Lon Chaney is my favorite classic movie actor. And I do mean THE Lon Chaney, not the vastly inferior, although still respectable, Lon Chaney Jr. (Oh don't get me started. Papa Chaney didn't even want junior in the business, let alone coat-tailing his famous name, which the younger changed in order to get into acting. Try as he might, the big lummox could never come anywhere near the creativity, precision and downright filmic agony of Lon Chaney on a bad day.) Known especially for his unmatched ability to transform into all sorts of on-screen creatures, Lon Chaney was such a terrifying and celebrated figure in his day, it wasn't uncommon to hear moviegoers say things like, "Don't step on that spider, it might be Lon Chaney!"
I love him for his dedication and inventiveness in personifying both villains and heroes; often contorting himself physically, painfully, to create a certain figure (such as the extreme binding of his arms to play an armless knife thrower in "The Unknown") and creating many types of movie makeup and prostheses. But additionally for his ability, through all of that, to maintain such humanity as to still break my heart.
Part of the joy of October is the return of classic monster movies on the big screens. Our buddies at the Redford are going to be showing one of the granddaddies of silent horror, "The Phantom of the Opera," this coming weekend. "Phantom" is a spectacle, and with the Redford's live organ accompaniment, I'm sure it'll break my heart as much as ever.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
Classic Silent Film With
Live Theatre Organ Accompaniment
Classic Silent Film With
Live Theatre Organ Accompaniment
The Redford Theatre
17360 Lahser Road
Detroit, MI 48219
17360 Lahser Road
Detroit, MI 48219
Friday, October 15, and Saturday, October 16, the Redford Theatre presents the classic silent horror presentation of The Phantom of the Opera (Universal Pictures, 1925) starring Lon Chaney with live accompaniment on the theatre pipe organ by Tony O'Brien. The print to be shown is from the International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY. It was made from the original two-color Technicolor sequences, preserved by the UCLA Film and Television Archives.
Tony O'Brien will begin this event with a performance of concert favorites. A short intermission will be followed by an uninterrupted showing of The Phantom of the Opera.
Show time will be at 8 pm. All tickets are general admission, and the cost is $10.00 for Adults and $5.00 for children (12 & under), which includes Free parking. The Redford Theatre is located at the NE corner of Grand River Ave. and Lahser Rd. in the heart of Detroit's Old Redford neighborhood.
HALLOWEEN DOUBLE FEATURE:
IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE in 3-D
ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN
Live Piano and Organ
Patron Participation
Event Sponsor
Friday, October 22, and Saturday, October 23, the Redford Theatre presents its annual HALLOWEEN DOUBLE FEATURE: First, terror in 3-D wit It Came from Outer Space (35mm, Universal, 1953) starring Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush, who won a Golden Globe, followed by Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (35mm, Universal, 1948) starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney, Jr., and Bela Lugosi.
Friday's screening is at 8 pm, and there will be two showings on Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm. All tickets are general admission, and cost is $6.00 which includes 3-D glasses and free parking. The Redford Theatre is located at the NE corner of Grand River Ave. and Lahser Rd. in the heart of Detroit's Old Redford neighborhood.
This week will feature the Redford's original theatre pipe organ, piano music, and a wide variety of classic monster, horror, and Hollywood prints by our event sponsor, Treasures from Paul's Basement.
Live Music: Welcoming tunes from the lobby piano set the mood when the box office and doors open 1 hour before showtime. Then the spotlight shifts to the auditorium when organist Jennifer Candea plays the Star Spangled Banner followed by a half-hour of lively music.
Patron Participation: Everyone who comes in full costume will get a Treat from the Redford Theatre!
Coming November 5 and 6 is Gypsy. Tickets are $4.00.
