History buffs and movie buffs converge when the Vancouver Civic Theatres presents Silent Movie Mondays at the historic Orpheum Theatre.
Escape to the 1920s silent movie era for a unique immersive experience, Silent Movie Mondays screen popular silent films accompanied by dramatic music played live on the historic Wurlitzer organ – the last theatre organ in Canada still performing in its original home.
November 27, 2023, features Laurel and Hardy Shorts, accompanied by Michael Dirk on the Wurlitzer Organ.
Comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy became a duo in 1927 under the management of Hal Roach film studio, quickly rising to fame and still known today as one of the greatest comedy duos in film history. Second Hundred Years (1927) and Battle of the Century (1927), and Two Tars (1928) were some of the first short silent films they created as a comedy duo before transitioning to the talkies in the 1930s.
More Silent Movie Mondays follow throughout the coming year:
February 12, 2024, features Torrent, starring Greta Garbo
A young girl (Greta Garbo) and her father are kicked out of their house by a cruel noblewoman, and the girl’s heart is broken when her sweetheart Rafael (Ricardo Cortez), the noblewoman’s son, won’t go to Paris with them. After becoming an opera star in Paris, the girl returns to her homeland and finds her romance with the nobleman rekindled.
April 3, 2024, features Go West, starring and directed by Buster Keaton
This comedy classic finds silent film legend, Keaton as a New Yorkers having little luck at keeping a job in the city trying work in the country. Once there, he tries his hand at bronco-busting, cattle wrangling and dairy farming, eventually forming a bond with a cow named “Brown Eyes”. Finally finding his way leading a herd of cattle to the West Coast. A classic comedy directed by and starring Buster Keaton, one of the most revered comic actors of the silent age.
With a pre-show performance in West Coast Lounge by the Gatsby Strutters Jazz Band.
June 3, 2024, features Charlie Chaplin Shorts
In the short films he made during his early career Charlie Chaplin perfected what would become the trademark themes and techniques of his career while creating films that many critics have to come to regard as his best work.
With a pre-show performance in West Coast Lounge by the Gatsby Strutters Jazz Band.
Stay tuned for more editions to Silent Movie Mondays to come.
Following each Silent Movie Monday edition, Keith Blackmore of the Vancouver Film School will host a lively discussion about the movies and the role of silent films in the evolution of film history.
Find details and tickets for Silent Movie Mondays at vancouvercivictheatres.com