Showtime at the Senate

Showtime at the Senate has returned! Before quarantine and the COVID-19 virus hit, we planned on screening John Carpenter's They Live (1988) on Saturday, March 28th. The screening is postponed for now, but before all this mayhem hit, I had on award winning novelist Jonathan Lethem on the show to talk about  They Live and the Deep Focus book he wrote on the film back in 2010. (available here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/They-Live-Focus-Jonathan-Lethem/dp/159376278X) We talk about his experience with the film, why we enjoy watching it so much, Reaganomics, consumer capitalism and one of my favorite characters, the blind preacher. Recorded at MusicTown Detroit. 

On Episode 7 of Showtime at the Senate - John J Shetler and I discuss Kong, The Eight Wonder of The World! We touch on Merian C. Cooper and Earnest Schoedsack's personal history, Willis O' Brian and the origins of Visual Effects in Film and Max Steiner's incredible and groundbreaking score. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat. March. 7th, 2020. Doors 7:00 pm Organ Overture 7:30 pm Movie 8:00 pm Tickets $5 1 hour 40 min. The Senate Theater and the Detroit Theater Organ Society present a screening of Merian C. Cooper and Ernest Schoedsack’s classic monster movie “King Kong” (1933), the original film that inspired generations of monster movies. Kong, The Eighth Wonder of the World, is a prehistoric ape like creature who inhabits Skull Island. Captured by man and put on display in the Big Apple, will Kong escape his shackles and return to Skull Island or will he wreak havoc on New York City? “King Kong” ranks 43rd on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 greatest American films of all time, boasting a remarkable performance from Fay Wray and an unforgettable score by Max Steiner. The character of King Kong has become one of the world’s most recognizable movie stars and has inspired numerous sequels, remakes, cartoons, comic books and more.

Episode 6  of Showtime at the Senate is here and we get to talk about one of my favorite movies, The Maltese Falon. My fellow movie committe members, Lindsay Robillard and Ian Gleespen, chat with me about how awesome Humphrey Bogart is, The Maltese Falcon's origin story and a bit about the artistic relationship between John Huston and Humphrey Bogart. We also discuss their 1953 spoof film, co-written by Truman Capote, Beat the Devil.

Episode 5 of Showtime at the Senate is LIVE! This week, I talk with Flamingo Vintage Detroit proprietress, Nikki Neuzil, and film aficianado Finn Formica about Grease (1978), shopping vintage, and 50's fashion.  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Grease + 1950’s Pop-Up Shop  Sat., Feb. 15  Doors + Shopping 6 p.m.  Organ Overture 7:30  Movie 8 p.m.  Tickets $5    Attention Pink Ladies and T-Birds, Sandy and Danny are reuniting at the Senate Theater! Come see the beloved musical Grease (1978) as it was meant to be seen; on the big screen in a theater full of fans. A 1950’s Pop-Up Shop featuring Flamingo Vintage Detroit and other vendors will be bringing poodles skirts and more to round out a truly retro evening. We’ll be handing out prizes for best dressed at intermission so bring your poodle skirts and bomber jackets!

Showtime at the Senate: Episode 3 is here!  This week, we discuss the oldest avant garde and experimental film festival in North America,the Ann Arbor Film Festival, with tour manager Marin Smith!  The Ann Arbor Film Festival Almost All Ages Program is this Sat. Jan 25 at 4 pm! Tickets $5 and kids 12 and under FREE.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  The Senate Theater is teaming up with the Ann Arbor Film Festival to bring their Almost All Ages touring festival to Detroit. Almost All Ages is a diverse selection of colorful and engaging films that makes experimental, one-of-a-kind films accessible and exciting for everyone who watches. Each of the eight short films, ranging from animated to documentary features a distinctive perspective. As a group, the films inspire audiences to think, look, and experience the world around them in new and creative ways. The works are intended for audiences ranging from elementary school children to adults well-versed in the cinematic arts and everyone in between. The content is appropriate for ages 6+.   ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Established in 1963, the Ann Arbor Film Festival is the oldest avant garde and experimental film festival in North America. The six-day festival presents 40 programs with more than 200 artist films from over 20 countries of all lengths and genres, including experimental, animation, documentary, narrative, hybrid, and performance-based works. The 58th Festival will take place March 24-29, 2020 at the historic Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Episode 2 of Showtime at the Senate! Fellow movie committe member John Shetler and I discuss our upcoming Fatty Arbuckle and Friends silent shorts program. We discuss the heartbreaking story of Roscoe Arbuckle and why he should be remembered for his craft rather than a series of horribly unfortunate events.    ---------------------------------------------   Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle mentored Charlie Chaplin, introduced the world to Bob Hope and Buster Keaton, and for a time, was the most popular comedian in Hollywood.  Due to a scandal that unfairly affected his reputation, Arbuckle's contributions to screen comedy have been largely ignored.  Thankfully, since the 1970s, historians have begun to set the record straight and audiences have given a second look to this founding father of movie comedy.     As part of the Silents at the Senate series, CineMuseum LLC and the Detroit Theater Organ Society proudly presents FATTY ARBUCKLE AND FRIENDS.  Join us for a collection of six hilarious silent shorts, accompanied by Andrew Rogers on the Mighty Wurlitzer organ:  Peeping Pete (1913) The Rounders (1914) The Waiters' Ball (1916) Fatty and Mabel Adrift (1916) Coney Island (1917) Love (1919)   Sat. Jan. 18th, 2020 Doors 7 pm Movie 8pm  Tickets $10 - Kids 12 and under FREE  All six shorts star Arbuckle, assisted by other comic greats of the day – Chaplin, Keaton, Mabel Normand, and others.  Bring the family for a fun night at the Senate!  In addition to the shorts program, organist Andrew Rogers will conduct a Q&A session and attendees will be invited to tour our organ chamber.  As an added treat, Producer, Director, and co-founder of Cinemuseum LLC, Paul Gierucki will be displaying memorabilia and items personally owned by Roscoe Arbuckle!  Approximate running time: 1hr 51min (plus intermission)  Silents at the Senate is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and CultureSource.

