Summer is upon us and so is our 6th “Silent Salon”, our annual silent film event. Bring friends and family, make it a surprise date, or entertain guests from out of town with a true L.A. experience. Enjoy a picnic in our gorgeous garden, watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean and file into our salon for silent films with Live organ and piano accompaniment.

The Film Primadonna

Dir. Urban Gad, Germany, Denmark 1913, 17 min, silent starring Asta Nielsen

This enchanting fragment allows a satirical view into studio and production facilities of early silent film.

"The main plot of Die Filmprimadonna is launched when we see Ruth Breton (Asta Nielsen) receive a screenplay from Walter Heim (Fritz Weidemann). The search for a suitable manuscript now resolved, the film details the workings of the studio and the shooting process, as Ruth and Walter become romantically involved." (Silents Please)

The ABC of Love (Das Liebes ABC)

Dir. Magnus Stifter, Germany, 1916, 50 min, silent, starring Asta Nielsen

Das Liebes-ABC (1916) sees Asta Nielsen in a comedic trouser-role as Lis, a dashing young lady engaged to be married to Philipp who she feels. is somewhat boring and campy. In order to "educate" him, she, dressed as a man, takes him to Paris, where she introduces him to the theatre and club scene. When her father visits, the plot gets more twisted and some more cross dressing is required.

LIVE ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT by Michael Mortilla

Michael Mortilla started his full time career as a serious composer in 1976. He was company pianist for legendary choreographer, Martha Graham and was the last composer to work directly with her in the studio on a produced dance work. Mr. Mortilla served as Resident Composer for Theater & Dance at the University of California, on the faculty, and as Principal Musician from 1986 to 2000. His work is performed worldwide with commissions from the Library of Congress, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Turner Classic Movies, National Film Preservation Foundation, PBS, NPR, and The Catalina Island Museum, among others.