Sat. Mar. 22 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $12 

2hr 13min | NR | Drama | USA 

Live Organ Accompaniment by Andrew Rogers 

Silents at the Senate begins its 2025 season with Pandora’s Box, a silent masterpiece from Austrian director G.W. Pabst, starring the American flapper icon Louise Brooks! Come see this impeccable example of pre-sound cinematic artistry, accompanied by organist Andrew Rogers on our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ!  

Produced during the artistically vibrant Weimar Republic period in Germany, Pandora’s Box adapts two popular stage plays into a single tale of depravity, temptation, wrath and ruin. It’s melodrama at its finest, made on the eve of the sound era when the visual language of silent cinema reached its absolute peak.  

And with the majesty of the world’s best instrument for silent film accompaniment enhancing the imagery and emotions, the awesome power of live sound and recorded vision—the original magic of the movies—cannot be denied. 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue 

Sat. Nov. 23 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

2hr 31min | NR | War/Drama | United States 

Live Organ Accompaniment by John Lauter 

Silents at the Senate is proud to present The Big Parade, an epic romance set against the backdrop of global conflagration, with live organ accompaniment by theater organist John Lauter! 

This massive international hit tells the story of a wealthy young playboy (John Gilbert, perhaps the biggest marquee idol of the 1920s) who enlists in the U.S. Army to fight in the first World War. Expecting glory and adventure, he instead must confront the horrors of war, the likes of which only friendship and love can overcome. The Big Parade was MGM’s biggest success of the silent era, owing its success to its unflinching look at the realities of war and a stirring romance made real through the talents of its lead actors.  

And, as at every Silents at the Senate screening, the visual magic of cinema will be enhanced by the unmatched auditory majesty of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. This one-of-a-kind instrument was literally made to accompany silent films. There is no better way to see The Big Parade!  

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts 

Parking is available in a gated parking lot on Gilbert St., behind the theater.

Silents at the Senate Presents: The Phantom of the Opera (1925) 
Sat. Oct. 12 
Doors – 7:00 PM 
Film – 8:00 PM 
Tickets - $12 
1hr 18min | NR | Horror/Drama | United States 
Live Organ Accompaniment by Tony O’Brien
Tarot readings before the show!

This spooky season Silents at the Senate is proud to present the 1925 adaptation of the world’s most famous gothic romance, The Phantom of the Opera, with live organ accompaniment by theater organist Tony O’Brien! 

Silent screen legend Lon “The Man of a Thousand Faces” Chaney stars as the title character. A seemingly supernatural figure, the “Phantom” terrorizes patrons and employees at the Paris Opera House, all in the hopes of furthering the career of Christine, a singer and object of his deranged affections. But the real star just might be Chaney’s self-devised make-up work. Nearly a century on this grotesque tour deforce still represents the pinnacle of cinema—how imagery can creep into our minds, lurk in the shadows, and strike with vengeance when we least expect it. 

And to that visual power the Senate will add the unmatched auditory majesty of a Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, an instrument literally made to accompany a silent film. There is no better way to see The Phantom of the Opera!  

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts 

Sat. Feb. 17 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 11min | NR | Drama/Romance | United States 

Live Organ Accompaniment by Lance Luce 
 

Depravity seizes upon poverty as extravagance collides with innocence in Queen Kelly,

a silent drama of doomed romance, presented with live musical accompaniment by Lance Luce on the Senate’s Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ! This incomplete but still captivating exercise in cinematic excess from director/screenwriter Erich von Stroheim proves that even an unfinished work from a master is still a masterwork. 

Co-produced by and starring Gloria Swanson, one of the silent era's biggest stars, what survives of the film tells the story of a playboy aristocrat who balks at his betrothal to his mad queen. On the eve of the marriage, he falls for an enchanting and fiery convent girl (Swanson) and then schemes to possess her, no matter the cost.  

In its existing form, the film presents a meticulously realized world in beautiful detail, a simple but sumptuous tale of worlds colliding—an ill-fated meeting that ends, (spoiler) in tragedy.  

But the epic and transgressive melodrama that could have been was never completed, itself a victim of incompatibility. But rather than a clash of class and circumstance, what doomed Queen Kelly from reaching its potential was the battle between art and business, the vision of an auteur versus censorship. 

