4:30 p.m.: "Noah's Ark" (1928) starring Dolores Costello, George O'Brien; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Big budget Hollywood Biblical epic that uses the story of Noah's Ark to probe the carnage of World War I. Part-talkie notorious for spectacular flood sequences in which extras actually drowned! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
POSTPONED • Thursday, April 9, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925) starring Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. General admission $10 per person. In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans; inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. Just in time for Easter, one of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill. Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
POSTPONED • Saturday, April 5, 2020, 5:15 p.m.: "Captain Blood" (1924) directed by John Ford; AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, American Film Institute, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Md.; (301) 495-6741; https://afisilver.afi.com. Young Irish physician Peter Blood is exiled as a slave to Barbados, where he and his friend Jeremy are purchased by Colonel Bishop at the behest of his niece Arabella. With other slaves he captures a Spanish galleon and becomes the terror of the Caribbean privateers until offered a commission in the English Navy. Will he join? And how does Arabella fit into his plans? Classic swashbuckler!
POSTPONED • Saturday, April 4, 2020, 2 p.m.: "The Iron Horse" (1924) directed by John Ford; AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, American Film Institute, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Md.; (301) 495-6741; https://afisilver.afi.com. A young John Ford directed this big Fox production on a big subject: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad following the Civil War. Epic story weaves together several narratives and includes parts for everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Buffalo Bill. Plus great western action sequences that set new standards for cinema! A remarkable picture from a filmmaker who would go on to win a record four Oscars for Best Director.
POSTPONED • Thursday, April 2, 2020, Time TBA: "The Phantom Flyer" (1928) starring Al Wilson; Community Center, Leeward Air Ranch, Ocala, Fla. Action/adventure yarn from Universal Pictures featuring Al Wilson, a famous stunt pilot of the era. In this airborne thriller, Wilson portrays a border patrol aviator who must use his flying skills to save girlfriend Mary (Lillian Gilmore) from cattle rustlers. See Wilson perform daring maneuvers including wing-walking, car-to-plane transfers, and much more, all done without trick photography! This action-packed feature will be preceded by PASS THE GRAVY (1928), a vintage comedy short subject starring Max Davidson.
POSTPONED • Sunday, March 29, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925) starring Ramon Novarro; Colonial Theatre, 95 Main St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; www.thecolonial.org. Tickets $10 per person, general admission. In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans; inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. One of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill. Silent film with live music in beautiful downtown theater that originally opened as a silent movie house. More information about tickets and admission to come.
POSTPONED • Saturday, March 28, 2020, 7 p.m.: "Why Worry?" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; at the Blazing Star Grange Hall, North Road in Danbury, N.H. Join us for a silent film program in a historic (and authentic) small town N.H. Grange Hall. Rich hypochondriac Harold Lloyd takes a restful voyage to South America, only to become embroiled in a full-scale revolution! One of Lloyd's funniest feature comedies. Preceded by the short comedy 'Number Please' (1920). Free and open to the public; suggested donation of $5 at the door.
POSTPONED • Friday, March 27, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Girl Shy" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd; Mascoma Valley Regional High School, 27 Royal Road, Canaan, N.H. The original rom-com, a Harold Lloyd gem starring one of the masters of silent comedy and featuring an unforgettable race-to-the-church finish. Come check out the school's brand new performing arts center! Free and open to the public; donations gratefully accepted.
POSTPONED • Saturday, March 21, 2020, Time TBA: "The Lost World" (1925); 24-Hour Ohio Science Fiction Marathon, Saturday March 21/Sunday, March 22 at the Drexel Theatre, 2254 E. Main St., Columbus, Ohio. www.scifimarathon.com. First-ever movie adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary tale of British explorers who discover pre-historic 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. Heading out to the Buckeye State to accompany a silent at one of the legendary 24-hour sci-fi marathons.
POSTPONED TO SUNDAY, JULY 26 • Sunday, March 22, 2020, 4 p.m.: Hands Up! (1926) starring Raymond Griffith; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. Uproarious comedy in which a southern spy must work every angle to prevent a shipment of western gold from reaching Union forces. Silent film with live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
POSTPONED TO SUNDAY, JULY 26 • Sunday, March 22, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: The Marriage Circle (1924) directed by Ernst Lubitsch; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. It's the World According to Lubitsch: in Vienna, Dr. Franz Braun (Monte Blue) and his wife, Charlotte (Florence Vidor), are exceptionally happy in their marriage until Charlotte's best friend, Mitzi (Marie Prevost), starts flirting with Franz. Mitzi's suspicious husband, Professor Josef Stock (Adolphe Menjou), hires a detective to investigate her infidelities, and the inquiry soon begins to focus on Franz. Silent film with live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
• Sunday, March 15, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Rin Tin Tin Double Dog Double Feature"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Legendary dog star Rin Tin Tin returns to the big screen in a rip-roaring double feature. In "Clash of the Wolves" (1925), Rinty must aid his adopted master in vanquishing a foe (filmed on location in what would later become Joshua Tree National Park), while "The Night Cry" (1926), our hero must clear his name after being accused of killing sheep. Featuring 35mm prints from the Library of Congress. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of 'Silents, Please!,' a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Wild Horse Mesa" (1925) starring Jack Holt, Billie Dove, Noah Beery, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. General admission $10 per person. Big screen adaptation of Zane Grey novel about a bankrupt rancher who tries trapping wild horses using barbed wire, with unforeseen consequences.Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
• Monday, March 9, 2020, 7 p.m.: "Cinema Ritrovato: Discovering Silent Films" presented by the University of N.H. in conjunction with Cineteca di Bologna; MUB Theatre 2 at the University of N.H., Durham, N.H. A program of silent films recently restored and on tour. Titles include: 'La Voyage dans la Lune' (1902); 'Kid Auto Races at Venice' (1914); 'The Immigrant' (1916); and 'Les Vampires, Ep. 3: The Red Cypher' (1915). Free and open to the public! For more info about the Cinema Ritrovato programs on tour in New Hampshire, visit the Web site.
• Sunday, March 8, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Mothers of Men" (1917); Bank of Utica Auditorium, the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, 310 Genesee St., Utica, N.Y.; (315)797-0000; www.mwpai.org. Admission is $5 for MWPAI members; $10 general public. One of the few surviving suffrage films made in the years prior to the 19th Amendment in 1920. Set in future America in which women not only have the right to vote, but also hold office, 'Mothers of Men' tells the story of a female judge whose husband is sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. Part of the museum's exhibit focusing on the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote in the United States.
• Saturday, March 7, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Way Down East" (1920), directed by D.W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess; Harbor Theater, 185 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor, Maine; (207) 633-0438; www.boothbaycinema.org. Griffith's enduring box-office smash sees Lillian Gish pitted against small town New England and one very large waterfall. Silent film with live music in "the best little movie house in Maine." Screened as part of week-long "Maine in the Movies" film festival. Admission, more details TBA.
• Sunday, March 1, 2020, 4 p.m.: "Pandora's Box" (1929) starring Louise Brooks; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Scorching silent drama starring the incomparable Louise Brooks in what many consider her finest role ever. Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12, members $10.
• Friday, Feb. 28 & Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, 22nd Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Annual pilgrimage to wonderful two-day celebration of silent film with live music. Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org. Films I'm scheduled to accompany include 'The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg' (1927) and 'Soul of the Beast' (1923), which is the most bizarre mainstream silent film I've ever encountered. (My 21st consecutive year of attending this festival!)
• Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, 4:30 p.m.: "Manhandled" (1924) starring Gloria Swanson; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Uproarious comedy from silent screen legend Swanson tells the story of a down-on-her-luck salesgirl who climbs the social ladder by pretending to be a Russian countess. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920) starring John Barrymore; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; (617) 625-5700; Somerville Theatre. John Barrymore plays both title roles in the original silent film adaptation of the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. A performance that helped establish Barrymore as one of the silent era's top stars. Silent film with live music, part of the 45th Annual Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival's annual 24-hour science fiction film marathon, which runs noon on Sunday, Feb. 16 to noon on Monday, Feb. 17. Admission charged. For more info, visit the festival's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BostonSciFi.
• Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, 12:30 p.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; at Conant High School, Jaffrey, N.H. Accompanying Buster Keaton for a film scoring class taught by Ms Swift. Happy Valentine's Day!
• Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "The Navigator" (1924) starring Buster Keaton; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. Just in time for Valentine's Day! Buster Keaton sets sail in his classic comedy about a spoiled rich couple marooned all alone on a drifting ocean liner. Visual comedy at its finest! Preceded by Keaton's short comedy 'The Boat' (1921). General admission $10 per person. Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment.
• Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, 5 p.m.: "The Strong Man" (1926) starring Harry Langdon, directed by Frank Capra; Campton Historical Society, Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H.; Campton Historical Society. With World War I over, baby-faced soldier Harry Langdon searches for the girl who sent such moving letters to him in the trenches. Directed by a very young Frank Capra, 'The Strong Man' is today hailed as Langdon's best feature, and also one of the greatest comedies of the silent film era. 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, Jan. 26, 2020, 4:30 p.m.: "Girl Shy" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Get ready for Valentine's Day with the original rom-com, a Harold Lloyd gem starring one of the masters of silent comedy and featuring an unforgettable race-to-the-church finish. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $10 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, 6:30 p.m.: "Underworld" (1928) starring George Bancroft; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. Director Josef von Sternberg's groundbreaking tale of big city mobsters, widely considered the father of all gangster pictures. Tale follows crime boss "Bull" Weed (George Bancroft) as he battles rival 1920s gangsters. Incredible black-and-white photography; winner of first-ever Oscar for original story by Ben Hecht. General admission $10 per person. Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
• Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, 7 p.m. "The Navigator" (1924) starring Buster Keaton; Firehouse Theatre, 1 Market Square, Newburyport, Mass., (978) 462-7336; https://www.firehouse.org/. Buster Keaton sets sail in his classic comedy about a spoiled rich couple marooned all alone on a drifting ocean liner. Visual comedy at its finest! Preceded by Keaton's short comedy 'The Boat' (1921). Tickets: $15 per person. Program of silent film with live music open to the public; in support of the Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St.; Newburyport, Mass.; www.customhousemaritimemuseum.org; 978-462-8681. Click to buy tickets online!
• Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, 2 p.m. "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton, plus short comedy 'Number, Please!' (1920) with Harold Lloyd; Warner Town Hall, Warner, N.H. Screening sponsored by the Telephone Museum of N.H. (Yes, New Hampshire has a telephone museum!) In this 1925 farce, Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an unexpected inheritance of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7 p.m. that very day. One of Keaton's best comedies, climaxed by one of the great chase scenes in all film, silent or otherwise. And a telephone plays a key role!
• Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, 7 a.m. or thereabouts "Aelita, Queen of Mars" (1924) at the 45th Annual Sci-Fi Marathon presented by the Case Western Reserve University Film Society, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. Heading out to Cleveland to do live music for 'Aelita,' a featured attraction in this year's annual 36-hour (1) sci-fi marathon at Case Western University. One of the earliest full-length films about space travel, the most notable part of 'Aelita' remains its remarkable constructivist Martian sets and costumes. Their influence can be seen in a number of later films, including the Flash Gordon serials and probably Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Woman in the Moon. Admission to marathon is $30; individual films can be seen for $4 each. For more info, visit http://films.cwru.edu/sfmarathon45//.
• Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, 7:30 p.m.: "Silent Film Program"; Newbridge on the Charles, 5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, Mass. Private function.
• Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, 2 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; Colonial Theatre, 95 Main St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; www.thecolonial.org. Tickets $10 per person, general admission. Director Fritz Lang's amazing epic about a futuristic society where an educated elite enjoys life in a glittering city, all supported by colonies of workers forced to live deep underground. A film that set new standards for visual design and changed movies forever! Silent film with live music in beautiful downtown theater that originally opened as a silent movie house.
• Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921) starring Rudolph Valentino; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Rudolph Valentino stars in this epic 1921 tale of a family embroiled on both sides of World War I. Spec- tacular drama, plus The film that introduced the tango! A thought-provoking way to contemplate the end of one year, the start of another, and the passing of time. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, 4 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Director Fritz Lang's amazing epic about a futuristic society where an educated elite enjoys life in a glittering city, all supported by colonies of workers forced to live deep underground. A film that set new standards for visual design and changed movies forever!Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12, members $10.
• Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, 8 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) and "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org. A double-helping of Busters's two features mostly about movies themselves. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), amateur detective Buster tried to bust open the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local theatre; in 'The Cameraman' (1928), Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer. Can he get a break, and also get the girl? Classic visual comedy with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers. Admission $23 per person; part of the Coolidge's long-running 'Sounds of Silents' series.
• Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "Three Ages" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Silent comedy to round out your long holiday weekend! Keaton's first feature comedy from 1923 interweaves tales of romance from the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, and "Modern Times," i.e. 1920s California. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
TITLE CHANGE• Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, 6:30 p.m.: "Wild Orchids" (1928) starring Greta Garbo The Wind" (1928) starring Lillian Gish; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. General admission $10 per person. Sorry, but originally scheduled film 'The Wind' not available for this showing. Substitute is 'Wild Orchids' (1928). Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
• Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Tuscan Opera House, Dixfield, Maine; fundraiser for local historical society organized by students at Dirigo High School. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience.Silent film with live music in legendary local venue. Admission charged: $10 per person.
• Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, 7:30 p.m. "The Toll Gate" (1920) starring William S. Hart; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. We wash the taste of Halloween away with a vintage William S. Hart oater. Eager to retire from his life of crime after eluding the law for years, outlaw Black Deering (Hart) is persuaded by fellow bandit Jordan to undertake one last train robbery. During the holdup, Deering is arrested by army troops who have been tipped-off to the raid by the treacherous Jordan. He manages to escape and flees south across the border to Jordan's own hideout. Fate pushes him into the arms of Jordan's long-suffering wife and Black finds himself torn between his desire for revenge and his passion for the woman he loves. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; Colonial Theatre, 95 Main St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; www.thecolonial.org. Tickets $8.50 per person, general admission. Just in time for Halloween: the original vampire film, this loose adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the years go by. See it for yourself! Silent film with live music in beautiful downtown theater that originally opened as a silent movie house.
• Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, 6:30 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; Townsend (Mass.) Public Library, 12 Dudley Road, Townsend, Mass.; (978) 597-1714; http://www.townsendlibrary.org. Co-sponsored by the Townsend Senior Center. Just in time for Halloween: the original vampire film, this loose adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the years go by. See it for yourself—if you dare! Silent film with live music; free admission and program open to the public.
• Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928) starring Conrad Veidt; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) starring Lon Chaney; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Our annual "Chiller Theatre" Halloween silent film presentation. Lon Chaney stars in the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax! Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Faust" (1926), directed by F.W. Murnau; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Emil Jannings stars in F.W. Murnau's terrifying version of the classic tale. A visual tour de force, full of creepy characters and frightening images. Our annual 'Chiller Theatre' presentation for Halloween! 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.
• Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928) starring Conrad Veidt, directed by Paul Leni; in the Stonyfield Theatre at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Just in time for Halloween: Silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Directed by Paul Leni, who pioneered the visual style used in Universal horror classics such as 1931's 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein.' See it if you dare! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, 4 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Celebrate Halloween with one of the all-time classics. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12, members $10.
• Friday, Oct. 18, 2018, 8:30 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928), directed by Paul Leni, starring Conrad Veidt; Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.; (617 876-6837); http://brattlefilm.org. Just in time for Halloween: Silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Directed by Paul Leni, who pioneered the visual style used in Universal horror classics such as 1931's 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein.' See it if you dare! Ticket prices for this special event are $15 general admission; $12 students, seniors, Brattle members.
• Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, 6:30 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) starring Lon Chaney; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. General admission $10 per person. Lon Chaney stars in the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax! Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
• Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, 4 p.m.: "Cat and the Canary" (1927) directed by Paul Leni, starring Laura LaPlante.; Claremont (N.H.) Historical Society annual meeting, Union Church Parish Hall, 133 Old Church Road, Claremont, N.H. Can a group of distant relatives survive the night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Just in time for Halloween, a movie filled with deep shadows, dark secrets, and a surprisingly timeless mix of humor and horror that will keep you guessing. Remember: in silent film, no one can hear you scream! Admission free and program open to the public.
• Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, 7:30 p.m., "The Cat and the Canary" (1927) directed by Paul Leni, starring Laura LaPlante. Draper Room at the Center at Eastman, 1 Clubhouse Lane, Grantham, N.H. Can a group of strangers survive the night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Just in time for Halloween, a movie filled with deep shadows, dark secrets, and a surprisingly timeless mix of humor and horror that will keep you guessing. Remember: in silent film, no one can hear you scream! Admission free and program open to the public.
• Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, 7:30 p.m. "The Lost World" (1925); Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. First-ever movie adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary tale of British explorers who discover pre-historic 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. Silent film with live music, on the big screen with an audience. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "Rediscovering Alice Howell"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. One of the great female clowns of the silent screen, she was a frizzy-haired forerunner of Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. Alice Howell's films are now available again for the first time in a recently produced collection, giving us a chance to see her talents a century later. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, 6 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge; Bedford (N.H.) Public Library, 3 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, N.H.; Bedford Historical Society annual meeting, free and open to the public. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real!
• Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Daddy Long Legs" (1919) starring Mary Pickford; The Strand, 20 Third St., Dover, N.H.; http://www.thestranddover.com. Pickford plays the oldest and cutest of a group of orphans whose education is paid for by a mysterious benefactor. She knows him only as "Daddy Long Legs" because of the spider-like shadow he casts on the orphanage steps. As Pickford reaches a marriageable age, her benefactor's secret identity leads to unforeseen complications. Celebrate the Strand's centennial with a screening of the same movie that opened the theater exactly 100 years ago. Admission free, with a suggestion donation of $5 per person to defray expenses.
• Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, 2 p.m.: "Girl Shy" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Join us for the silent film series 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Beloved Rogue" (1926) starring John Barrymore; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Epic costume adventure based on the life of the 15th century French poet, François Villon. Wrongly banished from the Royal Court and sentenced to death, can the patriotic poet save France from an evil plot and while he's at it, win the hand of his noble beloved? 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.
• Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, 7 p.m. "Flying Luck" (1927) starring Monty Banks and Jean Arthur plus "The Great Bronson Potter Greenville Trestle Fly-Under" (1979); The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Way, Londonderry, N.H.; (603) 669-4820; http://www.aviationmuseumofnh.org. Tickets $20 for non-members; $10 for members. Smithsonian Day Fundraiser for Aviation Museum of N.H. Silent film with live music from two eras. In "Flying Luck," hapless aviator Monty Banks is so inspired by Lindbergh that he joins the U.S. Army Air Corps, where it's one comical disaster after another. Rare feature film from popular second-tier silent screen comedian. And then hold on for recently rediscovered footage of a N.H. pilot's legendary 1979 stunt flight under a railroad trestle in Greenville, N.H. Acclaimed following its world premiere last month in nearby Mason, N.H., and to be featured on WMUR's New Hampshire Chronicle on Monday, Sept. 16, don't miss this chance to see this amazing home movie footage with an audience and with live music.
NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE! • Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, Dusk, or about 7 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Pawtucket Arts Festival, Lyman B. Goffe Middle School 974 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, R.I. Free and open to all! Pampered Buster returns home from college to help his father, a tough riverboat captain, battle to save the business; falling for the arch rival's daughter doesn't make things easier. Climaxed by an eye-popping cyclone sequence, 'Steamboat Bill' is crammed with classic Keaton gags and sequences. Silent comedy at its finest. (Originally scheduled as an outdoor screening in Slater Park, but moved inside due to EEE virus in mosquitoes out at dusk.)
• Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, 6:30 p.m.: "College" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. General admission $10 per person. Head back to school with freshman Buster, who arrives at a college campus to find sports is the only sure-fire route to popularity. One of Keaton's most gag-filled comedies offers timeless visual humor and a look at the silent star's athletic prowess. Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
• Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; in the Stonyfield Theatre at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Classic comedy/drama about a long-running family feud starring Buster Keaton, his real-life wife Natalie Talmadge, and with roles for Buster's father and infant son. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $12 per person, members $10.
• Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Beloved Rogue" (1926) starring John Barrymore; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Epic costume adventure based on the life of the 15th century French poet, François Villon. Wrongly banished from the Royal Court and sentenced to death, can the patriotic poet save France from an evil plot and while he's at it, win the hand of his noble beloved? Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "Spies" (1928) directed by Fritz Lang; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Director Fritz Lang's tale of espionage was the forerunner of all movie spy sagas, packed with double agents, hi-tech gadgets, beautiful (and dangerous) women, and an evil genius with a plan to take over the world, mwah-ha-ha-ha! Part of our "Summer Silent Sci-Fi" series. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, 7:30 p.m.: "Silent Film Program"; Newbridge on the Charles, 5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, Mass. Private function. Screening of Charlie Chaplin in 'The Kid' (1921).
• Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, 4 p.m.: "Music, Motion, and Emotion" a presentation about silent film accompaniment; Tanglewood Learning Institute, Lenox, Mass. Presentation about silent film and live music for new performance/educational initiative at Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a.k.a. The Big Time. Here's how they describe it:
"TLI’s Film Weekend explores music as both a core element and a central subject of cinema. Friday events include a working rehearsal of John Williams’ Film Night, followed by a lunch conversation with conductor David Newman and Boston Pops Conductor Laureate and film music legend John Williams. Participants can also enjoy the talks “With & Without: Music Makes the Film,” centering on the importance of a score to a film’s success, and “Music, Motion, and Emotion: The Art of Silent-Film Accompaniment” with Jeff Rapsis."For more information, check out www.tli.org.
• Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, 6:30 p.m.: "Tramp Tramp Tramp" (1926) starring Harry Langdon, Joan Crawford; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. General admission $10 per person. We're bringing back forgotten comedian Harry Langdon to the big screen in his first-ever feature film. Riotous comedy about a cross-country foot race. Co-stars Joan Crawford (unbelievably) as Harry's love interest. Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
• Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, 2 p.m.: "The Woman Disputed" (1928) starring Norma Talmadge, Gilbert Roland; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Join us for the silent film series 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Last Command" (1928) directed by Josef von Sternberg; starring Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent, and William Powell. Ludlow Auditorium, Ludlow, Vt. Intense drama about a former high-ranking military officer in Czarist Russia now reduced to playing extra in 1920s Hollywood. Towering performance in the lead role helped Emil Jannings win 'Best Actor' at the first-ever Academy Awards. Goes beyond the usual cliches of romantic drama to explore the nature of power as well as the unreality of the nascent movie business itself. The result: a timeless mediation on life, love, and loss that transcends its era. Silent film with live music in the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall, 37 Depot St., Ludlow, Vt.
• Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Paths to Paradise" (1925) starring Raymond Griffith; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Two competing would-be jewel thieves reluctantly team up to pull off a major heist. Starring Raymond Griffith, a leading comedian for Paramount Pictures (and the only one with a New Hampshire connection!) whose popularity rivaled Chaplin and Keaton in the 1920s, but who is forgotten today because most of his films are lost. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, 8 p.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton. Silent film with live music outdoors at Alton Bay, N.H. more details to come!
• Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Classic comedy/drama about a long-running family feud starring Buster Keaton, his real-life wife Natalie Talmadge, and with roles for Buster's father and infant son. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! 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.
• Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Vintage Dance Event, Knights of Columbus Hall, Nahant, Mass. Day-long dance/movie event: $35 general/$20 student or seniors. Spent a day learning vintage dance steps and then top it off with a 1920s movie night and more dancing. Reservations include two dance classes: at 10 a.m., a class in the Quadrille Francais; and in the afternoon a dance class teaching vintage basics. Comfortable clothes and flexible-soled shoes are recommended for the day-time classes; for the evening program, 1920s or general vintage attire encouraged! Light movie-themed refreshments will be served, and the film will be followed by informal dancing to recorded music. About Safety Last: The iconic image of comedian Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience! Event is part of the New England Vintage Arts Society’s Nahant Vintage Dance Week.
• Friday, Aug. 2 through Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019: The Western New York Movie Expo and Memorabilia Show, Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo, N.Y. Four-day successor to Cinefest, annual vintage film festival in Syracuse, N.Y. that ended in 2015. Silent titles this year include Buster Keaton in 'The Cameraman' (1928); Eddie Cantor in 'Special Delivery' (1927); Erich von Stroheim's 'The Wedding March' (1928); Josef von Sternberg's 'Docks of New York' (1928); Louise Brooks in 'Pandora's Box' (1929); and W.C. Fields in 'It's the Old Army Game' (1926).
• Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, 7 p.m.: The Crowd (1928) starring Eleanor Boardman, James Murray, directed by King Vidor; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. King Vidor's intense drama about the life of an everyman who aims high, but life has other ideas. Filled with iconic scenes showing the eloquence of silent film at its most fluent. Silent film with live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
• Wednesday, July 31, 2019, "Buster Keaton Double Feature"; Cinema Detroit, 4126 3rd Ave., Detroit, Mich.; (313) 482-9028; www.cinemadetroit.com. See Buster's two railroad-themed comedies set in the American past. 'Our Hospitality' (1923) finds Keaton negotiating an 1830s family feud; 'The General' (1926) finds him an engineer in the Confederate south. Both superb examples of Keaton's comic style and full of laugh-out-loud only-in-silent-cinema moments. Silent film with live music at Detroit's independent movie theater, located downtown in a former furniture store!
• Sunday, July 28, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "Running Wild" (1927) starring W.C. Fields with SPECIAL GUEST HARRIET FIELDS, his granddaughter; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Join us as we welcome Harriet Fields, granddaughter of iconic comic legend W.C. Fields, for an afternoon of movies and family memories. We'll screen one of Fields' starring silent features, plus Harriet will provide recollections and answer questions. An afternoon event not to be missed! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday & Saturday, July 26-27, 2019, Thelma Todd Celebration, in and around Lawrence, Mass. Aficianados of the favorite daughter of Lawrence, Mass. come together for a festival celebrating the many achievements of her tragically shortened life. Details to be announced.
• Thursday, July 25, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin; Camp Betsey Cox, Pittsford, Vt. Annual "Community Thank You" event features 'The Kid,' Chaplin's story about the Little Tramp raising an orphan. Private screening not open to the public.
• Wednesday, July 24, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929) directed by Fritz Lang; Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 646-4849. In honor of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, a grand sci-fi adventure epic about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Pondering a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Ticket price and more details to come.
• Tuesday, July 23, 2019, 6:30 p.m.: "Old Ironsides" (1926) starring Wallace Beery, Esther Ralston; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. A grand adventure on the high seas set in 1798, when the USS Constitution is launched to battle pirates of the Barbary Coast. General admission $10 per person. Enjoy silent film in a restored moviehouse with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis.
• Thursday, July 18, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929) directed by Fritz Lang; in the Stonyfield Theatre at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, a grand sci-fi adventure epic about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Ponder a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Co-sponsored by the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. Admission $12 per person.
• Wednesday, July 17, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929) directed by Fritz Lang; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, a grand sci-fi adventure epic about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Ponder a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Saturday, July 13, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929) directed by Fritz Lang; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, a grand sci-fi adventure epic about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Ponder a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. 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, July 7, 2019, 2 p.m.: "The Freshman" (1925) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Join us for the silent film series 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Sunday, June 30, 2019, 7:30 p.m. "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. The iconic image of comedian Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Friday, June 28, 2019, 7:30 p.m. "Shoulder Arms" (1918) starring Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. Annual "Chaplin Days" weekend! Chaplin hit paydirt with his comedy about 'The Great War,' which hit the theaters just in time to celebrate the Armistice. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Thursday, June 27, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Last Command" (1923) starring Emil Jannings, William Powell; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Intense drama about a former high-ranking military officer in Czarist Russia now reduced to playing extra in 1920s Hollywood. Towering performance in the lead role helped Emil Jannings win 'Best Actor' at the first-ever Academy Awards. Goes beyond the usual cliches of romantic drama to explore the nature of power as well as the unreality of the nascent movie business itself. The result: a timeless mediation on life, love, and loss that transcends its era. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, June 23, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Director Fritz Lang's amazing epic about a futuristic society where an educated elite enjoys life in a glittering city, all supported by colonies of workers forced to live deep underground. A film that set new standards for visual design and changed movies forever! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, June 21, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Franklin Opera House, 316 Central St. (City Hall), Franklin, N.H. Part of Opera House annual meeting. Free admission, public welcome to attend! Pampered Buster returns home from college to help his father, a tough riverboat captain, battle to save the business; falling for the arch rival's daughter doesn't make things easier. Climaxed by an eye-popping cyclone sequence, 'Steamboat Bill' is crammed with classic Keaton gags and sequences. Silent comedy at its finest!
• Thursday, June 20, 2019, 6:30 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. The iconic image of comedian Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience. Live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. General admission $10 per person.
• Saturday, June 15, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Chicago" (1927) starring Phyllis Haver; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. The original big screen adaptation of the notorious Jazz Age tabloid scandal, based on real events. Dancer Roxie Hart is accused of murder! Is she innocent or headed for the slammer? Later made into the popular Broadway musical. 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.
• Thursday, June 13, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. The iconic image of comedian Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, June 2, 2019, 2 p.m.: "Zaza" (1923) starring Gloria Swanson, H.B. Warner; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Romance set in France in which Swanson plays a hot-tempered provincial actress who gets entangled with a married diplomat. Swanson's ebullience in Zaza was unfeigned; she called it "the fastest, easiest, most enjoyable picture I ever made." Join us for the silent film series 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Friday, May 31, 2019, 9 a.m.: Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. Our ninth annual presentation to some of the brightest kids in southern New Hampshire! This year it's Douglas Fairbanks in 'Zorro' (1920), mostly because the students performed a stage version of this same tale earlier this year!
• Thursday, May 30, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Speedway" (1929) starring William Haines, Ernest Torrence; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Great action picture set in the world of race car drivers starring William Haines, Hollywood's first openly gay leading man. Filmed on location at the actual Indy 500 track, showing how it looked in the 1920s. Fast-paced thriller with speeds up to 100 mph! Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, May 26, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience. Plus special bonus comedy short subject! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, May 23, 2019, 7 p.m. "The Flying Fleet" (1929) starring Ramon Novarro, Anita Page; The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Way, Londonderry, N.H.; (603) 669-4820; http://www.aviationmuseumofnh.org. Tickets $20 for members; $15 for non-members. Two graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy, now training as aviators, fall for the same gal off base. Mark Memorial Day weekend with this star-studded tribute made with full cooperation of the U.S. Navy, so a great chance to see what the service was like back in the day, plus some vintage stunt flying from 'The Three Seahawks,' an early aerobatic team. Fundraiser for Aviation Museum of N.H.
• Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 7:30 p.m.: "Silent Film Program"; Newbridge on the Charles, 5000 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, Mass. Private function. Screening of Buster Keaton in 'Seven Chances' (1925).
• Saturday, May 18, 2019, 7:30 p.m. Silent Comedy Short Films; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. Laugh with Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle, Charley Chase, and more. A grab bag of silent comedy fun, including Chaplin's 'The Cure' (1917), Buster Keaton's 'Neighbors' (1920), Laurel & Hardy in 'The Second Hundred Years,' and Charley Chase in 'Dog Shy' (1926). Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Sunday, May 12, 2019, 4 p.m.: "The General" (1926) starring Buster Keaton, Marion Mack; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12, members $10.
• Saturday, May 11, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is just one highlight of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience. 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.
• Thursday, May 9, 2019, 6:30 p.m.: "Sherlock Holmes" (1916) starring William Gillette; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. Recently discovered in France after being lost for nearly a century, see this original 1916 adaptation of Sherlock Holmes stories as performed by William Gillette, the actor who created the role on stage and performed it more than 1,000 times. With the blessing of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Gillette's play combines elements of four classic short stories into a memorable battle with arch-nemesis, Prof. Moriarty. Live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. General admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, May 5, 2019, 2 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Join us for the silent film series 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Sunday, April 28, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "La Roue, Part 2" (1923) directed by Abel Gance; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Before he made the epic 'Napoleon' (1927), French director Abel Gance created this tale of a railroad engineer who adopts a young orphaned girl, then traces the paths of their lives over the decades that follow. Widely hailed for its revolutionary editing, 'La Roue' stands as a milestone in the development of cinema. The 4½-hour film will be shown in two parts over two days. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, April 27, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "La Roue, Part 1" (1923) directed by Abel Gance; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Before he made the epic 'Napoleon' (1927), French director Abel Gance created this tale of a railroad engineer who adopts a young orphaned girl, then traces the paths of their lives over the decades that follow. Widely hailed for its revolutionary editing, 'La Roue' stands as a milestone in the development of cinema. The 4½-hour film will be shown in two parts over two days. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, April 25, 2019, 6:30 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; www.flyingmonkeynh.com. Rescheduled from Thursday, April 18! German director Fritz Lang's amazing epic about a futuristic society where an educated elite enjoys life in a glittering city, all supported by colonies of workers forced to live deep underground. A film that set new standards for visual design and changed movies forever! Live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. General admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, April 18, 2019, 6 p.m.: "Film by Design: The Bauhaus and the Moving Image," Menschel Hall, Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass.; www.harvardartmuseums.org. The final screening of a five-part series, “Film by Design: The Bauhaus and the Moving Image,” which is offered in conjunction with the museum's special exhibition "The Bauhaus and Harvard." One of the Bauhaus’s most visually exuberant parties, the Metal Party featured a multifaceted film program, including a montage by found-footage pioneer Albrecht Viktor Blum. Since many of these films are now lost, tonight’s program will include films that were screened at Bauhaus-related events and exhibitions around the year 1929, with a special focus on the themes that animated the visual design of the Metal Party: circles, disks, rotations, reflections, and lightplays. Free admission, tickets distributed starting at 5:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 31, 2019, 7:30 p.m. "The Mystery of the Eiffel Tower" (1927) directed by Julien Divivier; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Celebrate 'Eiffel Tower Day' (every March 31) with this rare French thriller about mistaken identity, inheritances and criminal syndicates, and an exciting finale filmed in the upper reached of the Eiffel Tower itself! Silent film with live music, on the big screen with an audience. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Friday, March 29, 2019, 7 p.m. "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Town Hall in Winchester, 1 Richmond Road, Winchester, N.H. An evening of silent film with live music brought to you by members of the Arlington Grange of Winchester. Tonight's program features Harold Lloyd's legendary thrill comedy 'Safety Last,' which finds a young and ambitious man ready to do anything to impress his girl, even if it means climbing the exterior of a tall office building with no trick photography. Program is open to the public, with $7 per person donation requested to help defray costs.
• Sunday, March 24, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. In this 1925 farce, Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an unexpected inheritance of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7 p.m. that very day. One of Keaton's best comedies, climaxed by one of the great chase scenes in all film, silent or otherwise. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, March 23, 2019, 7 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge; at the Blazing Star Grange Hall, North Road in Danbury, N.H. Join us for a silent film program in a historic (and authentic) small town N.H. Grange Hall. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Free and open to the public; suggested donation of $5 at the door.
• Wednesday, March 13, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Cat and the Canary" (1927), the Kennington Bioscope, Cinema Museum, 2 Dugard Way, off Renfrew Road. London SE11 4TH, United Kingdom. Can a group of strangers survive the night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Just in time for Halloween, a movie filled with deep shadows, dark secrets, and a surprisingly timeless mix of humor and horror that will keep you guessing. Remember: in silent film, no one can hear you scream! Silent film with live music at a London cinema museum that's housed in the same buildings south of the Thames where Chaplin spent time as a youth.
• Thursday, March 7, 2019, 7 p.m.: "King of Kings" (1927); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Just in time for Easter: Cecil B. DeMille's epic retelling of the story of Christ and the crucifixion. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Thursday, March 7, 2019, 1:30 p.m.: "The Last Laugh" (1924) starring Emil Jannings; at the University of New Hampshire/Manchester with Prof. Jeffrey Klenotic. Live music for a class screening of the F.W. Murnau drama. Towering performance by Jannings as aging doorman at posh city hotel whose unexpected change of jobs robs him of self-respect and identity. Directed by Murnau as a purely visual tale devoid of any dialogue intertitles. A masterpiece of the silent cinema!
