2021 VIRTUAL Kansas Silent Film Festival Schedule:
Friday Night – 2/26/21 - starting at 7 pm CST online
Music Overture by Marvin Faulwell on organ
Welcome and Introduction to event by Denise Morrison
Those Awful Hats (1909) D.W. Griffith – 8 min.
Introduction: Denise Morrison
Music: Bill Beningfield on piano
- Used at the start of our 2005 program, this is a very short D. W. Griffith film that amounts to a Public Service spot advising ladies to please remove your hats inside the movie theatre….and there is a rather severe punishment if they do not!
Movie Night (1929) Charley Chase – 20 min.
Introduction: Denise Morrison
Music: Marvin Faulwell on organ
- Slipped into our 2009 line-up as a surprise short, this little film is a reminder of the joys of Charley Chase in any and all of his fall-down funny comedy shorts. Here he tries to take the family out to a movie. Please take note of how many things have changed!
A Movie Star (1916) Mack Swain – 24 min.
Introduction: Denise Morrison
Music: Bill Beningfield on organ
- From KSFF # 19 in 2008, this Mack Swain short comedy came from Mack Sennett’s Keystone Studio and pokes fun at the whole movie-making and movie-going experience with Swain as a forlorn cowboy film star looking for love from an audience - any audience!
Break: 5 minutes
Nell Gwyn (1926) w/ Dorothy Gish – 75 min.
Introduction: Denise Morrison
Music by Mont Alto
Motion Picture Orchestra
- Shown as an afternoon feature at the KSFF in 2005, this feature film starring Dorothy Gish (Lillian Gish’s equally famous sister) as a street vendor who catches the eye of the king and tries to stay in that particular limelight contains one of the best music scores by the remarkable Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra!
Thank you and good night!
Saturday Night – 2/27/21 - starting at 7 pm CST online
Music Overture by Marvin Faulwell on organ
Welcome and Introduction to event by Denise Morrison & Bill Shaffer
Sailor Beware! (1927) w/ Billy Dooley – 14 min.
Introduction: Denise Morrison
Music by Cliff Retallick on piano
An Al Christie Comedy Short
- Never shown before at the KSFF, this short comedy was sent to us by the folks at Retroformat, a group who are attempting to stage ‘live’ silent film events in Hollywood. Billy Dooley stars as a clueless sailor (whose uniform is worn backwards), coming home to his girlfriend with an innocent gift - a pet guinea pig, resulting in mass confusion and public fear of contagion. This short was produced by the Al Christie Studio.
Hold Your Breath! (1924) Dorothy Devore – 45 min.
Introduction by Denise Morrison
Music by Cliff Retallick on piano
An Al Christie Comedy Feature
- Our second film from Retroformat is also new to us and stars Dorothy Devore, as a newspaper reporter out to prove herself in a feminist take on the ‘thrill comedy genre’ pioneered by Harold Lloyd with plenty of great footage of Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles.
Break: 5 minutes
Jack the Kisser (1907) – 8 min.
Introduction by Denise Morrison
Music by Ben Model on piano
- Shown in 2008 at our 12th Festival, this slight comedy was produced by a pioneer of early cinema, Edwin S. Porter (who also produced The Great Train Robbery). This short film involves an energetic man who steals kisses from passing ladies until bystanders start a chase!
Simba (1928) w/ Martin & Osa Johnson - 70 min.
Introduction by Denise Morrison
Music by Marvin Faulwell on organ w/ Bob Keckeisen on percussion
- Recorded at our 8th Annual KSFF in 2004, this feature documentary is a fascinating study of African wildlife made by Osa and Martin Johnson in the late 1920’s. The first explorers to take cameras into Africa and return, the Johnsons were a celebrated couple in their time and this is their only surviving silent feature film documentary.
Final farewell + Thank you!
