Early films screen at Niles

April 14, 5:10 PMSF Silent Movie ExaminerThomas Gladysz

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the SF Silent Movie Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

The Lost Squadron, courtesy Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

The Edison Theatre at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, California is one of the best places in the Bay Area to see silent and early sound films. Not only are tickets reasonably priced, but patrons can often hear live piano accompaniment to the silent films shown on the screen.

The Museum has been screening films for the past few years, showing a mix of silent film masterpieces along with rarely seen and little known screen gems. A number of the films shown over the years were made nearby, when Niles was home to Broncho Billy, Charlie Chaplin and the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company.

Here’s the line-up for the rest of the month.

Short Subject Night, with Frederick Hodges at the piano
Saturday April 18 at 7:30 PM (suggested donation $5.00)
Four films featuring comedic greats of the silent era. A Night at the Show (1915, Essanay) with Charlie Chaplin; The Playhouse (1921, Schenck) with Buster Keaton; Now or Never (1921, Roach) with Harold Lloyd; You’re Darn Tootin’ (1928, Roach) with Laurel and Hardy.

Conrad in Quest of His Youth (1920, Famous Players-Lasky)
With Bruce Loeb at the piano
Saturday April 25 at 7:30 PM (suggested donation $5.00)
Thomas Meighan, one of the more popular stars of the day, once again displays his acting talent in the role of a man trying to recapture his youth, to both comic and dramatic effect. The evening will also include screening of two short films: Never Touched Me (1919, Rolin) with Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels; and Granddad (1913, Broncho) with Frank Borzage, Mildred Harris, and William Desmond Taylor.

The Lost Squadron (1932, RKO)
Friday April 24 at 7:30 PM (suggested donation $5.00)
An entertaining, big budget aviation film made during the early sound era. The film stars Richard Dix, Mary Astor, Robert Armstrong, Erich von Stroheim, and  Joel McCrea. The event will include a presentation by Bay Area resident Shawna Kelly, author of the recently released Hollywood Aviators (Arcadia), discussing her great grandfather “Daredevil” DeLay and other pilots of the silent screen days.

The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum will also be hosting a Broncho Billy’s Tea Dance on Sunday April 26 at 3:00 PM. The event includes an afternoon of music by Don Neely and the Royal Society Six along with dance instruction by Cynthia Glinka. Tickets are $30 adult / $25 child, student or senior.

The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum is located at 37395 Niles Blvd in Fremont, California For more information, call (510) 494-1411.