• Saturday, March 2, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Stormy Night" (1925); The Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. (617) 496-3211. Admission $9 per person, $7 for non-Harvard students, Harvard faculty and staff, and senior citizens; free for Harvard students. Fewer than twenty Chinese films from the 1920s survive, so the recent discovery of a mostly intact print of film pioneer Shouju Zhu’s 1925 film Stormy Night (Fengyu zhi ye) is a reason to celebrate. The story of an unhappily married couple who gradually learn to appreciate their relationship, the film shows an intricacy of narrative and impressive camera movements that distinguish it from other surviving films of the period. The print was discovered in 2006 in Japanese director Teinosuke Kinugasa’s personal collection and identified in 2011. This is the first chance audiences outside Asia will have to see this important film, which challenges scholars to rethink their previous understanding of early Chinese cinema.
• Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, 4 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12, members $10.
• Friday, Feb. 22 & Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, 23nd Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Annual pilgrimage to wonderful two-day celebration of silent film with live music. Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org. (My 20th consecutive year of attending this festival!) Post notes: Played for 'Venus of the South Seas' (1924) and 'Bucking Broadway' (1917), plus several short films.
• Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, "Woman in the Moon" (1929) directed by Fritz Lang; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; (617) 625-5700; Somerville Theatre. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, a grand sci-fi adventure epic about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Ponder a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Silent film with live music, part of the 44th Annual Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival's annual 24-hour science fiction film marathon, which runs noon on Sunday, Feb. 17 to noon on Monday, Feb. 18. Admission charged. For more info, visit the festival's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BostonSciFi.
• Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "The Eagle" (1925) starring Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Valentino's comeback film is a rousing romp set in Imperial Russia. See the silent screen idol as a soldier who catches the eye of the Czarina, only to desert his platoon when trouble brews back home. Great costume drama and a perfect way to warm up for Valentine's Day. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, 5 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge; Campton Historical Society, Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H.; Campton Historical Society. 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! Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real!
• Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, 7 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) starring Lon Chaney; Colonial Theatre, 95 Main St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; www.thecolonial.org. Lon Chaney stars in the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax! Plus, the very first feature film shown at the Colonial when it first opened in 1924! Tickets: 35 cents per person! (The same price as in 1924.)
• Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, 4:30 p.m.: "Last of the Mohicans" (1922) starring Wallace Beery, Alice Bedford; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The original big-screen adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's tale about colonial settlers among the Native Americans during the French and Indian War. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER...
• Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, 6 p.m.: "The Yankee Clipper" (1927); Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St.; Newburyport, Mass.; www.thechmm.org; 978-462-8681. Two tall ships race from China to Boston to win a lucrative tea contract. Sea-going adventure set in the heyday of the fast "clipper" ships. Starring William Boyd, who would later go on to play "Hopalong Cassidy." Program of silent film with live music open to the public; doors open at 5 p.m. To order tickets online, click here.
• Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, 7:20 p.m. "George Méliès: Genius of Early Cinema"; Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 646-4849. Join guitarist Paul Bielatowicz and me for an exploration of the films of French cinema pioneer George Méliès. Program will include a wide range of Méliès' work, including well-known classics such as 'A Trip To the Moon' (1902) and 'Conquest of the North Pole' (1912). Part of Belmont World Film, a multi-day international film festival. Silent film with live music in a treasured neighborhood theater and performance space. Tickets are $12 per person and available online.
Sorry! Screening cancelled due to schedule conflict.
• Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Hearts of the World" (1918) directed by D.W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Intended originally as a propaganda film to support America's entry into World War I. Directed by Griffith on a large scale, including location shots from the front lines in France, the story follows a boy, a girl and their families as they are thrust into the horror and violence of what was known then as "the Great War." Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, 4 p.m., "Grandma's Boy" (1921) starring Harold Lloyd; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. A cowardly young man must learn to conquer his fears before dealing with a larger menace to his community. Riotous comedy that helped propel Harold Lloyd into the most popular movie comedian of the 1920s. Plus short comedy, 'There Ain't No Santa Claus' (1926) starring Charley Chase. Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. Tickets $12 per person, $10 members.
• Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, 8 p.m., "The Eleventh Year" (1928) directed by Dziga Vertov; Association for Slavic, East European, & Eurasian Studies annual conference; Boston Marriott Copley Place, 110 Huntington Ave., 5th floor-Vermont Room. Introduced by John MacKay of Yale University. Join Academic Studies Press for a screening of Dziga Vertov's 1928 documentary The Eleventh Year accompanied by live musical performer Jeff Rapsis. Shot on location in Ukraine this commemoration of the 1917 Revolution brings together two seemingly unconnected and infinitely distant moments in time: On the one hand, the construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric station on the Dniepr River, and, on the other, the excavation of a pair of two-thousand-year-old Scythian skeletons recently discovered at the site of the industrial enterprise. Free and open to the public.
• Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, 7 p.m. A Christmas program featuring Mary Pickford in "Tess of the Storm Country" (1922); at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. What did people watch before special holiday TV programs such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" made their debut in the 1960s? See for yourself with a special program of holiday classics from way back during the silent film era, all accompanied by live music. Included will be the first-ever film versions of such popular tales as 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' the poem by Clement C. Moore. Highlighted by Mary Pickford's feature-length melodrama 'Tess of the Story Country' (1922), with a touching Christmas-time conclusion. Live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. General admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925), directed by King Vidor; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice with MGM's 'The Big Parade' (1925), the epic World War I adventure starring John Gilbert and Renee Adoré. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, 5:30 p.m.: "Barbed Wire" (1927) starring Pola Negri, Clive Brook. During World War I, the French government commandeers a family farm for use as a camp for German POWs, setting the local population at each other. Intense drama about forbidden love and the human condition with a special holiday twist. Silent film with live music at the Manchester (N.H.) Historic Association's Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St., Manchester, N.H. Programmed in conjunction with current exhibit "Manchester and the Great War." Cost is $5 for MHA Members, $7 for general guests and includes refreshments. Call to reserve your spot (603) 622-7531 or visit www.manchesterhistoric.org to buy tickets online.
• Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Charlie Chaplin Short Comedies" starring Charlie Chaplin; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Chaplin's fame as a filmmaker rests largely on his great feature-length films. But what about the short comedies that first rocketed him to fame? See for yourself what first made the Little Tramp a world-renowned icon as we run a family-friendly selection of his best short comedies. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, 5 p.m.: "Women Pioneers in Film: Mabel Normand"; Cinema Detroit, 4126 3rd Ave., Detroit, Mich.; (313) 482-9028; www.cinemadetroit.com. As part of Cinema Detroit's look at Women Pioneers in Film, a selection of short comedies featuring early superstar Mabel Normand. Titles include 'Mabel Lost and Won,' 'Mabel's Blunder,' 'Caught in a Cabaret' (with Charlie Chaplin), and 'Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day.' Silent film with live music at Detroit's independent movie theater, located downtown in a former furniture store!
• Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, 6:30 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; at Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. A double feature of Keaton's most beguiling comedies. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), amateur detective Buster tried to bust open the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local theatre; in 'The Cameraman' (1928), Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer. Can he get a break, and also get the girl? Classic visual comedy with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers. General admission $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, 6:30 p.m.: "Der Stadt ohne Juden" (1924), Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline, Mass.; (617) 734-2501; www.coolidge.org. Assumed to be lost for decades, this 1924 film was rediscovered in a Paris flea market in 2015. Eerily prescient about the Holocaust, the film was adapted from a satirical novel and begins with the election of an anti-Semitic chancellor who exiles all his city’s Jews. While the chancellor’s daughter is devastated to see her Jewish boyfriend go, most of the city enthusiastically supports the new law. But, with the Jews gone, the city’s economy declines, inflation becomes rampant, and cultural life disappears. The government must decide—save the city or stand by its anti-Semitic legislation? Screened as part of the annual Boston Jewish Film Festival. Special event admission: $36 per person.
• Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, 2 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925), directed by King Vidor, starring John Gilbert and Renee Adoree; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Special Veteran Day screening on the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the fighting of World War I. Sweeping saga about U.S. doughboys signing up and shipping off to France in 1917, where they face experiences that will change their lives forever—if they return. Print from the Library of Congress. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music.Join us for 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge; Claremont (N.H.) Historical Society annual meeting, location to be decided. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! More details about admission, etc. as they become available.
• Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen; in the Stonyfield Theatre at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. In honor of Veterans Day as well as the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918 that ended World War I. Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. With a young Gary Cooper playing a key role. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $12 per person.
• Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, 7:30 p.m. The Cradle of Courage (1920) starring William S. Hart; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. Former crook 'Square' Kelly (William S. Hart) serves in the First World War. When he returns from the war, one of his comrades-in-arms convinces him to join the police force. But Kelly finds himself confronting the very criminals who made up his old gang. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; Colonial Theatre, 95 Main Street, Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-2033; www.thecolonial.org. Celebrate Halloween with one of the all-time classics. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Silent film with live music in a theater that originally opened as a silent movie house in 1924. Tickets: $6.50 per person, general admission.
• Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) starring Lon Chaney; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Just in time for Halloween! Lon Chaney stars in the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Faust" (1926) directed by F.W. Murnau, starring Emil Jannings; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. Emil Jannings stars in F.W. Murnau's terrifying version of the classic tale. A visual tour de force, full of creepy characters and frightening images. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, 8 p.m. "Harry Houdini Celebration"; Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 646-4849. Celebrate the birthday of Harry Houdini, legendary illusionist and escape artist, with an evening that combines live performance with a silent film starring Houdini himself as a James Bond-like action/adventure hero. Silent film with live music in a treasured neighborhood theater and performance space. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at door. For more info: www.regenttheatre.com.
• Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Frankenstein program" at the Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 646-4849. A triple feature of Frankenstein films, including the early (and short) silent Thomas Edison version. Tickets $8 per person. For more info: www.regenttheatre.com.
• Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, 7:30 p.m. "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Celebrate Halloween with one of the all-time classics. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Der Golem" (1920); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Our annual "Chiller Theatre" presentation. Get ready for Halloween with a very weird flick! In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates a giant creature from clay, called the Golem. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution, but then complications ensue. Early German fantasy movie anticipates Frankenstein story. 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.
• Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen; Tuscan Opera House, Dixfield, Maine; fundraiser for local historical society organized by students at Dirigo High School. In honor of the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Armistice of Nov. 11, 1918 that ended World War I. Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. With a young Gary Cooper playing a key role. Silent film with live music in legendary local venue. Admission charged: $10 per person.
• Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, 8 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) starring Lon Chaney; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Lon Chaney stars in the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax! Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, 4 p.m., "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Just in time for Halloween: the original vampire film, this loose adaptation of the 'Dracula' story just gets weirder and creepier as the years go by. See it for yourself! Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. More information about tickets and admission to come.
• Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, 7:30 p.m., "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton. Draper Room at the Center at Eastman, 1 Clubhouse Lane, Grantham, N.H. Broke stockbroker Buster will inherit a fortune provided he's a married man...by 7 p.m. that very day! Classic Keaton comedy, capped by one of the best silent film chases to come out of the golden age of comedy. Admission free and program open to the public!
• Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Chicago" (1927) starring Phyllis Haver; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The original big screen adaptation of the notorious Jazz Age tabloid scandal, based on real events. Dancer Roxie Hart is accused of murder! Is she innocent or headed for the slammer? Later made into the popular Broadway musical. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, 2 p.m.: "The Last Command" directed by Josef von Sternberg; starring Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent, and William Powell. Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton, Mass.; (978) 598-5000. Intense drama about a former high-ranking military officer in Czarist Russia now reduced to playing extra in 1920s Hollywood. Towering performance in the lead role helped Emil Jannings win 'Best Actor' at the first-ever Academy Awards. Transcends the usual cliches of romantic drama to explore the nature of power as well as the unreality of the nascent movie business itself. The result: a timeless mediation on life, love, and loss that transcends its era. Members $12, Nonmembers $18. Register by calling 978.598.5000 x121 or pay at the door.
• Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Different from the Others" (1918) and "I Don't Want to be a Man" (1918); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. A double bill of early German films dealing with homosexuality and gender identity issues, with a pre-screening discussion led by Fr. Richard Piatt starting at 6:40 p.m. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, 12 noon: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen, Sioux City International Film Festival, Sioux City, Iowa. Sunday's programming will be presented at the historic Orpheum Theater in downtown Sioux City, Iowa, with live accompaniment on the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ! Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. With a young Gary Cooper playing a key role. The Sioux City International Film Festival is western Iowa's premier film event, featuring dozens of local, national and international films each year.
• Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, 8 p.m.: "The Last Laugh" (1924) directed by F.W. Murnau, starring Emil Jannings; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Towering performance by Jannings as aging doorman at posh city hotel whose unexpected change of jobs robs him of self-respect and identity. Directed by Murnau as a purely visual tale devoid of any dialogue intertitles. A masterpiece of the silent cinema! Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Her Sister From Paris" (1925) starring Ronald Colman, Constance Talmadge; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. The scene: Europe. The cast: Rich people. Get swept off your feet by not one but two privileged ladies, both played by amazing actress Constance Talmadge, in this effervescent battle-of-the-sexes comedy. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Sherlock Holmes" (1916) starring William Gillette; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Recently discovered in France after being lost for nearly a century, see this original 1916 adaptation of Sherlock Holmes stories as performed by William Gillette, the actor who created the role on stage and performed it more than 1,000 times. With the blessing of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Gillette's play combines elements of four classic short stories into a memorable battle with arch-nemesis, Prof. Moriarty. 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.
To Be Rescheduled...
• Friday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 3, 2018: The Western New York Movie Expo and Memorabilia Show, Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Buffalo, N.Y. Four-day successor to Cinefest, annual vintage film festival in Syracuse, N.Y. that ended in 2015. Screenings include: Friday, Aug. 31: "Sunshine Dad (1916) starring DeWolf Hopper and Fay Tincher. Saturday, Sept. 1: "Sadie Thompson" starring Gloria Swanson, Lionel Barrymore; "Special Delivery" (1927) starring Eddie Cantor; "Braveheart" (1925) starring Rod LaRocque; "Battling Butler" (1926) starring Buster Keaton; "The Nickel Hopper" (1926) starring Mabel Normand. Sunday, Sept. 2: "The Coming of Amos" (1925) starring Rod LaRocque; "The Kid Brother" (1927) starring Harold Lloyd. Plus plenty of short comedies and curiosities!
• Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, 7 p.m.: The Scarlet Letter (1926) starring Lillian Gish; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. Splashy MGM adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic tale of old New England, with Lillian Gish in the leading role as Hester Prynne. After having a child out of wedlock, a young Puritan woman is pressured to reveal the name of her lover. Ah, the good old days! Silent film with live music at Cleveland's premier venue for great movies.
• Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, 7:30 p.m.: "When Knighthood Was In Flower" (1922) starring Marion Davies, William Powell; Cinema Detroit, 4126 3rd Ave., Detroit, Mich.; (313) 482-9028; www.cinemadetroit.com. Marion Davies stars in this big-budget historical costume drama produced and financed by William Randolph Hearst. Admission $12 per person. Silent film with live music at Detroit's independent movie theater, located downtown in a former furniture store!
• Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Harold Lloyd Silent Film Comedy" starring Harold Lloyd; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A selection of some of the best short comedies starring Harold Lloyd. See what made Lloyd the most popular comedian of the silent era in films such as 'Never Weaken' (1921), which finds Lloyd wandering the perilous upper reaches of an uncompleted skyscraper! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1926) starring Buster Keaton, Marion Mack; in the Stonyfield Theatre at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; www.redrivertheatres.org/. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, 7:30 p.m. "Clash of the Wolves" (1925) starring Rin Tin Tin; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Canine star Rin Tin Tin saves the day in this crackerjack action picture set in the Old West, one of his best surviving feature films. See Rinty leap from cliffs and rooftops (and even climb trees!) as he aids the good guys, chases down the bad guys, and saves his own on-screen dog family from a raging forest fire. See what made Rin Tin Tin one of the most popular stars of early cinema! Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Her Sister From Paris" (1925) starring Constance Talmadge, Ronald Colman; Ludlow Auditorium, Ludlow, Vt. The scene: Europe. The cast: Rich people. Get swept off your feet by not one but two privileged ladies, both played by amazing actress Constance Talmadge, in this effervescent battle-of-the-sexes comedy. Silent film with live music in the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall, 37 Depot St., Ludlow, Vt.
• Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, 1 p.m.: 'The Navigator' (1924) starring Buster Keaton; Silsbury Free Public Library, Charlestown, N.H. Free admission. A nautical-themed afternoon with silent film comic Buster Keaton. Set sail with Buster's classic comedy 'The Navigator,' which finds two wealthy socialites adrift on a giant ocean liner. Timeless visual comedy. Preceded by Keaton's short film 'The Boat' (1921).
• Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, 11 a.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924); Townsend (Mass.) Public Library, 12 Dudley Road, Townsend, Mass.; (978) 597-1714; http://www.townsendlibrary.org. The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Celebrate summer with a silent film program at a very nice town library; free admission!
• Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, 8 p.m.: "Her Sister From Paris" (1925) starring Constance Talmadge, Ronald Colman; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. The scene: Europe. The cast: Rich people. Get swept off your feet by not one but two privileged ladies, both played by amazing actress Constance Talmadge, in this effervescent battle-of-the-sexes comedy. Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Charlie Chaplin Night"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. A selection of classic short comedy films that helped propel the Little Tramp to worldwide fame and rocked the globe with laughter. Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, 2 p.m.: "Laurel and Hardy Silent Comedies"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Long before we heard Stan's high-pitched cry and Ollie's exasperated "here's another nice mess" lament, Laurel & Hardy first achieved great popularity in the silent era. And so we present a selection of Laurel & Hardy's rarely screened silent comedies, all in 35mm prints from the Library of Congress, including 'Big Business' (1929), 'The Finishing Touch' (1928), 'You're Darn Tootin'' (1928), and 'Call of the Cuckoos' (1927). Join us for 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Laurel & Hardy: A Silent Fine Mess"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. The beloved comedy team got their start in silent film, and so celebrate their origins with a selection of their funniest short comedies. Get ready to laugh as Stan and Ollie made fine messes out of everything from a day in the country to a night on the town. 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.
• Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, "Show People" (1928) starring Marion Davies, William Hanies; Vintage Dance Weekend, Knights of Columbus Hall, Nahant, Mass. A silent film about the silent film business! 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. Private event not open to the general public.
• Wednesday, July 11, 2018, 7 p.m. "Peter Pan" (1924); Groton Public Library, 99 Main St., Groton, Mass.; http://gpl.org/. The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Silent film with live music at the library. Free and open to the public!
Screening rescheduled from Sunday, June 3.• Sunday, July 8, 2018, 7:30 p.m. "Go West" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Buster heads out to ranch country, where the stone-faced comedian encounters romance with—a cow! Can he save his love from a trip to the livestock yards? Rustle up some belly laughs as Buster must once again prove himself worthy to all those who doubt him. Preceded by 'Hell's Hinge's' (1916), an early William S. Hart western. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Sunday, July 8, 2018, 2 p.m.: "Docks of New York" (1928) directed by Josef von Sternberg; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Masterful drama about a ship laborer who rescues a beautiful woman from drowning, but then finds his life changed in unexpected ways. Another gem from the late silent years, highlighted by realistic performances, gritty set design, and vivid black-and-white photography. Join us for 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Thursday, July 5, 2018, 8 p.m.: "The Beloved Rogue" (1926) starring John Barrymore; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Epic costume adventure based on the life of the 15th century French poet, François Villon. Wrongly banished from the Royal Court and sentenced to death, can the patriotic poet save France from an evil plot and while he's at it, win the hand of his noble beloved? Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Wednesday, July 4, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The Yankee Clipper" (1927) starring William Boyd; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Two tall ships race from China to Boston to win a lucrative tea contract. Sea-going adventure set in the heyday of the fast "clipper" ships. Starring William Boyd, who would later go on to play "Hopalong Cassidy." Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Saturday, June 30, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" (1926); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Taken from 'The Arabian Nights,' the first full-length animated feature tells the story of a wicked sorcerer who tricks Prince Achmed into mounting a magical flying horse, sending him off to a series of wondrous and romantic adventures. A masterful example of silhouette-style animation and a true breakthrough in cinematic story-telling. 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.
• Thursday, June 28, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The Navigator" (1924) starring Buster Keaton; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Buster Keaton sets sail in his classic comedy about a spoiled rich couple marooned all alone on a drifting ocean liner. Visual comedy at its finest! Join us for another season of vintage cinema at the historic Leavitt Theatre. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, June 24, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Haldane of the Secret Service" (1923) starring Harry Houdini; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Last year's program of adventure films starring illusionist Harry Houdini were so popular, here's another. In 'Haldane of the Secret Service,' Houdini's final starring vehicle, he plays the son of a detective slain by a gang of counterfeiters. Seeking vengeance, he rescues a girl (Leslie) from the gang, but is thrown into river by them for dead, and escapes. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, June 17, 2018, 4 p.m., "College" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Buster heads off to a college campus to find sports is the only sure-fire route to popularity. One of Keaton's most gag-filled comedies offers priceless visual humor and a look at the silent star's athletic prowess. Plus Buster Keaton short comedy 'Cops' (1922). Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. More information about tickets and admission to come.
• Saturday, June 16, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; at First Congregational Church, 1 Concord St., Nashua, N.H. A double feature of Keaton's most beguiling comic features. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), amateur detective Buster tried to bust open the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local theatre; in 'The Cameraman' (1928), Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer. Can he get a break and get the girl? Classic visual comedy with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers. Fundraising event for First Church; admission $12 adults, $10 seniors.
• Friday, June 15, 2018, 9 a.m.: Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. Our eighth annual presentation to some of the brightest kids in southern New Hampshire!
• Thursday, June 14, 2018, 8 p.m.: "The Iron Horse" (1924) directed by John Ford; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. A young John Ford directed this big Fox production on a big subject: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad following the Civil War. Epic story weaves together several narratives and includes parts for everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Buffalo Bill. Plus great western action sequences that set new standards for cinema! A remarkable picture from a filmmaker who would go on to win a record four Oscars for Best Director. Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Sunday, June 10, 2018, 2 p.m.: "Chicago" (1927); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Join us for 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience on the big screen. The original big screen adaptation of the notorious Jazz Age tabloid scandal, based on real events. Dancer Roxie Hart is accused of murder! Is she innocent or headed for the slammer? Later made into the popular Broadway musical. Note: shown via DCP.
• Saturday, June 9, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Join us for a series of silent films and live music in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Pampered Buster returns home from college to help his father, a tough riverboat captain, battle to save the business; falling for the archrival's daughter doesn't make things easier. Climaxed by an eye-popping cyclone sequence, 'Steamboat Bill' is crammed with classic Keaton gags and sequences. Silent comedy at its finest! Admission free, donations accepted, with proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
Sorry, cancelled! Screening to be rescheduled.
• Thursday, May 24, 2018, 6:30 p.m.: "A Western Double Feature"; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Join us for a two-fisted double feature starring actors who pioneered the Western in Hollywood. Silent film with live music by Jeff Rapsis. First up: Hell's Hinges (1916) starring William S. Hart. In the wayward western town known as Hell's Hinges, a local tough guy is reformed by the faith of a good woman. Hailed as Hart's masterpiece; uncompromising and unglamorous look at the Old West. Followed by The Great K & A Train Robbery (1926) starring Tom Mix. Treachery on the rails as our hero goes undercover to learn who is tipping off bandits. One of the best Tom Mix films, with plenty of action, fantastic stunt work, and Tony the Wonder Horse. Part of an ongoing silent film series at a restored moviehouse and concert venue in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, May 20, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "The Perfect Clown" (1925) and other films starring comedian Larry Semon; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Although his work never equaled Chaplin, Keaton, or Lloyd, slapstick comic Larry Semon kept audiences laughing throughout the 1920s with outrageous gags, wild chases, and eye-popping stunts. Rediscover this forgotten silent comic as we run several of his short films and 'The Perfect Clown' (1925), a feature starring Semon as a clerk who misses banking hours and must safeguard a $10,000 deposit overnight. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, May 19, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The Wizard of Oz" (1925); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. This early silent film version of L. Frank Baum's immortal tales features silent comedian Larry Semon in a slapstick romp that also casts Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man. Oz as you've never seen it before, and completely different from the beloved MGM musical classic. Plus an even earlier short version of the Oz story filmed more than 100 years ago. 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.
• Thursday, May 17, 2018, 8 p.m.: "The Black Pirate" (1926) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. The granddaddy of all pirate films, with Fairbanks as an athletic young aristocrat who seeks revenge by joining the pirate band responsible for his father's death. Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Sunday, May 13, 2018, 2 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill Jr." (1928); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Pampered Buster returns home from college to help his father, a tough riverboat captain, battle to save the business; falling for the archrival's daughter doesn't make things easier. Climaxed by an eye-popping cyclone sequence. Join us for 'Silents, Please!' at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Thursday, May 10, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The Winning of Barbara Worth" (1926) starring Gary Cooper, Ronald Colman, Vilma Banky; in the Stonyfield Theatre at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Epic Western about the settling and irrigation of California's Imperial Valley, once a wasteland but now an agricultural paradise. Shot on location by director Henry King in Nevada's Black Rock desert, one of the first films to take audiences to the wide open spaces of the great American West. With a young Gary Cooper playing a key role. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $12 per person.
• Saturday, May 5, 2018, 7:30 p.m.: "The Phantom Bullet" (1926) starring Hoot Gibson; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. In this vintage Western from Universal, Hoot Gibson stars as Click Farlane, a Colorado cowboy returning to the old homestead when his father (John T. Prince) is murdered by a mysterious gang of rustlers. To learn all he can about the murderer, Click assumes the disguise of a complete nincompoop, a ruse that succeeds only after a couple of close calls. Along the way, our hero falls in love with blonde houseguest Jane Terrill (Eileen Percy). Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Sunday, April 29, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Die Nibelugen, Part 2: Kriemheld's Revenge" (1924) directed by Fritz Lang; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. One of the greatest artistic and technical achievements of the German silent cinema, Fritz Lang's monumental Die Nibelungen is a passionate retelling of Nordic legend, invested with all the resources of the colossal UFA Studios. Kriemhild's Revenge begins after the death of Siegfried, and weaves the treacherous tale of his widow's ungodly vengeance upon his murderers. The noble qualities of the first film become liabilities in the second, as the blood oaths and vows of loyalty bring about a maelstrom of violence that results in the slaughter of entire armies. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, April 28, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Die Nibelugen, Part 1: Siegfried" (1924) directed by Fritz Lang; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. One of the greatest artistic and technical achievements of the German silent cinema, Fritz Lang's monumental Die Nibelungen is a passionate retelling of Nordic legend, invested with all the resources of the colossal UFA Studios. 'Siegfried' establishes larger-than-life heroic characters who are defined by tests of valor and rigid codes of honor. In order to win the hand of Kriemhild (Margarete Schoen), Siegfried (Paul Richter) must win a bride for her brother, King Gunther. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Part 2 to be shown on Sunday, April 29. Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, April 15, 2018, 4 p.m., "Peter Pan" (1924); The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Plus short cartoon, 'A Tax From the Rear' (1920) about income tax. Silent film with live music in a renovated firehouse that's now a terrific arts center. More information about tickets and admission to come.
• Saturday, April 14, 2018, 6:30 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; the Antrim Grange #98, Antrim Grange Hall at 253 Clinton Road, Antrim, N.H. Silent film with live music to raise money for the Grange's Building Restoration Fund. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Classic visual comedy with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers.
• Thursday, April 12, 2018, 8 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Sunday, March 25, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, March 22, 2018, 6:30 p.m.: "The Last of the Mohicans" (1922), starring Wallace Beery, Alice Bedford, and Albert Roscoe; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The original big-screen adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's tale about colonial settlers among the Native Americans during the French and Indian War. Part of an ongoing silent film series at a restored moviehouse and concert venue in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, March 18, 2018, 2:30 p.m. "Buster Keaton Double Feature," RiverWoods "Woods" Campus, 7 RiverWoods Drive, Exeter, N.H., (603) 658-3049. Program of silent film with live music at well-known retirement community. A double feature of Keaton's most beguiling comic features. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), amateur detective Buster tried to bust open the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local theatre; in 'The Cameraman' (1928), Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer. Can he get a break and get the girl? Classic visual comedy with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers. Private event, not open to the public.
• Saturday, March 17, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Conductor 1492" (1924) starring Johnny Hines; at the Blazing Star Grange Hall, North Road in Danbury, N.H. Join us for a St. Patrick's Day program in a historic (and authentic) small town N.H. Grange Hall. In Conductor 1492, comedian Johnny Hines plays a young man from the Emerald Isle who follows in his father's footsteps to "Americky," where he hope to make his fortune. Faith and begorrah, what could go wrong? Free and open to the public; suggested donation of $5 at the door.
• Thursday, March 15, 2018, 8 p.m.: "Hangman's House" (1928) directed by John Ford; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. A woman marries the wrong man in this intense melodrama set in Ireland. Features a nail-biting horserace sequence that shows silent film story-telling at its best. Directed by a young John Ford, taking a break from Westerns; notable as the first film appearance of John Wayne in a bit part. Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Sunday, March 11, 2018, 7:30 p.m. "Harry Houdini Double Feature"; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Rare surviving films from the great illusionist's brief movie career. In 'Terror Island' (1920) Houdini stars as a swashbuckling inventor who steers his high-tech submarine to a forbidden tropical isle to rescue the woman he loves; in 'The Man From Beyond' (1922), Houdini plays a man frozen 100 years in the Arctic who returns to civilization to reclaim his reincarnated love. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Friday, Feb. 23 & Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, 22nd Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Annual pilgrimage to wonderful two-day celebration of silent film with live music. Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org.
• Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Man With A Movie Camera" (1929), directed by Dziga Vertov. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass.; (617) 496-3211. Classroom screening of landmark cinematic portrait of life in the early Soviet Union at the end of the silent era. For Laura Frahm’s “Art of Film” course. Public welcome, no admission charge.
• Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, Time TBA, "The Lost World" (1925); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; (617) 625-5700; Somerville Theatre. First-ever movie adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary tale of British explorers who discover pre-historic 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. (Last-minute substitute for 'Algol: A Tragedy of Power' (1920), which was unavailable.) Screened as part of the 43rd Annual Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival's annual 24-hour science fiction film marathon, which runs noon on Sunday, Feb. 18 to noon on Monday, Feb. 19. Admission charged. For more info, visit the festival's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BostonSciFi.
• Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, 1 p.m.: "Private Screening"; somewhere in Massachusetts. It's for a surprise party, so details would give it away. P.S. Now that it's over, I can spill the beans that it was a screening of Buster Keaton's 'The General' (1927) for a 30th birthday party.
• Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. German director Fritz Lang's amazing epic about a futuristic society where an educated elite enjoys life in a glittering city, all supported by colonies of workers forced to live deep underground. A film that set new standards for visual design and changed movies forever! Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, 11:30 a.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Kingswood Regional Arts Center, 21 McManus Road, Wolfeboro, N.H. Silent film presentation for students at Kingswood Regional High School, some of whom are creating a live "silent film" theater show to be performed in March. More info as it becomes available!
• Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, 4:30 p.m.: "Wild Orchids" (1928) starring Greta Garbo; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Steamy romantic thriller just in time for Valentine's Day. An older man takes his young wife to Java where he plans to invest in tea plantations. Aboard ship, a young man (and member of the island's royal family) is immediately taken by the beauty of this mysterious woman and resolves to make her acquaintance. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, 8 p.m. "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Special Valentine's Day silent film screening! Double bill of romance-themed comedies starring Buster Keaton. The early short masterpiece 'Cops' finds Buster trying to impress his girl, but windup up on the run from law. In 'The Cameraman,' portrait photographer Buster exchanges his still camera for a movie camera in an effort to break into the newsreel business and win the attention of a special gal. Spectacular movie-themed Keaton comedy filled with great stunts filmed on a grand scale. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, 5 p.m.: "Zaza" (1923) starring Gloria Swanson, H.B. Warner; Campton Historical Society, Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H.; Campton Historical Society. 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! Romance set in France in which Swanson plays a hot-tempered provincial actress who gets entangled with a married diplomat. Swanson's ebullience in Zaza was unfeigned; she called it "the fastest, easiest, most enjoyable picture I ever made." Preceded by one of Gloria's earlier efforts, the short comedy "Teddy at the Throttle."
• Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Girl Shy" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; in the Stonyfield Theatre at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Prepare for Valentine's Day with the original rom-com, a Harold Lloyd gem starring one of the masters of silent comedy and featuring an unforgettable race-to-the-church finish. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, 4:15 p.m.: "The Golden Clown" (1926) directed by A.W. Sandberg; The Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto, ON M6R 2M9, Canada; (416) 531-9950; http://revuecinema.ca Shot in Denmark and France, 'The Golden Clown' fits somewhere between the lovelorn and the macabre, its story mirroring in many ways that of the real-life Deburau, or at least his myth. Working the hinterlands in a tight-knit, family-owned circus in France, Joe Higgins (Gösta Ekman) plays a version of Pierrot, surprising the local crowd with his talent by singing a sad and beautiful song inspired by his love for the circus owner’s daughter. A Somebody from the Big City happens to be in the audience and the clown goes from sideshow to star in an instant, changing the entire family’s fate. They are thrust into the high life of Jazz Age Paris. Swanky hotels, fine dining, and all the couture money can buy are not enough, and the clown’s once easy-to-please girl, finally his wife, seeks out other urbane pleasures.
• Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, 1: p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1921) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; silent film at the Toronto International Film Festival Bell Lightbox, a cultural center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located in the first five floors of the Bell Lightbox and Festival Tower, 350 King St W, Toronto, Canada. Phone: (416) 599-8433. Website: https://www.tiff.net/. A cowardly young man must learn to conquer his fears before dealing with a larger menace to his community. Riotous small town comedy that helped propel Harold Lloyd into the most popular movie comedian of the 1920s.
• Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, 5 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; Liberty Ridge Farm, Schaghticoke, N.Y.; http://www.libertyridgefarmny/. An evening of silent film with live music in the converted barn of a recreational farm, plus pot luck supper. A now-annual mid-winter get-together for all those in this upstate New York town who don't head south for the winter. By invite only, but if you'd like to attend, bring a pot luck dish and you won't be refused. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real!
• Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The Wizard of Oz" (1925) starring Larry Semon, Dorothy Dwan; Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington, Mass; (781) 646-4849. Early silent film version of Frank L. Baum's immortal tales features silent comedian Larry Semon in a slapstick romp that also casts Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man. Oz as you've never seen it before! Silent film with live music in a treasured neighborhood theater and performance space.
• Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, 7 p.m.: "Charlie Chaplin Short Comedies" starring Charlie Chaplin; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Chaplin's fame as a filmmaker rests largely on his great feature-length films. But what about the short comedies that first rocketed him to fame? See for yourself what first made Chaplin famous as we run a selection of his best short comedies. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, 7 p.m.: "The Kid" (1920) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Phillips Church, Tan Lane, Phillips Exeter Academy Concert Series, Exeter, N.H. Chaplin's landmark comedy/drama about a man who raises an infant against all odds. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a tear." Highlighted by amazing performance of four-year-old Coogan, who matches Chaplin pratfall for pratfall. Live accompaniment to screening of silent film; free and open to the public.
• Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Barbed Wire" (1927) starring Pola Negri, Clive Brook; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. During World War I, the French government commandeers a family farm for use as a camp for German POWs, setting the local population at each other. Intense drama about forbidden love and the human condition with a special holiday twist. Preceded by an early film adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol' from 1910. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries to make the grade even as storm clouds gather—and romance brews with the daughter of a rival ship owner. Film climaxes with legendary cyclone sequence, one of Buster's best. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, 6 p.m.: "Upstream" (1927); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Backstage intrigue is the name of the game in this John Ford-directed feature film that was considered lost for decades until a copy was recently unearthed in New Zealand. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "When the Clouds Roll By" (1919) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Wacky romantic comedy starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr. as a rich young man who attempts to solve his problems by undergoing the brand-new science of psychiatry. Directed by a very young Victor Fleming, who would later helm 'Gone With the Wind' (1939). Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1927) and "Sherlock Jr." (1924) starring Buster Keaton; Wilmot (N.H.) Community Association Red Barn Fall Concert Series, 64 Village Road, Wilmot, N.H.; (603) 526-7934. Classic comedy from the Buster Keaton, the most silent of the silent clowns. In 'Sherlock Jr.,' amateur detective Buster tries to solve the mystery of a stolen watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local moviehouse. 'The General,' Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece, follows the exploits of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies, forcing him to go behind enemy lines alone to retrieve his locomotive as well as the woman he loves. Classic visual comedy with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers.
• Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, 6 p.m.: "Way Down East" (1920) directed by D.W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmes. Silent film with live music at the Manchester (N.H.) Historic Association's Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St., Manchester, N.H. Cost is $10 for MHA Members, $12 for general guests and includes refreshments. Call to reserve your spot (603) 622-7531 or visit www.manchesterhistoric.org to buy tickets online. One of the most popular films of the silent era features Lillian Gish as a wronged woman who can't escape her past. Still-thrilling climax on ice floes heading towards the falls was filmed on the Connecticut River!
• Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "Zaza" (1922) starring Gloria Swanson; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Comedy/romance set in France in which Swanson plays a hot-tempered provincial actress who gets entangled with a married diplomat. Swanson's ebullience in Zaza was unfeigned; she called it "the fastest, easiest, most enjoyable picture I ever made." Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, 6 p.m.: "What Price Glory" (1926) starring Dolores del Río, Victor McLaglen; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. In the midst of World War I, two American GIs battle each other for the affections of a local girl in France. Comedy/drama was a big sprawling hit. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "Häxan" (1922); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Very weird pseudo-documentary about witchcraft and superstition. Created in Sweden and Denmark, 'Häxan' shocked audiences with its depiction of black magic, rituals, spells, and a lot of other scary stuff. Originally scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 29 but postponed until this date. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, 7:30 p.m.: "The Border Sheriff" (1926) starring Jack Hoxie; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif.
Sheriff Cultus Collins (Jack Hoxie), working for the U. S. Secret Service to uncover a gang of drug smugglers, goes to San Francisco, where he rescues a millionaire rancher from a Chinatown dive, suspecting the rancher may be part of the gang. This celebrated film was directed by Cecil B. DeMille early in his long career. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; in the Stonyfield Theatre at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Experience the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—and some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $12 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, 4:30 p.m.:
• Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1921) starring John Barrymore; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Just in time for Halloween! John Barrymore plays both title roles in the original silent film adaptation of the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. A performance that helped establish Barrymore as one of the silent era's top stars. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1921); Mascoma Valley Regional High School, 27 Royal Road, Canaan, N.H. Come check out the school's brand new performing arts center, and—just in time for Halloween—enjoy a silent film thriller with live music. Experience the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—and some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See it if you dare! Free and open to the public; donations gratefully accepted.
• Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920) starring John Barrymore; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. John Barrymore plays both title roles in the original silent film adaptation of the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. A spook-tacular performance that helped establish Barrymore as one of the silent era's top stars, highlighted by Barrymore's on-camera transformations done without special effects. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, 7 p.m. "The Man Who Laughs" (1928) starring Conrad Veidt; Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington, Mass; (781) 646-4849. Silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Directed by Paul Leni, who pioneered the visual style used in Universal horror classics such as 1931's 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein.' See it if you dare! Silent film with live music in a treasured neighborhood theater and performance space.
• Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, 3 p.m.: "It" starring Clara Bow; at the University of New Hampshire/Manchester with Prof. Jeffrey Klenotic. Live music for a class screening of the Clara Bow vehicle that came to epitomize 1920s spirit. Not to be confused with the recent Stephen King thriller of the same title.
• Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, 7:30 p.m., "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick, Mass.; (508) 647-0097; http://www.natickarts.org/. Chaplin's landmark comedy/drama about a man who raises an infant against all odds. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a tear." Highlighted by amazing performance of four-year-old Coogan, who matches Chaplin pratfall for pratfall. Bonus Chaplin comedy: "A Dog's Life" (1918). More information about tickets and admission to come.
• Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920) starring John Barrymore; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Just in time for Halloween: our annual "Chiller Theatre" presentation! John Barrymore plays both title roles in the original silent film adaptation of the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. A spook-tacular performance that helped establish Barrymore as one of the silent era's top stars, highlighted by Barrymore's on-camera transformations done without special effects. 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.
• Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, 7 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928) starring Conrad Veidt; Tuscan Opera House, Dixfield, Maine; fundraiser for local historical society organized by students at Dirigo High School. Silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Directed by Paul Leni, who pioneered the visual style used in Universal horror classics such as 1931's 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein.' See it if you dare! Silent film with live music in legendary local venue. Admission charged: $10 per person.
• Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, 8 p.m.: "Der Golem" (1922); The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Admission $12, $10 student/senior. Get ready for Halloween with one very weird flick! In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates a giant creature from clay, called the Golem. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution. Early German fantasy flick anticipates Frankenstein story. Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, 6 p.m. "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; Whitingham Free Public Library, 2948 Route 100, Jacksonville, Vt.; (802) 368-7506. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Just in time for Halloween! Free and open to the public.
• Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, 8 p.m. "Nosferatu" (1922) directed by F.W. Murnau; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Celebrate Halloween season by experiencing the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself, if you dare. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing. online.
• Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Storm over Asia" (1928) directed by Vsevolod Pudovkin. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. (617) 496-3211. Admission $9 per person, $7 for non-Harvard students, Harvard faculty and staff, and senior citizens; free for Harvard students. After The End of St. Petersburg, Storm Over Asia is the third and final part of Pudovkin’s loose “Bolshevik trilogy,” the films on which his reputation as one of the leading Soviet filmmakers rests. The character of the film’s Russian title, the “heir of Genghis Khan,” is a Mongolian fur trapper and trader who rises from obscurity to claim the status of a hero of the Revolution due to his resistance to British troops occupying Mongolia during the Russian civil war that followed.
• Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Experience the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—and some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "Der Golem" (1922); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Get ready for Halloween with a very weird flick! In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates a giant creature from clay, called the Golem. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution. Early German fantasy flick anticipates Frankenstein story. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, 6 p.m.: "Waxworks" (1924) with Emil Jannings, Conrad Veidt, and Werner Krauss; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Just in time for Halloween: in this masterwork of the German Expressionist movement, a trilogy of terror is woven around the wax figures of a carnival sideshow. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday, Sept. 29 and Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, "The Buster Keaton Celebration"; Bowlus Fine Arts Center in beautiful downtown Iola, Kansas. Two days of Keaton-focused panels, films, and fellowship not far from Keaton's rural Kansas birthplace. Rumor has it this might be the last Keaton Celebration ever. (Update: it was!) For more info, check out their Web site.
• Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "Harry Houdini Silent Film Double Feature"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Rare surviving films from the great illusionist's brief movie career. In 'Terror Island' (1920) Houdini stars as a swashbuckling inventor who steers his high-tech submarine to a forbidden tropical isle to rescue the woman he loves; in 'The Man From Beyond' (1922), Houdini plays a man frozen 100 years in the Arctic who returns to civilization to reclaim his reincarnated love. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Speedy" (1928) starring Harold Lloyd; Bank of Utica Auditorium, the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, 310 Genesee St., Utica, N.Y.; (315)797-0000; www.mwpai.org. Harold's final silent feature is a tribute to New York City, baseball, and the idea that nice guys can indeed finish first. Complete with an extended cameo from none other than Babe Ruth! Part of the Institute's summer exhibition Roaring into the Future: New York, 1925-35. Admission: $10 MWPAI members; $15 general admission; $8 students.
• Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, 7:30 p.m.: "The Whirl of Life" (1915) starring Vernon and Irene Castle; Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, Conn. Fresh off their Broadway triumph promoting the Foxtrot in "Watch Your Step" (1914), Irving Berlin's first Broadway show, ballroom dancers Vernon and Irene Castle hit the silver screen in this loosely adapted mixture of their life story with a melodramatic tale of the period. Silent film screening, part of the "Colors of the Fall on the River" Vintage Dance Weekend. Tickets $25 per person and must be booked in advance; no tickets sold at door. For info about attending, visit this Constant Contact page. Trivia department: William Castle had a pet monkey named Jeffrey which survived the tragic 1918 plane crash in which Castle died.
• Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, 7 p.m.: Harry Houdini Silent Film Double Feature!; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Rare surviving films from the great illusionist's brief movie career. In 'Terror Island' (1920) Houdini stars as a swashbuckling inventor who steers his high-tech submarine to a forbidden tropical isle to rescue the woman he loves; in 'The Man From Beyond' (1922), Houdini plays a man frozen 100 years in the Arctic who returns to civilization to reclaim his reincarnated love. 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.
• Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, 8 p.m.: "Tol'able David" (1921) starring Richard Barthelmess; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. A farm family is poor but content until unsavory distant relatives unexpectedly arrive while on the lam from the law. Compelling story, plus filmed on location in back country Virginia, making for an amazing time capsule into America's vanished rural past. Admission $12, $10 student/senior. Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, 7 p.m.: "The Little American" (1917) starring Mary Pickford, directed by Cecil B. DeMille; Historical Society of Cheshire County; 246 Main St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-1895 ; www.HSCCNH.org. Current events drama in which American woman (Pickford) is in love with both a German and a French soldier during World War I. Production began only a week after the U.S. declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, and the movie was released in July, making it one of the first to reflect on the attitude of American involvement at the time. Part of the Historical Society's look at U.S. involvement in World War I. Free admission.
• Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, 2 p.m.: "Sherlock Holmes" (1916) starring William Gillette; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Recently discovered in France after being lost for nearly a century, see this original 1916 adaptation of Sherlock Holmes stories as performed by William Gillette, the actor who created the role on stage. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" (1926) directed by Lotte Reiniger; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Taken from 'The Arabian Nights,' the first full-length animated feature tells the story of a wicked sorcerer who tricks Prince Achmed into mounting a magical flying horse, sending him off to a series of wondrous and romantic adventures. A masterful example of silhouette-style animation and a true breakthrough in cinematic story-telling. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, 6 p.m.: "The Shield of Honor" (1927) starring Neil Hamilton; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Long before he played Commissioner Gordon in the iconic 1960s 'Batman' TV show, Neil Hamilton was a leading man, saving the day and getting the girl in a steady stream of films throughout the silent era. This vintage crime drama is a good example of his output. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday, Sept. 1 through Monday, Sept. 4, 2017: The Western New York Movie Expo and Memorabilia Show, Hilton Garden Inn, 4201 Genesee St., Cheektowaga, N.Y.; (716) 565-0040 Four-day successor to Cinefest, annual vintage film festival in Syracuse, N.Y. that ended in 2015. Silent features with live music include: "Burn ‘em Up Barnes" (1921) starring Johnny Hines; "Hot Water" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd; "The Juggernaut" (1915) starring Anita Stewart and Earle Williams; "Little Orphant Annie" (1918) starring Colleen Moore; a Kodascope print of "The Lost World" (1925) starring Wallace Beery and Bessie Love; "The Navigator" (1924) starring Buster Keaton; "Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman" (1917) starring John Barrymore; and "Zaza" starring Gloria Swanson. Plus many short subjects, including the restored full-length "Battle of the Century" pie fight with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.
• Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, 2 p.m.: "Get Your Man" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Long-lost Clara Bow feature only recently rescued and restored by the Library of Congress. Bow is Nancy Worthington, a liberated (of course) American in Paris who meets cute with French nobleman Robert Albin (Rogers) while on vacation by herself. Robert and Nancy fall hard for each other, but an arranged, politically motivated marriage stands in their way. Nancy scams her way onto the family estate, and complications ensue. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, 7 p.m. "Buster Keaton Double Feature"; Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington, Mass; (781) 646-4849. Join us for a pair of Buster Keaton's best comedies. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), Keaton plays a small-town movie projectionist who dreams of being a detective. In 'Three Ages' (1923), Keaton spoofs historical dramas by seeking true love in three differing epochs. Great physical comedy plus Buster's deadpan attitude will have you laughing out loud. Silent film with live music in a treasured neighborhood theater and performance space.
• Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Go West" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Buster's ranch comedy about the stone-faced comedian and his enduring romance with—a cow! Rustle up some belly laughs as Buster must prove himself worthy once again. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Celebrating Billy B Van"; Historical Society of Cheshire County; 246 Main St., Keene, N.H.; (603) 352-1895 ; www.HSCCNH.org. The Newport Historical Society brings to life Billy B. Van: “The Sunshine Peddler”. This multi-media (~60 min.) presentation brings to life a book of the same name by Jayna Hooper. The presentation celebrates Billy B. Van, his many outstanding accomplishments and his contributions to American culture that still bear fruit today. It includes slides of his many products, his music, quotes in character, and a 1920 silent film named the “Plucky Hoodoo,” starring Billy B. Van and filmed in the Georges Mills, N.H. area. From a vaudeville and Broadway performer to author, dairy farmer, soap maker, radio personality, motivational speaker Billy left sunshine in his wake during the darkest days of The Great Depression. Free admission.
• Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "Go West" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We conclude our 'Birth of the Western' series with Buster's ranch comedy about the stone-faced comedian and his enduring romance with—a cow! Rustle up some belly laughs as Buster must prove himself worthy once again. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, 1:45 p.m.: "Sleeping Beauty" (1908) and "Snow White" (1916); silent film at the Toronto International Film Festival Cinematheque. "Sleeping Beauty": A beautifully designed adaptation of the Perrault fairy tale, brought to the screen by top Pathé director Albert Capellani. "Snow White": An underrated gem of the silent era, this 1916 adaptation of Snow White is one of the few surviving films of the appealingly childlike Marguerite Clark, who was one of Hollywood's biggest stars of the period. Based on Winthrop Ames' 1912 stage play (which also featured Clark in the title role), this version of the beloved tale substantially departs from the original Brothers Grimm story, most notably by dividing the character of Snow White's nemesis between the evil Queen Brangomar (Dorothy Cumming) and a witch named Hex (Alice Washburn).
• Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Sherlock Holmes" (1916) starring William Gillette; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Recently discovered in France after being lost for nearly a century, see this original 1916 adaptation of Sherlock Holmes stories as performed by William Gillette, the actor who created the role on stage. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
Guest accompanist Andrew E. Simpson!
• Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Die Bergkatze/The Wildcat" or "The Mountain Cat" (1921), directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. (617) 496-3211. Admission $9 per person, $7 for non-Harvard students, Harvard faculty and staff, and senior citizens; free for Harvard students. Part of a summer-long retrospective of the work of director Ernst Lubitsch. Amidst delightfully bizarre décor—framed by altering screen shapes—a stalwart bandit chaser falls for bandit’s daughter Pola Negri. Lubitsch’s German comedy masterpiece is "both an anti-militarist satire and a wonderful fairy tale" (John Gillett). For this screening, I'm pleased to have accompanist Andrew E. Simpson sit in at the keyboard!
• Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, 7:30 p.m. "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. 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. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as an stunning example of the power of silent film to tell a compelling story without words, and reach across the generations to touch movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing. online.
• Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Go West" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Buster heads out to ranch country, where the stone-faced comedian encounters romance with—a cow! Can he save his love from a trip to the livestock yards? Rustle up some belly laughs as Buster must once again prove himself worthy to all those who doubt him. 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.
• Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, "Zaza" (1923) starring Gloria Swanson, H.B. Warner. Vintage Dance Weekend, Knights of Columbus Hall, Nahant, Mass. Private event not open to the general public. Romance set in France in which Swanson plays a hot-tempered provincial actress who gets entangled with a married diplomat. Swanson's ebullience in Zaza was unfeigned; she called it "the fastest, easiest, most enjoyable picture I ever made."
• Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "The Wizard of Oz" (1925) starring Larry Semon; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Early silent film version of Frank L. Baum's immortal tales features silent comedian Larry Semon in a slapstick romp that also casts Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man. Oz as you've never seen it before! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "Wagon Tracks" (1919) starring William S. Hart; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Our summer series, The Birth of the Western, continues with 'Wagon Tracks' (1919). William S. Hart as Buckskin Hamilton, guiding a wagon train across the wasteland, caring well for the pioneers he escorts, but also hoping to solve the murder of his brother by one of the travelers. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Anna Boleyn" (1920) directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. (617) 496-3211. Admission $9 per person, $7 for non-Harvard students, Harvard faculty and staff, and senior citizens; free for Harvard students. Part of a summer-long retrospective of the work of director Ernst Lubitsch. Emil Jannings’ tour-de-force as Henry VIII highlights the most impressive of Lubitsch’s spectacles, with Henny Porten as the eponymous Anna.
• Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017, 7:30 p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1922) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Admission $12, $10 student/senior. A cowardly young man must learn to conquer his fears before dealing with a larger menace to his community. Riotous small town comedy that helped propel Harold Lloyd into the most popular movie comedian of the 1920s. Bonus Lloyd short comedy: "Never Weaken" (1921). Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, 6 p.m.: "Christine of the Big Tops" (1926) starring Pauline Garon, Cullen Landis; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Raised in a traveling circus, young orphan Christine is eager to prove her worth on the trapeze. But her real challenge is choosing between the affections of her Guardian and a young doctor. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, July 30, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "Branded a Bandit" (1924) and "The Iron Rider" (1926), double feature starring Yakima Canutt; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Our summer series, The Birth of the Western, continues with two films featuring famed stunt rider Yakima Canutt. In 'Branded a Bandit,' a miner has struck it rich and gives some ore to cowhand Jess Dean to take to his granddaughter. But Horse Williams has the miner shot and uses the ore found on Jess to accuse him of the murder. In 'The Iron Rider' (1926), after he loses his money and horse in a poker game, Yak learns he was cheated. But then he learns that the men that cheated him are wanted and have a price on their heads. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, July 20, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "The Crowd" (1928); starring Eleanor Boardman, James Murray, directed by King Vidor; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. King Vidor's intense drama about the life of an everyman who aims high, but life has other ideas. Filled with iconic scenes showing the eloquence of silent film at its most fluent. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 16, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "Sand" (1920) starring William S. Hart; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Our summer series, The Birth of the Western, continues with 'Sand' (1920). A righteous railroad agent is fired from his job after false accusations are launched against him. Another great vehicle for grim-faced Western star William S. Hart, the silent film's era's version of John Wayne. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, July 15, 2017, 7 p.m.: A Dare-Devil Aviation Double Feature!; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. In 'The Phantom Flyer' (1928) famous stunt pilot Al Wilson portrays a border patrol aviator who uses his flying skills to save girlfriend Mary (Lillian Gilmore) from cattle rustlers. And in 'The Sky Rider' (1928), join Champion the Wonder Dog as he flies along with his master Dick to foil the plot of a disinherited nephew to get even with—well, it's complicated! Come see for yourself as we recreate the silent film experience (biplanes included) that caused people to first fall in love with the movies. 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.
• Thursday, July 13, 2017, 7 p.m.: "The Wizard of Oz" (1925) starring Larry Semon; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Early silent film version of L. Frank Baum's immortal tales features silent comedian Larry Semon in a slapstick romp that also casts Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man. Oz as you've never seen it before! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 9, 2017, 7 p.m.: "So This Is Paris" (1926) directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. (617) 496-3211. Admission $9 per person, $7 for non-Harvard students, Harvard faculty and staff, and senior citizens; free for Harvard students. Part of a summer-long retrospective of the work of director Ernst Lubitsch. Hilariously over-the-top Modern Dancers Lilyan Tashman and André Beranger are already looking for extracurricular action when in barges jealous, cane-wielding married doctor Monte Blue and the four-way complications begin, resolved in “an astounding Charleston sequence – a kind of cubist nightmare of what 20s people thought they were really like (John Gillett).”
• Sunday, July 9, 2017, 2 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Thursday, July 6, 2017, 7:30 p.m.: "The Lost World" (1925) starring Wallace Beery, Bessie Love; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Admission $12, $10 student/senior. First-ever movie adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary tale of British explorers who discover pre-historic 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. Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Thursday, June 29, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Dare-Devil Aviation Double Feature"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Join fellow flyboys and flygals for a double feature of vintage silent film featuring 1920s biplane action, all accompanied by live music. In 'The Phantom Flyer' (1928) famous stunt flyer Al Wilson portrays a border patrol aviator who must use his pilot skills to save girlfriend Mary (Lillian Gilmore) from cattle rustlers. And in 'The Sky Rider' (1928), join Champion the Wonder Dog as he flies along with his master Dick to foil the plot of a disinherited nephew to get even with—well, it's complicated! Come see for yourself as we recreate the silent film experienceSee great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, June 27, 2017, 6 p.m.: "Tempest" (1928) starring John Gilbert, Camilla Horn; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Epic drama in which an officer in the Czar's army (Barrymore) falls hard for a haughty princess (Horn), who spurns him and causes him to be stripped of rank. But the tables are turned with the Russian revolution, which upends the aristocracy and puts the soldier and the princess at the mercy of forces that no one can control. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Monday, June 26, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Kohlhiesel's Daughters" (1920) directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. (617) 496-3211. Admission $9 per person, $7 for non-Harvard students, Harvard faculty and staff, and senior citizens; free for Harvard students. Part of a summer-long retrospective of the work of director Ernst Lubitsch. Dual-roled Henny Porten and Emil Jannings replay The Taming of the Shrew in the Bavarian Alps.
• Sunday, June 25, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "The Covered Wagon" (1925); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. This summer's silent film series: The Birth of the Western! Long before anyone heard a gunshot in a movie, audiences loved pictures set in the wide open spaces of the American West. This summer, we'll bring you some of the best Westerns from cinema's early years. First up: 'The Covered Wagon.' Two wagon caravans converge at what is now Kansas City, and combine for the westward push to Oregon. On their quest the pilgrims experience desert heat, mountain snow, hunger, and Indian attack. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, June 22, 2017, 7:30 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Admission $12, $10 student/senior. Chaplin's landmark comedy/drama about a man who raises an infant against all odds. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a tear." Highlighted by amazing performance of four-year-old Coogan, who matches Chaplin pratfall for pratfall. Bonus Chaplin comedy: "A Dog's Life" (1918). Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Monday, June 19, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Madame Dubarry" (1919) directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. (617) 496-3211. Admission $9 per person, $7 for non-Harvard students, Harvard faculty and staff, and senior citizens; free for Harvard students. Part of a summer-long retrospective of the work of director Ernst Lubitsch. The romance of Emil Jannings’ Louis XV with coquettish commoner Pola Negri leads to the French Revolution in the equally revolutionary epic that launched Lubitsch’s international fame and led to his exodus in Hollywood.
• Sunday, June 18, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Shoe-Palace Pinkus" (1916) and "Meyer from Berlin" (1919), directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. (617) 496-3211. Admission $9 per person, $7 for non-Harvard students, Harvard faculty and staff, and senior citizens; free for Harvard students. Part of a summer-long retrospective of the work of director Ernst Lubitsch. "Meyer From Berlin": one of a series of popular “Jewish comedies” starring Lubitsch himself as a go-getting schlemiel.
• Sunday, June 18, 2017, 2 p.m.: "So This Is Paris" (1926) directed by Ernst Lubitsch; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. If you like your 1920s sex comedies light and frothy, then director Ernst Lubitsch is your guy. This madcap romp, set among the sophisticated elite in the City of Light, buzzes with energy on the dance floor and elsewhere. Plus it helped popularize the Charleston! A rare chance to see this title in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, June 17, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Running Wild" (1927) starring W.C. Fields; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. In one of his best silent roles, W.C. Fields plays a hen-pecked husband who lacks the courage to stand up to his domineering wife—until an inadvertent encounter with a hypnotist completely upends the family's domestic status quo. A great showcase for the younger Fields' abilities in pantomime and visual humor. 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.
• Thursday, June 15 to Saturday, June 17, 2017: "Mostly Lost" in Culpeper, Va. Three-day festival of early cinema with an emphasis on collaborative identification of unknown material; not invited to accompany, but planning to go out and watch, listen, and enjoy.
Sorry! Screening cancelled due to schedule conflict.
• Friday, June 9, 2017, 9 a.m. Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. Our sevenh annual presentation to some of the brightest kids in southern New Hampshire!
• Thursday, June 8, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Running Wild" (1927) starring W.C. Fields; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Long before he entertained movie audiences with his nasal twang, W.C. Fields was a popular leading man in silent film comedies! This one finds Fields as a hen-pecked husband finally driven to make surprising changes in his life. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, June 8, 2017, Silent Film Program; Weare Middle School, 16 East Road, Weare, N.H. Silent film programs for students in Grades 4-8.
• Sunday, June 4, 2017, 7:30 p.m. "The Wizard of Oz" (1925) starring Larry Semon, Dorothy Dwan; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Early silent film version of Frank L. Baum's immortal tales features silent comedian Larry Semon in a slapstick romp that also casts Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man. Oz as you've never seen it before! Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing. online.
• Thursday, June 1, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Broke stockbroker Buster will inherit a fortune provided he's a married man...by 7 p.m. today! Classic Keaton comedy, complete with one of the best silent film chases to come out of the golden age of comedy. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, May 28, 2017, 4 p.m.: "The Cheat" (1915) directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Fannie Ward, Sessue Hayakawa, Jack Dean; The Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto, ON M6R 2M9, Canada; (416) 531-9950; http://revuecinema.ca Intense drama about a New York stockbroker's wife who becomes indebted to a wealthy Asian merchant. Breakthrough film of Cecil B. DeMille, with acting, story, and production values far in advance of the time.
• Thursday, May 25, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Buster Keaton Double Feature"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Join us for a pair of Buster Keaton's best comedies. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), Keaton plays a small-town movie projectionist who dreams of being a detective. In 'Three Ages' (1923), Keaton spoofs historical dramas by seeking true love in three differing epochs. Great physical comedy plus Buster's deadpan attitude will have you laughing out loud. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, May 21, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "The Trail of '98" (1928); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Join the surge of adventurers headed north to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush in this big-budget MGM spectacular. Directed by Clarence Brown; enormous cast features Delores Del Rio, Karl Dane, many others. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, May 19, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Silent Film Comedy Night"; Mascoma Valley Regional High School, 27 Royal Road, Canaan, N.H. Come check out the school's brand new performing arts center, and enjoy silent film comedy with live music. A double feature of Keaton's most beguiling comic features. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), amateur detective Buster tried to bust open the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local theatre; in 'The Cameraman' (1928), Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer. Can he get a break and get the girl? Classic visual comedy with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers. Free and open to the public; donations gratefully accepted.
• Thursday, May 18, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "Speedway" (1929) starring William Haines, Ernest Torrance, Anita Page; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Fasten your seat belts! We mark the traditional Memorial Day running of the Indianapolis 500 with a vintage race car drama filmed right on the famed track—at speeds topping 115 mph! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, May 14, 2017, 2 p.m.: "Greed" (1924), directed by Erich von Stroheim; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Sudden fortune won from a lottery creates such destructive greed that it ruins the lives of the three people involved. Legendary director Erich Von Stroheim's great masterpiece brought silent film drama to new heights of intensity. Rare chance to see this film in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, May 13, 2017, 7 p.m.: Silent 'Our Gang' Festival; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Long before Alfalfa and Spanky, an earlier version of "The Little Rascals" had a long run during the silent film era. Take a trip back to the early years of "Our Gang" with some of their most popular comedies. 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.
• Friday, May 12, 2017, 6 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen; Webster, N.H., Webster Public Library/Town Hall, 947 Battle St., Webster N.H. Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. Presented by the Webster (N.H.) Public Library and the Webster (N.H.) Historical Society as part of a program to commemorate the U.S. entry in World War I. Free admission, all welcome to attend.
• Thursday, May 11, 2017, 7:30 p.m.: "The Winning of Barbara Worth" (1926) starring Gary Cooper, Ronald Coleman, Vilma Banky; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (781) 648-6022; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Admission $12, $10 student/senior. Epic Western about the settling and irrigation of California's Imperial Valley, once a wasteland but now an agricultural paradise. Shot on location by director Henry King in Nevada's Black Rock desert, one of the first films to take audiences to the wide open spaces of the great American West. With a young Gary Cooper playing a key role. Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Saturday, May 6, 2017, 7:30 p.m.: "Tumbleweeds" (1925) starring William S. Hart; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. William S. Hart stars in his last and most famous film, made before his retirement from the screen. It depicts the great Cherokee Strip land rush, in which scoundrels frame our hero, to keep him from participating. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Tuesday, May 2, 2017, 6 p.m.: "Let's Go" (1923) starring Richard Talmadge, Eileen Percy; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Light-hearted romp with Talmadge playing scion of a family-owned cement company. A business trip brings headaches over a paving contract, but also a chance at romance. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged
• Sunday, April 30, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "Silent 'Our Gang' Festival"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Long before Alfalfa and Spanky, an earlier version of "The Little Rascals" had a long run during the silent film era. Take a trip back to the early years of "Our Gang" with some of their most popular comedies. Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, April 29, 2017, 9 a.m.: "Girl Scout Silent Film Program"; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/.
• Friday, April 28, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Buster Keaton Double Feature"; the Antrim Grange #98, Antrim Grange Hall at 253 Clinton Road, Antrim, N.H. Admission free, with suggested donation of $5 to defray expenses. A double feature of Keaton's most beguiling comic features. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), amateur detective Buster tried to bust open the mystery of who stole a watch, but instead dreams himself into the crime drama at a local theatre; in 'The Cameraman' (1928), Keaton tries to impress the gal of his dreams by working as a newsreel photographer. Can he get a break and get the girl? Classic visual comedy with Keaton at the peak of his creative powers.
• Saturday, April 22, 2017, 7 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Ludlow Auditorium, Ludlow, Vt. Chaplin's breakthrough feature, a story with "a smile, and perhaps a tear," blends comedy and pathos in equal measures; five-year-old Coogan delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of cinema. Also on the program: "A Dog's Life (1918), Chaplin's short comedy in which his co-star is furry and has four legs. Silent film with live music in the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall, 37 Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. Looking forward to bringing silent film to life with live music in this wonderful and historic venue!
• Thursday, April 13, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "King of Kings" (1927) directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring H.B. Warner; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Long before he played Old Man Gower in 'It's a Wonderful Life,' actor H.B. Warner tackled the much meatier role of Jesus Christ in this Cecil B. DeMille blockbuster. Just in time for Easter; crucifixion scene comes complete with earthquake, landslides, and a cast of thousands. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, April 9, 2017, 2 p.m.: "The Wind" (1928) starring Lillian Gish; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. A frail young woman from the east moves in with her cousin in the west, where she causes tension within the family and is slowly driven mad. Towering, intense performance by Lillian Gish in one of MGM's last major silent dramas; told with visual style by Swedish director Victor Seastrom. One of the all-time silent classics and not to be missed. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
Cancelled. Sorry!
• Friday, April 7, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Der Golem" (1920); At Lunacon, the longest-running Science Fiction and Fantasy convention in the New York area, presented by the New York Science Fiction Society - the Lunarians (2), Inc, at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, NY, on the weekend of April 7 - 9, 2017. In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates a giant creature from clay, called the Golem. Using sorcery, brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution. Early German fantasy flick anticipates Frankenstein story.
• Thursday, April 6, 2017, 7:30 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (603) 536-2551; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. Admission $12, $10 student/senior. As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries to make the grade even as storm clouds gather. Film climaxes with legendary cyclone sequence, one of Buster's best. Bonus Keaton comedy: "Cops" (1922). Silent film with live music at a terrific locally owned neighborhood cinema!
• Tuesday, April 4, 2017, 6 p.m.: "Othello" (1922) starring Emil Jannings, Werner Krauss; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. We celebrate Shakespeare's birthday (he died this month, too) with an early silent version of the bard's immortal tragedy as brought to the screen in an early German version. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, April 2, 2017, 7 p.m. "Peter Pan" (1924); Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Saturday, April 1, 2017, 7 p.m. "Cops" (1922) and "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Northeast Catholic College (formerly The College of Saint Mary Magdalen), 511 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Warner, N.H. Double bill of comedies starring Buster Keaton. The early short masterpiece 'Cops' finds Buster inadvertently on the run from law. In 'The Cameraman,' portrait photographer Buster exchanges his still camera for a movie camera in an effort to break into the newsreel business and win the attention of a special gal. Spectacular movie-themed Keaton comedy filled with great stunts filmed on a grand scale. Silent film program on the campus of Northeast Catholic College. Admission is free for Northeast Catholic students and any others with college ID; general public admission is $5 per person.
• Sunday, March 26, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "'The Wizard of Oz'" (1925) starring Larry Semon, Oliver Hardy; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Early silent film version of Frank L. Baum's immortal tales features silent comedian Larry Semon in a slapstick romp that also casts Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man. Oz as you've never seen it before! Monthly series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, March 24, 2017, 7 p.m. "Dare-Devil Aviation Double Feature"; Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, N.H.; (603) 669-4820. Join fellow flyboys and flygals for a double feature of vintage silent film featuring 1920s biplane action, all accompanied by live music. In 'The Phantom Flyer' (1928) famous stunt flyer Al Wilson portrays a border patrol aviator who must use his pilot skills to save girlfriend Mary (Lillian Gilmore) from cattle rustlers. And in 'The Sky Rider' (1928), join Champion the Wonder Dog as he flies along with his master Dick to foil the plot of a disinherited nephew to get even with—well, it's complicated! Come see for yourself as we recreate the silent film experience (planes included) that caused people to first fall in love with the movies: the big screen, live music, and an audience to get riled up about it all. And all this in a hanger-like space right alongside Runway 17-35 at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. Admission charge; more details to come.
• Wednesday, March 22, 2017, 7 p.m.: "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Danish director Carl Dreyer's intense recreation of the trial of Joan of Arc set new standards for cinematography and expanded the language of film in new directions. Extreme close-ups, expressionistic photography, and a stellar cast (including, in the title role, the only film performance of legendary stage actress Renée Falconetti) combine to create a movie-going experience that remains riveting today. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Saturday, March 18, 2017, 7 p.m.: Silent Film Program: Halloween in March! at the Blazing Star Grange Hall, North Road in Danbury, N.H. You've heard of "Christmas in July?" Well, welcome to "Halloween in March," a program of spooky silent film with live music presented by the local Grange chapter. Rumor has it the main attraction will be Lon Chaney in 'Phantom of the Opera' (1925), but check back for details. Free and open to the public; suggested donation of $5 at the door.
• Friday, March 17, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) and "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden St., Concord Center, Mass.
978-369-4837. Tonight's program features Buster Keaton in a pair of his great starring films, both centering on the subject of movies themselves. In 'Sherlock Jr.,' Buster breeches the fourth wall big-time as a movie projectionist who dreams himself into a crime thriller In 'The Cameraman,' to impress the girl of his dreams, mild-mannered portrait photographer Buster takes up the glamorous profession of newsreel cameraman. One of the best comedies of the silent era. The film program is open to the public; $5 per person admission.
• Thursday, March 16, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "Sadie Thompson" (1928) starring Gloria Swanson, Lionel Barrymore, Raoul Walsh; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Intense drama of a "fallen woman" who comes to an island in the South Seas to start a new life, but encounters a zealous missionary who wants to force her back to her former life in San Francisco. See Gloria Swanson, one of the silent screen's leading ladies, in one of her leading roles in a film made long before she played Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard." Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Thursday, March 16, 2017, "Silent Film Program"; Canterbury Elementary School, Canterbury, N.H. Silent film program as part of annual enrichment program at local school.
• Friday, March 10, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Shoes" (1916), directed by Lois Weber, with live narration by noted Japanese Benshi artist Ichiro Kataoka; Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. Admission $12. (617) 496-3211. Plus Japanese short films: 'Taro's Train' (1929) and 'Blood's Up at Takata No Baba' (1928). 'Shoes' is a remarkably frank and progressive feminist film by the great Lois Weber, one of the most prolific and high-ranking directors of the silent era. One of Universal's biggest box office successes of 1916, Shoes was rapturously received by contemporary Japanese audiences. Ichiro Kataoka graduated from the Nihon University College of Art and began training under Sawato in 2002. He is the most well-known benshi of his generation, a rising star who is also the most internationally active benshi, having given performances in countries such as Croatia, Germany and Australia. Performing a broad repertoire of styles, Mr. Kataoka is known not only for performing with the more traditional benshi accompaniment of a small ensemble or select Japanese instruments, but also for working with experimental or electronic music.
• Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 6 p.m.: "The Shamrock and the Rose" (1927) starring Mack Swain, Olive Hasbrouck; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Prepare for St. Patrick's with this vintage ethnic comedy about the Irish Kellys and the Jewish Cohens, neighbors in home, rivals in business—and now forced to deal with an unexpected inter-family romance! Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, March 5, 2017, The Docks of New York (1928) starring George Bancroft, Betty Compson, and Olga Baclanova; Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd, Cleveland, Ohio. Director Josef von Sternberg's masterful drama about a ship laborer who rescues a beautiful woman from drowning, but then finds his life changed in unexpected ways. Another gem from the late silent years, highlighted by realistic performances, gritty set design, and vivid black-and-white photography. Shown in 35mm.
• Saturday, March 4, 2017, Lon Chaney Double Feature; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. Two strange late silent thrillers, both starring Chaney at the peak of his career and directed by Todd Browning, who would later helm the cult film 'Freaks' (1932). In 'The Unknown' (1927), Chaney plays 'Alonzo the Armless,' a circus knife-thrower (he uses his feet!) with a dark past who lusts after trapeze artist Joan Crawford, who is pursued by the circus strong man, but she has a phobia about being held by a man. See where this is going? In 'West of Zanzibar' (1928), Chaney plays a vaudeville magician who loses use of his legs in an accident but still journeys to Africa to seek revenge on the wealthy businessman (Lionel Barrymore) who stole his beloved. Both films shown in 35mm.
• Friday, March 3, 2017, 7:30 p.m. "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton, Marceline Day; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. To impress the girl of his dreams, mild-mannered portrait photographer Buster takes up the glamorous profession of newsreel cameraman. One of the best comedies of the silent era, shown in 35mm.
• Thursday, March 2, 2017, 7:30 p.m., "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Silent film program at The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1028 Scott Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky. (859) 491-2030; www.thecarnegie.com. Chaplin's breakthrough feature, a story with "a smile, and perhaps a tear," blends comedy and pathos in equal measures; five-year-old Coogan delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of cinema. Admission: $21 per person. Silent film with live music at a terrific cultural museum that's just across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, 3 p.m.: 'The Adventures of Prince Achmed' (1926); Collins Cinema, located in the Davis Museum complex, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass. Earliest surviving feature-length animated film is screened as part of 'Cinephile Sundays' at Wellesley College. Screening is free and open to the public.
• Friday, Feb. 24 & Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, 21st Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Annual pilgrimage to wonderful two-day celebration of silent film with live music. Titles to be accompanied include the animated feature 'The Adventures of Prince Achmed' (1926). Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org.
• Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, 2 p.m.: Silent Film Comedy Program, Siouxland Film Festival, Sioux City, Iowa. Siouxland Film Festival is western Iowa's premier film event, featuring dozens of local, national and international films each year. The event is presented at the Historic Orpheum Theater in downtown Sioux City, Iowa each winter. More details to come!
• Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "The Clinging Vine" (1926) starring Leatrice Joy; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Recover from Valentine's Day with this gender-bending comedy in which a high-powered female executive yearns to become more feminine. Surprisingly androgynous performance by Joy, wife of MGM megastar John Gilbert. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, 7 p.m. "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. When words can't express how you feel, try silent film! pre-Special Valentine's Day program at popular brew-pub. In 'Seven Chances,' Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an unexpected inheritance of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7 p.m. that very day. Can Buster somehow find the girl of his dreams while being pursued by an army of women eager to marry a soon-to-be millionaire? One of Buster's best comedies, climaxed by one of the great chase scenes in all silent film comedy. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Salt for Svanetia" (1930), the Kennington Bioscope, Cinema Museum, 2 Dugard Way, off Renfrew Road. London SE11 4TH, United Kingdom. Story of distant mountainous region in Georgia that depicts folklore, lifestyle and daily routines of Svani people, focuses on the scarcity of salt in Svaneti region. Rich with documentary value, the movie also served for Soviet propaganda. Also, a rare 9.5mm print of 'Tales of the One Thousand and One Nights' (1921) directed by V. Tourjansky. Starring Nathalie Kovanko and Nicholas Rimsky. Silent film with live music at a London cinemahouse. My London debut as a silent film accompanist!
• Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: 7th Heaven (1927), starring Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Celebrate Valentine's Day with Frank Borzage's legendary tale of romance on the eve of World War I. Leading lady Janet Gaynor won the very first Academy Award for Best Actress for his work in this moving, emotional tribute to love that stands the test of time. Also first-ever Oscars for Best Director to Borzage and for Best Adapted Screenplay to writer Benjamin Glazer. Warning: Bring tissues! Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, 5 p.m.: "Paths to Paradise" (1925) starring Raymond Griffith; Campton Historical Society, Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H.; Campton Historical Society. 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! Opening film: 'Big Business' (1929) starring Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy. Attempting to sell Christmas trees door to door in sunny southern California, Stan and Ollie run into one homeowner definitely not in the holiday spirit. Complications ensue, as only they can when Laurel and Hardy tackle a task. Feature attraction: 'Paths to Paradise' (1925) starring Raymond Griffith, Betty Compson. Two competing would-be jewel thieves reluctantly team up to pull off a major heist. Starring Raymond Griffith, a leading comedian for Paramount Pictures (and the only one with a New Hampshire connection) whose popularity rivaled Chaplin and Keaton in the 1920s, but who is forgotten today because most of his films are lost.
• Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, 7 p.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Phillips Church, Tan Lane, Phillips Exeter Academy Concert Series, Exeter, N.H. Buster stands to inherit a fortune but for one small obstacle: he needs to be married today by 7 p.m. Buster attempts to remedy this, with unforeseen consequences. Live accompaniment to screening of silent film; free and open to the public.
• Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, 4:30 p.m.: "Way Down East" (1920) starring Lillian Gish; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. One of the most popular films of the silent era features Lillian Gish as a wronged woman who can't escape her past. Still-thrilling climax on ice floes heading towards the falls was filmed on the Connecticut River! Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, 5 p.m.: "Halloween in January"; Liberty Ridge Farm, Schaghticoke, N.Y.; http://www.libertyridgefarmny/. An evening of silent film with live music in the converted barn of a recreational farm, plus pot luck supper. A now-annual mid-winter get-together for all those in this upstate New York town who don't head south for the winter. By invite only, but if you'd like to attend, bring a pot luck dish and you won't be refused. For this year's program, we visit Halloween with some spooky silent film favorites, highlighted by the comedy thriller 'The Cat and the Canary' (1927) from director Paul Leni.
• Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, 7 p.m.: "The Winning of Barbara Worth" (1926) starring Ronald Colman, Gary Cooper, Vilma Banky; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Epic-scale Western about the settlement of California's parched Imperial Valley, and the struggle to harness the Colorado River to create an agricultural paradise. Great story with Ronald Colman and Gary Cooper competing for Vilma Banky. Shot on location in Nevada's spectacular Black Rock desert; climaxed with an entire town getting swept away by a flood. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, 2 p.m.: "Kilimanjaro Suite," the New Hampshire Philharmonic, music director Mark Latham; Stockbridge Theatre, 44 North Main St., Derry, N.H. World premiere of orchestral score by Jeff Rapsis. Tickets $12 to $50; students $10. When I joined a group trekking to the summit of Africa's highest mountain in January, 2015, I wasn't thinking of music. But it was all around me, and writing this suite for orchestra helped me put my Kilimanjaro experience into perspective. It's the first of several works I have planned as I begin to move more into music that's written down, while still keeping up my improv-heavy silent film accompaniment schedule.
• Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, 6:30 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924) starring Betty Bronson, Ernest Torrence; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017, 7 p.m. "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Ring in the new year with vintage look at things to come, in the form of "Metropolis" (1927), the eye-popping silent film sci-fi masterpiece of German filmmaker Fritz Lang. Restored version includes nearly a half-hour of lost footage that was rediscovered in Argentina in 2008. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as an stunning example of the power of silent film to tell a compelling story without words, and reach across the generations to touch movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, 6 p.m.: "The Power of the Press" (1928) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Jobyna Ralston, directed by Frank Capra; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Clem Rogers is a cub reporter writing obits and weather reports when he gets a chance at a story so big he'll get the front page for sure! Light-hearted drama helmed by a very young Frank Capra. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" (1926) starring Harry Langdon, Joan Crawford; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Burn off those holiday calories with laughter courtesy Harry Langdon's breakthrough feature. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "The Kiss" (1929) starring Greta Garbo; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Take a break from holiday shopping with this steamy romance and courtroom thriller. Will Garbo resort to murder, risking everything for love? Garbo's last silent role and the final silent film released by MGM. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Tess of the Storm Country" (1922) starring Mary Pickford; Townsend (Mass.) Public Library, 12 Dudley Road, Townsend, Mass.; (978) 597-1714; http://www.townsendlibrary.org. What did people watch before special holiday TV programs such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" made their debut in the 1960s? See for yourself with a special program of holiday classics from way back during the silent film era, all accompanied by live music. Included will be the first-ever film versions of such popular tales as 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' the poem by Clement C. Moore. Highlighted by Mary Pickford's feature-length melodrama 'Tess of the Story Country' (1922), with a touching Christmas-time conclusion. Celebrate the coming holiday season with a silent film program at a very nice town library; free admission!
• Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, 6 p.m.: "Mockery" (1927) starring Lon Chaney; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. During the Russian Revolution, a mentally challenged peasant saves a beautiful countess from invading Cossacks, then obsesses over her. Often overlooked Chaney drama with heavy helping of class warfare. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, 5 to 8 p.m.: "Park Theatre Annual Meeting," Jaffrey, N.H.; www.theparktheatre.org/. Silent film with live music as part of the annual meeting of supporters of this effort to re-establish a theater in downtown Jaffrey, N.H. Program. Meeting takes place at Jaffrey Women's Club, 33 Main St., Jaffrey, N.H. Silent film/live music program of about 40 minutes included on meeting agenda; films will be short holiday-themed movies from the early days of cinema, including 'Big Business' (1929) starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Free and open to the public, but would-be attendees asked to reserve seats by calling the Park Theatre at (603) 532-8888 or go online at http://theparktheatre.net/now-showing/.
• Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "Silent Comedy Double Helping"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Finish off your Thanksgiving weekend with a pair of comedies that will help you work off calories with laughter. The inimitable Raymond Griffith stars in both 'Paths to Paradise' (1925) and 'Hands Up!' (1926). Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, 6 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925) directed by King Vidor, starring John Gilbert; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. We mark Veterans Day with MGM's landmark film, a sweeping drama about U.S. doughboys facing down death in the World War I trenches. Starring John Gilbert and directed by King Vidor, an epic that set the standard for generations of war movies to come. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Seven Chances" starring Buster Keaton; The SNOB (Somewhat North of Boston) Film Festival/ N.E. Indie Fest, Red River Theatres, Concord, N.H. Festival passes accepted or $10 single screening admission. Buster stands to inherit a fortune but for one small obstacle: he needs to be married today by 7 p.m. Buster attempts to remedy this, with unforeseen consequences. Silent film with live music as part of this annual four-day celebration.
• Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "Her Sister From Paris" (1925) starring Constance Talmadge, Ronald Colman; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The scene: Europe. The cast: Rich people. Get swept off your feet by not one but two privileged ladies, both played by amazing actress Constance Talmadge, who was Buster Keaton's sister-in-law. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, 7:30 p.m.: "The Bargain" (1914) starring William S. Hart; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. In his feature film debut, William S. Hart plays Two-Gun Stoker, a desperado on the run whose life is changed by a kind woman. One of the first Westerns to feature sweeping footage of the Grand Canyon! Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, 6:30 p.m. "Wings" (1927) directed by William Wellman, starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen; Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, N.H.; (603) 669-4820. Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. Fund-raiser for the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. Admission charge. More details to come.
• Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016, 6 p.m.: "The Third Alarm" (1922) and "The Coast Patrol" (1925); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Fire and water mix in a double bill of classic low budget melodramas, one about a firefighter forced to retire when the department switches from horses to motorized vehicles, and another about smugglers who threaten a lighthouse keeper's peaceful post. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Just in time for Halloween! Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, 8 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928) starring Conrad Veidt; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Directed by Paul Leni, who pioneered the visual style used in Universal horror classics such as 1931's 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein.' See it if you dare! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Oct. 28, 2016, 7:30 p.m. "Nosferatu" (1921); Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington, Mass; (781) 646-4849, www.regenttheatre.com. Admission $12 in advance, $15 at door. Celebrate Halloween by experiencing the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself, if you dare. Silent film with live music in a theater that's been operating for more than a century!
• Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, 8 p.m.: "The Unholy Three" (1925) starring Lon Chaney, directed by Tod Browning; The Capitol Theatre, 204 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, Mass.; (603) 536-2551; http://capitoltheatreusa.com/. In this hypnotic mix of creepiness and crime, the man of a thousand faces (Chaney) plays a ventriloquist who dons a granny disguise to team with a strongman and a little person in a bizarre robbery scheme that ends in murder. The film is the first collaboration between Chaney and director Browning, who would helm seven more Chaney movies before making sound era horror history with 'Dracula' (1931) and 'Freaks' (1932). A great way to get into the Halloween spirit. See it if you dare!
• Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928) starring Conrad Veidt; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Creepy and unnerving adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Great Halloween film, set the stage for Universal horror classics such as 'Frankenstein' and 'Dracula.' Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928) starring Conrad Veidt; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Directed by Paul Leni, who pioneered the visual style used in Universal horror classics such as 1931's 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein.' See it if you dare! Preceded by spooky comedy short subjects. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, 7 p.m. "Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Just in time for Halloween! Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
•Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016, 1 p.m. "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1921) starring John Barrymore; Whitingham Free Public Library, 2948 Route 100, Jacksonville, Vt.; (802) 368-7506. Just in time for Halloween! John Barrymore plays both title roles in the original silent film adaptation of the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. A performance that helped establish Barrymore as one of the silent era's top stars. Free and open to the public.
• Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, 8 p.m.: "The Unknown" (1927) starring Lon Chaney; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Celebrate Halloween with a twisted circus drama starring Lon Chaney as 'Alonzo the Armless' and a very young Joan Crawford as the woman he loves but cannot have. Directed by Tod Browning, who would go on to create the cult classic 'Freaks' (1932). Part of a planned multi-day "TerrorThon" at the Somerville Theatre, a 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film on the big screen. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission is either single ticket or through multi-day pass. Check with theater for details.
• Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, 2 p.m.: "Lon Chaney Double Feature", Charlestown Old Town Hall, 19 Summer St., Charlestown, N.H. Just in time for Halloween: two movies starring Chaney, 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1925) and 'The Unknown' (1927), make up a creepy double feature presented by the Charlestown Historical Society. 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1925) ranks as one of the most revived films of the silent era. With Chaney in the lead role, the original movie adaptation of the story of a deformed musician living beneath the Paris Opera House remains an audience favorite. 'The Unknown' (1927) features Chaney as "Alonzo the Armless," a circus knife-thrower with a dark past who uses his feet to perform his act. The film co-stars a very young Joan Crawford. Admission is free and the public is welcome; donations are encouraged, with proceeds to support Historical Society activities.
• Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928) directed by Paul Leni, starring Conrad Veidt, Mary Philbin;Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Directed by Paul Leni, who pioneered the visual style used in Universal horror classics such as 1931's 'Dracula' and 'Frankenstein.' See it if you dare! 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.
• Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Cat and the Canary" (1927) directed by Paul Leni, starring Laura LaPlante; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Can a group of strangers survive the night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Just in time for Halloween, a movie filled with deep shadows, dark secrets, and a surprisingly timeless mix of humor and horror that will keep you guessing. Remember: in silent film, no one can hear you scream! See if if you dare! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The final silent film of director Fritz Lang ('Metropolis') is an amazing epic about mankind's first-ever lunar voyage, complete with espionage, romance, stowaways, and spectacular visual design. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, 6 p.m.: "The Leopard Woman" (1920); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Battle-of-wits jungle drama about an British explorer and a female spy from a rival goverment ordered to foil his mission. The fun begins when rather than killing the explorer, she falls in love with him—and then he goes blind! Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, 2 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro" (1920); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. 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. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Friday, Sept. 30, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Mascoma Valley Regional High School, 27 Royal Road, Canaan, N.H. Come check out the school's brand new performing arts center, and enjoy Buster Keaton's action comedy masterpiece about a Civil War-era railroad engineer forced to go behind enemy lines to retrieve his locomotive. Free and open to the public; donations gratefully accepted.
• Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, 1 p.m.: "Film History Class" at the University of New Hampshire/Manchester with Prof. Jeffrey Klenotic. Live music with a variety of early short films, plus the early pro-life advocacy feature 'Where Are My Children?' (1916).
• Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "Sherlock Holmes" (1916) starring William Gillette; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Recently discovered in France after being lost for nearly a century, see this original 1916 adaptation of Sherlock Holmes stories as performed by William Gillette, the actor who created the role on stage. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, 3:30 p.m.: "Sunrise" (1927) at Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Academy Award-winning romantic drama starring George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor. Directed by F.W. Murnau, critics rank this visually stunning fairy tale about joy, sadness, hope, and love as among the best silent pictures ever made. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Häxan" (1922); the Putnam Arts Lecture Hall, Keene State College, Keene, N.H. Silent film with live music, part of a local college's movie series. Swedish-Danish silent film written and directed by Benjamin Christensen, based partly on the director's study of a 15th-century German guide for inquisitors, Häxan is a study of how superstition and the misunderstanding of diseases and mental illness could lead to the hysteria of the witch-hunts. The film was made as a documentary but contains dramatised sequences that are comparable to horror films.
• Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "The Freshman" (1925) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. We welcome football season with Harold Lloyd's blockbuster hit about a college boy who dreams of success on the gridiron. One of Lloyd's all-time best! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, 5 p.m.: "Queen of Spades" (1916) directed by Yakov Protazanov; Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. Admission $9. (617) 496-3211. Early film adaptation of the Aleksandr Pushkin short story. Hermann, a Russian military officer with a small fortune, becomes fascinated with a countess and a card game that leads him ultimately to ruin. Then at 7 p.m. "Father Sergius" (1917), also by Protazanov. Based on the story by Leo Tolstoy. During the reign of Russian Tsar Nicholas I. Prince Kasatsky discovers that his fiancée has an affair with the Tsar. He decides to break his engagement and retires to a convent where he tries to reach holiness.
• Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Chaplin's breakthrough comedy/drama finds the Tramp raising an infant against all odds. Highlighted by amazing work of five-year-old Coogan, who delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of cinema. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a tear." Also, two of Charlie's earlier slapstick comedy shorts that helped establish him as a star. 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.
• Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Spies" (1928) directed by Fritz Lang; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Director Fritz Lang's tale of espionage was the forerunner of all movie spy sagas, packed with double agents, hi-tech gadgets, beautiful (and dangerous) women, and an evil genius with a plan to take over the world, mwah-ha-ha-ha! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, 8 p.m.: "The Winning of Barbara Worth" (1927) starring Ronald Colman, Gary Cooper, and Vilma Banky; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Director Henry King took his production crew to Nevada's remote Black Rock desert to get location shots that set the standard for Hollywood westerns. Colman and cooper compete for a woman's favor as valley residents attempt to dam the mighty Colorado River to grow crops. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Lost World" (1925) starring Wallace Beery, Bessie Love; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. First-ever movie adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary tale of British explorers who discover pre-historic 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. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, 8 p.m. "College" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Buster heads off to a college campus to find sports is the only sure-fire route to popularity. One of Keaton's most gag-filled comedies offers an extended look at the silent star's athletic prowess. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Thursday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016: The Western New York Movie Expo and Memorabilia Show, Adam's Mark Hotel, downtown Buffalo, N.Y. Four-day successor to Cinefest, annual vintage film festival in Syracuse, N.Y. that ended in 2015. For the first time out, organizers have put together a great line-up of silent and sound films, plus dealer tables, special presentations, and more. Very much looking forward to this! Silent films tentatively on the show schedule include: STAND AND DELIVER (1928) Kodascope print from the Carey collection DeMille production directed by Donald Crisp; THE GIRL FROM CHICAGO (1927) from the Atkinson collection starring Myrna Loy; WHY SAILORS GO WRONG (1928) Kodascope from the Denis Carey collection; THE BELLS (1926) starring Lionel Barrymore and Boris Karloff from beautiful 35mm pre-print. For more info, visit https://wnymovieexpo.wordpress.com/.
• Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, 6 p.m.: "The Last Laugh" (1924) starring Emil Jannings, directed by F.W. Murnau; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Engrossing character study of what happens when the head doorman at a posh Berlin hotel is ordered to give up his uniform due to encroaching old age. German film full of iconic images that stretched the expressive power of cinema. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "Battling Butler" (1926) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Our series of silent boxing movies concludes with Keaton's riotous boxing comedy. Keaton plays Alfred Butler, a pampered rich idler with the same name as a feared boxing champion. When a girl he's pursuing thinks he's the fighter, Keaton has no choice but to start training. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Son of the Sheik" starring Rudolph Valentino; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. The screen's original Latin lover in his most famous role, that of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassad, ruler of a vast desert empire and conqueror of many a woman's heart. Prepare to swoon! Exotic adventure film that captured the imagination of early movie audiences. Shown in honor of the 90th anniversary of Valentino's untimely death in August 1926 at age 31. 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.
• Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, 8 p.m.: "Son of the Sheik" (1926) starring Rudolph Valentino; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. The film film of silent screen icon Rudolph Valentino, starring in his most famous role, that of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassad, ruler of a vast desert empire and conqueror of many a woman's heart. Prepare to swoon! Exotic adventure films that captured the imagination of early movie audiences. Shown in honor of the 90th anniversary of Valentino's untimely death in August 1926 at age 31. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; Ludlow Auditorium, Ludlow, Vt. German director Fritz Lang's amazing epic about a futuristic society where an educated elite enjoys life in a glittering city, all supported by colonies of workers forced to live deep underground. A film that set new standards for visual design and changed movies forever! Silent film with live music in the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall, 37 Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. Looking forward to bringing silent film to life with live music in this wonderful and historic venue!
• Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "The Sheik" (1921) and "Son of the Sheik" (1926) starring Rudolph Valentino; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Double bill starring the screen's original Latin lover in his most famous role, that of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassad, ruler of a vast desert empire and conqueror of many a woman's heart. Prepare to swoon! Exotic adventure films that captured the imagination of early movie audiences. Shown in honor of the 90th anniversary of Valentino's untimely death in August 1926 at age 31. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, 2 p.m.: "Stella Maris" (1918) starring Mary Pickford; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Stella Maris is a beautiful, crippled girl, who is cared for by a rich family that shields her from the harsh realities of the world. Unity Blake is a poor orphan all too familiar with the harsh realities of the real world. These two young women both fall in love with John, which is complicated by the fact that he is still married to (though separated from) a bad wife. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Yankee Clipper" (1927) starring William Boyd; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Two clipper ships, one British and one American, race from China to Boston in the 1840s, with a massive tea contract and national pride in the balance. Produced by none other than Cecil B. Demille! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, 8 p.m.: "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" (1926) starring Harry Langdon; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Comic Harry Langdon enters a cross-country foot race to save the family business as well as impress his dream girl, Joan Crawford. Langdon's first feature comedy featured a script by a very young Frank Capra. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016, "Her Sister From Paris" (1925) starring Constance Talmadge, Ronald Colman. Talmadge in top form playing two very different sisters in this effervescent battle-of-the-sexes romantic comedy. Silent film program part of Vintage Dance Week at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Providence, R.I.
• Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, 6 p.m.: "Desert Nights" (1929) starring John Gilbert, Ernest Torrance; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. A thieving couple victimize a diamond mine and kidnap its manager, but he gains the upper hand (and falls in love with the woman) when they flee into the hostile desert. Superstar Gilbert's final silent film, climaxed by an immense sandstorm.Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, July 24, 2016, 8 p.m. "The Thief of Bagdad (1924) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Eye-popping spectacle starring swashbuckling star Douglas Fairbanks Sr. 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. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Sunday, July 24, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "The Ring" (1927) directed by Alfred Hitchcock; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We continue our summer of silent boxing films with this British thriller from a very young Alfred Hitchcock. A woman married to an amateur boxer finds herself drawn to a champion pro fighter. The two men then must face each other in the squared circle. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, July 23, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1922) and "The Cameraman" (1928); Cardigan Mountain School, Canaan, N.H. Admission $13, with proceeds to fund the fabrication of wrought iron railings for the historic Canaan Meeting House. We explore the output of Chaplin's two main silent comedy rivals. Harold Lloyd's first full-length feature 'Grandma's Boy' (1922) finds Lloyd playing a country bumpkin who faces up to a lifelong lack of courage; in 'The Cameraman,' Buster Keaton explores the very nature of film itself. Note: Due to low turnout, we'll be doing a follow-up screening sometime during the fall/winter.
• Thursday, July 21, 2016, 8 p.m.: CHRISTMAS IN JULY! "Tess of the Storm Country" (1922) starring Mary Pickford; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Mary Pickford's intense melodrama with a classic Yuletide finish. Plus Christmas short films from the studios of Thomas Edison! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 17, 2016, 4:30 p.m. "Melodramas That Pack A Punch"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Our summer-long series of silent boxing films continues with two melodramas set in the world of the prize ring! Up first is 'The Battling Fool' (1924), in which a minister's son takes up boxing. In 'American Pluck' (1925), a cowboy-turned-prizefighter comes to the rescue of a visiting foreign princess. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, July 16, 2016, 7 p.m.: "A Sailor-Made Man" (1921) starring Harold Lloyd; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Back by popular demand! A evening of uproarious comedy featuring bespectacled Harold Lloyd, the silent era's most popular box office star. Join Harold as he mistakenly joins the U.S. Navy, then ships out to foreign lands just in time to rescue his vacationing girlfriend from the clutches of an evil potentate. Lloyd's pictures are known for their audience reactions, so get ready for the whole family to have a great time. Plus other Lloyd comedies. 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.
• Friday, July 15, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Bardelys the Magnificent" (1926) directed by King Vidor and starring John Gilbert; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Stand aside, Douglas Fairbanks, as John Gilbert tries his hand at swashbuckling in this big-budget MGM historical extravaganza about exploits of an unjustly disgraced French nobleman. A major film long thought lost until a single print was recently discovered in France. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, July 14, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "Spite Marriage" (1929) starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Keaton's final silent feature finds the poker-faced comic smitten so much by stage actress Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian) that he joins the cast of her production. But the fun really begins when she impulsively asks Buster to marry her just to get even with an old flame. Classic Keaton comedy, underrated and full of great routines, and featuring a shipboard climax reminiscent of Keaton's classic comedy 'The Navigator.' Plus Keaton short comedies! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 10, 2016, 2 p.m.: W.C. Fields double feature "So's Your Old Man" (1926) and "It's The Old Army Game," introduced by granddaughter Harriet Fields; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. A pair of crackerjack silent comedies from the incomparable W.C. Fields, presented in pristine restorations by the Library of Congress and introduced by Harriet Fields, the comedian's granddaughter. In 'So's Your Old Man,' inventor Fields attempts to upend the auto industry with his new unbreakable glass; in 'The Old Army Game,' Fields plays a pharmacist who gets tangled up with real estate con men. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Thursday, July 7, 2016, 8 p.m.: "A Sailor-Made Man" (1921) starring Harold Lloyd; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Uproarious send-up of Navy life helped established Harold Lloyd as a top-tier silent film comic, allowing him to make the leap into feature productions. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 3, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "Boxing Dramas: A Double Feature"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Put up your dukes as we continue a summer-long series of silent boxing films! The bell rings first for 'Battling Bunyan' (1924), an obscure comedy/drama about a scrawny kid who finds boxing an unexpected avenue to achieve his aims. In 'The Shock Punch' (1925), Richard Dix stars as a boxer in a death defying thrill comedy, featuring lots of action along the exposed girders of a towering skyscraper. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, July, 1, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Encore presentation due to sell-out screening in June 2016. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, June 26, 2016, 4 p.m.: "Show People" (1928) starring Marion Davies, William Haines; The Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto, ON M6R 2M9, Canada; (416) 531-9950; http://revuecinema.ca A silent film about the silent film business! 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.
• Saturday, June 25, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Iron Horse" (1924) directed by John Ford; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. A young John Ford directed this big Fox production on a big subject: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad following the Civil War. Epic story weaves together several narratives and includes parts for everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Buffalo Bill. Plus great western action sequences that set new standards for cinema! A remarkable picture from a filmmaker who would go on to win a record four Oscars for Best Director. 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.
• Friday, June 24, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) starring Buster Keaton; Franklin Opera House, 316 Central St. (City Hall), Franklin, N.H. Part of Opera House annual meeting.
• Thursday, June 23, 2016, 8 p.m.: "Don Q, Son of Zorro" (1925) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Follow-up to immensely successful 'Mark of Zorro' allowed Fairbanks to continue the swashbuckling story 30 years into the future. Terrific sequel that brilliantly plays off the strengths of the original, augmented by improved filmmaking technique and featuring a great adventure that stands on its own. A must-see! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person. Note: This replaces the originally scheduled screening of 'Spies' (1928) on this date; we'll run that film in a future season.
• Thursday, June 16 to Saturday, June 18, 2016: "Mostly Lost" in Culpeper, Va. Three-day festival of early cinema with an emphasis on collaborative identification of unknown material; not invited to accompany, but planning to go out and watch and listen.
• Sunday, June 12, 2016, 8 p.m. "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Celebrate Father's Day (which is actually next Sunday) with Chaplin's breakthrough feature, a story with "a smile, and perhaps a tear," blends comedy and pathos in equal measures; five-year-old Coogan delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of cinema. Plus Chaplin short comedies that helped establish his world-wide fame in the early days of cinema. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Friday, June 10, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, June 9, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "The Winning of Barbara Worth" (1926) starring Ronald Colman, Vilma Banky; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Epic Western drama about the settling and irrigation of California's Imperial Valley, once a wasteland but now an agricultural paradise. Shot on location by director Henry King in Nevada's Black Rock desert, one of the first films to take audiences to the wide open spaces of the great American West. With a young Gary Cooper playing a key role. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, June 7, 2016, 6 p.m.: "My Boy" (1922) starring Jackie Coogan; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Seldom-seen drama in which young Coogan plays an orphan adopted by an aging sea captain. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, June 5, 2016, 2 p.m.: "Flesh and the Devil" (1926) starring John Gilbert, Greta Garbo; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Garbo and Gilbert steam up the camera lens in this torrid romance set in 19th century European high society. MGM's box office smash was aided by the pair's off-screen love affair. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Friday, June 3, 2016, 10 a.m. Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. To impress the girl of his dreams, mild-mannered portrait photographer Buster takes up the glamorous profession of newsreel cameraman. One of the best comedies of the silent era. Our sixth annual presentation to some of the brightest kids in southern New Hampshire!
• Thursday, June 2, 2016, 8 p.m.: "Battling Butler" (1926) starring Buster Keaton; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Buster Keaton's inspired silent comedy about a pampered young man mistaken for a boxing champion. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, May 29, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "Dress Parade" (1927) starring William Boyd and Bessie Love; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Mark Memorial Day weekend with a silent film honoring those who serve their country. An amateur boxing champion stops at West Point to see a dress parade and falls for the commandant's daughter. He wins an appointment to the Academy and begins a rivalry for her affection. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, May 19, 2016, 8 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro" (1920) and "Don Q, Son of Zorro" (1925) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Double feature starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Rare screening of both Zorro adventure films on one program. Swashbuckling fun for the whole family! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Exeter Town Hall, 9 Front St., Exeter, N.H. Free admission; suggested donation of $5 per person. Silent film series in cooperation with (and supporting) the Penn Program, a homeschooling co-op program for students of high school age. Come enjoy silent film with live music in a historic New Hampshire town hall (with great acoustics), all the while supporting a worthy cause.
• Tuesday, May 17, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton, Natalie Talmadge; presented by Walpole Grange #125 at Walpole Town Hall, Walpole, N.H. Free admission. Silent comic Buster Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Screening is part of Walpole Grange #125's annual awards night.
• Sunday, May 15, 2016, 8 p.m. "Buster Keaton Double Feature; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. Join us for a pair of Buster Keaton's best comedies. In 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924), Keaton plays a small-town movie projectionist who dreams of being a detective. In 'Three Ages' (1923), Keaton spoofs historical dramas by seeking true love in three differing epochs. Great physical comedy plus Buster's deadpan attitude will have you laughing out loud. Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Sunday, May 15, 2016, 2 p.m.: "Paths to Paradise" (1925) starring Raymond Griffith; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Rediscover the sly comic style of Raymond Griffith, a major star of the silent era. All but forgotten today, Griffith's 'Silk Hat' character was considered one of the heavy-hitters, equal to Chaplin and Keaton. See for yourself in one of his few surviving feature pictures. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, May 14, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Spite Marriage" (1929) starring Buster Keaton; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Keaton's final silent feature finds the poker-faced comic smitten so much by stage actress Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian) that he joins the cast of her production. But the fun really begins when she impulsively asks Buster to marry her just to get even with an old flame. Classic Keaton comedy, underrated and full of great routines, and featuring a shipboard climax reminiscent of Keaton's classic comedy 'The Navigator.' Plus Keaton short comedies! Join us for series 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.
• Friday, May 13, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Golem" (1920); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates a giant creature from clay, called the Golem. Using sorcery, brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution. Early German fantasy flick anticipates Frankenstein story. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, May 12, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "Paths to Paradise" (1925) and "Hands Up!" (1926); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. A double feature of films starring Raymond Griffith, a talented comic who at one time rivaled Chaplin and Keaton in the silent comedy pantheon. See why in two crackerjack comedies that Griffith in top form: one a fast-paced jewel heist caper, the other a battle of wits between competing spies during the Civil War. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Saturday, May 7, 2016, 7:30 p.m.: "The Square Deal Man" (1917) starring William S. Hart; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. Hart plays gambler Jack O’ Diamonds, who attempts to save the lovely ranch owner from her rascally foreman in this exciting, action-packed film. Photography by Joe August. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Tuesday, May 3, 2016, 6 p.m.: "The Cheat" (1915) and "Shattered Dreams" (1919); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Double bill of early sensationalistic drama, one an early Cecil B. Demille story about financial scandal; the other an anti-Bolshevist tale in which a rich businessman teaches his idealist son a lesson by buying him an island off the coast of Floria to establish a Communist paradise. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, May 1, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "A Sailor-Made Man" (1921) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Ship out with Harold Lloyd, a pampered rich idler who mistakenly joins the U.S. Navy. Hilarious comedy that helped push Lloyd into making full-length feature films for the rest of his career. Plus other Lloyd comedies! Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, April 24, 2016, 7 p.m. "Rags" (1916) starring Mary Pickford; Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington, Mass; (781) 646-4849. Program to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Regent Theater features Pickford's 'Rags,' the original opening night attraction. The relationship between a plucky daughter and her brutish father is dissected in this classic Mary Pickford drama set in a mining community. Pickford plays the title character, a pretty but wild girl who defends her alcoholic father (J. Farrell MacDonald), a disgraced bank cashier, no matter how he mistreats her. Enter a handsome engineer (Marshall Neilan), whose family had once fired Rags' father for theft. Rags falls in love but realizes that marriage is a hopeless proposition considering her lowly place in society.
