5th Annual SILENT SALON Featuring the Villa Aurora Pipe Organ

Once again, Villa Aurora is opening their newly landscaped gardens for patrons to come early and picnic, watch the sun set over the Pacific, and then move into the Salon for a program of comedies by Hollywood’s leading comedians. This year’s program was curated by Michael Mortilla, who is also the accompanist for the two nights of Silent Salon.

Bring family and friends, make it a surprise date, or entertain guests from out of town with a true L.A. experience.

Michael Mortilla is a composer and musician who for two decades has improvised scores to all manner of silent films for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, among other organizations. (He has also worked with a pair of legendary choreographers: Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham.)

Saturday, September 9 @ 6:40 p.m.

SURPRISE FILM!!

THE WHITE SHADOW

Regie: Graham Cutts, 1923, 45 min, starring Betty Compson, Clive Brook and Henry Victor, UK, digital

This is Alfred Hitchcock’s first film effort in the role of assistant director. The stunning film was lost, rediscovered in New Zealand and beautifully restored a few years ago. It re-premiered at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with a new score by Michael Mortilla, curator of this year’s series and accompanist on the organ.

The plot concerns twin sisters, one modest and socially conservative, and the other a free spirit who can't bear the constrictions of a traditional life. Their father's unhappiness over his bohemian daughter's lifestyle leads him to drink and dissolution. To make matters worse, both of them have a man fall in love with them not realizing they are two different women…. (imdb)