Fan of Silent Movies

[NashTwin8]

I agree that watching a silent movie on the big screen is a great experience. It's something I've only done a few times, but I would like to do more of it in the future.

I've seen "The Jazz Singer", the first talkie. The sound portions were the original VitaPhone segments, and the silent portions were organ-accompanied in a restored small-town theater.

A couple years ago I got to see "The General" in a small theater, with a recorded piano soundtrack (not the original, but very appropriate.) I really enjoyed this one.

Just a couple weeks ago my wife and I went to one of Seattle's two remaining "big old theaters" and saw "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." The Mighty Wurlitzer added much to the thrills and enjoyment of this one! The organ in this theater has been partially restored, but many of the special effects have yet to be refurbished. Also, they told us that this organ came without the optional chimes that were made available by Wurlitzer especially for the Hunchback, so they had a set of orchestral chimes and a "chimist" playing alongside the organist at the appropriate times in the film.

It had not occurred to me until after we saw this last movie that the era of the big theater pipe organ only lasted roughly 15 years or so. According to the introductory talk we were given, the really big organs began being installed around 1916. By 1930, silent pictures were rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

It was fun while it lasted though!

Jerry K

PS - Old time radio is also a favorite of mine, especially some of the comedy programs.

[Deleted]

I saw the General last Friday, at the local movie house. The Tivoli now the Wienburgh Center.

Paul

[lukewarmwater2]

I'm on the road and have nothing but my iPhone so can't copy and paste so forgive me for asking you all to do the 'heavy lifting' here, but please Google 'Rinaudo's Reproductions' and click on the 'What's a Photoplayer?' link and watch my old buddy Joe Rinaudo kick a** on his theater Photoplayer that was built to accompany silent films with sound effects. It will take your breath away!
John M

[Deleted]

Cool video John. I had only seen Photo's of one, but never heard one. Thank you for the link.

Paul

[bedplate]

Saw a  silent film years ago called "Code of the Sea"..very cool....

[larryh]

Since I wrote my comments here I have purchased a number of vhs tapes really cheaply on ebay. Nothing like a dying format to bring out the bargains. Also since those early post I have discovered the "Internet Archives" which has a large selection of free silent films. Some are totally silent which I am not too fond of but some have decent sound tracks. One I recall being good was the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, with Valentino, its long but if you stick it out it has some pretty cool effects and saga story line.

Larry

[NashTwin8]

I, too, have become a fan of silent movies, especially, as some have already said, when seen in an old movie theater with pipe organ accompaniment. I think they do this in some other places too, but here in Seattle, the fully restored Paramount Theater features "Silent Movie Mondays" for a month at a time, two or three times each year. They always have a talented organist to play their original Mighty Wurlitzer. It's quite an experience to walk into such a grand auditorium, and to feel the air, even the building, vibrate with the power of that amazing organ. My wife and I have enjoyed quite a few movies this way over the past few years. Some of my favorites have included: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, It, My Best Girl, The Unholy Three, Sex and the Devil, and The Mark of Zorro, among others. We've also seen a sequence of Disney's Alice comedy shorts, and most recently, the 1916 Snow White. I find it easier to watch the comedies than the heavy dramas, as I think the stories are easier to follow. The overly dramatic styles of acting and facial expressions take some getting used to, but were necessary to convey the emotions and reactions in the stories. DVDs are fine, and can be fun too, but nothing else comes close to the pipe organ and the big screen in terms of an overall movie watching experience.

Jerry K