Silents at the Senate is proud to present the 1932 release of this almost lost piece of silent film history!

Released only in Europe well into the “talkie” period, this is the most concise and cinematically pure version of the film. It features the so-called “Swanson” ending, filmed after the dismissal of Stroheim and shot two years after the abrupt end to the production due to massive cost overruns and the directors’ efforts to skirt the demands of censors. 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

Silents at the Senate – Robin Hood (1922) 

Sat. May 20 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets – $12 

2hr 12min | NR | Adventure/Drama | USA 

Live Organ Accompaniment by Scott Smith 

It is a familiar tale.  

An absent king. A tyrannical prince. An evil sheriff. A band of merry men. A Lady named Marian. A champion of the people who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. 

It can only be Robin Hood. But not just any Robin Hood.  

 
Silents at the Senate is proud to present a silent film that is truly the equal of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. Its towering sets, baroque costumes, and exciting feats of derring-do have stood the test of time. And they will only stand taller with the marvelous musical wizardry of a theater organ at its side, played by the talented silent film accompanist, Scott Smith. 

Starring, co-written, and produced by silent screen titan, Douglas Fairbanks, this grandiose adaptation marked the first feature length screen appearance Robin Hood. Through its massive success the film firmly established a host of familiar story elements that would be repeated in later screen versions and cemented its star as a swashbuckling icon of the Roaring Twenties. The castle set alone covered ten acres in the then country setting of Hollywood, complementing the elaborate court pageantry that makes up much of the film’s first half. And when Douglas Fairbanks transforms into the acrobatic and mischievous folk hero, Robin Hood in the second half, the nearby woods of Hollywood serve as a convincing Sherwood Forest. 

So, join us, all ye merry moviegoers, for a night of action, adventure, and drama, with a live organ score to match the emotion of every minute! And remember to stick around after the show for a chance to ask the organist a question and take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. This is a rare opportunity to get an up-close look at the inner workings of this marvelous musical machine. 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 
 

Silents at the Senate – Safety Last (1923) 100th Anniversary Screening 

Sat. Apr. 1 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 20min | NR | Slapstick/Romance| USA  

Ask Father short film  

13min | NR | Slapstick/Romance| USA

Live Organ Accompaniment by Andrew Rogers

Harold Lloyd, one of the titans of silent slapstick comedy, was known for his exhilarating stunts, fast-paced chase scenes, and the high-energy, go-getting, bespectacled characters he so often played. He was also a man who lost a thumb and forefinger to a bomb mistaken for a prop and has been first and foremost remembered for this film, Safety Last.  

Go figure. 

Yes, Lloyd may have had a dubious commitment to safety. But if he played it safe, we might not have this opportunity to celebrate the centennial of his most famous work, featuring one of the most iconic sequences of all time. The film follows a small-town guy, (Lloyd) as he fumblingly attempts to make his way in the big city so that he can earn the hand of his sweetheart. In the course of this striving hijinks ensue, and at one point Lloyd scales a skyscraper and dangles perilously from the hands of its giant clock.  

So, what we’re saying is it’s a zany good time, made all the zanier by organist Andrew Rogers’ expert comedic timing at our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ! Which, according to Harold Lloyd himself, is exactly the kind of instrument to accompany his film. Lloyd once said, “I just don’t like pictures played with pianos. We never intended them to be played with pianos,” even refusing to allow screenings if an organ wasn’t available, an opinion we can’t help but appreciate. 

The show will also include the Harold Lloyd short film, Ask Father. And remember to stick around after the feature for a chance to ask the organist a question and take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. This is a rare opportunity to get an up-close look at the inner workings of this marvelous musical machine!  

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

Silents at the Senate – The Lodger (1927) with live accompaniment by Dennis Scott  

Sat. Mar. 11 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 30min | NR | Thriller/Mystery | United Kingdom 
 

A man, accused. A blonde in distress. A cameo appearance. This might be a Hitchcock film! 

