A summer of silent films: Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo
Bill Field at his 2,500 pipe Mighty Wurlitzer.
After getting your fill of summer blockbusters, make time to relive Hollywood’s heyday at the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo. Silent films are accompanied by live music from the theater’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ. The organ boasts more than 2,500 pipes, four keyboards, 260 switches and more knobs and pedals than you can shake a stick at.
Every film is preceded by an organ performance (usually by theater owner Bill Field), a sing-a-long and a comedy short. Upcoming highlights include silents “The Gold Rush,” “Salome,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, “The Kid,” and “The Sheik.”
Talkies scheduled include “Road to Rio,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “Spellbound.”
Several cartoon and comedy festivals are scheduled through the summer. On August 23 the theater will present “Hollywood Home Movies, treasures from the Academy film archive.” The evening will be hosted by Randy Haberkamp, managing director of programming for Education and Preservation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In October, the theater becomes the Old Town Music Haunt with classic horror films. In December, enjoy holiday classics.
Films are shown most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Special pipe organ concerts are scattered throughout the year on Sunday afternoons and may take the place of a Sunday film showing. Concerts range from ragtime, to boogie-woogie to burlesque and beyond. A lovely program is available at the theater with a year’s worth of fun.
Most concert admissions are $20. Reservations are recommended. Film admission is $10, $8 for seniors 62+, cash or check only. Doors open 30 minutes prior to show time.
140 Richmond Street, in El Segundo (where parking is FREE). For a complete list of upcoming events, go to OldTownMusicHall.org.