Silent movie set for Smoot centennial show
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A famous silent movie complete with live orchestral accompaniment will be presented at 7 p.m. Saturday as part of the Smoot Theatre's celebration of its 100th anniversary.
The theater will present "Steamboat Bill, Jr.," filmed in 1928 and starring Buster Keaton. Keaton plays the spoiled and citified college-educated son of a seasoned and gruff riverboat captain who tries to make him a manlier man like him.
The movie will be presented with live music from the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra like the movie would have been shown when the Smoot Theatre opened on Oct. 18, 1926, Felice Jorgeson, executive director of the theater, said. The 12-piece orchestra will perform in the pit, she said.
"You see, silent films were not silent," she said. "They were always accompanied by music."
Among the most famous movie stunts ever filmed was in "Steamboat Bill, Jr.," the front of a house that fell, missing Keaton who was aligned with the window in the attic. Keaton did most of the stunts in his movies.
The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, under the direction of Rick Benjamin, has been featured on the PBS Television series "Now Hear This." The orchestra debuted in 1988 after Benjamin found thousands of music scores that belonged to Arthur Pryor, a Victoria recording artist.
Benjamin has done extensive research into the music of the era and the silent movies, Jorgeson said. The art form is little understood or appreciated these days, she said.
"He's a scholar," Jorgeson said.
Benjamin, from the pit, will direct the orchestra, matching the music with the movements on the screen, she said. The result is an experience that can only be felt by a live performance, Jorgeson said.
"He does all of this himself," Jorgeson said.
Tickets are $45 each, but 2026 Camp Vaudevillians will have free admission since the silent film was a part of their summer studies. The show is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Another feature of Saturday's show will be a contest for wearing the best attire from the 1920s, Jorgeson said.
People also were encouraged to dress in period clothing for an anniversary show earlier this month, but this time prizes will be awarded, she said. Among categories are the Best Flapper, the Chicest Sheik, Best 20s Couple and Best 20s Children.
Prior to the show a parade will be held on stage where the judges will make their decisions to be announced at the end of the film.
Among the prizes will be gift certificates from Huffman's Steakhouse, The Riviera in Marietta, Horner and Harrison and for the Smoot Theatre's annual Hometown Christmas show, Jorgesen said.
Another prize will be the screening at the Smoot of a movie of the recipient's choice and 25 of their guests, Jorgeson said.
"We'll even provide the popcorn," Jorgeson said.