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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Sat, Oct 3rd, 7:30pm Comedy Shorts Night Greg Pane, Piano Accompaniment THE IDLE CLASS (1921) Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance THE HAUNTED HOUSE (1921, 35mm) Buster Keaton HAUNTED SPOOKS (1920) Harold Lloyd DO DETECTIVES THINK? (1927) Laurel & Hardy Tickets: checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

Harold Lloyd in a hair-raising experience

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

October 2nd, 7:30pm, Friday Night Movies in Niles! Odyssey Film Institute Presents: THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Featuring Jack Nicholson in an early role and directed by the legendary Roger Corman. Preceded by a cartoon and short film. checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Little Shop of Horrors October 2 - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Another #MovieProjector #Restoration project. The exciter bulb (which shines light through the optical sound track) is not lighting up on this one. In the meantime, here's another way to test the optical detector and the amp. LED's and CFL's flash at 60hz, and you can hear a 60hz hum.

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

At the Roxie Theater: RE:VISION: FESTIVAL OF RESTORATION AND REDISCOVERY: 9/24-9/27 THE GARDEN OF EDEN (1928) Sun 9/27 3:40 pm Co-presented by National Film Preservation Foundation & Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum with the Club Foot Quintet $2 off: promo code RESFFP26 roxie.com/film/revisio...

roxie.com

Re:Vision: The Garden of Eden

Live musical accompaniment by the Club Foot Quintet. Lewis Milestone’s extensive career was already at his peak when he directed The Garden of Eden in 1928. One year earlier he directed what would win...

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Saturday, September 26th, 7:30pm Greg Pane, Piano Accompaniment LAUGHING AT DANGER (1924) Richard Talmadge & Eva Novak. Action! Intrigue! Romance! A death-ray! Preceded by shorts: THE NON-STOP KID (1918) Harold Lloyd GOOD NIGHT NURSE (1929) Lupino Lane checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Laughing at Danger Sept. 26 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Sat, Sept 19th, 7:30pm COMEDY SHORTS NIGHT Bruce Loeb, Piano Accompaniment THE IMMIGRANT (1917) Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance THE BALLOONATIC (1923) Buster Keaton  WHAT PRICE GOOFY? (1925) Charley Chase THAT’S MY WIFE (1929) Laurel & Hardy checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

Charlie not sure how he's going to pay the bill

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

September 18th, 7:30pm Odyssey Film Institute Presents: ED WOOD (1994) Tim Burton’s ode to filmmaking explored through the life of Edward D. Wood Jr. Featuring Martin Landau in an Oscar-winning performance as Bela Legosi. checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Ed Wood Sept. 18 - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

September 13th, 3:00pm Sunday Talkie Matinee TEACHER’S PET (1930) Our Gang ON THE WRONG TREK (1936) Charley Chase A CHUMP AT OXFORD (1940) Laurel & Hardy Tickets: square.link/u/E6AZr8v7

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Sunday Talkie Matinee Sept. 13 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Saturday, September 12th, 7:30pm Jon Mirsalis, Kurzweil Keyboard Accompaniment ROBIN HOOD (1922, Douglas Fairbanks Productions) A nobleman becomes the vigilante Robin Hood who protects the oppressed English people from the tyrannical Prince John. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXA4...

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"Robin Hood" (1922) Trailer -- See the Douglas Fairbanks classic September 12 at the Edison Theater!

YouTube video by Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A quick reminder that our theater is dark tonight. A lot of our crew are down in LA for the Cinecon festival. Not me. I'm going to the Balboa tonight to see Frankenstein with live accompaniment by Sleepbomb. Sometime over the weekend I also want to see Coyote vs Acme.

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Saturday, August 29th 7:30pm - #SilentFilm in our Edison Theater Greg Pane, Piano Accompaniment OCTOBER (1927, Sovkino) A large-scale view on the events of 1917 in Russia, when the monarchy was overthrown. Directed by Sergei Eisenstein Tickets: checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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October August 29 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The symptoms of this projector, that I could observe before even opening it, were that the motor & fan ran but the mechanism didn't move. This indicated some basic disconnect in the drive train I was hopeful would be pretty obvious once I got it open, and I was right. #MovieProjector #Restoration

Here you can see a black drive belt that's supposed to be going around the shutter wheel, but has come off. I wasn't able to just slip it back on though.

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Getting ready for another #movieprojector #restoration project. The "Xmas tree stand projector support (tm)" idea was a good one, but it needs some tweaks because it got in the way of large electrical capacitors on the underside of the base plate. Here's the orig and "v2b" for comparison.

Two crossed pieces of wood. There's a hole drilled in the middle, which you can't see, because I have a bottle of wine on top as a weight while the wood dries.

I cut out the middle of the cross with the hole drilled in it, and now I'm gluing it to a rough octagon made of plywood. It's again being held down by a wine bottle while the glue dries. Admittedly the bottle weighs a little less than it did previously.