Considered by the master of suspense himself as the first “true” Hitchcock picture, the silent mystery/thriller The Lodger stands as the director’s first fully formed statement of artistic intent. Only his third feature film, it includes nearly all of the visual obsessions and techniques that would become his trademark. Inspired by the German Expressionist films of the 1920s, Hitchcock endeavored to further develop the visual language of cinema using striking and unusual camera angles, high contrast lighting, and placing actors intentionally within the frame to evoke an emotion or guide the viewer towards a conclusion. An influential film, it was an essential steppingstone in the development of the modern thriller genre. 

The action centers on the golden-haired fashion model, Daisy Bunting, her parents, and Jonathan Drew, their mysterious new lodger. An alluring and moody young man, Jonathan soon draws the attention of Daisy. A burgeoning romance begins. But to the dismay of her parents, (and would-be suitor, the local policeman) this captivating new arrival happens to match the description of a murderer on the loose — a serial killer with a taste for blondes! 

And, as if this suspenseful scenario isn’t enticing enough, we’re serving up these vintage Hitchcockian thrills with the period appropriate sounds of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. At the console this time around will be the internationally known silent film accompanist out of Chicago, Dennis Scott. A master of his art, Mr. Scott is sure to show off our instrument’s kaleidoscopic tonal color without ever showing up the images on the screen. Be sure to stick around after the show for a chance to ask the organist a question and take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. This is a rare opportunity to get an up-close look at the inner workings of this marvelous musical machine!  

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

Silents at the Senate – It (1927) with live accompaniment by John Lauter

Sat. Feb. 11 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 12min | NR | Romantic Comedy | USA 
 

Clara Bow? She’s got “it.”  

What’s “it?” Well, if you have to ask, you probably wouldn’t even know a tomato if she flew right at your face. Ya follow? 

But thankfully we have a remedy for your ignorance. Just watch the 1927 romantic comedy, It, starring the charismatic flapper screen idol, Clara Bow. You’ll get the picture. She’s the cat’s pajamas!  

Bow plays Betty Lou Spence, a salesgirl with pluck to spare, who falls for her boss, Cyrus Waltham Jr.  He’s a real spiffy guy. The bee’s knees. But he’s also a high pillow from high society with more scratch than he knows what to do with, placing him well out of her league. Will Betty Lou find a way to overcome class differences and make love conquer all? 

You betcha! And you’ll be sure to laugh all the way. Meanwhile, you’ll be swaying to the rhythm of this jazz-age gem, accompanied by organist John Lauter on the Senate’s Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, which was first played just one year after the release of the film. Be sure to stick around after the show for a chance to ask the organist a question and take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. This is a rare opportunity to get an up-close look at the inner workings of this marvelous musical machine!  

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

Silents at the Senate closes out the Fall season with Flesh and the Devil, a film so intense with emotion – swinging from youthful cheer and love, to uninhibited lust, jealousy, and wrath – that we may need to keep the lights off in the theater for a minute after the movie.  

You'll need some time to collect yourself.   

Sat. Nov. 5
Doors – 7:00 PM
Film – 8:00 PM
Tickets - $12
1hr 52min | NR | Melodrama/Romance | USA

This enduring silent classic deftly blends light comedy, steamy romance, and tragic melodrama, making our Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ, unparalleled in its versatility, the perfect instrument for providing musical accompaniment. As the film takes you on this journey of agony and passion, organist John Lauter will be there to compliment and intensify the feelings with his live organ score.  

Starring romantic screen idols Greta Garbo and John Gilbert, Flesh and the Devil was and still remains a shocking and trailblazing film with visual style and stirring performances. Calling to mind the erotic thrillers of the 1980s like Fatal Attraction, this movie sizzles. The chemistry between its stars, who began a real love affair during shooting, cannot be denied. Meanwhile the camera titillates with then unheard-of close-ups of open mouth kisses and horizontal love scenes, while evocative flourishes of light and shadow heighten the dazzling eroticism of the drama.   

You will hardly believe what they were allowed to put on screen in the old days.  

And seeing it the way it was intended to be seen, on the big screen with live organ accompaniment, is a cinematic and musical time-traveling experience you won’t soon forget. Plus, as an added bonus, you can stick around after the show for a chamber tour, a rare chance to get an up-close look at the inner workings of a theater pipe organ. 

See you at the theater! 

Silents at the Senate is supported by the Knight Arts Challenge 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts.