On Sunday, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church once again invites you to spend an afternoon of fun enjoying a silent film as if you were back in the roaring ‘20s. Dress up if you like and enjoy “The Gold Rush,” a 1925 American silent comedy film written, produced, directed by and starring the famous Charlie Chaplin. The original, unrestored version of the film will be shown — celebrating 100 years since its release!
The Gold Rush was critically acclaimed upon its release and continues to be one of Chaplin’s most celebrated works; Chaplin himself cited it several times as the film for which he most wanted to be remembered. Some of the movie’s scenes were actually shot here in Truckee, Nevada County. Chaplin drew inspiration from photographs of the Klondike Gold Rush, as well as from tales of the Donner Party — snowbound in the Sierra Nevada — whose tragedy is well known here in Gold Country. Chaplin, who believed tragedies and comedies were not far from each other, decided to combine the stories of the trials in the search for gold in comedy. In 1992, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Movie production before sound relied on a live organist playing dramatic background music and sound effects. This is an experience rarely found today and the score will be performed live by Walt Strony, Peace organist and artistic advisor for Arts@Peace. He will be using the Peace Allen-Reuter organ which has a special “suite” of sounds reproducing the sound of the Mighty Wurlitzer organs that were originally used to accompany silent films.
Strony’s career has spanned 50 years and includes Theatre Organ as a specialty of his diverse musicianship. Strony creates a unique score for each silent movie. In Walt’s own words:
“My score is in the style of what would have been done originally. The idea is to create a period musical background that helps the actors emote from the screen, without the music attracting to itself.”
Strony’s first organ teacher was Al Melgard, the much-loved organist at the Chicago Stadium. Melgard had begun his career as an accomplished theatre organist in Chicago during the original silent film era. Because of his relationship with Melgard, Strony is one of the last generation of organists with a genuine connection to those who played in the original silent films of the 1920s.
Walt Strony is an inductee into the American Theater Organ Society Hall of Fame and is the only living two-time winner of the ATOS Organist of the Year Award. Silent Movies with Walt Strony events draw audiences from all over and are especially loved locally. There is no charge for the event; however, donations to enable Arts@Peace to continue sponsoring free musical events for Nevada County will be welcomed.
A wine and cheese reception will follow the film showing. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m.
For more information or if you are interested in our other programs visit www.PeaceLutheranGV.org or call (530) 273-9631.
WHAT: Silent Movie with Walt Strony: Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush”
WHERE: Peace Lutheran Church, 828 W Main St, Grass Valley
WHEN: Doors open at 3:30 p.m., movie starts at 4 p.m.
A wine and cheese reception will follow the movie
COST: Free, but donations welcome
