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Show 6 BEYOND CAMPUS FORUMFORTNIGHTLY.COM Events hall revives silent films and organ music Adrienne Cory Staff Reporter pon entering the Edison Street Events, one is immediately greeted by the items of the past. The first object that welcomes visitors is the large wooden dance floor below two sparkling crystal chandeliers. A Giant Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ and its thousands of pipes preside over the venue. Edison Street Events began with this organ. Edison Street Events opened in 1946 when Lawrence Bray, owner Larry Brays uncle, purchased and refurbished an old theatre organ. He needed a place to keep it and the large chicken coop next to his house was the only space available. The current Edison Street Events, what used to be the Organ Loft, is in the same location as the original chicken coop. In its early days, during the 1950s and 60s, die venue held concerts and dances. According to Larry Bray, these events were immensely popular because there werent many places for them. While the venue is now mosdy rented out for parties or weddings, one of their most popular public events is the showing of old silent films accompanied by the theatre organ. The movies are shown every other weekend. Bray began showing the films 25 years ago when he met the Hale Brothers, who have been passionate about silent film since their youth and have a vast collection of them. Although the actors do not speak on screen, these films were never meant to be silent, which is where the theatre organ comes in. Theatre are ent from traditional organs, When movie theatres started organs to become popular, they used orchestras to provide the music, but the practice became too expensive. Robert Hope Jones addressed this issue by building the theatre pipe organ. The joining of this instrument with the silver screen created a unique art form. The theatre pipe organ is completely different from a classical instrument, Bray said. It has a lot more variety of sound... and its got sleigh bells on it and xylophones and drums and whistles. Even with the unique experience of the organ and the chance to see an almost hundred-yea- r old film on a big screen, there are other reasons seeing a film at this venue is unique. According to Bray, one of the biggest draws for people to come is the nostalgia for a time long gone and the history of the films. Bray said his audiences usually consist of the old and the young. Many of the older members attend because they can remember seeing these films for the first time. The young come because of the history and education of the film. One Westminster student, Erin ONeall said that it would be a fun time and could be a date night. Bray said that one of the best reasons to see one of these films is because of the experience of the audience participation. You get 130 people laughing and its contagious. Even if you dont think the movie is funny, youre laughing because everyone else is. The films are shown every other Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm. Admission is $6.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Bray provides popcorn and soft drinks at the concession stand. non-traditio- nal i I ? An InDesign junkie with the necessary Photo- shop and Illustrator skills to design a knock-ou- t layout while obsessing over minute details, and overcoming the perils of deadlines. -- Why yes, my designs kick ass, and I'm lightning fast i r 1 1 1 1 Word nerd with an uncanny ability to juggle 30 tasks at once, while still having the ability to stay caught up on television shows. Must be able to lay down the law, a real boss at life. -- J L Wow! I'm great at writing, AND at telling other people what to do! I |