SOLD OUT! • Sunday, April 17, 2016, 7:30 p.m. "Metropolis" (1927) directed by Fritz Lang; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person, limited seating. German director Fritz Lang's amazing epic about a futuristic society where an educated elite enjoys life in a glittering city, all supported by colonies of workers forced to live deep underground. A film that set new standards for visual design and changed movies forever! Part of the Aeronaut Brewery's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Limited seating so reserve early; for more details on tickets, visit Aeronaut Brewing online.
• Friday, April 15, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Underworld" (1928) directed by Josef von Sternberg; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Director von Sternberg's breakthrough picture that launched Hollywood's enduring fascination with "gangster" stories. A gangleader takes an intelligent but down-and-out lawyer under his wing who eventually becomes the brains of the operation. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, April 14, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Eye-popping spectacle starring swashbuckling star Douglas Fairbanks Sr. 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. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, April 6, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928); the Putnam Arts Lecture Hall, Keene State College, Keene, N.H. Silent film with live music, part of a local college's movie series. Landmark drama that chronicles the trial of Jeanne d'Arc on charges of heresy, and the efforts of her ecclesiastical jurists to force Jeanne to recant her claims of holy visions. Shown via 16mm print.
• Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 6 p.m.: "Old San Francisco" (1927) starring Dolores Costello, Warner Oland; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Big-budget Warner Bros. historical drama about racial strife in 'Frisco climaxed by a recreation of the catastrophic 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Pioneering film paved the way for all disaster flicks that followed! Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, April 3, 2016, 2 p.m.: "Intolerance" (1916) directed by D.W. Griffith and starring (literally) a cast of thousands; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. D.W. Griffith's early blockbuster about man's inhumanity to man weaves together four stories spanning four eras of civilization. Filmed on a vast scale, setting a new standard for Hollywood extravagance, and new levels of editing fluency in pulling together four story climaxes simultaneously. A movie made for the big screen, and here's your chance to see it! The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Sunday, March 27, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925) starring Ramon Navarro, Francis X. Bushman; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Celebrate Easter Sunday with one of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that has lost none of its power to thrill. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, March 25, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1922) starring Harold Lloyd; Exeter Town Hall, 9 Front St., Exeter, N.H. Free admission; suggested donation of $5 per person. A cowardly young man must learn to conquer his fears before dealing with a larger menace to his community. Riotous small town comedy that helped propel Harold Lloyd into the most popular movie comedian of the 1920s. Silent film series in cooperation with (and supporting) the Penn Program, a homeschooling co-op program for students of high school age. Come enjoy silent film with live music in a historic New Hampshire town hall (with great acoustics), all the while supporting a worthy cause.
POSTPONED FROM ST. PATRICK'S DAY • Thursday, March 24, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "Conductor 1492" (1924) starring Johnny Hines; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, join obscure comic Johnny Hines in a fast-paced romp about a young lad from the Emerald Isle who comes to "Americky" to make his fortune—but the fun really begins when dear old dad arrives from the Old Sod to help fight his battles. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, March 23, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ" (1925) starring Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Just in time for Easter! In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans; inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. One of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Sunday, March 20, 2016, 6 p.m.: "Sherlock Holmes" (1916) starring William Gillette, restored by the Cinematique Francais and the San Fransisco Silent Film Festival. See the recently rediscovered original cinematic adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's immortal detective, played by the actor who originated the role onstage and performed it more than 1,300 times over three decades. Shown as part of the 100th birthday celebration of the Alamo Theatre, Northeast Historic Film, Bucksport, Maine. Admission charge. For details, visit http://www.oldfilm.org.
• Saturday, March 19, 2016, 7 p.m.: Silent Film Program: Harold Lloyd Double Feature at the Blazing Star Grange Hall, North Road in Danbury, N.H. Screening of 'Grandma's Boy' (1922) to members of community group. Opening with another Lloyd comedy, 'Never Weaken' (1921). Free and open to the public; suggested donation of $5 at the door.
• Friday, March 18, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Last Laugh" (1924), directed by F.W. Murnau and starring Emil Jannings; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Towering performance by Jannings as aging doorman at posh city hotel whose unexpected change of jobs robs him of self-respect and identity. Directed by Murnau as a purely visual tale devoid of any dialogue intertitles. A masterpiece of the silent cinema! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Saturday, March 5, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Red Inn" (1923) directed by Jean Epstein; Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass., (617) 496-3211. Admission $9; students $7. Epstein’s first feature film is adapted from the Balzac novelette of the same name, which tells the story of two young travelers who take shelter at a country inn where a rich merchant is also staying; in the morning, the merchant is dead and one of the travelers is missing. Epstein chose the Balzac story because it was fairly well known and because he thought its tale of crime and vengeance had widespread appeal. In addition, the novella afforded the filmmaker several possibilities for stylistic experimentation, with its nested narratives and use of recurrent imagery suggesting a nightmarish present haunted by a violent past. The film is shot through with an atmosphere of unease that prefigures 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' Part of the HFA's 'Young Oceans of Cinema' Jean Epstein retrospective.
• Tuesday, March 1, 2016, 6 p.m.: "Tentacles of the North" (1926) and "The Phantom Flyer" (1928); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Double bill of classic low budget melodramas, one about two ships trapped in the Arctic ice, and another about a airborne border patrol officer who uses his flying skills to save his sweetheart from a band of cattle rustlers. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Double Love" (1925) directed by Jean Epstein; Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass., (617) 496-3211. Admission $9; students $7. A melodrama about the senselessness of money, 'Double Love' pivots on the spectacle of men destroying themselves at the casino. Moments of crisis fire Epstein’s stylistic imagination, with the narrative momentarily ceding to the camera’s illuminations of subjective dissolution. The film opens with Laure, played by Russian actress Nathalia Lissenko, singing for a charity ball while her lover plays baccarat. What she makes, he spends. In the second half, their son makes the same mistakes at the very same card table. The psychologically acute Art Deco sets were designed by Pierre Kefer, who would go on to set the stage for 'The Three-Sided Mirror' and 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' Part of the HFA's 'Young Oceans of Cinema' Jean Epstein retrospective.
• Thursday, Feb. 25 through Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, 20th Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Annual pilgrimage to wonderful two-day celebration of silent film with live music, this time expanded to three days. Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org. The 20th anniversary edition of this great event! Notes from the event: performed live music for 'Battleship Potemkin' (1925) and shorts including 'Those Awful Hats' (1909), 'The Immigrant' (1917), and 'Her Torpedoed Love (1917).
• Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Man With A Movie Camera" (1929) directed by Dziga Vertov; Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass., (617) 496-3211. Free and open to the public. Russian director Dziga Vertov's celebration of daily life in the Soviet Union. Experimental documentary with no story and no actors, but filled with eye-popping visuals that anticipate later music/image films such as 'Koyaanisqatsi.' Screening for Harvard Professor Laura Frahm's "Art of Film” course.
• Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Adventures of Robert Macaire" (1925) directed by Jean Epstein; Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass., (617) 496-3211. Admission $9; students $7. With his faithful companion Bertrand, Robert Macaire prowls the highways of 1820s France, robbing rich landowners and gullible farmers alike, but also finding time to rescue and woo a damsel in distress who turns out to be the daughter of a marquis. Thus begins the first of five adventures that span several years in the life of Epstein’s roguish antihero. The 175-minute film, Epstein’s longest, stands as a salute to the serials of French cinema in the 1910s, especially those by Feuillade. Henri Langlois, legendary founder of the Cinémathèque Française and a fervent champion of Epstein, regarded Robert Macaire as an overlooked masterpiece that captured the spirit of 19th-century romanticism. Part of the HFA's 'Young Oceans of Cinema' Jean Epstein retrospective.
• Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, 2 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Pampered Buster returns home from college to help his father, a tough riverboat captain, battle to save the business; falling for the archrival's daughter doesn't make things easier. Climaxed by an eye-popping cyclone sequence. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Kiss" (1929) starring Greta Garbo; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Garbo and MGM's last-ever silent film is a tensely romantic who-dunnit that will keep you guessing. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, 2:30 p.m.: "Visual Music" (1924); Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass., (617) 496-3211. Not sure if open to the public. Check back here. A selection of short films by avant garde artists including Hans Richter, Moholy-Nagy, and Walter Ruttmann. Presented by Harvard Prof. Laura Frahm.
• Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, 8 p.m. ""It" (1927) starring Clara Bow; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Perfect for Valentine's Day! A romantic comedy that came to epitomize the Jazz Age of the 1920s. 'It' tells the story of a sassy shop girl who sets her sights on the handsome and wealthy boss of the department store where she works. The two are from completely different circles of society, but will attraction be strong enough to bridge the gap in their backgrounds? The special Valentine's Day screening is part of the Aeronaut's commitment to showcase local music, art, and performance. Admission is $10 per person. Tickets are available online at www.eventbrite.com; search on "Aeronaut Brewery." For details, check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/aeronautbrewing.
POSTPONED
• Sunday, Feb. 14 through Monday, Feb. 15, 2016: "Himmelskibet, Excelsior / A Trip to Mars" (1918), time TBA. "The 41st Annual Boston Sci-Fi Marathon"; Yes, 24 hours of continuous sci-fi flicks at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. Returning to this legendary event to do live music for an amazing early sci-fi film from Denmark about mankind's first voyager to Planet Mars. Updates found on the event's Website or Facebook page. Stay tuned! Update: Looks like this film will be shown at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14.
• Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "Within Our Gates" (1920) directed by Oscar Micheaux; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Join us as we celebrate Black History Month at the Flying Monkey with a screening of 'Within Our Gates' (1920), the landmark drama from pioneer African-American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. Program still being put together, so stay tuned for further additions. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, 7 p.m.: "The Last Laugh" (1924) starring Emil Jannings and directed by F.W. Murnau; Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass., (617) 496-3211. Free and open to the public. Jannings delivers a towering performance in F.W. Murnau's character study of an aging doorman at a swank Berlin hotel who finds his life in turmoil after he receives a demotion. A stunningly accomplished silent movie, highlighted by amazingly fluid cinematography of Karl Freund and a story told virtually without intertitles. Screening for Harvard Professor Laura Frahm's "Art of Film” course.
• Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, 5 p.m.: "Rin Tin Tin Double Feature"; Campton Historical Society, Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H.; Campton Historical Society. Legendary dog star Rin Tin Tin returns to the big screen in a rip-roaring double bill of two of his best silent features. In "Clash of the Wolves" (1925), Rinty must aid his adopted master in vanquishing a foe (filmed on location in what would later become Joshua Tree National Park), while "The Night Cry" (1926), our hero must clear his name after being accused of killing sheep, all while battling one of the most unusual non-human villains in cinematic history! 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! More details to come!
• Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, 6 p.m.: "Wild Orchids" (1929); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. An older man takes his young wife to 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. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, 4:30 p.m.: "Intolerance" (1916) directed by D.W. Griffith and starring (literally) a cast of thousands; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. D.W. Griffith's early blockbuster about man's inhumanity to man weaves together four stories spanning four eras of civilization. Filmed an a vast scale, setting a new standard for Hollywood extravagance. A movie made for the big screen, and here's your chance to see it! Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, 5 p.m.: "The Kid" starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan (1921); Liberty Ridge Farm, Schaghticoke, N.Y.; http://www.libertyridgefarmny/. An evening of silent film with live music in the converted barn of a recreational farm, plus pot luck supper. A now-annual mid-winter get-together for all those in this upstate New York town who don't head south for the winter. By invite only, but if you'd like to attend, bring a pot luck dish and you won't be refused.
• Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); Exeter Town Hall, 9 Front St., Exeter, N.H. Free admission; suggested donation of $5 per person. German director Fritz Lang's amazing epic about a futuristic society where an educated elite enjoys life in a glittering city, all supported by colonies of workers forced to live deep underground. A film that set new standards for visual design and changed movies forever! Silent film series in cooperation with (and supporting) the Penn Program, a homeschooling co-op program for students of high school age. Come enjoy silent film with live music in a historic New Hampshire town hall (with great acoustics), all the while supporting a worthy cause.
• Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Intolerance" (1916), directed by D.W. Griffith and starring (literally) a cast of thousands; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. D.W. Griffith's early blockbuster about man's inhumanity to man weaves together four stories spanning four eras of civilization. Filmed on a vast scale, setting a new standard for Hollywood extravagance. A movie made for the big screen, and here's your chance to see it! Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, 7 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; The Music Hall Loft, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth, N.H.; (603) 436-2400. admission $15 per person. Program hosted by Kent Stephens. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See it for yourself on the big screen and with an audience. Plus special bonus comedy short subject! The opening program as the Music Hall Film Club goes on a madcap tour of six decades of America’s funniest movies, every one starring a comic legend, from the immortals of the silent era to Groucho Marx, from Marilyn Monroe to Steve Martin.
• Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, 7 p.m. "Woman in the Moon" (1929); Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. A grand sci-fi adventure epic about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Welcome the year 2016 by pondering a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Admission charge. For details, check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/aeronautbrewing.
• Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, 10 p.m., "Wings" (1927); Arisia Science Fiction Film Convention, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston, Mass. Silent film screened in tried-and-true 16mm as part of this annual confab, billed as "New England's largest and most diverse science fiction and fantasy convention." For more info, check out http://2016.arisia.org//.
• Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, 6:30 p.m.: "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) starring Lillian Gish, directed by D.W. Griffith; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. What if a movie was acclaimed as a masterpiece, but portrayed the Ku Klux Klan as heroes? What does it say if a movie was clearly racist, depicting blacks as an inferior sub-species to whites, but was still a box office smash? Those are among the questions posed by ‘The Birth of a Nation,’ the ground-breaking epic film from director D.W. Griffith, which continues to inspire controversy more than 100 years after its initial release. Screened in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as an example of how far we've come, and to help us consider how much remains to be done.Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "The Strong Man" (1926) starring Harry Langdon, directed by Frank Capra; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. With World War I over, baby-faced soldier Harry Langdon searches for the girl who sent such moving letters to him in the trenches. Directed by a very young Frank Capra, 'The Strong Man' is today hailed as Langdon's best feature, and also one of the greatest comedies of the silent film era. A great way to finish off Christmas weekend. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, 3 p.m. "The Sunday Stomp"; The Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, N.H. Silent film comedy presented with live music as part of a new wave vaudeville program that encompasses music, dance, poetry, and surprises. Open to the public.
Show postponed, will be rescheduled.
• Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, 4 p.m., "Woman in the Moon" (1929) directed by Fritz Lang; The Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2M9, Canada; (416) 531-9950; http://revuecinema.ca/ A grand sci-fi adventure about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. And, in a surprisingly contemporary twist, the moon rocket is built and launched not by a government, but by private entrepreneurs! Ponder a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Personal note: my international debut!
• Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, 6:55 p.m., "Passing Fancy" (1933) directed by Yasujiro Ozu; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. Winner of Japan’s Kinema Junpo Award for best film of 1933, 'Passing Fancy' is a touching tale of a poor, widowed, illiterate, middle-aged (but warm-hearted) brewery worker, his feisty 8-year-old son whom he is raising alone, and a young woman who comes between them. One of Yasujiro Ozu’s last—and best—silent films. With Chishu Ryu. Subtitles, shown in 35mm. Special admission $12; members, CIA I.D. holders, age 25 & under $9; no passes, twofers, or radio winners.
• Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, 7:30 p.m., "Three's A Crowd" (1927) starring Harry Langdon plus "Big Business" (1929) starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy; Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio; (216) 421-7450. Holiday-themed program of silent film with live accompaniment. 'Three’s a Crowd' (shown in 35mm) was the directorial debut of Harry Langdon, the baby-faced comedian considered the fourth great clown (after Chaplin, Keaton, and Harold Lloyd) of the American silent screen. Langdon also stars in the picture, a little-known, under-rated, Chaplinesque mix of comedy and pathos. It tells of a lovelorn man who, one cold and snowy night, takes in a pregnant woman who has walked out on her hard-drinking husband. He cares for this outcast and her child as if they were his own family; 'Big Business' finds Stan & Ollie trying to peddle Christmas trees door-to-door in sunny California. Special admission $12; members, CIA I.D. holders, age 25 & under $9; no passes, twofers, or radio winners.
• Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, 7:30 p.m., "Holiday Silent Film Program"; Silent film program at The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1028 Scott Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky. (859) 491-2030; www.thecarnegie.com. What did people watch before special holiday TV programs such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" made their debut in the 1960s? See for yourself with a special program of holiday classics from way back during the silent film era, all accompanied by live music. Included will be the first-ever film versions of such popular tales as 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' the poem by Clement C. Moore. Highlighted by Mary Pickford's feature-length melodrama 'Tess of the Story Country' (1922), with a touching Christmas-time conclusion.
• Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, plus short Chaplin comedies; Tuscan Opera House, Dixfield, Maine; fundraiser for local historical society organized by students at Dirigo High School. Chaplin's breakthrough feature, a story with "a smile, and perhaps a tear," blends comedy and pathos in equal measures; five-year-old Coogan delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of cinema. Plus Chaplin short comedies that helped establish his world-wide fame in the early days of cinema.
• Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, 6 p.m.: "The Road to Yesterday" (1925), starring William Boyd (in his pre-"Hopalong Cassidy" days) and directed by Cecil B. DeMille; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Bizarre drama about a married couple who discover their strained relationship is the result of unhappiness in their past lives; epic tale encompasses a fiery train wreck, flappers, ministers and a touch of time travel. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan, plus Chaplin short films; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend with Chaplin's landmark comedy/drama about a man who raises an infant against all odds. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a tear." Highlighted by amazing performance of four-year-old Coogan, who matches Chaplin pratfall for pratfall. Also, two of Charlie's earlier slapstick comedy shorts that helped establish him as a star. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, 2 p.m.: "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921) starring Rudolph Valentino...and introducing THE TANGO; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Sweeping drama of a divided family with members caught up on opposites sides during World War I. Breakthrough film for Rudolph Valentino, introducing the sultry tango and launching him to stardom. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Exeter Town Hall, 9 Front St, Exeter, N.H. We launch a silent film series in cooperation with (and supporting) the Penn Program, a unique academic program for students of high school age. Come enjoy silent film with live music in a historic New Hampshire town hall (with great acoustics), all the while supporting a worthy cause. More details to come.
• Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, 7:30 p.m.: "Running Wild" (1927) and "So's Your Old Man" (1926) starring W.C. Fields; Packard Campus Theater, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Library of Congress Packard Campus, 19053 Mount Pony Road, Culpeper, Va; http://www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/schedule.html. A double feature of Fields silent comedy. In 'Running Wild,' meek Elmer Finch (W.C. Fields), browbeaten both at home and at work, volunteers to subject himself to a vaudeville hypnotist. While under the mesmerizing spell, his personality undergoes a dramatic and aggressive transformation. In 'So's Your Old Man' (1926), Fields plays inventor Samuel Bisbee, who is considered a vulgarian by the town's elite. His road to financial success takes many hilarious detours including a disastrous demo for potential investors, a bungled suicide attempt, a foray into his classic "golf game" routine and an inspired pantomime to a Spanish princess. Free and open to the public, but children 12 younger must be accompanied by an adult. Open seating is on a “first come, first served” basis.
• Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "Really Big Stars: An Elephant Double Feature"; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. A pair silent films with pachyderms in starring roles! In 'Soul of the Beast' (1923), Oscar the Elephant accompanies a circus runaway fleeing her mean stepfather, launching a wild melodramatic plot of love, revenge, and cruelty. In 'Chang' (1927), shot on location in rural Siam (now Thailand), a native family in the back country battles the jungle for survival. Nominated for the Academy Award for Unique and Artistic Production at the first-ever Oscars in 1929. Part of a monthly silent film series at the Flying Monkey in Plymouth, N.H. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, 6 p.m.: "My Friend from India" (1927) starring Franklin Pangborn; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. A light-hearted mistaken identity romp featuring one of the lesser-known stars of early cinema. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, 7:30 p.m.: "Regeneration" (1915) starring Rockcliffe Fellowes and Anna Q. Nilsson; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. A real gem of a film directed by Raoul Walsh near the start of his career depicting the grim life of the streets in New York City. Cited as one of the first full length gangster films, Regeneration tells the story of a poor orphan who rises to control the mob until he meets a woman for whom he wants to change. Highlighted by a ferryboat fire modeled on notorious the General Slocum disaster of 1904. Early feature-length Fox drama thought lost for many years but rediscovered in the 1970s. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person for members, $7 for "not yet members."
• Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, 8 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. A serial killer is on the loose in fog-bound London. Will the murderer be caught before yet another victim is claimed? Just in time for Halloween, suspenseful British thriller directed by a very young Alfred Hitchcock. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, 12 noon: "West of Zanzibar" (1928) starring Lon Chaney; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Iconic actor Chaney is at his creepiest in this tale about a magician whose legs are paralyzed in an accident, leading to a twisted tale of revenge. The opening film of a planned all-day Halloween marathon. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $30 per person, ticket covers cost of entire 12-hour marathon.
• Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. A serial killer is on the loose in fog-bound London. Will the murderer be caught before yet another victim is claimed? Just in time for Halloween, suspenseful British thriller directed by a very young Alfred Hitchcock. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927), directed by (a very young) Alfred Hitchcock; the Putnam Arts Lecture Hall, Keene State College, Keene, N.H. Silent film with live music, part of a local college's movie series. The search is on for the man responsible for a series of murders in fog-shrouded London. Legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock's career began in the silent era, when then young director first produced his brand of darkly suspenseful thrillers.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, 6:30 p.m. "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920); starring Conrad Veidt, directed by Robert Weine; Collins Cinema in the Davis Museum Complex, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass. Nearly a century after its release, the German expressionist film widely regarded as the world's first horror movie still has capacity to creep out audiences. See for yourself — if you dare! Part of a series exploring the cinema of Weimar-era Germany. Free admission.
• Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, 8 p.m. "The Unknown" (1927); Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Celebrate Halloween with a twisted circus drama starring Lon Chaney as 'Alonzo the Armless' and a very young Joan Crawford as the woman he loves but cannot have. Directed by Tod Browning, who would go on to create the cult classic 'Freaks' (1932). Admission charge. For details, check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/aeronautbrewing.
• Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Just in time for Halloween! John Barrymore plays both title roles in the original silent film adaptation of the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); Mudflat Studios, Broadway Theatre, 81 Broadway, Somerville, Mass.; (617) 628-0589; http://www.mudflat.org/. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of this movie-theater-turned-artists-studio with a return to its cinematic roots, including a screening of 'Nosferatu' (1922) with live music. Admission free and open to the public. Preceded by a screening of the family classic 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939) at 4 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "The Cat and the Canary" (1927); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Can a group of strangers survive the night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Just in time for Halloween, a movie filled with deep shadows, dark secrets, and a surprisingly timeless mix of humor and horror that will keep you guessing. Remember: in silent film, no one can hear you scream! See it if you dare! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, 2 p.m.: 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924) and 'Seven Chances' (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Charlestown Historical Society, Charlestown, N.H. Free admission; jointly sponsored by the Charlestown Historical Society and the Silsbury Free Public Library. An afternoon with silent film comic Buster Keaton. In 'Sherlock Jr.,' Buster plays a small-town movie projectionist who dreams of working as a detective. But then Buster's romantic rival frames him for stealing a watch from his girlfriend's father. The situation mirrors the plot of the film currently playing at Buster's theater. Inspired by the movie, can Buster find the real thief and win back his girl? In 'Seven Chances,' Buster is about to be saved from bankruptcy by an unexpected inheritance of $7 million—but only if he gets married by 7 p.m. that very day. Can Buster somehow find the girl of his dreams while being pursued by an army of women eager to marry a soon-to-be millionaire? One of Buster's best comedies, climaxed by one of the great chase scenes in all silent film comedy.
• Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927), directed by (a very young) Alfred Hitchcock; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. The search is on for the man responsible for a series of murders in fog-shrouded London. Legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock's career began in the silent era, when then young director first produced his brand of darkly suspenseful thrillers. Join us for series 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, Oct. 14, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927), directed by (a very young) Alfred Hitchcock; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. The search is on for the man responsible for a series of murders in fog-shrouded London. Legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock's career began in the silent era, when then young director first produced his brand of darkly suspenseful thrillers. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.: "Underworld" (1927), directed by Josef von Sternberg, starring George Bancroft, Evelyn Brent; Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.; (617 876-6837); http://brattlefilm.org. Director von Sternberg's breakthrough picture that launched Hollywood's enduring fascination with "gangster" stories. A gangleader takes an intelligent but down-and-out lawyer under his wing who eventually becomes the brains of the operation. 'Underworld,' part of the Brattle's ongoing "75 Years of Film Noir" series, will be paired with a screening of 'Little Caesar' (1931) starring Edward G. Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. to be shown at 5:45 p.m. and repeated at 9:15 p.m. Admission for the double feature is $13 general admission; $11 students.
• Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, 7 p.m. "Buster Keaton Silent Comedies"; Arlington Grange of Winchester, Grange Building, 9 Mechanic St., Winchester, N.H. An evening of silent film with live music brought to you by members of the Arlington Grange. Tonight's program features Buster Keaton in a pair of his great starring films, both centering on the subject of movies themselves: 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924) and 'The Cameraman' (1928). Program is open to the public, with $7 per person donation requested to help defray costs.
• Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Chaplin's breakthrough feature, a story with "a smile, and perhaps a tear," blends comedy and pathos in equal measures; five-year-old Coogan delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of cinema. Plus Chaplin short comedies that helped establish his world-wide fame in the early days of cinema. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, 6 p.m.: "Wolf Blood" (1925); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Get ready for Halloween with this early try at turning the werewolf legend into a movie. An injured lumbercamp boss receives a transfusion of wolf blood during an operation, and...well, take it from there. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, 2 p.m.: "Tramp Tramp Tramp" (1926) starring Harry Langdon, Joan Crawford; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. We're bringing back Langdon to the big screen in his first-ever feature film. Riotous comedy about a cross-country foot race. Co-stars Joan Crawford (unbelievably) as Harry's love interest. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "Spite Marriage" (1929) starring Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Buster Keaton's last silent feature finds the poker-faced comic smitten so much by stage actress Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian) that he joins the cast of her production. The fun really begins when she asks Buster to marry her, but only to get even with an old flame. Classic Keaton comedy, underrated and full of great routines.Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Buster Keaton Double Feature" starring Buster Keaton; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Buster breeches the fourth wall big-time in the imaginative "Sherlock Jr." (1924); an old-time backwoods family feud is the focus of "Our Hospitality" (1923), Keaton's breakthrough feature film. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, 8 p.m.: "Silent Comedy with Harry Langdon"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Silent comedy featuring the unique style of Harry Langdon, whose innocent baby-faced character rocketed to fame late in the silent era on the strength of films directed by a very young Frank Capra. Rediscover Harry's quiet genius the way it was intended to be seen: on the big screen and with a live audience. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, 2 p.m.: "The Matrimaniac" (1916) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. See Fairbanks in an early pre-swashbuckling romantic comedy, plus a companion feature in which a studio took footage from the Fairbanks film to create an entirely different movie! The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Tarzan and the Golden Lion" (1927); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. You won't hear his iconic yell, but everything else about the Tarzan legend is present in this rip-roaring action adventure that plays like an early version of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.' Plus companion feature "The Devil Horse" (1927) starring Rex the Wonder Horse. Join us for series 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.
• Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Cameraman"(1928) starring Buster Keaton ; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. To impress the girl of his dreams, mild-mannered portrait photographer Buster takes up the glamorous profession of newsreel cameraman. One of the best comedies of the silent era. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "Hangman's House" (1928) directed by John Ford; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. A woman marries the wrong man in this intense melodrama set in Ireland. Features a nail-biting horserace sequence that shows silent film story-telling at its best. Directed by a young John Ford, taking a break from Westerns; notable as the first film appearance of John Wayne in a bit part. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, 6 p.m.: "Sadie Thompson" (1928) starring Gloria Swanson, Lionel Barrymore, Raoul Walsh; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Intense drama of a "fallen woman" who comes to an island in the South Seas to start a new life, but encounters a zealous missionary who wants to force her back to her former life in San Francisco. One of the best performances of Swanson's career. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "The Iron Horse" (1924); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Director John Ford's sprawling epic tale about the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence; Ludlow Auditorium, Ludlow, Vt. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. One of the great films of any era! Silent film with live music in the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall, 37 Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. Looking forward to bringing silent film to life with live music in this wonderful and historic venue!
• Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, 8 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925) starring Ramon Novarro; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans; inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. One of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, 8 p.m. "The Lost World" (1925); Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. The original silent film adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's evolutionary thriller 'The Lost World,' the motion picture that first brought dinosaurs to life on the big screen! Admission charge. For details, check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/aeronautbrewing.
• Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Three Ages" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Keaton's first feature-length comedy interweaves tales of romance from three epochs: the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, and "Modern Times," meaning 1920s California. See why Buster is regarded as one of the great clowns of the silent era. Join us for series 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.
• Friday, Aug. 14, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Buster Keaton Double Feature" starring Buster Keaton; The Scriven Arts Colony, 452 NH Route 140, Gilmanton, N.H. A double feature of two of Buster Keaton's best silent comedies. In 'Sherlock Jr.,' Buster breeches the fourth wall big-time as a movie projectionist who dreams himself into a crime thriller; in 'Steamboat Bill, Jr.' (1928), Buster plays the effete college-educated son of a rough-hewn riverboat captain who must help his father fight a domineering businessman—who just happens to be the father of Buster's girlfriend. Free and open to the public.
• Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1922) starring Harold Lloyd; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. A cowardly young man must learn to conquer his fears before dealing with a larger menace to his community. Riotous small town comedy that helped propel Harold Lloyd into the most popular movie comedian of the 1920s. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "Red Signals" (1927); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. After a series of train accidents in which the wrecks were looted, the railroad's top brass bring in "Sure Fire" Frank Bennett to set things right. Accompanying feature: 'Roaring Rails' (1924) starring Harry Carey. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, 8 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Chaplin's landmark comedy/drama about a man who raises an infant against all odds. As the film tells us: "A story with a smile, and perhaps a tear." Highlighted by amazing performance of four-year-old Coogan, who matches Chaplin pratfall for pratfall. Also, two of Charlie's earlier slapstick comedy shorts that helped establish him as a star. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, 6 p.m.: "Open All Night" (1924) starring Adolphe Menjou, Viola Dana, Raymond Griffith; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. A comedy about gender roles with a strong cast. A couple with a dull marriage want different things from each other. When they meet a macho professional bicyclist and his girlfriend, the wife becomes attracted to the muscular, if not particularly bright, athlete and the husband finds himself drawn to the girlfriend. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015, 2 p.m.: "Speedy" (1928) and "Why Worry?" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Harold's final silent feature is a tribute to New York City, baseball, and the idea that nice guys can indeed finish first. Complete with an extended cameo from none other than Babe Ruth! Plus, companion feature 'Why Worry' (1923), one of Harold's wackiest comedies, in which he gets caught up in a south-of-the-border uprising and co-stars with an actual giant. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Thursday, July 30, 2015, 8 p.m.: "Silent Comedy with Harold Lloyd"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. See why Harold Lloyd was the most popular performer of the silent film era. Instead of getting ahead, his everyone man character (a nice young man with horn-rimmed glasses) had a knack for getting into spectacular trouble, often requiring him to overcome amazing odds to win the day. Audiences continue to thrill at Harold's adventures when presented they way they were intended to be shown: on the big screen and with an audience. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 12, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "The Great K & A Train Robbery" (1926) starring Tom Mix; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Treachery on the rails as our hero goes undercover to learn who is tipping the bandits. One of the best Tom Mix films, with plenty of action and some fantastic stunt work. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, July 11, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Hands Up!" (1926) starring Raymond Griffith; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. We mark the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War with this uproarious Raymond Griffith comedy. A southern spy must work every angle to prevent a shipment of western gold from reaching Union forces. Plus Laurel & Hardy comedy shorts! Join us for series 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.
• Friday, July 10, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Orphans of the Storm" (1921); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Just in time for Bastille Day, D.W. Griffith's sweeping story of two sisters (Lillian and Dorothy Gish) caught up in the throes of the French revolution. Griffith's last major box office success fills the screen with a succession of iconic images. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, July 9, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "A Dog Double Feature" spotlighting silent-era canine stars Peter the Great and Rin Tin Tin; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. In 'The Sign of the Claw,' a police dog helps solve a crime wave. The only surviving film of Peter the Great, a popular German shepherd performer. 'The Night Cry' (1926) finds iconic dog superstar Rin Tin Tin accused of killing sheep. Can he find the real bandit and clear his name? Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 5, 2015, 2 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925) starring John Gilbert, Renee Adoree, directed by King Vidor; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Sweeping World War I saga about U.S. doughboys signing up and shipping off to France, where they face experiences that will change their lives forever—if they return. Print from the Library of Congress. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Sunday, June 28, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "The Arizona Express" (1924); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We launch a summer series of train films with rip-roaring melodrama. When David Keith is sent to prison for allegedly killing his uncle, his sister Katherine must prove his innocence and get the information to the governor's office in time to save him. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Sunday, June 21, 2015, 8 p.m. "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. Buster helps celebrate the one-year anniversary of the opening of this popular brew-pub in Somerville, Mass. Admission $12 per person, of $9 in advance. For details, check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/aeronautbrewing.
• Saturday, June 20, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Lost World" (1925); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. The original silent film adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's evolutionary thriller 'The Lost World,' the motion picture that first brought dinosaurs to life on the big screen! Also, companion feature "The Sign of the Claw" (1926) a rip-roaring police adventure and the only surviving film of dog star Peter the Great. Join us for series 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.
• Thursday, June 18, 2015, 8 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Clara Bow, Richard Arlen, directed by William Wellman; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, June 12, 2015 to Sunday, June 14, 2015: "Mostly Lost" in Culpeper, Va. Three-day festival of early cinema with an emphasis on collaborative identification of unknown material; not invited to accompany, but planning to go out and watch and listen.
• Thursday, June 11, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Just in time for Flag Day! Epic saga of American flyboys in World War I took the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture. One of the all-time great silents, just as moving, thrilling, and exciting as when first released. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, June 7, 2015, 2 p.m.: "Show People" (1928) starring Marion Davies, William Haines, directed by King Vidor; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. A young woman tries to break into the movies as a dramatic actress, but can only find work as a pie target in slapstick comedies. Director King Vidor's insider valentine to silent-era movie-making is packed with eye-popping cameo appearances of everyone from John Gilbert to Charlie Chaplin! Plus warm-up comedy "Play Safe" (1927) starring Monty Banks, with what's regarded as the greatest train chase sequence of the silent era. Prints from the Library of Congress. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Friday, June 5, 2015, 10 a.m. Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. Our sixth annual presentation to some of the brightest kids in southern New Hampshire!
