Sunday night's show at the Mahoning was one of the most memorable experiences that I've ever had watching a movie - a 100th anniversary screening of the 1925 Universal Pictures silent horror classic The Phantom Of The Opera.
As if that isn't cool enough, award winning organist Ian Fraser was in attendance with his theater pipe organ to play a score to the film as it played on the big screen. It's possible, if not likely, that this was the first time that a silent film has been screened with live organ accompaniment at a drive-in theater. The music that he performed was based on Lee Erwin's score of Phantom Of The Opera, which Ian blended with music from the 1929 re-release of the film with sound and pieces of music that he wrote on his own. Additionally, he played music from Faust during the scenes of the movie in which it is being performed on stage.
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| Show poster designed by Andrew Kern |
The film was screened from a restruck 35mm print. Black and white films always look incredible on the big screen at the Mahoning, but this may be the best one that I've seen yet.
Ian was set up under a tent on the left hand side of the lawn under the big screen, right around the spot where Virgil's trailer used to be.
After the movie, Virgil mentioned that they're already in talks to bring this type of event back next year. I'd love to see The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari on the big screen with a live score performed on the lot, but I will definitely be in attendance for whichever movie they choose.
