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April at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

April screenings at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum has a swell month lined up in April. The month includes two fine dramas, each feature a stage star who made a successful transition to motion pictures. The Fremont museum also marks the anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake with the screening of three related films. Along with these notable programs, there is the regular "Comedy Short Subject Night" and "Laurel & Hardy Talkie Matinee." Each silent film, it' should be mentioned, is presented with musical accompaniment featuring some of the Bay Area's leading film accompanists. All together, it adds up to another fine month of early cinema in the East Bay. Here's what's playing in April.

"Saturday Night at the Movies" with Frederick Hodges at the piano
Saturday April 6 at 7:30 pm

In The Mollycoddle (1920, United Artists), Douglas Fairbanks brings his sparkling personality to the screen in the story of an American who has lived much of his life outside the country only to find rampant villainy (personified by Wallace Beery) upon his return to Arizona. Ruth Renick plays the love interest. The evening's entertainment includes two shorts, Chemical Koko (1928, Inkwell Studios) with Koko the Clown, and The Cowboy Sheik (1924, Hal Roach Studios) with Will Rogers.

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"San Francisco & the Earthquake" with Greg Pane at the piano
Saturday April 13 at 7:30 pm

In Old San Francisco (1927, Warner Bros.), Dolores Costello stars as the last of a noble Spanish family preyed upon by the mysterious Warner Oland, with Tom Santschi and Anna May Wong in a small but important parts. The feature will be preceded by two related shorts, The Destruction of San Francisco (1906, Edison, Biograph, Pathe), and A Trip Down Market Street (1906, Miles Bros.). The latter short will be introduced by Niles historian David Kiehn, who will speak on the significance of this film.

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"Laurel & Hardy Talkie Matinee featuring Edgar Kennedy"
Sunday April 14 at 4:00 pm

This month's Laurel & Hardy Talkie Matinee turns the spotlight on the great character actor Edgar Kennedy. On the bill are Prunes and Politics (1937, RKO) starring Edgar Kennedy, Moan & Groan, Inc. (1929) with Our Gang and Edgar Kennedy, and Perfect Day (1931) and Night Owls (1930) with Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and Edgar Kennedy. Bay Area resident Bill Cassara, author of a fine book on Edgar Kennedy published by BearManor Media in 2005, will be present.

"Comedy Short Subject Night" with Greg Pane at the piano
Saturday April 20 at 7:30 pm

If you hate to laugh, then be sure to miss this monthly program of shorts featuring some of the most famous comedians of the silent film era. On the bill are The Vagabond (1916, Lone Star) with Charlie Chaplin, The Love Nest (1923, Comique) with Buster Keaton, Bad Boy (1925, Hal Roach) with Charley Chase, Sailors, Beware! (1927, Hal Roach) with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

"Saturday Night at the Movies" with Bruce Loeb at the piano
Saturday April 27 at 7:30 pm

In Smouldering Fires (1925, Universal), Pauline Frederick gives a standout performance as a successful businesswoman in love with a younger male employee (played by Malcolm McGregor) who is not interested in his boss, but the business woman's younger sister, played by Laura La Plante. Ably directed by Clarence Brown, the film also features Tully Marshall and Wanda Hawley. Smouldering Fires will be preceded by two shorts, Koko’s Conquest (1929, Inkwell Studios) with Koko the Clown, and the seldom screened  The Tryout (1919, Al Jennings Productions) with Al Jennings.  The latter short is the story of a young boy who idolizes an outlaw who gives the boy a three-day "tryout" to show him that the life of an outlaw is not one he wants to live.

For more info: The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum is located at 37417 Niles Blvd. in Fremont, California. For further information, call (510) 494-1411 or visit the Museum's website at www.nilesfilmmuseum.org/.

Thomas Gladysz is a Bay Area arts and entertainment writer and early film buff. He is also the Director of the Louise Brooks Society, an internet-based archive and international fan club devoted to the silent film star. Thomas Gladysz has contributed to books on the actress, organized exhibits, appeared on television and radio, and introduced the actress's films around the world.

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