• Thursday, June 4, 2015, 8 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries to make the grade even as storm clouds gather. Film climaxes with legendary cyclone sequence, one of Buster's best. See silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, June 2, 2015, 6 p.m.: "Manslaughter" (1922) directed by Cecil B. DeMille; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Big early Paramount melodrama about a wild, wealthy woman brought to heel by a sermonizing district attorney after she accidentally hits and kills a motorcycle cop. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, May 24, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) starring Lillian Gish; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. D.W. Griffith's controversial Civil War epic reaches a major milestone. Flawed by overt racism that many find offensive even today, the picture nonetheless showed the world the potential of the then-new medium of film. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, May 21, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "The Count of Monte Cristo" (1922) starring John Gilbert; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The original screen adaptation of the Andre Dumas swashbuckler about a man unjustly imprisoned who later seeks revenge. A film thought lost for decades until a print surfaced in the Czech Republic! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, May 19, 2015, Noon: "Silent Film Comedy Program"; Manchester Country Club, South River Road, Bedford, N.H. Program for the Senior Fellowship Group of the First Congregational Church of Manchester, N.H.
• Monday, May 18, 2015, 6 p.m. "Silent Film Comedy Program" for students of the Penn Program, an innovative private school based in Exeter, N.H. Private screening by invitation only.
• Friday, May 15, 2015, 7 p.m.: "It" (1927) starring Clara Bow; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. The hugely popular romantic comedy about a shopgirl who falls in love with the owner of a huge department store. The film that made Clara Bow a major star and came to epitomize the Jazz age. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, May 5, 2015, 6 p.m.: "Three's a Crowd" (1927) starring Harry Langdon; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. In his directorial debut, Harry stars as a slum-dweller who invites a freezing woman, pregnant with another man's child, into his home. Nursing mother and child back to health, he achieves his dream of having a family... or so he hopes. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, May 3, 2015, 2 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Buster attempts to impress the girl of his dreams by becoming a glamorous newsreel cameraman, with disastrous (but hilarious) results. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, May 2, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Chaplin's Funniest Short Comedies"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Nore than a century after his iconic "Little Tramp" character first appeared onscreen, Charlie Chaplin's timeless silent comedies continue to delight new generations of movie-goers. See for yourself with this collection of Chaplin's best short comedy films. Join us for series 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, April 26, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "Silent Comedy and the Civil War" with Raymond Griffith, Buster Keaton; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War's end: Confederate spy Raymond Griffith outwits Northern foes in 'Hands Up!' (1926), while Buster Keaton plays a Confederate train engineer in his masterpiece, 'The General' (1926). Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, April 24, 2015, 8 p.m. "The Strong Man" (1926) starring Harry Langdon, directed by Frank Capra; Northeast Catholic College (formerly The College of Saint Mary Magdalen), 511 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Warner, N.H. Silent film program on the campus of Northeast Catholic College. With World War I over, baby-faced soldier Harry Langdon searches for the girl who sent such moving letters to him in the trenches. Directed by a very young Frank Capra, 'The Strong Man' is today hailed as Langdon's best feature, and also one of the greatest comedies of the silent film era. Admission is free for Northeast Catholic students and any others with college ID; general public admission is $5 per person.
• Saturday, April 18, 2015, 7:30 p.m.: "Zaza" (1923) starring Gloria Swanson, H.B. Warner; Packard Campus Theater, National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Library of Congress Packard Campus, 19053 Mount Pony Road, Culpeper, Va; http://www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/schedule.html. Paramount romance set in France in which Swanson plays a provincial actress who gets entangled with a married diplomat. Free and open to the public, but children 12 younger must be accompanied by an adult. Open seating is on a “first come, first served” basis. Musical note: My Packard Center debut!
• Thursday, April 16, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Kelly Library, 234 Main St., Salem, N.H.; (603) 898-7064; http://www.salem.lib.nh.us/. Silent film with live music at the public library in Salem, N.H. Iconic silent film comedian Buster Keaton attempts to impress the girl of his dreams by becoming a glamorous newsreel cameraman, with disastrous (but hilarious) results. Free admission but come early as venue is limited to about 50 seats.
• Tuesday, April 14, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); silent film with live music at Northeast University Film Enthusiasts, an on-campus group of cinema buffs. Experience the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—and some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time.
• Saturday, April 11, 2015, 7:30 p.m.: "The Italian" (1915) starring George Beban and Clara Williams; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. Drama about immigrants struggling to survive in New York. Wonderful vintage Edison theater from 1913 now fully restored; shows silent films with live music every week. Suggested admission $5 per person.
• Thursday, April 9, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "Three Ages" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Keaton's first feature-length comedy interweaves tales of romance from three epochs: the Stone Age, the Roman Empire, and "Modern Times," meaning 1920s California. See why Buster is regarded as one of the great clowns of the silent era. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 6 p.m.: "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1922); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. When the king is drugged and abducted by his ambitious brother, a lookalike relative must take his place to keep the evil sibling off the throne. Early silent adaptation of the famed Anthony Hope novel. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, April 5, 2015, 2 p.m.: The original "Ten Commandments" (1923); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Long before Charlton Heston played Moses in technicolor, director Cecil B. DeMille filmed this silent blockbuster on a grand scale. Many say it surpasses the remake! See for yourself, on Easter Sunday, in a print provided by the Library of Congress. The real deal! Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, April 4, 2015, 7:30 p.m.: Silent Film Program: Buster Keaton Double Feature at the Blazing Star Grange Hall, North Road in Danbury, N.H. Screening of 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924) and 'The General' (1927) to members of community group. Free and open to the public; suggested donation of $5 at the door.
• Friday, April 3, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Lost World" (1925); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Early big screen adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's story about a British explorer's quest to find prehistoric creatures surviving in the remote South American jungle. The original dinosaur movie! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, March 29, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: The original "Ten Commandments" (1923); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Long before Charlton Heston played Moses in technicolor, director Cecil B. DeMille filmed this silent blockbuster on a grand scale. Many say it surpasses the remake! See for yourself, a week before Easter. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 7 p.m.: "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921) starring Rudolph Valentino; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. An extended family split up in France and Germany find themselves on opposing sides of the battlefield during World War I. The film that turned then-little-known actor Rudolph Valentino into a superstar and associated him with the image of the Latin Lover. The film also inspired a tango craze and such fashion fads as gaucho pants. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Thursday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22, 2015:, Cinefest, four-day festival of silent and early sound films. Most titles are rarely screened 16mm prints. Live accompaniment for the silents! All screenings at the Holiday Inn, Liverpool, N.Y. Check it out at www.syracusecinephile.com.
• Sunday, March 15, 2015, 2 p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1921); Townsend (Mass.) Public Library, 12 Dudley Road, Townsend, Mass.; (978) 597-1714; http://www.townsendlibrary.org. Comedian Harold Lloyd's first starring feature finds him playing a mild-mannered young man forced to confront his chronic cowardice, with a little help from his beloved Grandma, who has a few family secrets up her sleeve. A delightful romp from one of the silent film era's most popular comics. Silent film program at town library; free admission!
• Thursday, March 12, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "Tarzan and the Golden Lion" (1927); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. You won't hear his iconic yell, but everything else about the Tarzan legend is present in this rip-roaring action adventure that plays like an early version of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.' Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 6 p.m.: "Music, Film and Creativity: An evening with silent film composer Jeff Rapsis"; N.H. Institute of Art, French Hall Auditorium, 148 Concord St., Manchester, N.H. A presentation about film, music and creativity to group of commercial artists and marketing professionals. Networking and hors d’oeuvres open from 6 to 7 p.m. Presentation begins 7 p.m. Registration is free for NHCC members and students and $15 for non-members. Registration is available at nhcreativeclub.org.
• Sunday, March 8, 2015, 2 p.m.: "W.C. Fields Double Feature"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Long before his nasal twang resounded throughout movie theaters, a somewhat younger W.C. Fields had a very successful career as a silent comedian. In "Sally of the Sawdust" (1925), Fields plays a circus con artist who adopts an orphan (directed by no less than D.W. Griffith!); "Running Wild" (1927) finds Fields as a hen-pecked husband who turns to hypnosis to assert control in his household. Prints from the Library of Congress. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Tuesday, March 3, 2015, 6 p.m.: "Hula" (1927) starring Clara Bow; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Directed by Victor Fleming, a romance set among the early Western settlers of the the Hawaiian islands. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday, Feb. 27 & Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, Kansas Silent Film Festival at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Annual pilgrimage to wonderful two-day celebration of silent film with live music. Check it out at www.kssilentfilmfest.org. Scheduled to provide accompaniment to several short films as well as the feature 'The Little Church Around the Corner' (1923) starring Claire Windsor, Kansas native and Washburn graduate.
• Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, 7 p.m.: "J'Accuse" (1919) directed by Abel Gance; Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. Admission $9. (617) 496-3211. French director Abel Gance's sprawling tragedy about families affected by World War I. Gance began the film shortly after returning from military duty himself; some of the battle scenes were shot on location, using actual soldiers as extras. The film’s narrative elaborates a love triangle interrupted by the war, but the impact of J’accuse comes from Gance’s powerful images of combat and its ability to destroy lives both on the battlefield and on the homefront.
• Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, 10 p.m. or thereabouts, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; (617) 625-5700; Somerville Theatre. Nearly a century after its release, the German expressionist film widely regarded as the world's first horror movie still has capacity to creep out audiences. See for yourself — if you dare! Screened as part of the 40th Annual Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival's annual 24-hour science fiction film marathon, which runs noon on Sunday, Feb. 15 to noon on Monday, Feb. 16. Admission charged. For more info, visit the festival's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BostonSciFi.
• Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "Love" (1927) starring Greta Garbo, John Gilbert; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Silent-era mega-stars (and off-screen lovers) Greta Garbo and John Gilbert heat up the screen in this 1927 adaptation of Tolstoy's novel 'Anna Karenina.' (Great if you forgot to do anything special on Valentine's Day.) Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, 9 p.m. "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St., Somerville, Mass. When words can't express how you feel, try silent film! Special Valentine's Day program at popular brew-pub in Somerville, Mass. Admission $10 per person. For details, check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/845007065561871/
• Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, 6:30 p.m.: "Don't Change Your Husband" (1919) starring Gloria Swanson, directed by Cecil B. DeMille; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Just in time for Valentine's Day! A riotously dated look at marriage through the eyes of a woman who is bored with her oafish onion-eating husband and decides to take action. A prestige project helmed by the legendary Cecil B. DeMille and featuring silent-era superstar Gloria Swanson. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, 2 p.m.: "Rin Tin Tin Double Feature"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Legendary dog star Rin Tin Tin returns to the big screen in a rip-roaring double feature. In "Clash of the Wolves" (1925), Rinty must aid his adopted master in vanquishing a foe (filmed on location in what would later become Joshua Tree National Park), while "The Night Cry" (1926), our hero must clear his name after being accused of killing sheep. Featuring 35mm prints from the Library of Congress. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful 100-year-old moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting work of legendary projectionist David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, 6:15 p.m.: "A Valentine's Day Primer: Two Approaches to Romance"; Campton Historical Society, Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H.; Campton Historical Society. Silent film legends Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton demonstrate markedly different approaches of how to woo the ladies in classic comedies from Hollywood's silent era. 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!
• Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, 6 p.m.: "Nanook of the North" (1922) directed by Robert J. Flaherty; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. One of the first full-length documentaries in which director Flaherty captures the struggles of the Inuk man named Nanook and his family in the Canadian Arctic. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Saturday, Jan. 31, 2014, 5 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; Liberty Ridge Farm, Schaghticoke, N.Y.; http://www.libertyridgefarmny/. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece that tells the story of a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. An evening of silent film with live music in the converted barn of a recreational farm, plus pot luck supper. A now-annual mid-winter get-together for all those in this upstate New York town who don't head south for the winter. By invite only, but if you'd like to attend, bring a pot luck dish and you won't be refused.
• Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Nanook of the North" (1922); Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. Rare chance to see a 35mm print of this ground-breaking documentary about day-to-day life as lived above the Arctic Circle. One of the first movies to show the power of film to take us to far-away places, teach us new things, and reveal humanity to itself. More details to come.
• Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, 4:30 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A grand sci-fi adventure epic about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Welcome the year 2015 by pondering a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, 7 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929) directed by Fritz Lang; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. A grand sci-fi adventure epic about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. Welcome the year 2015 by pondering a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Chaplin's Best Short Comedies"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. This Christmas, get laughs! Mark this year's 100th anniversary of Chaplin's iconic 'Little Tramp' character with a selection of his best short comedies. A great way for the whole family to cap off the holiday weekend. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, 6 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929) directed by Fritz Lang; Spectral Sciences, Inc., Burlington, Mass. Private screening of pioneering silent sci-fi classic to scientists and staffers of prominent rocket industry consulting firm.
• Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Dr. Jack" (1922) starring Harold Lloyd; Tuscan Opera House, Dixfield, Maine; fundraiser for local historical society organized by students at Dirigo High School. More details to come!
• Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Seven Chances" (1925); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Finish off the long Thanksgiving weekend with laughter courtesy silent comic Buster Keaton. A pair of Keaton's classic short comedies are a prelude to 'Seven Chances' (1925), in which Buster has until sundown to get married or lose a fortune. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Charlie Chaplin Comedy Night"; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Spend part of Thanksgiving weekend with the Little Tramp on the 100th anniversary of his first screen appearances. The whole family will enjoy restored prints of some of Chaplin's most popular comedies shown the way they were intended: on the big screen, with live music, and an audience! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, 6 p.m.: "The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg" (1927) starring Norma Shearer, Ramon Novarro; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. A cloistered, overprotected Austrian prince falls in love with a down-to-earth barmaid in this European fairy tale directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Clara Bow, Richard Arlen, directed by William Wellman. Sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, winner of "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. For course at Harvard University; Department of Visual and Environmental Studies, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. Open to the public.
• Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, 2 p.m.: "The Strong Man" (1926); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. With World War I over, baby-faced soldier Harry Langdon searches for the girl who sent such moving letters to him in the trenches. Directed by a very young Frank Capra, 'The Strong Man' is today hailed as Langdon's best feature, and also one of the greatest comedies of the silent film era. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, 7 p.m.: Encore screening! "Nosferatu" (1922); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. A repeat performance due to sold-out screening in October. Experience the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself, if you dare. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "Running Wild" (1927) starring W.C. Fields; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Long before he entertained movie audiences with his nasal twang, W.C. Fields was a popular leading man in silent film comedies! This one finds Fields as a hen-pecked husband finally driven to make surprising changes in his life. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, 7:30 p.m.: "The Little American" (1917) starring Mary Pickford, directed by Cecil B. DeMille; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. Current events drama in which American woman (Pickford) is in love with both a German and a French soldier during World War I. Production began only a week after the U.S. declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917, and the movie was released in July, making it one of the first to reflect on the attitude of American involvement at the time. Also on the program: the Chaplin Keystone short "Those Love Pangs" (1914). Suggested admission $5 per person.
• Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, 4 p.m.: "I Was Born, But..." (1932) directed by Yasujiro Ozu; screening of film for silent cinema class at Harvard University; at the Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. A blithe portrait of the financial and psychological toils of one Japanese family, as told from the rascally point of view of a couple of stubborn little boys. For two brothers, the daily struggles of bullies and mean teachers is nothing next to the mortification they feel when they realize their good-natured father’s low-rung social status.
• Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014, 7 p.m.: "The Wandering Image" (1921) and "Fighting Hearts" (1922), both directed by Fritz Lang. Presented by the Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. Admission $9. (617) 496-3211. Two early Lang silents that show his development as a filmmaker. In "The Wandering Image" (1921), a tormented woman trudges through the Swiss Alps attempting to escape the respective grasps of various men whose identities, morals and beliefs wander as mysteriously as the statue of Virgin Mary referred to in the title. "Fighting Hearts," (1922) also known as "Four Around a Woman," explores the life of a wealthy broker obsessed with delusions of his devout wife’s infidelity. Both films were thought lost until prints surfaced in Brazil in the 1980s.
• Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014, 2:30 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924); Bedford Public Library, Bedford, N.H.; The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Silent film with live music, part of a monthly series of performances at my hometown's public library.
• Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Just in time for Halloween! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014, 7 p.m.: "The Cat and the Canary" (1927); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Can a group of strangers survive the night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Just in time for Halloween, a movie filled with deep shadows, dark secrets, and a surprisingly timeless mix of humor and horror that will keep you guessing. Remember: in silent film, no one can hear you scream! See if if you dare! Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: Lon Chaney Halloween Creepfest: "The Unholy Three" (1925) and "West of Zanzibar" (1928): Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The man of a thousand faces stars in a pair of little-seen thrillers involving crime, revenge, and twisted love. A great way to get into the Halloween spirit. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, 8 p.m.: "Phantom of the Opera" (1925); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Just in time for Halloween! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. The program is subtitled 'Chiller Theater' due to the theater's lack of central heating. Bring a sweater or a blanket! Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Celebrate Halloween by experiencing the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself, if you dare. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, 4 p.m.: "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1928) and "The Smiling Madame Buedet" (1923); screening of films for Adam Hart's Silent Cinema Course at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
• Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Chiller Theater Silent Double Feature starring Lon Chaney"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Just in time for Halloween, two classic silent films that will creep you out. In 'The Unknown' (1927), Lon Chaney plays 'Alonzo the Armless,' a disabled circus performer smitten with Joan Crawford. What he does to prove his love for her makes for an unforgettably twisted tale from director Tod Browning. Plus: Another Lon Chaney feature TBA. Join us for series 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, Oct. 15, 2014, 7 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925) starring John Gilbert, Renee Adoree, directed by King Vidor. MGM's landmark film, a sweeping drama about U.S. doughboys facing down death in the World War I trenches. Starring John Gilbert and directed by King Vidor, an epic that set the standard for generations of war movies to come. Director King Vidor broke new cinematic ground with this epic drama that took viewers right into the trenches and showed the ugly side of then-recent World War I. For course at Harvard University; Department of Visual and Environmental Studies, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. Open to the public.
• Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, The Cat and the Canary (1927), 12 noon; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Can a group of strangers survive the night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni. Silent film will again be part of the Somerville Theatre's annual 'Terrorthon,' a 12-hour marathon of creepy flicks from all decades, and all shown in 35mm. Part of a special event at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "Chicago" (1927); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The original big screen adaptation of the notorious Jazz Age tabloid scandal, based on real events. Dancer Roxie Hart is accused of murder! Is she innocent or headed for the slammer? Later made into the popular Broadway musical. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, 1 p.m.: "The Birth of a Nation" (1915); UNH-Manchester, third floor auditorium, 400 Commercial St., Manchester. Screening for cinema course; not open to the public.
• Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, 6 p.m.: "You'd Be Surprised" (1927) starring Raymond Griffith; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. One of the few surviving features from silent screen comedian Raymond Griffith; a who-done-it with a light touch that will keep you guessing. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, 2 p.m.: "The Crowd" (1928); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. King Vidor's intense drama about the life of an everyman who aims high, but life has other ideas. Filled with iconic scenes showing the eloquence of silent film at its most fluent. Shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, 4 p.m.: "The Kid" (1920) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; screening of films for silent cinema class at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
• Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Stop! Look! Railroad Melodramas!"; train-related silent films: Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. In 'The West-Bound Limited' (1923), a fired employee takes revenge on the railroad by setting a trap for a head on collision between a passenger train and a freight train. In 'Transcontinental Limited' (1926), Jerry Reynolds is an aging train engineer fast approaching retirement, but his eyes are giving out even faster! Will he still collect his pension? Two rip-roaring train flicks, both great examples of railroad melodramas popular during the silent era. Part of a series of silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, 7 p.m.: "College" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; the Putnam Arts Center, Keene State College in Keene, N.H. Buster heads off to a college campus to find sports is the only sure-fire route to popularity. One of Keaton's most gag-filled comedies offers an extended look at the silent star's athletic prowess.
• Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, 7 p.m.: "College" (1927), starring Buster Keaton; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Head back to school with Buster Keaton, one of the silent era's great comedians. Higher education will never be the same when Buster arrives at Tate College, convinced that sports is the one sure way to becoming Big Man on Campus. What happens along the way allows Keaton to show off his comic imagination as well as his athletic prowess. Laugh your way through one of the funniest comedies of the silent era! Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, 8 p.m.: "Tarzan Double Feature"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. In 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' (1927), an early screen adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel, finds Tarzan adopting an orphaned lion cub, with unexpected results. Also on the bill: a rare screening of the very first Tarzan film from 1918, starring Elmo Lincoln. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, 2 p.m.: "The Kid Brother" (1927) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Often cited as Lloyd's masterpiece, this ambitious silent film comedy/drama tells the story of Harold Hickory, youngest son of a powerful rural sheriff. When his father is unjustly jailed, Harold is forced to prove himself and clear his father's name. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Silent Comedy with Harry Langdon"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Silent comedy featuring the unique style of Harry Langdon, whose innocent baby-faced character rocketed to fame late in the silent era on the strength of films directed by a very young Frank Capra. Rediscover Harry's quiet genius the way it was intended to be seen: on the big screen and with a live audience. Join us for series 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.
• Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927) directed by Alfred Hitchcock; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. See the legendary Alfred Hitchcock's very first motion picture, a tale of the London fog made in Great Britain before he made the trip across the pond. Those expecting murder will not be disappointed. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Really Big Stars: An Elephant Double Feature": Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We finish our look at the silent era's animal stars with a double feature of films with elephants in leading roles! 'Soul of the Beast' (1923) stars Oscar the Elephant, who accompanies a circus runaway fleeing a mean stepfather. In 'Chang' (1927), shot on location in rural Siam (now Thailand), a native family in the back country battles the jungle for survival. Part of a summer series of silent films with animal stars (and live music) at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, 6 p.m.: "Beyond the Rocks" (1922) starring Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. The only collaboration between silent screen icons Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson, a film thought lost until a copy turned up the Netherlands in 2003. Caught by circumstances in a loveless marriage, Theodora (Gloria Swanson) falls in love with the rich Hector (Valentino), neither of whom can resist — against their better judgment — each other’s company during their collective travels throughout Europe. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "A Triple Feature: Two Dogs and a Horse": Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We continue our summer of silent animal stars with a thrilling triple feature. 'His Master's Voice' (1925) finds Thunder the Dog helping human co-star George Hackathorne overcome his cowardice on the battlefield; in 'The Return of the Grey Wolf' (1923), Leader the Dog comes to the aid of his master, a fur trapper blinded in an accident; and in 'Guardians of the Wild' (1928), Rex the Wonder Horse returns to help the good guys fight the bad guys over the fate of a pristine patch of wilderness that he calls home. Part of a summer series of silent films with animal stars (and live music) at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, 8 p.m.: "Charlie Chaplin Comedy Night"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Spend an evening with the Little Tramp on the 100th anniversary of his first screen appearances. The whole family will enjoy restored prints of some of Chaplin's most popular comedies shown the way they were intended: on the big screen, with live music, and an audience! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "More Forgotten Dogs": Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A trio of films featuring popular canine performers whose stars have faded. In 'Tracked' (1928), Ranger the Dog stands accused of killing sheep and must go on the lam; 'The Sign of the Claw' (1926) features Peter the Great, a German Shepherd star whose career was cut short by a tragic accident; and 'Sky Rider' (1928) finds Champion the Dog taking flight in an airplane drama. Part of a summer series of silent films with animal stars (and live music) at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921) starring Rudolph Valentino; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. An extended family split up in France and Germany find themselves on opposing sides of the battlefield during World War I. The film that turned then-little-known actor Rudolph Valentino into a superstar and associated him with the image of the Latin Lover. The film also inspired a tango craze and such fashion fads as gaucho pants.Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929); directed by Fritz Lang. Presented by the Harvard Film Archive, 24 Quincy Street, Cambridge, Mass. Admission $9. (617) 496-3211. Film is a 35mm print of the 2003 restoration. Lang’s last silent film presents the tale of the first rocket to the moon with a sincere realism and a woman virtually at the helm. Retrospectively, a few details—the multi-stage launch, the weightlessness, sunrise from space—were prescient, if not actually pioneering, as in the case of Lang’s apparent invention of the backward countdown. Although there is a plot involving a romantic triangle and a cabal of sinister capitalists, it is clearly the machinery that attracts Lang’s attention, as well as the science and morality behind it. Called Lang’s most abstract film, it retains some fatalistic and fantastic detours, yet with an atmosphere much cooler, and at times, chilling.
• Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Show People" (1928); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. A silent film about the silent film business! 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 series 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.
• Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, 7 p.m.: "The Last Command" (1928); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Emil Jannings snagged the first-ever Best Actor Academy Award for his towering portrayal of a Czarist general and patriot forced to contend with the Russian Revolution in this sweeping late silent drama directed by Josef von Sternberg. One of early Hollywood's most creative and challenging looks at the conflicts of World War I, which began 100 years ago this month. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014, 2 p.m.: "Chaplin Short Comedies"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Spend an afternoon with the Little Tramp on the 100th anniversary of his first screen appearances. The whole family will enjoy restored prints of some of Chaplin's most popular comedies shown the way they were intended: on the big screen, with live music, and an audience! Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, 8 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Celebrate summer with the original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, 6 p.m.: "Flying Luck" (1927) starring Monty Banks, Jean Arthur; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Inspired by Lindbergh, hapless aviator Monty joins the U.S. Army Air Corps, where it's one comical disaster after another. Rare feature film from popular second-tier silent screen comedian. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, July 20, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Thunder and Strongheart: Two Neglected Dog Stars": Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Explore the action-packed work of two popular canine stars from Hollywood's silent era. 'Phantom of the Forest' (1926) finds Thunder the Dog in California's wild Redwood country, where he thwarts a crook planning to steal oil-rich land from its owner and saves a baby from a forest fire. In 'The Return of Boston Blackie' (1927), Strongheart the German Shepherd plays sidekick to the notorious jewel thief, freshly out of prison and trying to turn over a new leaf. Part of a summer series of silent films with animal stars (and live music) at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, July 17, 2014, 8 p.m.: "Silent Comedy with Buster Keaton"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. He never smiled on camera, earning him the nickname of "the Great Stone Face." But Buster Keaton's comedies rocked Hollywood's silent era with laughter throughout the 1920s. Acclaimed for their originality and clever visual gags, Keaton's movies remain popular crowd-pleasers today. See for yourself with a selection of Keaton's best short and feature-length films! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 13, 2014, 2 p.m.: "Orphans of the Storm" (1921) starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Pay tribute to Bastille Day with D.W. Griffith's silent blockbuster set during the French Revolution. The story: Country girl Lillian Gish accompanies her blind sister Dorothy to Paris for an operation to restore her sight. Separated and then swept up in events beyond their control, they each must fight to survive amidst chaos that threatens to destroy the nation. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, July 12, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Silent Comedy with Buster Keaton"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. He never smiled on camera, earning him the nickname of "the Great Stone Face." But Buster Keaton's comedies rocked Hollywood's silent era with laughter throughout the 1920s. Acclaimed for their originality and clever visual gags, Keaton's movies remain popular crowd-pleasers today. See for yourself with a selection of Keaton's best short and feature-length films! Join us for series 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 9, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "The General" (1927) starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Comedy/drama set during the U.S. Civil War about a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. Regarded as Keaton's masterpiece, 'The General' is often named among the best films ever made. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, July 8, 2014, 6 p.m.: "The Scarlet Letter" (1926) starring Lillian Gish; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Splashy MGM adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic tale of old New England, with Lillian Gish in the leading role as Hester Prynne. After having a child out of wedlock, a young Puritan woman is pressured to reveal the name of her lover. Ah, the good old days! Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, July 6, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Lions and Dinosaurs Double Feature": Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Two classic animal-centric features from the silent era, both inspired by British literature. 'Tarzan and the Golden Lion' (1927), an early screen adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novel, finds Tarzan adopting an orphaned lion cub, with unexpected results. And Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Lost World' (1925), about an expedition to a plateau still inhabited pre-historic creatures, paved the way for all dinosaur pictures to come. Part of a summer series of silent films with animal stars (and live music) at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, July 3, 2014, 8 p.m.: "The Lost World" (1925); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Long before 'Jurassic Park,' Hollywood discovered the power of dinosaurs on-screen in this ground-breaking adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's bizarre tale of prehistoric creatures found living in remote South America. See it on the big screen, as intended! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, June 29, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Rex the Wonder Horse Double Feature": Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Two action-packed equine adventures starring Rex the Wonder Horse. In 'Wild Beauty' (1926), Rex plays an untamed horse used by the villains (humans, of course) to foil a high-stakes derby, with unexpected results. In 'The Devil Horse' (1926), Rex aids pioneers on the Great Plains in battling a fierce tribe of Native Americans. Plus a rare short film, 'Fangs of Vengeance' (1926) starring obscure silent canine star "Fearless the Police Dog." Part of a summer series of silent films with animal stars (and live music) at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, June 19, 2014, 8 p.m.: "Silent Comedy with Harold Lloyd"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. See why Harold Lloyd was the most popular performer of the silent film era. Instead of getting ahead, his everyone man character (a nice young man with horn-rimmed glasses) had a knack for getting into spectacular trouble, often requiring him to overcome amazing odds to win the day. Audiences continue to thrill at Harold's adventures when presented they way they were intended to be shown: on the big screen and with an audience. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, June 15, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Rin Tin Tin Double Feature": Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Two rare feature films starring Rin Tin Tin, the most popular animal star of the silent era. 'Where the North Begins' (1923), Rinty's first starring vehicle, finds Rinty raised by a pack of wolves, befriending a fur trapper, and accused of killing a baby before all is made right. 'The Night Cry' (1926), a giant condor is killing sheep and Rinty is unjustly accused. Part of a summer series of silent films with animal stars (and live music) at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, June 14, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Silent Comedy with Harold Lloyd"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. See why Harold Lloyd was the most popular performer of the silent film era. Instead of getting ahead, his everyone man character (a nice young man with horn-rimmed glasses) had a knack for getting into spectacular trouble, often requiring him to overcome amazing odds to win the day. Audiences continue to thrill at Harold's adventures when presented they way they were intended to be shown: on the big screen and with an audience. Join us for series 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.
• Friday, June 13, 2014, 7 p.m.: "The Iron Horse" (1924); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. A young John Ford directed this big movie on a big subject: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad following the Civil War. Epic film weaves together several narratives and includes parts for everyone from Abraham Lincoln to Buffalo Bill. Plus great western action sequences that set new standards for cinema! Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, June 12, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. German director Fritz Lang's amazing epic about a futuristic society where an educated elite enjoys life in a glittering city, all supported by colonies of workers forced to live deep underground. A film that set new standards for visual design and changed movies forever! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, June 8, 2014, 2 p.m.: "The Navigator" (1924) starring Buster Keaton; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Set sail with Buster Keaton's classic comedy 'The Navigator,' which finds two wealthy socialites adrift on a giant ocean liner. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Thursday, June 5, 2014, 8 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Futuristic fantasy by German director Fritz Lang is full of eye-popping visuals about the world of tomorrow as envisioned by the past. Contains long-lost footage rediscovered in Argentina in 2008! Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as an stunning example of the power of silent film to tell a compelling story without words, and reach across the generations to touch movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, June 3, 2014, 6 p.m.: "Cabiria" (1914) directed by Giovanni Pastrone; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Pioneering epic made in Italy just before World War I engulfed Europe. Set in ancient Sicily, Carthage, and Cirta during the period of the Second Punic War (218–202 BC), the film follows a melodramatic main plot about an abducted little girl, Cabiria, and features an eruption of Mt. Etna, heinous religious rituals in Carthage, the alpine trek of Hannibal, Archimedes' defeat of the Roman fleet at the Siege of Syracuse and Scipio maneuvering in North Africa—and a partridge in a pear tree. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday, May 30, 2014, 10 a.m. Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. Our fifth annual presentation to some of the brightest kids in southern New Hampshire!
• Sunday, May 25, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925) starring John Gilbert, Renee Adoree; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We mark Memorial Day with MGM's landmark film, a sweeping drama about U.S. doughboys facing down death in the World War I trenches. Starring John Gilbert and directed by King Vidor, an epic that set the standard for generations of war movies to come. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, May 17, 2014, 7 p.m.: "The Winning of Barbara Worth" (1926), starring Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Epic Western about the settling and irrigation of California's Imperial Valley, once a wasteland but now an agricultural paradise. Shot on location by director Henry King in Nevada's Black Rock desert, one of the first films to take audiences to the wide open spaces of the great American West. With a young Gary Cooper playing a key role. Join us for series 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.
• Saturday, May 10, 2014, 7:30 p.m.: "The Little Duchess" (1917), starring Madge Evans; the Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, 37417 Niles Boulevard, Niles, Calif. Child star Madge Evans is the duchess, an orphan with a positive attitude who charms all she meets in this rare film made in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Plus two Keystone short comedies: "Caught in a Cabaret" (1914) co-starring Charles Chaplin and Mabel Normand; and "Fatty and Minnie He-Haw" (1914) co-starring Fatty Arbuckle and a tribe of dog-eating Native Americans. Suggested admission $5 per person.
• Thursday, May 8, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "Intolerance" (1916); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. D.W. Griffith's early blockbuster about man's inhumanity to man weaves together four stories spanning four eras of civilization. Filmed an a vast scale, setting a new standard for Hollywood extravagance. A movie made for the big screen, and here's your chance to see it! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, May 6, 2014, 6 p.m.: "Her Night of Romance" (1924) starring Constance Talmadge and Ronald Colman; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Romantic comedy with Talmadge playing the daughter of an American millionaire and Colman as an impoverished British aristocrat. Do we need to to draw a road map? Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Wednesday, April 30, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Moby Dick" (1956) starring Gregory Peck; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Not a silent film, but hosting a screening of 1956 film adaptation of Herman Melville's novel. Directed by John Huston with a screenplay by Huston and Ray Bradbury. Look out, Robert Osborn! Classic films on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Sunday, April 27, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Destiny" (1921) directed by Fritz Lang: Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Years before his classic 'Metropolis,' German director Fritz Lang brought this ground-breaking expressionist fantasy to the big screen. A strange tale in which human lives are each represented by a candle, and a figure representing 'Death' grants a woman three chances to rescue her lover from a premature demise. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, April 26, 2014, 8 p.m. "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence; The College of Saint Mary Magdalen, 511 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Warner, N.H. Silent film program on the campus of Magdalen College. Pampered Buster returns home from college to help his father, a tough riverboat captain, battle to save the business; falling for the archrival's daughter doesn't make things easier. Climaxed by an eye-popping cyclone sequence. Plus companion feature 'Sherlock Jr.' (1924) starring Keaton as a movie projectionist and would-be detective who dreams himself into an on-screen whodunnit. Admission is free for Magdalen students and any others with college ID; general public admission is $5 per person.
• Friday, April 18, 2014, 7 p.m.: "King of Kings" (1927); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Celebrate Easter weekend with Cecil B. DeMille's legendary adaptation of the story of Christ. An epic movie that served as a model for dozens of Biblical blockbusters to come. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, April 10, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Buster Keaton's classic comedy/drama about a long-running family feud. Filled with great gags and a timeless story that culminates in a dramatic river rescue where Buster almost lost his life for real! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, April 1, 2014, 6 p.m.: "The Saphead" (1920) starring Buster Keaton; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. In honor of April Fool's Day, Buster Keaton's debut in a feature-length picture, although not a Buster Keaton film. Rather, a stage adaptation in which Keaton was hired to play a role originated by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, March 30, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Long Pants" (1927): Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Harry Langdon's quirky comedy about an adolescent's journey into manhood and marriage. A bizarre film from one of the silent era's unsung star comics, complete with dark humor and an uproarious slapstick ending. Bonus: Directed by a very young Frank Capra! Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, March 27, 2014, 7 p.m.: "The Scarlet Letter" (1926) starring Lillian Gish; the Putnam Arts Lecture Hall, Keene State College, Keene, N.H. Silent film with live music, part of a local college's movie series. Gish plays the lead role in this atmospheric adaptation of Nathanial Hawthornee's novel set in colonial New England. Substituted for 'The Wind' (1928), which was not available due to technical reasons.