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

First Dolly and now Tim? :( Rocky Horror will be playing this Saturday at the Balboa, with on-stage performance by Bawdy Castle. It's at 11:00pm, so you could technically see our show and Niles and then go to SF to see it... a little nuts, but I've done it. www.balboamovies.com/calendar-of-...

balboamovies.com

The Rocky Horror Picture Show ~ 11 PM (W/ The Bawdy Caste) — CINEMASFBAY

In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad ( Barry Bostwick ) and Janet ( Susan Sarandon ), stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter ( Tim Curry ), a mad sci...

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Saturday, August 22nd, 7:30pm COMEDY SHORTS NIGHT ! Greg Pane, Piano Accomp. A DOG’S LIFE (1918) Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance THE CURTAIN POLE (1909) Mack Sennett CONVICT 13 (1920) Buster Keaton SHOULD MARRIED MEN GO HOME (1928) Laurel & Hardy Tickets! checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I made another round trip from Redwood City to San Rafael today via CalTrain, GG Ferries, and Bike, to consult with my projector repair mentor/sensei. Nice day to be on the bay.

bay bridge disappearing in the morning fog. and someone seems to be rowing across the bay. we showed a movie with that once, but in the movie, it was all a dream.

unknown vessel at six o'clock, seeming to trail our ferry. must be pirates!

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

This shutter is clearly out of alignment. In real life, it's all a blur and hard to see, but the video's aliasing makes the wobble pretty visible. #restoration

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

More #restoration misadventures. Due to some mods, this projector has a doubled spade connection. The *lower* one was disconnected. Took me forever to figure this out. Flipped it over so the added-on connection is on top and visible.

Before.... the problematic connections are the white and blue ones. The white wire came loose and it was hard to see.

After. Now you can see how the white wire connects to a tab added to the connector of the blue wire. Flipped them over, and now if the white wire comes out, it'll be visible. If the blue wire's connector comes out, the white has to come with it.

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

MEMORIAL FOR DOROTHY BRADLEY A memorial for our late, great and beloved museum president of 23 years DOROTHY BRADLEY is planned for Sunday, August 16th at 2:00 pm at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. We'll be livestreaming it here: www.youtube.com/live/NSEJGRH...

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Memorial for Dorothy Bradley

YouTube video by Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Sat, Aug 15th, 7:30pm Jon Mirsalis, Kurzweil Keyboard Accompaniment HOT WATER (1924) Harold Lloyd stars in this look at married life and in-law problems. With: TWO-LIP TIME (1926) Felix The Cat THE EXPLOITS OF ELAINE (1914): The Hidden Voice Tickets: checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Hot Water August 15 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

This Sunday (Aug 9th, 9:00AM-3:00PM) is the Hot August Niles Car Show. Which should be fun to see. And allow some extra time to find parking for our 3:00 PM Laurel & Hardy Sunday matinee show. www.niles.org/nmsa-calenda...

niles.org

Hot August Niles Car Show — Niles Main Street Association

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

We've uploaded another rare #FelixTheCat cartoon, scanned from a print in our archive, to our YouTube channel: youtu.be/VrJ1CehgbNY It's "Felix The Cat Rings the Ringer"

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"Felix the Cat Rings the Ringer" (Pat Sullivan Studios, 1926. 16mm)

YouTube video by Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Saturday, Aug 8th, 7:30pm Bruce Loeb, Piano Accompaniment UNDERWORLD (1927) Boisterous gangster kingpin Bull Weed (George Bancroft) rehabilitates a former lawyer from his alcoholic haze, but falls for Weed's girlfriend. Dir. by Josef von Sternberg. Tickets! checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Underworld August 8 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Charley Chase's co-star in the Tabasco Kid is Frances Lee. Frances started her film career in 1924, and was a fairly big star in silent days. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances...

en.wikipedia.org

Frances Lee - Wikipedia

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Sunday Aug 9th at 3pm, it's our Sons of the Desert Matinee Comedy Show CAME THE BRAWN (1938) Our Gang THICKER THAN WATER (1935) Laurel & Hardy THE TABASCO KID (1932) Charley Chase THE FIXER UPPERS (1935) Laurel & Hardy checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Sunday Talkie Matinee August 9 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Saturday, August 1st, 7:30pm Greg Pane, Piano Accompaniment THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1923) Lon Chaney stars! Tickets: checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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The Hunchback of Notre Dame August 1 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

A quick note that, although at one point we had a show scheduled for tonight (Friday), that's cancelled.

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Sunday, July 26th, 4:00pm We Were Here: The AIDS Years in San Francisco By David Weissman Free admission but get your tickets in advance as there is limited seating. Here's the trailer: wewereherefilm.com

wewereherefilm.com

Home - We Were Here A Documentary By David Weissman

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Sat, Jul 25th, 7:30pm - COMEDY SHORTS NIGHT - Greg Pane, Piano Accompaniment PAY DAY (1922) Charlie Chaplin (35mm) BACK STAGE (1919) Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, Buster Keaton MIGHTY LIKE A MOOSE (1926) Charley Chase (35mm) WRONG AGAIN (1929) Laurel & Hardy Tickets! checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Comedy Shorts Night July 25 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

4:00 PM: OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS (1928) Diana (Joan Crawford) is outwardly the hit of the party, inwardly virtuous and idealistic. Her friend Ann (Anita Page) is thoroughly selfish and amoral. Both are attracted to Ben Blaine (Johnny Mack Brown), soon-to-be millionaire... David Drazin, Piano Accomp.

