A French language poster for F.W. Murnau's film 'The Last Laugh' (1924). April showers may bring May flowers, and May brings the start of two season series of silent film screenings.  On Saturday, May 11, I return to Brandon Town Hall and Community Center in Brandon, Vt. for a 13th year of presenting silent films with live music. First up is Chaplin's 'The Gold Rush' (1925). Later, on Wednesday, May 29, I'll be at the Leavitt Theatre in Ogunquit, Maine for the start of another season of silents with live music. First up: Buster Keaton in 'The General' (1926). All the rest of each series ..read more

Me with members of the Boston Society of Film Critics last month at the Somerville Theatre, which the society awarded 'Best Film Series of 2023' for its 'Silents, Please!' program. Hi everyone! I've been a bad boy with posting in the past month or so. Real life (outside the movie theatre) has been throwing its weight around, with several big projects entering important phases. But I'm back on the silent film wagon with regular postings, and will try to catch up on things I've missed. To wit: Last month, I was thrilled to learn that the Somerville Theatre's 'Silents, Please!' series (of which ..read more

Original promotional art for Emil Jannings in 'The Last Command' (1928). Just a few notes prior to heading out to Cleveland to do music this Friday for 'The Last Command' (1928), one of the greatest silents (in my opinion) and which, surprisingly, they've never run at the Cinematheque. I say surprisingly because the guy who's managed the Cinematheque for nearly 40 years, John Ewing, has an encyclopedic knowledgeable about cinema and often includes silent film programs in the venue's schedule. Somehow, director Josef von Sternberg's most powerful silent, featuring a towering performance by Emi ..read more

Maria Falconetti in the title role of 'Joan of Arc' (1928). From comedy to tragedy! Yesterday brought howls of laughter at Harold Lloyd's antics in 'Why Worry?' (1923), which I accompanied at the Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, N.H. Later today, I expect a very different reaction to 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' (1928), which I'll accompany at 6:30 p.m. at the Garden Cinemas in Greenfield, Mass. It's a case not of Comedy Tonight, but Tragedy Tonight, and Comedy Yesterday Afternoon—with apologies to Stephen Sondheim. If you're anywhere near Greenfield, Mass., hope you can make it to tonight's scre ..read more

Harold Lloyd has big shoes to fill in 'Why Worry?' (1923). Today's headlines getting you down? Then see a film from yesterday called 'Why Worry?' (1923), which I'm accompanying on Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. at the Town Hall Theatre in Wilton, N.H. Lots more info about this Harold Lloyd comedy in the press release pasted in below. With silent film, the audience is an important part of the show, so hope to see you there! For now, here's a report from this year's Kansas Silent Film Festival, which took place on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 on the campus of Washburn University in Topeka ..read more

The audience for a screening of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1923) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Colonial Theatre in Keene, N.H.  Wow! A screening of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' on Sunday, Feb. 18 was blessed with a very large and thoroughly engaged audience. From the reaction to the film, you could tell you were intent on having a good time. And that shouldn't be a surprise, as the screening was to celebrate the 100th birthday of venue: the Colonial Theatre in downtown Keene, N.H. Depression, war, television, Tiny Tim, the Internet—nothing in the past century succeeded i ..read more

An original poster for 'Speedy' (1928). Doing anything for Valentine's Day? If you have plans, cancel them and see 'Speedy' (1928) instead. I'm accompanying Harold Lloyd's final silent feature on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Rex Theatre in downtown Manchester, N.H. More details in the press release pasted in below. Even if you don't have a sweetie to bring along, 'Speedy' will help you fall in love—with silent film! One of the great things about 'Speedy' is that much of it was filmed on location in New York City. So it's a great way to see what life was like in the Big Apple a century ..read more

Buster Keaton cooks up some well-timed comedy in 'The Navigator' (1924). Never mind the Superbowl—I'm attending a pair of 100th birthday parties this weekend! This afternoon (Saturday, Feb. 10), it's Buster Keaton's 'The Navigator' (1924), which I'm accompanying at 4:30 p.m. at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport, R.I. More info in the press release pasted in below. Then tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 11), it's the original big screen adaptation of 'Peter Pan' (1924), for which I'll do music at 2 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville, Mass. I've pasted that press release in below as well. I th ..read more

Kathryn Boyd and Laurence Criner star in 'The Flying Ace' (1926). Up next, it's 'The Flying Ace' (1926), an aviation thriller with an all-Black cast that I'm accompanying at the Aviation Museum of N.H. for Black History Month. Lots more about the film and details about the screening are in the press release pasted in below. It's an unusual one for me because when I'm not accompanying silent films, I work as executive director of, yes, the Aviation Museum of N.H.! People sometimes ask how I get booked to accompany screenings. In this case, I know someone on the inside. Actually, because aviati ..read more

Greta Garbo and John Gilbert in 'Flesh and the Devil' (1926). Next up: it's 'Flesh and the Devil' (1926), a romantic thriller starring Greta Garbo and John Gilbert. I'm accompanying the film on Monday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Garden Cinemas in Greenfield, Mass.  A massive success that cemented Garbo's career, the film features love scenes that were not faked, as the two stars were involved in a heated affair during filming. Director Clarence Brown later said he just had to start the cameras and then stand back! Lots more info in the press release below. But first, a few notes about la ..read more