Friends of the Library: Silent Movie Night

Charlie Chaplin? Buster Keaton? Harold Lloyd? Step back in time with these movie star comedians from over 100 years ago with a Silent Film quadruple feature. The films will be accompanied with live piano by Rodney Sauer, a local musician specializing in the repertoire and history of silent film music. Back in the days before “talkies” added sound to the movies, silent films were shown with live musical accompaniment. Carrying on that tradition here in Lyons, our piano soloist, Sauer will bring these silent films to life.

Here’s the what & when… so mark your calendar! The “Silent Film Comedy Program” will be held at the Lyons Community Library on Saturday, March 11 at 6:30 pm. Admission is free, but suggested donations are $10/person or $25/family. All proceeds and donations go to Friends of the Lyons Library which supports all the wonderful programs and services the Library offers our community.

Here’s the silent film line-up for this fun night for movie-goers of all ages

The Rink (1916) Charlie Chaplin is a waiter at a restaurant, and he angers a customer who has paid unwanted attention to a girl. Charlie saves her, and she invites him to a skating party. When the rude customer also arrives, there may be a fight… if they can stay on their feet! (24 min)
 

Gertie the Dinosaur (1914) The Lyons Public Library is bringing a long-extinct sauropod to Lyons! Gertie has been learning to do some tricks and will demonstrate her dancing skills. And if she’s well-behaved, she’ll get a pumpkin as a treat! This was the first film to use certain animation techniques that influenced the next generation of animators including Walt Disney. (12 min)

Ask Father (1919) Harold Lloyd tries to reach a very busy businessman to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. But the man has set up many obstacles to unwanted interruptions in his workplace. (13 min)

Sherlock Jr. (1924) After failing in his amateur detecting hobby, projectionist Buster Keaton falls asleep and enters his own film, dreaming that he's a super-sleuth. For its effects and stunts, this remains one of the most impressive films of the entire silent era. (45 min)

Our guest artist, Rodney Sauer, founded and directs a five-piece chamber ensemble, “The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra,” which has become known worldwide for the quality of its film score compilations and performances. They tour the country and regularly play at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival, the Turner Classic Movies festival, and many others. Locally they can be found performing for silent films at large venues such as Chautauqua and Longmont Museum.