Showtime at the Senate is our new preview show/podcast! Each week we'll discuss the Senate Theater's upcoming show and give you some information about the film, the event surrounding our screening and why we wanted to show it to you all!    Hosted by Senate Theater movie committee member Nick Baldwin. This weeks guests are fellow movie committee member Lindsay Robillard and local tarot card reader Zoe Villegas. We discuss our upcoming celebration of all things Bowie, Stardust at the Senate, and film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, directed by D.A. Pennebaker. Recorded at MusicTown in Downtown Detroit.    STARDUST AT THE SENATE    Born Jan. 8, 1947 and deceased Jan. 10, 2016, David Bowie is a revolutionary, gender-bending, storytelling rock ‘n roll icon. Join the Senate Theater to pay tribute to Bowie and “the alter ego that changed rock” Ziggy Stardust Jan. 11, 2020. All proceeds benefit the renovation and revitalization of the 1926 historic theater.   The evening’s highlights will include Bowie-inspired artwork, live organ tribute on the Mighty Wurlitzer, a screening of D.A. Pennebaker’s Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and a theater full of the best-dressed David Bowie-loving people in Detroit! The art and Senate merchandise will be available for purchase while What’s Snappin  captures your memories of the evening at the Ziggy Stardust photo booth. Jamie Spiker and Blake Hill will be spinning Bowie and glam rock vinyl and special guests Michelle  Birawer and Andrew Perrota will be selling drinks at the bar. At intermission, the individual who best embodies of the spirit of David Bowie will win the Golden Lightning Bolt.    Artist List:  Loki Gregory - Loki.mi Art - @loki.mi   Jody Bauman - @artofjody - Live Painting Bowie! Blight Hernandez - stay_within - @Stay_within     Darian Wolfe - The Art of Silvermoon822 - @Silvermoon822   Sophia Von Stardust Mara Armstrong - @isthereartonmars - @ziggyandthespidersfrommara  Frank Neely- @thattallguydetroit  Eli Mendez Echevarria - @elibuster  Joe Palazzolo - @joe1371    Brian Russell - Crafty Cop - @thecraftycop    Leni Sinclair Photography   Sat. Jan 11. 2020  Doors + Art Show 7 p.m.   Welcome + Rock ‘n Roll Panel 8:30 p.m.  featuring Cary Loren  of Destroy All Monsters   Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 9 p.m.   Bowie Party 11 p.m. - 2 a.m.   CASH BAR ALL NIGHT   Tickets $10    Sponsored by SLOWS BAR BQ and Phillips Sign & Lighting Inc

This week on Showtime at the Senate, I talk with Green Brain Comics co-owner Dan Merritt about the 1928 silent film classic The Man Who Laughs, some history about the film, his influence on the initial creation of the Joker and his many variations since.   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Sat. Feb. 8th, 2020.  Doors 7:00 pm Movie 8:00 pm  Tickets $10 Not Rated  1 hour 50 min.    The Senate Theater and the Detroit Theater Organ Society present a screening of Paul Leni’s silent film, “The Man Who Laughs” (1928). Detroit Red Wings organist Lance Luce will provide organ accompaniment on the mighty 4/34 Wurlitzer theater organ!  Based on the novel by Victor Hugo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Misérables), the story follows Gwynplaine, also known as the Laughing Man, famously portrayed  by Conrad Veidt. Now the star of a traveling freak show, Gwynplaine was disfigured  as a young child and forced to wear a permanent grin so that he would “laugh forever at his fool of a father”. Gwynplaine later finds love in the heart of a young blind woman, Dea (Mary Philbin), but will they be permitted to remain together or will they be forced apart?   The character of Gwynplaine, and more notably Condrad Veidt’s performance, serves as the primary inspiration for Batman’s greatest villain, the Joker. Further, despite being filmed as a romantic melodrama, Gwynplaine’s horrific appearance and the expressionistic tone of the film would greatly influence the Universal Classic Monster movies made from the 1930’s to the 1950’s. Green Brain Comics will be on hand with &ll your Joker related comics, graphic novels and merch.   After the film, organist Lance Luce will conduct a Q&A session and attendees will be invited to tour our organ chamber   Sponsored by the Knight Foundation.