• Wednesday, March 26, 2014, 7 p.m.: "The Strong Man" (1926); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. With World War I over, baby-faced soldier Harry Langdon searches for the girl who sent such moving letters to him in the trenches. Directed by a very young Frank Capra, 'The Strong Man' is today hailed as Langdon's best feature, and also one of the greatest comedies of the silent film era. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Thursday, March 20, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "The Lost World" (1925); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Long before 'Jurassic Park,' Hollywood discovered the power of dinosaurs on-screen in this ground-breaking adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's bizarre tale of prehistoric creatures found living in remote South America. See it on the big screen, as intended! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Thursday, March 13 through Sunday, March 16, 2014: Cinefest, Syracuse, N.Y. A four-day extravaganza of vintage film, a good portion of it silent, and virtually all of it obscure or rarely screened. My final year of a three-year engagement. For more info, visit www.syracusecinefest.com.
• Sunday, March 9, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen, Gary Cooper; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Special fundraiser to help the Wilton Town Hall Theatre add digital projection! Matinee screening of sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, awarded with "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Tickets $20 per person, with all proceeds going to help the Wilton Town Hall go digital for first-run films.
• Thursday, March 6, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "Sunrise" (1927); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Just in time for Valentine's Day: Academy Award-winning romantic drama starring George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor. Directed by F.W. Murnau, critics rank this visually stunning fairy tale about joy, sadness, hope, and love as among the best silent pictures ever made. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person. Rescheduled from Thursday, Feb. 13 due to snowstorm.
• Tuesday, March 4, 2014, 6 p.m.: "The Ice Flood" (1926); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Melodramatic goings-on at a rough lumber camp in the Pacific Northwest; things come to a climax with the breaking up of a massive ice jam up-river. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday & Saturday, Feb. 28 & March 1, 2014: "The 18th Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival," two days of silent film and live music at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. A wonderful event that's introduced me to so many great films in the way they should be experienced: in a large hall, on the big screen, with live music, and with an audience. For more info, the Web site is www.kssilentfilmfest.org.
• Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Great Expectations" (1946); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Not a silent, but a post-World War II British film directed by David Lean, based on the novel by Charles Dickens and starring John Mills, Bernard Miles, Finlay Currie, Jean Simmons, Martita Hunt, Alec Guinness and Valerie Hobson. Winner of two Academy Awards (Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography), and nominated for three others (Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay). Classic films on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "The Count of Monte Cristo": Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The original big screen adaptation of the famous novel, with John Gilbert starring in the title role. A sweeping story of a wrongly imprisoned nobleman, a long-lost buried treasure, and revenge. Long thought a lost film until a single print was found in the Czech Republic. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, 4 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923); Program for the Northeastern University Film Enthusiasts' Club, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.
• Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence; Kelly Library, 234 Main St., Salem, N.H.; (603) 898-7064; http://www.salem.lib.nh.us/. Silent film with live music at the public library in Salem, N.H. See iconic silent comic Buster Keaton at his best as he helps his steamboat captain father battle a rival on the river. Climaxed by a spectacular cyclone sequence that remains mesmerizing. Free admmission but come early as venue is limited to about 50 seats.
• Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, 2 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924) starring Betty Bronson, Ernest Torrence; Stratford Library, 2203 Main St., Stratford, Conn. (203) 385-4164. Celebrate the holidays with the original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Silent film with live music sponsored by the Friends of the Stratford Library, open and free to all. Postponed from December 2013 due to a snowstorm.
• Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Sunrise" (1927); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. The perfect film for Valentine's Day: Academy Award-winning romantic drama starring George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor. Directed by F.W. Murnau, critics rank this visually stunning fairy tale about joy, sadness, hope, and love as among the best silent pictures ever made. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
Updated 2/12/14: Screening of 'Sunrise' on Thursday, Feb. 13 at Flying Monkey postponed until Thursday, March 6 due to weather! • Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "Sunrise" (1927); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Just in time for Valentine's Day: Academy Award-winning romantic drama starring George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor. Directed by F.W. Murnau, critics rank this visually stunning fairy tale about joy, sadness, hope, and love as among the best silent pictures ever made. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, 11 a.m.: "Man With A Movie Camera" (1929), directed by Dziga Vertov, at Southern New Hampshire University. Film history course taught by Bill Millios, independent filmmaker whose feature 'Dangerous Crosswinds' (2005) has a musical score by you-know-who.
• Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, 5 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence; Campton Historical Society, Campton Town Hall, Route 175, Campton, N.H.; Campton Historical Society. 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!
• Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, 6 p.m.: "The Mysterious Lady" (1928) starring Greta Garbo, Conrad Nagel, and Gustav von Seyffertitz; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. A military man encounters a strange woman at the opera, starting him down a path that will lead to love, betrayal, and possibly murder. A perfect (if a little harsh) prelude for Valentine's Day! Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, 1 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers, Richard Arlen, Gary Cooper; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Matinee screening of sweeping drama about fighter pilots in World War I; one of the great achievements of the silent cinema, awarded with "Best Picture" at the first-ever Academy Awards. Screening features newly struck 35mm print of restored version. Compelling story, great performances, battle scenes filmed on an immense scale, and in-air aviation sequences that remain thrilling even today. All this and you'll be out before the Super Bowl's opening kick-off. Part of the Somerville Theatre's ongoing 100th anniversary celebration. Admission $10 per person.
• Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, 8 p.m.: "Way Down East" (1920) starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. D.W. Griffith's iconic moral drama set in rural New England, climaxed by unforgettable sequence with Gish trapped on an ice floe. Silent era megahit shown as it was intended: on 35mm film, with live music, on the big screen, and with an audience. An experience not to be missed! Part of the Somerville Theatre's ongoing 100th anniversary celebration. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, 8 p.m.: "Sparrows" (1926) starring Mary Pickford; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Join Mary Pickford expert Christel Schmidt, editor of Pickford anthology "Queen of the Movies" (2012), for a special screening that will include the world premiere of the restored 35mm version of 'Their First Misunderstanding' (1911), an early Pickford one-reel drama that was considered lost until a copy was found in a barn in New Hampshire in 2006. Program also includes 'The Dream' (1911), another early Pickford drama; and 'Sparrows' (1926), considered Pickford's best feature from the height of the silent film era. 35mm prints provided by the Library of Congress. A special presentation at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film, and kicking off the theater's 100th anniversary celebration. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. Admission $10 for this one-of-a-kind cinema experience.
• Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, 7 p.m.: "Their First Misunderstanding" (1911) plus other titles starring Mary Pickford; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. An evening celebrating the rediscovery of silent screen icon Mary Pickford's very first picture in a New Hampshire barn. Hosted by noted Pickford scholar Christel Schmidt, editor of the recently published Pickford anthology "Queen of the Movies" (2012). Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Special event admission $15 per person.
• Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, 4:30 p.m.: "Tess of the Storm Country" (1922); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Mary Pickford stars in this intense melodrama pitting a village of poor squatters against a rich family that wants them out. See what made Pickford among the most popular stars of early cinema! Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Jan. 25, 2013, 5 p.m.: "Silent film program"; Liberty Ridge Farm, Schaghticoke, N.Y.; http://www.libertyridgefarmny/. An evening of silent film (feature to be announced) with live music in the converted barn of a recreational farm, plus pot luck supper. A now-annual mid-winter get-together for all those in this upstate New York town who don't head south for the winter. By invitation only, but if you'd like to attend, bring a pot luck dish and you won't be refused.
• Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, 6:30 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Lon Chaney stars in the original screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel about a deformed bellringer in medieval Paris. A moving and timeless drama filled with classic scenes and capped with a thrilling climax! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, 7 p.m.: "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) starring Lillian Gish; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. What if a movie was acclaimed as a masterpiece, but portrayed the Ku Klux Klan as heroes? What does it say if a movie was clearly racist, depicting blacks as an inferior sub-species to whites, but was still a box office smash? Those are among the questions posed by ‘The Birth of a Nation,’ the ground-breaking epic film from director D.W. Griffith, which continues to inspire controversy nearly 100 years after its initial release. Screened in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as an example of how far we've come, and to help us consider how much remains to be done. Silent film with live music on the campus of Me
• Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, 10 p.m., "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923); Arisia Science Fiction Film Convention, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston, Mass. Silent film screened in tried-and-true 16mm as part of this annual confab, billed as "New England's largest and most diverse science fiction and fantasy convention." For more info, check out http://2014.arisia.org//. Note: Due to a shipping error, the film that actually got shown was a 16mm print of 'The Gold Rush' (1925).
• Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence; Tuscan Opera House, Dixfield, Maine; fundraiser for local historical society organized by students at Dirigo High School. More details to come!
• Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, 9:30 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Southern New Hampshire University. Chaplin's ground-breaking comedy/drama with live music at Southern New Hampshire University. Screening open to SNHU students and faculty only.
• Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924) starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. To round out the long Thanksgiving weekend, join Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in one of the most elaborate cinematic fantasies ever committed to film. A high point of silent film artistry and an unforgettable adventure for the whole family. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend with the original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "Beau Geste" (1926) starring Ronald Colman, Neil Hamilton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Michael "Beau" Geste leaves England in disgrace and joins the infamous French Foreign Legion. He is reunited with his two brothers in North Africa, where they face greater danger from their own sadistic commander than from the rebellious Arabs. Watch for young actor Neil Hamilton, who would go on to fame much later as Commissioner Gordon in the 1960s 'Batman' TV series. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person. Note: Rescheduled from original screening date of Thursday, Nov. 21.
• Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013, 1 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924) starring Betty Bronson, Ernest Torrence; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. The original silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie's immortal tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Join the Darling children as they follow Peter to Never Never Land to do battle with the evil Captain Hook. A film that has lost none of its power over children of all ages. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, 6 p.m.: "The Patsy" (1928) starring Marion Davies, Marie Dressler; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. In a crackerjack Jazz age comedy directed by King Vidor, Davies stars as a neglected daughter trying to win a suitor away from her sister in a middle-class family ruled by a mother who's an inveterate social climber. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, 7 p.m.: "The Last Command" (1928); Hays Theatre, Wilbur Arts Center, Molloy College; 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre, N.Y. (516) 678-5000. Emil Jannings snagged the first-ever Best Actor Academy Award for his towering portrayal of a Czarist general and patriot forced to contend with the Russian Revolution in this sweeping late silent drama directed by Josef von Sternberg. Free admission, public welcome. Originally scheduled for 2012 but postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
• Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Celebrate Halloween by experiencing the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself, if you dare!Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. Just in time for Halloween, see the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself, if you dare! For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Just in time for Halloween, see the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself, if you dare! Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013, 8 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Just in time for Halloween, see the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself, if you dare! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, 7 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925), starring Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin; the Putnam Arts Lecture Hall, Keene State College, Keene, N.H. Free and open to the public. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Just in time for Halloween!
• Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Our annual "Chiller Theater" presentation in the as-yet-unheated Brandon Town Hall. Just in time for Halloween, see the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years—in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself, if you dare! Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, Noon to Midnight: "Journey through Time and Space" film marathon opening with "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920) at noon; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. A 12-hour marathon of cinema, starting off at noon with 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' (1920) in 35mm. Nearly a century after its release, the German expressionist film widely regarded as the world's first horror movie still has capacity to creep out audiences. See for yourself — if you dare! Another great project of the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring the outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Sparrows" (1926) starring Mary Pickford, plus the short drama 'The Dream' (1911) and a recently rediscovered short film; Alumni Recital Hall at the Redfern Arts Center, Keene State College, Keene, N.H. Tickets $5, free for student with Keene State ID. Screening will feature Christel Schimidt, author of "Mary Pickford, Queen of the Movies." 'Sparrows,' Mary Pickford’s penultimate silent film, is a Dickensian tale of orphans living on a baby farm run by an evil caretaker. The movie boasts highly stylized sets, including an ominous-looking alligator swamp, and atmospheric cinematography that illustrates the growing influence of German expressionist cinema on American filmmakers in the 1920s.
• Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See for yourself as the film celebrates its 90th anniversary. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, 1 p.m.: "Safety Last" (1923) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. The iconic image of Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a downtown clock is only one small piece of a remarkable thrill comedy that has lost none of its power over audiences. See for yourself as the film celebrates its 90th anniversary. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, 6 p.m.: "The Crackerjack" (1925) starring Johnny Hines; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. A pickle salesman finds himself in the middle of a South American revolution, impersonating a rebel general and falling for the general's daughter. Comedy starring the underrated Johnny Hines. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday, Sept. 27 & Sunday, Sept. 28, 2013, The 21st Annual Buster Keaton Festival, Iola, Kansas. This year's theme: 'Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin: The Fabulous Fifties.' Doing live music for films that include Buster Keaton's 'Seven Chances' (1925); 'Her Sister From Paris' (also 1925) starring Constance Talmadge; and the Arbuckle/Keaton short 'Out West' (1918).
• Wednesday, Sept. 25 & Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013: "Chaplin Mutuals" starring Charlie Chaplin; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas; (479) 418-5700; http://www.crystalbridges.org. A symposium on Chaplin's work is part of "Art for the Citizen from Paintings to Movies," a program organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Providing live accompaniment for several Chaplin short comedies screened during the symposium and at Giffels Auditorium on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
• Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "Foolish Wives" (1922) starring Erich von Stroheim; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Erich von Stroheim's epic-scale account of an American diplomat's wife who falls under the spell of a phony Russian count. As artistically brilliant as it is gleefully perverse! Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Clash of the Wolves" (1925); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Canine star Rin Tin Tin saves the day in this crackerjack action picture set in the Old West, one of his best surviving feature films. See Rinty leap from cliffs and rooftops (and even climb trees!) as he aids the good guys, chases down the bad guys, and saves his own on-screen dog family from a raging forest fire. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, 8 p.m.: "Show People" (1928) starring Marion Davies, William Haines; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. A silent film about the silent film business! Young Peggy Pepper 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. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Lloyd and Keaton: Silent Comedy Double Feature"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. In 'Dr. Jack' (1922), Harold Lloyd stars as a country doctor with unorthodox methods that get results! But now comes his toughest case yet: a poor little rich girl (Mildred Davis), bed-ridden with a mysterious condition. Harold's cure is sure to make you smile! In 'Seven Chances' (1925), Buster will inherit a fortune provided he's a married man...by 7 p.m. today! Classic Keaton comedy, complete with one of the best silent film comedy endings ever created. Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "The Last Command" (1928) starring Emil Jannings, William Powell; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Jannings snagged the first-ever Best Actor Academy Award for his towering portrayal of a Czarist general and patriot forced to contend with love and the Russian Revolution in this sweeping late silent drama directed by Josef von Sternberg. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, 7 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Portrait photographer Buster exchanges his still camera for a movie camera in an effort to break into the newsreel business and win the attention of a special gal. Spectacular movie-themed Keaton comedy filled with great stunts filmed on a grand scale. Silent film with live music on the campus of Merrimack College. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, 6 p.m.: "Tempest" (1928) starring John Barrymore, Camilla Horn; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Epic drama in which an officer in the Czar's army (Barrymore) falls hard for a haughty princess (Horn), who spurns him and causes him to be stripped of rank. But the tables are turned with the Russian revolution, which upends the aristocracy and puts the soldier and the princess at the mercy of forces that no one can control. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, 1 p.m.: "The Freshman" (1925) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, 8 p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1922) starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Comedian Harold Lloyd's first starring feature finds him playing a mild-mannered young man forced to confront his chronic cowardice, with a little help from his beloved Grandma, who has a few family secrets up her sleeve. A delightful romp from one of the silent film era's most popular comics. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "The Navigator" (1924) starring Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Set sail with Buster Keaton's classic comedy 'The Navigator,' which finds two wealthy socialites adrift on a giant ocean liner. Part of a summer series of seagoing silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans" (1927) starring Janet Gaynor, George O'Brien; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Director F.W. Murnau's fable about love is widely regarded as one of the most moving and beautifully photographed silent pictures ever made, with innovative camerawork that influenced a generation of directors. Warning: Bring plenty of Kleenex. Winner of an Academy Award for "Unique and Artistic Production" at the first-ever ceremony. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person. Rescheduled from Thursday, Aug. 8. Also, 'Show People' (1928) substituted at last minute.
• Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)" starring Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence; Ludlow Auditorium, Ludlow, Vt. Pampered Buster returns home from college to help his father, a tough riverboat captain, battle to save the business; falling for the archrival's daughter doesn't make things easier. Climaxed by an eye-popping cyclone sequence. Silent film with live music in the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall, 37 Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. Looking forward to bringing silent film to life with live music in this wonderful and historic venue!
• Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013, 8 p.m.: "Sally of the Sawdust" (1925) starring W.C. Fields, Carol Dempster; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. The great W.C. Fields stars in this heart-warming silent comedy about a lovably disreputable confidence man who becomes the unlikely guardian of an orphaned circus waif. Directed by D.W. Griffith. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "Across to Singapore" (1928) starring Ramon Novarro, Joan Crawford, Ernest Torrence; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Captain's daughter loves youngest son of seafaring clan, but then the families betroth her to the boy's gruff older brother while he's in home port. When the brothers set sail for Singapore, a gale stirs up the situation into a full-blown crisis. Part of a summer series of seagoing silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, 6 p.m.: "The Clinging Vine" (1926) starring Leatrice Joy, Tom Moore, Snitz Edwards; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Gender-bending comedy in which a high-powered female executive yearns to become more feminine. Surprisingly androgynous performance by Joy, wife of MGM megastar John Gilbert. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013, 1 p.m. "The General" (1926); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Buster's Civil War-era masterpiece follows the adventures of a Confederate railroad engineer who ventures behind enemy lines to recapture his hijacked locomotive and also rescue his girl. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Sally of the Sawdust" (1925), starring W.C. Fields and Carol Dempster; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. The great W.C. Fields stars in this heart-warming silent comedy about a lovably disreputable confidence man who becomes the unlikely guardian of an orphaned circus waif. Directed by D.W. Griffith, of all people! Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Champagne" (1928), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Betty Balfour, Gordon Harker, Ferdinand Von Alten; Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, Mass. (617) 495-4700; http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa/ Part of the Harvard Film Archive's presentation of the "Hitchcock 9," a retrospective of director Alfred Hitchcock's newly restored silent films. A screwball comedy laced with despair, 'Champagne' conjures a fair amount of Hitchcockian suspicion in spite of its frivolous characters. Notable as the first film to ever employ the "freeze frame" technique. Admission: $9; Non-Harvard students, Harvard faculty and staff, and senior citizens: $7. Harvard students admitted free!
• Sunday, July 28, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "The Seahawk" (1924) starring Lloyd Hughes, Milton Sills; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Swashbuckling historical adventure on the high seas about an English noble sold into slavery who escapes and turns himself into a pirate king. Based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini; later remade into a talkie starring Errol Flynn. Part of a summer series of seagoing silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, July 25, 2013, 8 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925) starring Charlie Chaplin; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Cool off from mid-summer heat with Chaplin's iconic tale of prospectors in the snowbound Klondike. Instead of finding gold, The Little Tramp stumbles upon something much more precious: love. Timeless silent comedy that speaks across the generations, as delightful as ever. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 21, 2013, 4 p.m. "The Sunday Stomp"; The Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, N.H. Laurel & Hardy silent short comedy ('Two Tars' from 1928) presented with live music as part of a new wave vaudeville program that encompasses music, dance, poetry, and surprises. Open to the public.
• Wednesday, July 17, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Cool off from mid-summer heat with Chaplin's iconic tale of prospectors in the snowbound Klondike. Instead of finding gold, The Little Tramp stumbles upon something much more precious: love. Timeless silent comedy that speaks across the generations, as delightful as ever. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 14, 2013, 1 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925) starring Ramon Novarro; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans; inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. One of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, July 13, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Orphans of the Storm" (1921) starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. We mark Bastille Day with D.W. Griffith's silent blockbuster set during the French Revolution. The story: Country girl Lillian Gish accompanies her blind sister Dorothy to Paris for an operation to restore her sight. Separated and then swept up in events beyond their control, they each must fight to survive amidst chaos that threatens to destroy the nation. Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Thursday, July 11, 2013, 8 p.m.: "Orphans of the Storm" (1921) starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Pay tribute to Bastille Day with D.W. Griffith's silent blockbuster set during the French Revolution. The story: Country girl Lillian Gish accompanies her blind sister Dorothy to Paris for an operation to restore her sight. Separated and then swept up in events beyond their control, they each must fight to survive amidst chaos that threatens to destroy the nation. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, July 9, 2013, 6 p.m.: "Burn 'Em Up Barnes" (1921) starring Johnny Hines; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. 'Burn 'em Up Barnes,' son of a wealthy auto manufacturer, would rather race cars, so leaves home to make his own way. After being robbed, he befriends a group of hobos who show him their carefree lifestyle. Comedy starring the underrated Johnny Hines. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, June 30, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "The Yankee Clipper" (1927) starring William Boyd; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Two clipper ships, one British and one American, race from China to Boston in the 1840s, with a massive tea contract and national pride in the balance. Part of a summer series of seagoing silent films with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, June 20, 2013, 8 p.m.: "The General" (1926) starring Buster Keaton; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Comedy/drama set during the U.S. Civil War about a Confederate railroad engineer whose train is hijacked by Northern spies. Regarded as Keaton's masterpiece, 'The General' is often named among the best films ever made. See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Sunday, June 16, 2013, 1 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Tip your cap to Father's Day with Chaplin's landmark comedy/drama about a man who raises an infant against all odds. Also, two of Chaplin's earlier slapstick comedy shorts that helped establish him as a star. Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, June 15, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Classic Short Comedies by Charlie Chaplin"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. A collection of comedy short films that trace Chaplin's rise from unknown comedian to the most popular star in all of early cinema. Get ready to laugh, as they don't make 'em like this anymore! Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Thursday, June 13, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "The Gaucho" (1927) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The leader of a band of outlaws in Argentina must help save a religious shrine from being taken over and closed by a corrupt general. Widely regarded as Fairbanks' darkest role. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Saturday, June 8, 2013, 4 p.m.: "Wings" (1927) starring Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen; Stratford Theatre, 2422 Main St., Stratford, Conn. Sprawling saga of American flyboys caught up in World War I was winner of the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture. Local fundraiser; admission starts at $15.
• Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 6 p.m.: "The Duchess of Buffalo" (1926) starring Constance Talmadge; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. American dancer on a tour of pre-Boleshevik Russia falls for a young army officer, and the feeling is mutual. But the officer's father is the Grand Duke of Russia, and he has designs on the girl himself. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, May 26, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "Tell It To The Marines" (1926) starring Lon Chaney; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. U.S. Marine Sergeant O'Hara (Lon Chaney) has his hands full training raw recruits, one of whom, 'Skeets' Burns, is a particular thorn in his side...especially when it comes to romancing nurse Nora Dale. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Friday, May 24, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Battleship Potemkin" (1925); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. With its advanced editing techniques, director Sergei Eisenstein's revolutionary film about mutiny aboard a Russian warship stands as one of the top achievements of early cinema. Today, nearly 90 years later, it endures as a thought-provoking mediation on propaganda, military service, and war. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10.
• Thursday, May 16 through Saturday, May 18, 2013, 7 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"; MHS Theatre, Merrimack High School, Merrimack, N.H. Providing improvised underscoring for three performances of high school staging of the Victor Hugo classic.
• Friday, May 17, 2013, 10 a.m. Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. Our fourth annual presentation to some of the brightest kids in southern New Hampshire!
• Sunday, May 12, 2013, 1 p.m.: "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. For Mother's Day, treat Mom to an extended look at dashing Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in one of the most elaborate cinematic fantasies ever committed to film. Speaking of which: Silent film shown in 35mm on the big screen with live music. Part of a monthly series at the Somerville Theatre, a wonderful moviehouse that's committed to keeping alive the experience of 35mm film. Featuring outstandingly exacting projection work of the legendary David Kornfeld. For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700. Admission $15 per person.
• Saturday, May 11, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. The original silent version of J.M. Barrie's classic tale for children of all ages. Great family entertainment! Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Thursday, May 9, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "Spies" (1928); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Director Fritz Lang's tale of espionage was the forerunner of all movie spy sagas, packed with double agents, hi-tech gadgets, beautiful (and dangerous) women, and an evil genius with a plan to take over the world, mwah-ha-ha-ha! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, May 7, 2013, 6 p.m.: "The Chaser" (1928), starring Harry Langdon; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Strange late comedy from Harry Langdon, once considered Chaplin's rival. Carousing Harry is ordered by a judge to swap domestic duties (and clothing!) with his wife. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, May 2, 2013, 7:30 p.m., "The General" (1927), starring Buster Keaton and Marion Mack; Silent film program at The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1028 Scott Boulevard, Covington, Kentucky. (859) 491-2030; www.thecarnegie.com.
• Sunday, April 28, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "The Winning of Barbara Worth" (1926), starring Ronald Coleman, Vilma Banky; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Epic Western about the settling and irrigation of California's Imperial Valley, once a wasteland but now an agricultural paradise. With a young Gary Cooper playing a key role. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations of $5 per person encouraged.
• Thursday, April 11, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "Dr. Jack" (1922), starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. A sparkling comedy starring Harold Lloyd as a country doctor with unorthodox methods that get results! But now comes his toughest case yet: a poor little rich girl (Mildred Davis), bed-ridden with a mysterious condition. Harold's cure is sure to make you smile! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person. Rescheduled from last October.
• Sunday, April 7, 2013, 4 p.m. "The Sunday Stomp"; The Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St., Manchester, N.H. Buster Keaton in "One Week" (1920). Silent short comedy presented with live music as part of a new wave vaudeville program that encompasses music, dance, poetry, and surprises. Open to the public.
• Friday, April 5, 2013, 8 p.m. "Wings" (1927); The College of Saint Mary Magdalen, 511 Kearsarge Mountain Road, Warner, N.H. Presenting 'Wings,' the first-ever Academy Award-winning Best Picture with live music in connection with a "Faith and Film" Honors Colloquium led by The Rev. Neil Roy. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free for Magdalen students and any others with college ID; general public admission is $10 per person.
• Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 7 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro" (1920) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. 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. Silent film on the campus of Merrimack College; program hosted by noted author Christopher DiGrazia, who hosts a pre-screening discussion at 6:30 p.m. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Tuesday, April 2, 2013, 6 p.m.: "Tillie's Punctured Romance" (1914), starring Charlie Chaplin, Marie Dressler; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. See the unusual (and unusually crude) feature-length comedy that helped Charlie Chaplin rocket to stardom in his first year of movie-making. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, March 31, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Landmark drama that chronicles the trial of Jeanne d'Arc on charges of heresy, and the efforts of her ecclesiastical jurists to force Jeanne to recant her claims of holy visions. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday, March 22, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ" (1925); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. In the Holy Land, a Jewish prince is enslaved by the occupying Romans; inspired by encounters with Jesus, he lives to seek justice. Celebrate Easter with one of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that's lost none of its power to thrill. Silent film with live music at this popular venue for independent and arthouse cinema in New Hampshire's state capital. Admission $10 per person.
• Thursday, March 21, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "The Ten Commandments" (1923); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Long before he directed Charlton Heston as Moses, filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille's original silent version wowed audiences the world over. Shown just in time for Easter! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Thursday, March 14 through Sunday, March 17, 2013: Cinefest, Syracuse, N.Y. A four-day extravaganza of vintage film, a good portion of it silent, and virtually all of it obscure or rarely screened. For more info, visit www.syracusecinefest.com.
• Saturday, March 9, 2013, 7:30 p.m.: "Sherlock Jr." (1924) and "The Cameraman" (1928), starring Buster Keaton; Exeter Town Hall, Exeter, N.H. A benefit screening to aid efforts to restore and reopen Exeter's historic Ioka Theatre, a one-screen moviehouse that opened in 1915 but recently closed. Admission $15. For more information, visit www.exetertheater.org/blog/.
• Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 6 p.m.: "Conductor 1492"; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. In honor of St. Patrick's Day, join obscure comic Johnny Hines in a fast-paced romp about a young lad from the Emerald Isle who comes to "Americky" to make his fortune—but the fun really begins when dear old dad arrives from the Old Sod to help fight his battles. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Way Down East" (1920), starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess; the Putnam Arts Lecture Hall, Keene State College, Keene, N.H. See D.W. Griffith's entertaining Yankee melodrama not far from the Connecticut River, where location shots were made with Lillian Gish stranded on the ice floes. Famous for its tremendously exciting climactic rescue sequence, this film's overall story of a woman with a hidden past still holds an audience—a tribute to Griffith's mastery.
• Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Grandma's Boy" (1922); Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Comic Harold Lloyd's break-through feature film finds Harold a timid smalltown wannabe who finally gets a chance to prove his mettle. Silent film on the campus of Merrimack College; program hosted by noted author Christopher DiGrazia, who hosts a pre-screening discussion at 6:30 p.m. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Friday & Saturday, Feb. 22 & 23, 2013: "The 17th Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival," two days of silent film and live music at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. A wonderful event that's introduced me to so many great films in the way they should be experienced: in a large hall, on the big screen, with live music, and with an audience. For more info, the Web site is www.kssilentfilmfest.org. Note: Help fill in for Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, which couldn't make it due to blizzard.
• Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "Bardelys the Magnificent" (1926); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. John Gilbert woos Eleanor Boardman in this epic adventure movie set in 17th century France. A film thought lost for decades until a single print was discovered in France in 2006. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, 7:30 p.m. "Girl Shy" (1924) starring Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston; Somerville Theatre, Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. Celebrate Valentine's Day with the original rom-com, a Harold Lloyd gem starring one of the masters of silent comedy and featuring an unforgettable race-to-the-church finish. See Harold's best work as he intended it: on the big screen, in 35mm prints, and with live music. Also includes 'Never Weaken' (1921), an earlier Lloyd comedy short, also in 35mm. General admission $15 per person.
•Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, 12:30 p.m. "Metropolis (1927), directed by Fritz Lang; Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, N.H. Futuristic fantasy by German director Fritz Lang is full of eye-popping visuals about the world of tomorrow as envisioned by the past. Contains long-lost footage rediscovered in Argentina in 2008! Screened for students in film history course taught by director Bill Millios.
• Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, 3 p.m.: "Aelita, Queen of Mars" (1924); Collins Cinema, located in the Davis Museum complex, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass. The bizarre Russian science fiction film is screened as part of a college film series. Show also includes a screening of the famous George Melies short 'A Trip to the Moon' (1902).
• Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "The Eagle (1925), starring Rudolph Valentino, Vilma Banky; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Valentino's comeback film is a rousing romp set in Imperial Russia. See the silent screen idol as a soldier who catches the eye of the Czarina, only to desert his platoon when trouble brews back home. Great costume drama and a perfect way to warm up for Valentine's Day. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, 6 p.m.: "Love" (1927), starring Greta Garbo, John Gilbert; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. In a story taken from Tolstoy's novel set in Czarist Russia, Anna Karenina falls in love with the dashing military officer Count Vronsky and abandons her husband and child to become Vronsky's mistress. Tragedy ensues when Vronsky chooses his military career over Anna. All this just in time for Valentine's Day! Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, 5 p.m.: "Silent film program"; Liberty Ridge Farm, Schaghticoke, N.Y.; http://www.libertyridgefarmny/. An evening of silent film (feature to be announced) with live music in the converted barn of a recreational farm, plus pot luck supper. A now-annual mid-winter get-together for all those in this upstate New York town who don't head south for the winter. By invitation only, but if you'd like to attend, bring a pot luck dish and you won't be refused.
• Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Faust" (1926), starring Emil Jannings; Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.; (617 876-6837); http://brattlefilm.org. Director F.W. Murnau's last silent film made in Germany is a visually stunning adaptation of the Faust legend, with Emil Jannings in a towering performance as Mephisto. 'Faust,' part of the Brattle's ongoing "Dead of Winter: Satan on Screen" series, will be paired with a screening of 'Witchcraft Through the Ages,' to be shown at 5:15 p.m. and repeated at 9:30 p.m. 'Faust' will be screened from a remastered digital transfer. Admission for the double feature is $12 general admission.
• Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, 4:30 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music at a theater where movies have been shown since 1912! Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, 10 p.m., "The Lost World" (1925); Arisia Science Fiction Film Convention, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston, Mass. Silent film screened in tried-and-true 16mm as part of this annual confab, billed as "New England's largest and most diverse science fiction and fantasy convention." For more info, check out http://2013.arisia.org//.
• Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, 7 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Repeat showing due to New Year's Eve sell-out. A grand sci-fi adventure about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. And, in a surprisingly contemporary twist, the moon rocket is built and launched not by a government, but by private entrepreneurs! Ponder a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, 6 p.m.: "Battling Butler (1926)"; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Silent film funnyman Buster Keaton's rarely screened boxing comedy gives the star a chance to be even more physical than usual. Rich and pampered Buster reluctantly takes up the Sweet Science to impress his girl, leading to knockout comedy both in and outside the ring. Admission free, donations encouraged. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, 6:30 p.m.: "Sally of the Sawdust" (1925); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. The great W.C. Fields stars in this heart-warming silent comedy about a lovably disreputable confidence man who becomes the unlikely guardian of an orphaned circus waif. Directed by D.W. Griffith, of all people! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, 6 p.m.: "Woman in the Moon" (1929); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. A grand sci-fi adventure about the first rocket ship to the moon. The rarely-screened final silent feature from German filmmaker Fritz Lang (director of 'Metropolis'), 'Woman in the Moon' laid the groundwork for all of the great outer space movie tales to come, complete with melodramatic plot and eye-popping visuals. And, in a surprisingly contemporary twist, the moon rocket is built and launched not by a government, but by private entrepreneurs! Ring in 2013 by pondering a vision of the future as imagined by one of yesterday's great moviemakers. A great way to mark the passing of one year and the arrival of yet another! Admission $10 per person. Please note revised starting time of 6 p.m., not 7 p.m. as originally scheduled.
• Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Celebrate the coming New Year's Eve. Futuristic fantasy by German director Fritz Lang is full of eye-popping visuals about the world of tomorrow as envisioned by the past. Contains long-lost footage rediscovered in Argentina in 2008! Part of a monthly silent film series with live music. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, 6 p.m.: "The Trail of '98" (1928); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Outdoorsy silent drama on a grand scale; fortune hunters from all over the country rush to the Klondike in 1897 to seek their fortunes in the gold are tested by hardships of the journey. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "Holiday Weekend Silent Film Comedy Program"; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Cap off Thanksgiving Day weekend with a program of sure-fire hits from comedy's golden era! What better way to work off those holiday pounds than belly-laughing to the antics of Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, and a few masters you may never have heard of. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "Charlie Chaplin Classic Comedies" (1925); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. A collection of comedy short films that trace Chaplin's rise from unknown comedian to the most popular star in all of early cinema. Get ready to laugh, as they don't make 'em like this anymore! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, 8 p.m.: The SNOB (Somewhat North of Boston) Film Festival, Red River Theatres, Concord, N.H. Silent film with live music as part of the festival's final night/awards evening. More details to come, but for now I can tell you that we're planning a comedy feature as a way to cap off this great four-day film festival.
POSTPONED: • Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Last Command" (1928); Hays Theatre, Wilbur Arts Center, Molloy College; 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre, N.Y. (516) 678-5000. Emil Jannings snagged the first-ever Best Actor Academy Award for his towering portrayal of a Czarist general and patriot forced to contend with the Russian Revolution in this sweeping late silent drama directed by Josef von Sternberg. Free admission, public welcome. Postponed due to Hurricane Sandy. Information on rescheduled screening date will be posted here when available.
• Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "The Moving Panorama: The Pilgrim's Progress"; Saco Town Hall; Saco, Maine. Live accompaniment for performance of restored 19th century panorama depicting scenes from John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress.' Presented by the Dyer Library and Saco Museum. An unusual example of moving pictures before we had movies! Suggested donation $5. Final showing prior to closing of exhibit! For more info, visit www.dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.
• Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925) starring Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Celebrate Halloween with one of the all-time classics. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Silent film on the campus of Merrimack College; program hosted by noted author Christopher DiGrazia, who hosts a pre-screening discussion at 6:30 p.m. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, 6 p.m.: "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Nearly a century after its release, the German expressionist film widely regarded as the world's first horror movie still has capacity to creep out audiences. See for yourself — if you dare! Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "The Hands of Orlac" (1924); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Just in time for Halloween, a German expressionist classic. A concert pianist, Paul Orlac (Conrad Veidt), loses his hands in a railway accident. Replacement hands are transplanted onto him in an experimental procedure, but the hands are those of a recently-executed murderer. The pianist is then tortured by panic attacks and irrational fears. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, 2 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925); Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; http://www.somervilletheatreonline.com. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit stage musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped place 'Phantom' firmly in the pantheon of both horror and romance. Shown in stunning tinted 35mm print that includes original technicolor sequences. Not to be missed! For more info, call the theater box office at (617) 625-5700.
• Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, 7 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1922); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Just in time for Halloween! See the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Still scary after all these years; in fact, some critics believe this version is not only the best ever done, but has actually become creepier with the passage of time. See for yourself! Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, 6 p.m.: "The Docks of New York" (1928); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Director Josef von Sternberg's masterful drama about a ship laborer who rescues a beautiful woman from drowning, but then finds his life changed in unexpected ways. Another gem from the late silent years, highlighted by realistic performances, gritty set design, and vivid black-and-white photography. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged. Please note: Screening was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 9 but had to be moved due to schedule conflict. Sorry for any inconvenience.
• Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created the hit musical, this silent film adaptation starring Lon Chaney helped put 'Phantom' in the pantheon of horror and romance. The final installment of a summer series of silent film 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.
CANCELLED DUE TO SCHEDULE CONFLICT. Sorry for any inconvenience; we'll reschedule this program for early 2013.
• Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, 7 p.m.: "Wings" (1927); Ludlow Auditorium, Ludlow, Vt. Sprawling saga of American flyboys caught up in World War I was winner of the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture. Silent film with live music in the lovingly restored Ludlow Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall, 37 Depot St., Ludlow, Vt. Looking forward to bringing silent film to life with live music in this wonderful and historic venue!
• Monday, Oct. 1, 2012: The Wild West and The Reel West, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Musical accompaniment for a program being presented by Prof. Frank Scheide and legendary film restoration expert Kevin Brownlow.
• Friday, Sept. 28 & Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012: Keaton Festival, Iola, Kansas. Not playing, but enjoying the accompaniment of the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.
• Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924); Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Eye-popping spectacle starring swashbuckling star Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in top form as adventurer who must complete a series of epic tasks to save his beloved. Admission $10 per person. Limited seating, so reserve your tickets ahead or come early on night of show.
• Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "Spies" (1928); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Director Fritz Lang's epic tale of espionage was the forerunner of all movie spy sagas, packed with double agents, hi-tech gadgets, beautiful (and dangerous) women, and all revolving around an evil genius with a plan to take over the world, mwah-ha-ha-ha! Part of a monthly silent film series with live music. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "The Moving Panorama: The Pilgrim's Progress"; Saco Town Hall; Saco, Maine. Live accompaniment for performance of restored 19th century panorama depicting scenes from John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress.' Presented by the Dyer Library and Saco Museum. An unusual example of moving pictures before we had movies! Suggested donation $5. Part of a two-day symposium about this amazing artifact from 19th century popular culture and its equally amazing survival and restoration. For more info, visit www.dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.
• Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "Pandora's Box" (1929) starring Louise Brooks; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Scorching silent drama starring the incomparable Louise Brooks in what many consider her finest role ever. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Portrait photographer Buster exchanges his still camera for a movie camera in an effort to break into the newsreel business and win the attention of a special gal. Spectacular Keaton comedy filled with great stunts filmed on a grand scale. Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, 8 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Portrait photographer Buster exchanges his still camera for a movie camera in an effort to break into the newsreel business and win the attention of a special gal. Spectacular Keaton comedy filled with great stunts filmed on a grand scale. Plus several Keaton short comedies! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, 5:30 p.m.: "The Moving Panorama: The Pilgrim's Progress"; Saco Town Hall; Saco, Maine. Live accompaniment for performance of restored 19th century panorama depicting scenes from John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress.' Presented by the Dyer Library and Saco Museum. An unusual example of moving pictures before we had movies! Suggested donation $5. For more info, visit www.dyerlibrarysacomuseum.org.
• Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, 6 p.m.: "Chicago" (1927); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. The original big screen adaptation of the notorious Jazz Age tabloid scandal, based on real events. Dancer Roxie Hart is accused of murder! Is she innocent or headed for the slammer? Later made into the popular Broadway musical. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "The Iron Mask" (1929); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The last silent swashbuckler of Douglas Fairbanks Sr. marks the final installment of our summer series. Thrill to Fairbanks as patriotic musketeer D'Artagnan as he battles a sinister plot to replace King Louis XIV of France with a corrupt look-alike. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Kid" (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Coogan; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Chaplin's breakthrough feature, a story with "a smile, and perhaps a tear," blends comedy and pathos in equal measures; five-year-old Coogan delivers one of the most remarkable child performances in all of cinema. Silent film on the campus of Merrimack College; program hosted by noted author Christopher DiGrazia, who hosts a pre-screening discussion at 6:30 p.m. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, 7 p.m.: "Wings" (1927); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Sprawling saga of American flyboys caught up in World War I was winner of the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture. Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "The Cameraman" (1928); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Portrait photographer Buster exchanges his still camera for a movie camera in an effort to break into the newsreel business and win the attention of a special gal. Spectacular Keaton comedy filled with great stunts filmed on a grand scale. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, 6 p.m.: "Four Sons" (1928); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Director John Ford's drama about four brothers from Bavaria who become embroiled in World War I — but not on the same side! Interesting period drama set in Europe, carried by great story but with plenty of historical interest as well. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, 7 p.m.: "Queen Kelly" (1929), starring Gloria Swanson; Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 North Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. (978) 837-5355. Erich Von Stroheim's troubled masterpiece about forbidden love, a masterpiece that was never released in the United States. Silent film on the campus of Merrimack College; program hosted by noted author Christopher DiGrazia, who hosts a pre-screening discussion at 6:30 p.m. Free admission. For more information, visit the Rogers Center online.
• Tuesday, July 31, 2012, 8 p.m.: "Summertime Silent Short Comedies," Twin Lake Villa, New London, N.H. Private event for group that vacations each year in bucolic resort.
• Sunday, July 29, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Eye-popping spectacle starring swashbuckling star Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in top form as adventurer who must complete a series of epic tasks to save his beloved. Part of a monthly silent film series with live music. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Saturday, July 21, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Gold Rush" (1925); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Cool off from mid-summer heat with Chaplin's iconic tale of prospectors in the snowbound Klondike. Timeless silent comedy that speaks across the generations, as delightful as ever. Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Thursday-Saturday, July 19-21, 2012, "The William K. Everson Cinema"; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H. The International Convention of the Sons of the Desert, the Laurel & Hardy appreciation society, comes to Manchester, N.H. this summer! And the fun includes three days of silent film comedy with live music. Screenings start at 9:30 a.m. each day and run until mid-afternoon, with a break for lunch. For more information, visit the Convention Web site. Free and open to the public.
• Saturday, July 14, 2012, 7 p.m.: "Orphans of the Storm" (1921), starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. We mark Bastille Day with D.W. Griffith's silent blockbuster set during the French Revolution. The story: Country girl Lillian Gish accompanies her blind sister Dorothy to Paris for an operation to restore her sight. Separated and then swept up in events beyond their control, they each must fight to survive amidst chaos that threatens to destroy the nation. Admission, $10 per person.
• Thursday, July 12, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "It" (1927) starring Clara Bow; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. See the film that helped make Clara Bow the "It" girl of the Roaring '20s. A perky comedy/romance that will leave you smiling! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 6 p.m.: "Spite Marriage" (1929); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Buster Keaton's last silent feature finds the poker-faced comic smitten so much by stage actress Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian) that he joins the cast of her production. The fun really begins when she asks Buster to marry her, but only to get even with an old flame. Classic Keaton comedy, underrated and full of great routines. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, June 24, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "Robin Hood" (1922); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The original big screen adaptation of the legendary bandit of Sherwood Forest. Filmed on an epic scale and starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in the title role. First of a summer series of flicks featuring 1920s megastar Fairbanks, inspiration for the George Valentin character in Best Picture 'The Artist.' Part of a monthly silent film series with live music. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Saturday, June 23, 2012, 1:30 p.m.: "The Moving Panorama: The Pilgrim's Progress"; Saco Town Hall; Saco, Maine. Supplied accompaniment to performance of restored 19th century panorama depicting scenes from John Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress.' Presented by the Dyer Library and Saco Museum.
• Saturday, June 16, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Strong Man" (1926); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. With World War I over, baby-faced soldier Harry Langdon searches for the girl who sent such moving letters to him in the trenches. Directed by a very young Frank Capra, 'The Strong Man' is today hailed as Langdon's best feature, and also one of the greatest comedies of the silent film era. Plus comedy short subjects! Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Thursday, June 14, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "Wings" (1927), starring Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Sprawling saga of American flyboys caught up in World War I was winner of the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Friday, June 8, 2012, 8 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Futuristic fantasy by German director Fritz Lang is full of eye-popping visuals about the world of tomorrow as envisioned by the past. Contains long-lost footage rediscovered in Argentina in 2008! See great silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $10 per person.
• Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 6 p.m.: "Underworld" (1927); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Director Josef von Sternberg's groundbreaking tale of big city mobsters, widely considered the father of all gangster pictures. Tale follows crime boss "Bull" Weed (George Bancroft) as he battles rival 1920s gangsters. Incredible black-and-white photography; winner of first-ever Oscar for original story by Ben Hecht. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, May 27, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "The Flying Fleet" (1929), starring Ramon Novarro, Ralph Graves, and Anita Page; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Two graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy, now training as aviators, fall for the same gal off base. Mark Memorial Day weekend with this star-studded tribute made with full cooperation of the U.S. Navy, so a great chance to see what the service was like in great-grandpa's day. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday, May 25, 2012, 10 a.m. Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. Our third annual presentation to some of the brightest kids in southern New Hampshire!
• Friday, May 18, 2012, 7 p.m.: Don Q, Son of Zorro" (1925), starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. Swashbuckling silent-era star Douglas Fairbanks Sr. returns in the action-packed sequel to 'The Mark of Zorro.' While attending university in Spain, Zorro's high-spirited son is framed in the murder of visiting royalty. Can he clear his name? Will he get the girl? And wait until you see what he can do with a whip! Admission, $10 per person.
• Thursday, May 17, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro" (1920), starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. 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. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Saturday, May 5, 2012, 7 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Ring in this season's silent film series in Brandon, Vt. with vintage look at things to come, in the form of "Metropolis" (1927), the eye-popping silent film sci-fi masterpiece of German filmmaker Fritz Lang. Restored version includes nearly a half-hour of lost footage that was rediscovered in Argentina in 2008. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as an stunning example of the power of silent film to tell a compelling story without words, and reach across the generations to touch movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Part of a summer series of silent film 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.
• Friday, May 4, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Mark of Zorro" (1920), starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org/. 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. Film screened in honor of Cinco de Mayo! Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 6 p.m.: "The Man Who Laughs" (1928), starring Conrad Veidt; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Silent film adaptation of Victor Hugo's historical novel about a man cursed with a permanent carnival-freak-like grin on his face. The make-up job for actor Conrad Veidt inspired the look of Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, April 29, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "Don Q: Son of Zorro" (1925), starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We make good on our promise to show the sequel to the original 'Mark of Zorro' (1920) a year ago. See Fairbanks play both Zorro and his son. Action, adventure, and swordplay aplenty, but don't take our word for it: no less than The New York Times rated it one of the top 10 films of 1925. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, April 19, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927), directed by Fritz Lang; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Futuristic fantasy by German director Fritz Lang is full of eye-popping visuals about the world of tomorrow as envisioned by the past. Contains long-lost footage rediscovered in Argentina in 2008! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 5:30 p.m.: "King of Kings" (1927), directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring H.B. Warner; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Long before he played Old Man Gower in 'It's a Wonderful Life,' actor H.B. Warner tackled the much meatier role of Jesus Christ in this Cecil B. DeMille blockbuster. Just in time for Easter; crucifixion scene comes complete with earthquake, landslides, and a cast of thousands. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged. Note early start time so that we can finish before the library closes. It's a big film.
• Sunday, April 1, 2012, 1:30 p.m.: "Napoleon" (1927), not accompanying it, but seeing Kevin Brownlow's 5½-hour restoration at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, Calif. with a live orchestra conducted by Carl Davis. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime silent film event, and I'm really looking forward to this.
• Sunday, March 25, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "Noah's Ark" (1928), starring George O'Brien and Dolores Costello; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Mark Easter with a dose of niblical-themed romantic melodrama in this big budget extravaganza that brought the 40-day flood to the big screen on a gigantic scale. (Tragically, three extras drowned during filming, leading to new studio rules about stunt safety.) Released as a "part-talkie" during Hollywood's chaotic switch to sound; screened here with original dialogue sequences intact. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Saturday, March 24, 2012, 2 p.m.: "Silent Film Program" at the Courville Home, 22 Hunt St., Nashua, N.H. (603) 595-5850. A two-hour program of silent films with live music for the residents of a top-notch assisted living facility in my hometown of Nashua, N.H. Nice chance to bring something different to the residents, and prepare myself for the day when I'll be joining them. :)
• Wednesday, March 14 through Sunday, March 18, 2012: "Cinefest 2012," Syracuse, N.Y. I'll be one of three musicians supplying accompaniment for screenings during Cinefest, one of the nation's largest vintage film festivals. What a thrill to be working alongside fellow accompanists Phil Carli and Andrew Simpson! Post-Cinefest update: Played for 'Bell Boy 13' (1923), 'Partners Three' (1918), 'The Dark Mirror' (1920), and 'Get Your Man' (1927).
• Thursday, March 8, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928), starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Pampered Buster returns home from college to help his father, a tough riverboat captain, battle to save the business; falling for the archrival's daughter doesn't make things easier. Climaxed by an eye-popping cyclone sequence. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, March 6, 2012, 6 p.m.: "Hangman's House" (1928); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. A woman marries the wrong man in this intense melodrama set in Ireland. Directed by a young John Ford, taking a break from Westerns; notable as the first film appearance of John Wayne in a bit part. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Friday & Saturday, Feb. 24 & 25, 2012: "The 16th Annual Kansas Silent Film Festival," two days of silent film and live music at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Performing on piano on Saturday, Feb. 25 in the morning segment to accompany 'Tramp Tramp Tramp' (1926) starring Harry Langdon. A wonderful event that's introduced me to so many great films in the way they should be experienced: in a large hall, on the big screen, with live music, and with an audience. For more info, the Web site is www.kssilentfilmfest.org.
• Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "Sunrise" (1927), directed by F.W. Murnau, starring George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Ramp up to Valentine's Day with this romantic fantasy, widely regarded as one of the most moving and beautifully photographed silent pictures ever made, with innovative camerawork that influenced a generation of directors. Warning: Bring plenty of Kleenex. Winner of an Academy Award for "Unique and Artistic Production" at the first-ever ceremony. Admission free, donations encouraged. Rescheduled from Sunday, Feb. 19.
• Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "The Sheik" (1921) and "Son of the Sheik" (1926), starring Rudolph Valentio; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Double feature starring the screen's original Latin lover is a smoking hot way to ramp up for Valentine's Day. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, 6 p.m.: "The Kiss" (1929), starring Greta Garbo; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Warm up for Valentine's Day in this steamy romance and courtroom thriller; Garbo's last silent film. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, 7 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925), starring John Gilbert, Renee Adoree. Stonehill College, Easton, Mass. Screening of big World War I epic at college outside Boston, Mass. In the college's Martin Institute on campus, on Belmont Street.
• Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "Broken Blossoms" (1919), directed by D.W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Can two outcasts in Edwardian London find peace and happiness in a cruel world? Will Lillian Gish overcome her abusive father? Can Richard Barthelmess convincingly play an Asian character? One of the great D.W. Griffith epics, based on a Thomas Burke novel. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, 5 p.m.: "Clash of the Wolves" (1925), starring Rin Tin Tin; Liberty Ridge Farm, Schaghticoke, N.Y.; http://www.libertyridgefarmny/. Everyone's favorite silent movie dog, Rin Tin Tin, saves the day in one of his best surviving features from the 1920s. An evening of silent film with live music in the converted barn of a recreational farm, plus pot luck supper. A now-annual mid-winter get-together for all those in this upstate New York town who don't head south for the winter. By invitation only, but if you'd like to attend, bring a pot luck dish and you won't be refused.
• Saturday, Jan. 21, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927), directed by Fritz Lang; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org. Encore screening of a vintage look at things to come, in the form of "Metropolis" (1927), the eye-popping silent film sci-fi masterpiece of German filmmaker Fritz Lang. Restored version includes nearly a half-hour of lost footage that was rediscovered in Argentina in 2008. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as an stunning example of the power of silent film to tell a compelling story without words, and reach across the generations to touch movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Admission, $15 per person.
• Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, 10 p.m.: "The General" (1927), starring Buster Keaton; Arisia Science Fiction Film Convention, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston, Mass. Buster's masterpiece gets a 16mm screening as part of this annual confab, billed as "New England's largest and most diverse science fiction and fantasy convention." When they say 'diverse,' they're not kidding: the schedule has 'The General' running between 'Future Shock' (1972) and a midnight showing of 'Soylent Green' (1973). For more info, check out http://2012.arisia.org/.
• Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, 6:30 p.m.: "The Birth of a Nation" (1915), directed by D.W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. D.W. Griffith's ground-breaking masterpiece, flawed by racism, about the Civil War and the years that followed. Screened in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in honor of how far we've come. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, 6 p.m.: "The Man With a Movie Camera" (1929); Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Russian director Dziga Vertov's homage to life in the Soviet Union, an experimental documentary with no story and no actors, just images. Pure cinema. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, 4:30 p.m.: "The Circus" (1928) starring Charlie Chaplin; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Welcome in the new year with Chaplin's laugh-packed comedy about circus life. Plus a couple of classic silent comedy shorts starring Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy to help get 2012 started with some laughs. Great family entertainment. Note: 'The Circus' will use Chaplin's own recorded score per the wishes of the Chaplin Estate; the other films will feature live original music by you-know-who.
• Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927), directed by Fritz Lang; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; http://www.redrivertheatres.org. Ring in the new year with vintage look at things to come, in the form of "Metropolis" (1927), the eye-popping silent film sci-fi masterpiece of German filmmaker Fritz Lang. Restored version includes nearly a half-hour of lost footage that was rediscovered in Argentina in 2008. Seen in its entirety and with live music, 'Metropolis' stands as an stunning example of the power of silent film to tell a compelling story without words, and reach across the generations to touch movie-goers from the real future that came to pass: us! Admission, $15 per person.
• Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, 6:30 p.m.: "When The Clouds Roll By" (1919), starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Fairbanks tangles with a twisted psychiatrist in this unusual romantic comedy. Will love win out? Find out in this contemporary (for 1919) tale, made just prior to Fairbanks launching his series of swashbuckling historical adventures. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, 4:30 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Round out Thanksgiving weekend with our now-annual screening of the original silent version of J.M. Barrie's classic tale for children of all ages. Great family entertainment! Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, 6:30 p.m.: "The Big Parade" (1925) starring John Gilbert, Renee Adoree; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Director King Vidor broke new cinematic ground with this epic drama that took viewers right into the trenches and showed the ugly side of then-recent World War I. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
POSTPONED TO SUNDAY, NOV. 6, 2011:
• Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, 6 p.m.: "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923), starring Lon Chaney; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. Lon Chaney, man of a thousand faces, makes up as Quasimodo for a haunting romp through the ramparts of Notre Dame Cathedral. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, 7 p.m.: "The Cat and the Canary (1927)"; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Can a group of strangers survive the night in a haunted house to learn the secret of a madman's will? Find out in the original Gothic thriller from silent film director Paul Leni, featured in a "Chiller Theatre" program (especially because the theater is unheated) celebrating Halloween in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission free, donations accepted, with proceeds to help continuing preservation work. Last screening of the season.
• Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, 6:30 p.m.: "Nosferatu" (1921); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. See the original silent film adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous 'Dracula' story. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, 8 p.m.: "Peter Pan" (1924), starring Betty Bronson, Ernest Torrence; Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass.; (617 876-6837); http://brattlefilm.org. The rarely seen original screen adaptation of J.M. Barrie's fantastic children's story, supervised by the author himself, comes complete with pirates, crocodiles, Indians, mermaids, Tinkerbell, and the boy who wouldn't grow up. An amazing silent film that maintains its power to inspire wonder in audiences everywhere. Admission $6.75 to $9.75.
• Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, 6 p.m.: "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), starring John Barrymore; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. John Barrymore plays both title roles in the original silent film adaptation of the classic novella by Robert Louis Stevenson. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, 4:30 p.m.: "The Lodger" (1927); Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. See the legendary Alfred Hitchcock's very first motion picture, a tale of the London fog made in Great Britain before he made the trip across the pond. Our monthly series of silent films with live music continues, with screenings in a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, 2 p.m.: "The Strong Man, (1926)"; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. See the feature film regarded as silent clown Harry Langdon's very best, directed by a very young Frank Capra. Hapless Harry is assistant to a circus strong man, but when the act plays a lawless town, will might make more than right? Admission $5 per person.
• Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Way Down East," (1921); Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Thrill to director D.W. Griffith's legendary melodrama. Will wronged woman Lillian Gish be rescued from the ice floes before she meets her doom? Filmed partly in Vermont and New Hampshire in the Connecticut River Valley! Part of a summer silent film series in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission $5 per person, proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, 6:30 p.m.: "Way Down East," (1921); The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Thrill to director D.W. Griffith's legendary melodrama. Will wronged woman Lillian Gish be rescued from the ice floes before she meets her doom? Filmed partly in New Hampshire and Vermont in the Connecticut River Valley! Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011, 6 p.m.: "Long Pants" (1927), starring Harry Langdon; Carpenter Memorial Auditorium, Manchester Public Library, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550; Manchester Public Library. See Hapless Harry Langdon tangle with the opposite sex in this little-seen comic gem from 1927. Monthly series of rarely screened silent films presented with live music in 1913 auditorium. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, 4:30 p.m.: "Flirting with Fate" (1916) starring Douglas Fairbanks and "Kiki" (1926) starring Norma Talmadge; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Note: Postponed from original date of Sunday, Aug. 28 due to Hurricane Irene. Our "summer love" series of silent films with live music finishes up with two romantic comedies: one from Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and the other starring Norma Talmadge, the biggest star of the three sisters. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011, 2 p.m.: "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928); Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries to make the grade even as storm clouds gather. Film climaxes with legendary cyclone sequence, one of Buster's best. See silent films with live music in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $5 per person.
• Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: "Mirthquake Marathon; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. The 2011 Mirthquake concludes with an avalanche of vintage material screened with live music in a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Feature presentation: "Special Delivery" (1927), a rare Eddie Cantor silent film comedy with a cast that includes fellow stars Jobyna Ralston and William Powell. Directed by Fatty Arbuckle!
• Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Two Arabian Knights" (1927), starring Mary Astor and William Boyd; Red River Theatres, 11 South Main St., Concord, N.H.; (603) 224-4600; www.redrivertheatres.org; Two American soldiers are captured by the Germans on the Western Front during World War One and escape a POW camp only to stumble into further life-threatening adventures when they come across an Arabian king's daughter while on the lam. Winner of an Academy Award for Best Comedy Direction at the first-ever ceremony; part of the 2011 Mirthquake, New England's largest vintage film festival. Admission $10 per person.
• Friday, Aug. 19, 2011, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: "Mirthquake Marathon"; Manchester Public Library Auditorium, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550. New England's largest vintage film festival continues with a full morning and afternoon of silent and early sound films in 16mm and on DVD. Program details to be announced, but there's sure to be more rare and unusual material worth checking out!
• Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Mirthquake Evening Show"; University of New Hampshire/Manchester, 400 Commercial St., Manchester, N.H; third-floor auditorium. Feature: "Exit Smiling" (1926) starring stage icon Beatrice Lillie (in her first and only silent film role) and Jack Pickford, brother of silent superstar Mary Pickford. Also the film debut of noted character actor Franklin Pangborn!
• Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: "Mirthquake Marathon"; Manchester Public Library Auditorium, 405 Pine St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 624-6550. New England's largest vintage film festival gets underway with a full morning and afternoon of silent and early sound films in 16mm and on DVD. Program details to be announced, but rest assured you'll see some rare and unusual material worth checking out!
• Thursday, Aug. 18 through Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011: "Mirthquake!" Join us for New England's largest vintage film festival, another three-day marathon of screenings in venues in and around Manchester, N.H. Details to come, but expect a mix of silent and early sound comedy short films and features, plus a healthy helping of completely obscure material, all of which you won't find at the local multiplex.
• Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011, 6:30 p.m.: "Paths to Paradise" (1925) and "Hands Up" (1926), starring Raymond Griffith; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. A double feature of two films from a comic actor who for a time was a serious rival of Chaplin and Keaton, but who's all but forgotten today. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011, 7 p.m. "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928) starring Buster Keaton; Somerville Theatre, Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. As the son of a gruff steamboat captain, Buster tries to make the grade even as storm clouds gather. See Buster's best work as he intended it: on the big screen, in 35mm prints, and with live music. Also includes two of Buster's short comedies: 'The High Sign' and 'Cops.' Admission $12 adults, $8 children and seniors.
• Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Laurel & Hardy" silent comedy shorts and "Paths to Paradise" (1925), starring Raymond Griffith; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. A program of classic silent comedy shorts from Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy: 'Double Whoopee' (1929), 'Early to Bed' (1928) and 'Angora Love' (1929), and then a feature ('Paths to Paradise') from a comic actor who for a time was a serious rival of Chaplin and Keaton, but who's all but forgotten today. Part of a summer silent film series in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission $5 per person, proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Sunday, July 31, 2011, 4:30 p.m.: "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton and Natalie Talmadge; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Our "summer love" series of silent films continues with live music for Buster's movie about a backwoods feud in the 1830s. The only feature film starring Natalie Talmadge, Buster's wife, and the third of the famous Talmadge sisters. (Also has Keaton's father in a small role and Keaton's newborn son in an even smaller role.) Plus two great Keaton shorts: 'The Playhouse' (1921) and 'My Wife's Relations' (1922), made just after Buster's ill-fated marriage to Natalie. Screened in a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, July 24, 2011, 2 p.m.: "Tol'able David" (1921) starring Richard Barthelmess and "Hell's Hinges" (1916) starring William S. Hart; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. A great double feature—rural drama and hard-hitting western—shown in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $5 per person.
• Saturday, July 23, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Tol'able David" (1921) starring Richard Barthelmess and "Hell's Hinges" (1916) starring William S. Hart; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Double feature pairing of intense small-town rural drama with gritty back country Western. Part of a summer silent film series in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission $5 per person, proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Sunday, July 17, 2011, 4:30 p.m.: "A Throw of Dice" (1929), Indian silent film by German-born director, Franz Osten, based on an episode from the Indian epic The Mahabharata; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Join us for a rare showing of a wonderfully restored film from India, plus a special surprise companion feature. Screened in a theater where movies have been shown since 1912. Admission free, donations encouraged. A continuation of the first-ever "New England Classic Bollywood Festival" held last April at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre.
• Thursday, July 14, 2011, 6:30 p.m.: "Tol'able David" (1921) starring Richard Barthelmess and "Hell's Hinges" (1916) starring William S. Hart; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Double feature pairing of intense small-town rural drama with gritty back country Western. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Sunday, July 10, 2011, 7 p.m. "Seven Chances" (1925) starring Buster Keaton; Somerville Theatre, Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. When Keaton must get married by 7 p.m. to inherit a fortune, events lead to one of the most surreal climaxes in all of cinema. See Buster's best work as he intended it: on the big screen, in 35mm prints, and with live music. Also includes two of Buster's short comedies: 'Neighbors' and 'The Goat.' Admission $12 adults, $8 children and seniors.
• Sunday, June 26, 2011, 4:30 p.m.: "The Matrimaniac" (1916), starring Douglas Fairbanks, and "Her Sister from Paris" (1925) starring Constance Talmadge; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. We launch a "summer love" series of silent films with live music with two romantic comedies, both about the pitfalls of love and marriage. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Sunday, June 19, 2011, 2 p.m.: "The General" (1926) and other films starring silent comic Buster Keaton; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. Keaton's Civil War saga, regarded as his masterpiece, shown in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $5 per person.
• Saturday, June 18, 2011, 7 p.m.: Civil War Weekend! "The General" (1927) and other films starring silent comic Buster Keaton; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. Celebrate Civil War Days with a screening of Keaton's evocative masterpiece. Part of a summer silent film series in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission $5 per person, proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Thursday, June 16, 2011, 6:30 p.m.: "The General" (1927), starring Buster Keaton; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Join us for a screening of Keaton's evocative masterpiece set during the Civil War. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $10 per person.
• Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 2 p.m. "Program To Be Announced"; RiverMead Retirement Community in Peterborough, N.H. More details to be posted soon!
• Sunday, June 5, 2011, 2 p.m.: Rin Tin Tin Double Feature! "Clash of the Wolves" (1925) and "Lighthouse by the Sea" (1924), two great adventure classics starring everyone's silent film canine hero, Rin Tin Tin; Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. Route 1, Ogunquit, Maine; (207) 646-3123; http://www.leavittheatre.com. See Rin Tin Tin in two very different types of scenery: one tale set in the old west, while another takes place on the salty Maine coast. Kickoff of a summer silent film series shown in a summer-only theater opened in 1923 and barely changed since. Admission $5 per person.
• Sunday, June 5, 2011, 7 p.m. "Our Hospitality" (1923) starring Buster Keaton; Somerville Theatre, Davis Square, Somerville, Mass. Keaton's film about a backwoods feud in the 1830s pokes fun at everything from southern customs to early railroad trains. See Buster's best work as he intended it: on the big screen, in 35mm prints, and with live music. Also includes two of Buster's short comedies: 'One Week' and 'The Scarecrow.' Admission $12 adults, $8 children and seniors.
• Sunday, May 29, 2011, 4:30 p.m.: "Speedway" (1929) starring William Haines; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Fasten your seat belts! We mark the traditional Memorial Day running of the Indianapolis 500 with a vintage race car drama filmed right on the famed track—at speeds topping 115 mph! Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Saturday, May 21, 2011, 7 p.m.: Rin Tin Tin Double Feature! "Clash of the Wolves" (1925) and "Lighthouse by the Sea" (1924), two great adventure classics starring everyone's silent film canine hero, Rin Tin Tin; Brandon Town Hall and Community Center, Main Street/Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; http://www.brandontownhall.org. See Rin Tin Tin in two very different types of scenery: one tale set in the old west, while another takes place on the salty Maine coast. Kickoff of a summer silent film series in a wonderfully restored town hall in Brandon Vt. that features great acoustics. Admission $5 per person, proceeds to help continuing preservation work.
• Thursday, May 19, 2011, 10 a.m. Silent film program for students at Great Brook Middle School at Antrim Town Hall in Antrim, N.H. More details to come.
• Monday, May 16, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Sadie Thompson" (1928) starring Gloria Swanson; Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588; http://www.palacetheatre.org. See one of the silent screen's leading ladies in one of her leading roles in a film made long before she played Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard." Bonus: Recollections of working with Gloria Swanson by Manchester resident and former actor Dick Backus. Admission $8 per person.
• Thursday, May 12, 2011, 7 p.m.: Rin Tin Tin Double Feature! "Clash of the Wolves" (1925) and "Lighthouse by the Sea" (1924), two great adventure classics starring everyone's silent film canine hero, Rin Tin Tin; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. See Rin Tin Tin in two very different types of scenery: one tale set in the old west, while another takes place on the salty Maine coast. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $5 per person. Dinner also available, so come early!
• Thursday, April 28, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925), starring Ramon Novarro and a cast of thousands; Stonehill College, Easton, Mass. Screening of big religious epic at college outside Boston, Mass. At the St. Mary Chapel.
• Sunday, April 24, 2011, 4:30 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925), starring Ramon Novarro and a cast of thousands; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. Celebrate Easter Sunday with one of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that has lost none of its power to thrill. Admission free, donations encouraged.
• Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 6:30 p.m.: "The General" (1927), starring Buster Keaton; the Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St., North Andover, Mass. Part of a monthly film series.
• Thursday, April 7, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Ben Hur" (1925), starring Ramon Novarro and a cast of thousands; The Flying Monkey Movie House and Performance Center, 39 South Main St., Plymouth, N.H.; (603) 536-2551; http://www.flyingmonkeynh.com/. Celebrate Easter Sunday with one of the great religious epics of Hollywood's silent film era, including a legendary chariot race that has lost none of its power to thrill. Part of a monthly silent film series at a newly restored moviehouse in Plymouth, N.H. Admission, $5 per person. Dinner also available, so come early!
• Monday, April 4, 2011, 7 p.m.: "Metropolis" (1927); Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 668-5588; http://www.palacetheatre.org. See the newly restored complete version of Fritz Lang's epic tale of a society divided into haves and have-nots. The film's futuristic look and stunning visual design influenced cinema for decades. With new score performed live by Jeff Rapsis. Experience silent film with live music in the only remaining downtown theater in northern New England's largest city. Admission $8 per person.
• Sunday, March 27, 2011, 4:30 p.m.: "Mark of Zorro" (1920) and "Don Q, Son of Zorro" (1925) starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr.; Wilton Town Hall Theatre, Main Street, Wilton, N.H.; (603) 654-3456; www.wiltontownhalltheatre.com. A double dose of Douglas Fairbanks in one of his most famous roles: that of the mysterious swordsman Zorro, in both the original and the sequel! Admission free, donations encouraged. Note: Only 'The Mask of Zorro' was shown because both films would have been too long.
• Friday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, Kansas Silent Film Festival, Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas. Three days of excellent silent film screenings in a great venue (the White Concert Hall) with free admission and live music from Rodney Sauer and the Mont Alto Motion Picture, organists Marvin Faulwell and Greg Foreman, and, strangely enough, me. I'm playing music a few films at this great festival, including the recently rediscovered "Thief Catcher" with its heretofore unknown Chaplin appearance. It's always a pleasure to help out the folks in Topeka and get to hear the great Mont Alto orchestra and other fine musicians in person.
• Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, 2 p.m.: "It" (1927); UNH-Manchester, third floor auditorium, 400 Commercial St., Manchester, N.H. Join Prof. Jeffrey Klenotic's Media Studies Class as we screen the film that made Clara Bow one of cinema's first sexy superstars. Free and open to the public, with no tests or quizzes required. (Unless you're actually in the class, I suppose.)
• Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, 2 p.m., "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; (617) 625-5700; Somerville Theatre. Early version of the classic Jules Verne tale, feature that pioneered underwater photography techniques. Screened in 35mm print as part of the 36th Annual Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival's annual 24-hour science fiction film marathon. Admission charged.
• Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, 6:30 p.m.: "For Heaven's Sake" (1926); Grace Episcopal Church, 106 Lowell St., Manchester, N.H.; (603) 622-9813. Church-sponsored silent film night with live music. See Harold Lloyd play a wealthy young man who learns about life for the other half through the attentions of an urban minister's lovely daughter. Leonard Maltin: "...a screamingly funny silent comedy." Actual tagline: "A Man With a Mansion. A Miss With a Mission." Admission free.
• Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, 2:45 p.m. "Silent Film Program"; Huntington Common, Kennebunk, Maine. A program of silent film and live music for the residents of a very nice retirement community.
• Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, 7:30 p.m., "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"; Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, Mass.; (617) 625-5700; Somerville Theatre. Early version of the classic Jules Verne tale, feature that pioneered underwater photography techniques. Screened in 35mm print as part of the 36th Annual Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival Admission charged.