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

2:45 PM Free! ODDITY SHOW Hosted by yours truly! David Drazin, Piano Accompaniment PRINCESS NICOTINE (1909) J. Stuart Blackton LONG DISTANCE WIRELESS PHOTOGRAPHY (1908) Georges Méliès MT TAMALPAIS & MUIR WOODS RAILWAY (1906) Miles Bros and....

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

1:00 PM - RACE AGAINST TIME: THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING AND PRESERVING ORAL HISTORY IN AMERICAN MOVIES Hosted by Sam Gill and Zack Sutherland

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

This morning: 11:00 AM THE DYING OF THE LIGHT (2015) Peter Flynn Documentary, 95 min. A documentary that explores the history and craft of motion-picture presentation through the lives and stories of the last generation of career projectionists.

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

We have a full day of #SilentFilm shows and activities today! Starting with: 11:15 AM Walking Tour of Niles Also: The Niles Farmers Market is happening down the street. Great place to find lunch!

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Tonight's the night! Our Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival opens with Doug Fairbanks in The Black Pirate, showing at 7:30. Which will be preceded by two very funny shorts: IT’S A GIFT (1923) ‘Snub’ Pollard BRIDE AND GLOOM (1921) Monty Banks

Snub Pollard saving gas by using a magnet to power his car

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The Black Pirate, which we'll be showing Friday at 7:30, was filmed in Technicolor Process 2. This did not use actual color film. The Eastman House Museum has a video that explains it better than I can (and it would not fit into Bsky's character limits anyway!): www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iy_...

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The Two Color Process - Technicolor 100

YouTube video by George Eastman Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Our Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival is almost here. Opening Friday night with The Black Pirate, starring Douglas Fairbanks. Presented in a brand-new 35mm color (!) restoration on special loan from the Museum of Modern Art. checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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The Black Pirate July 17 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Today's the day! Our Sons of the Desert show is at 3pm. With two shorts we've never show before, too: ROAMIN’ HOLIDAY (1937) Our Gang IN WALKED CHARLEY (1932) Charley Chase (just recently found a print of this one) checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Sunday Talkie Matinee July 12 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

And here it is by the Beau Hunks, who did a heck of a lot of research to recreate every song from every Laurel & Hardy movie as accurately as possible: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHrC...

youtube.com

Honolulu Baby

YouTube video by The Beau Hunks - Topic

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Saturday, Jul 11th, 7:30pm Greg Pane, Piano Accompaniment THE MAN ON THE BOX (1925) Bob Warburton (Syd Chaplin), wealthy young bachelor, falls in love with Betty Annesly and, in order to be close to her, is hired as a gardener by her father, Colonel Annesly. checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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The Man on the Box July 11 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

If you can name one song from a #LaurelAndHardy movie, it's probably "Honolulu Baby" from The Sons of the Desert. It was written by the Hal Roach Studio's in-house composer Marvin Hatley. https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Hatley We'll be showing the Sons of the Desert this Sunday at 3pm.

en.wikipedia.org

Marvin Hatley - Wikipedia

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Saturday, July 4th, 7:30pm (Yes, we're open!) Bruce Loeb, Piano Accompaniment AMERICAN ARISTOCRACY (1916) A young man (Douglas Fairbanks) fights to overcome a piratical arms smuggler and to win the heart of a rich man's daughter.

Period newspaper ad for American Aristocracy

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Saturday, June 27th, 7:30pm COMEDY SHORTS NIGHT Greg Pane, Piano Accompaniment A NIGHT IN THE SHOW (1915) Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance COPS (1922, 35mm) Buster Keaton MANY SCRAPPY RETURNS (1927) Charley Chase THEIR PURPLE MOMENT (1928) Laurel & Hardy checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Comedy Shorts Night June 27 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Sat, Jun 20th, 7:30pm Bruce Loeb, Piano Accompaniment ATLANTIS (1913) After Dr. Friedrich's wife becomes mentally unstable & his research papers are rejected, he leaves the country to respite. A ship-sinking story influenced by the Titanic disaster. Tickets! checkout.square.site/merchant/MLB...

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Atlantis June 20 Not Yet Member - Niles Silent Film Museum

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nilesessanay.bsky.social @nilesessanay.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

We've just uploaded Felix the Cat in Icy Eyes, scanned from a print in our collection--first time this film has been available online! youtu.be/IOdXPeSdGdc

youtu.be

"Icy Eyes" (Pat Sullivan Studios, 1927. 16mm) -- Another rare Felix the Cat cartoon!

YouTube video by Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

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