February 15, 2012 Comments Off
If you didn´t get a chance to see our Movies in the Parks performance last year do not fear. We have lined up a killer performance in August with the Richmond Neighborhood Association and Portland Parks and Rec. We can´t release all the details yet, but it may or may not involve, A: A screen the size of your house at Sewallcrest Park off of Hawthorne B: Free popcorn C: A turtle that may or may not be rocket propelled. You didn´t hear it from us, eh?
As a special fundraiser for our outdoor concert the good people of the Richmond and Sunnyside neighborhood associations are having a findraiser at the Bagdad Theater. Check it out:
Bagdad Theater Presents “The Secret of Roan Inish” in Fundraiser Matinee for Richmond and Sunnyside Neighborhood Associations
On Sunday, February 19, 2012 (1pm doors, 2pm movie), the Richmond and Sunnyside Neighborhood Associations will present a special matinee showing of the 1995 John Sayles film “The Secret of Roan Inish” at McMenamins’ Bagdad Theater, SE Hawthorne Blvd and 37th. The story takes place in a small Irish fishing village, where a young girl discovers the secret and magic behind an Irish legend which connects her ancestors, and her, to the selkies — seals who can turn into humans. John Sayles is one of the most respected American independent filmmakers.
As a special treat, the Hawthorne Ben & Jerry’s will serve free ice cream in the lobby from 1-2pm, while supply lasts.
The film was much loved by Portland audiences when it played for months in the late 1990’s at the CineMagic Theater on SE Hawthorne Blvd, saving the Theater from extinction.
All ticket proceeds will go to the Richmond and Sunnyside Neighborhood Associations to fund their various community projects. Richmond will use their share of the proceeds to fund its annual free summer movie in Sewallcrest Park.
The film is rated PG. Tickets will be $1 for children, $5 for adults.
January 27, 2012 Comments Off
Hey all!!
Our winter series of silent film and soundtracking is rolling on with Nosferatu next month!! We are back in the newly renovated Hollywood Theatre with ultra-comfy seats and a slick paint job. Strangled Darlings have put together an awesome piece this month for the original vampire feature. It’s a visually brilliant film if you haven’t seen it. Come sink into the new seats with a wine or beer and check out Organ Grinder’s February offering!
On February 18th, The Strangled Darlings creep from the crypt and into the Hollywood Theatre. The tome, Nosferatu, FW Murnau’s 1922 tale of purity of heart, vampires, and blood. The Strangled Darlings present a disconcerting mix of styles. They paint an eerily dark portrait that seems like it was made for the classic horror genre. In a special one-time performance, the Hollywood Theatre is transformed back to its vaudeville days of bowler hat bedecked musicians and big screen spectacles.
Organ Grinders: NOSFERATU
February 18th – 8pm
Hollywood Theatre – $12
Tickets available at Filmusik.com and the Hollywood Theatre box office
The Darlings came from outer space upon the Devil’s ship. God was making cookies, peanut butter chocolate chip. He forgot his new creation, as gods are wont to do, and the Devil caught the Darlings & choked them white to blue. Strangled now & heartsick by their true forsaken Lord, the lost & longing Darlings are wobbled troubadours. They sings of things unspoken, to hide from good & bad they always dress immaculate in case conceptions’ had. They flitter through the country side looking for a perch & if you want to hear their tale, the Darlings are your Church.
ORGAN GRINDERS – From under the screen, the sounds of modern groups are paired with movies from a different era, updating the genre of Silent Film accompaniment to the sounds around us today. Organ Grinders revisits the original vision of the Hollywood Theatre, built in 1926 with an orchestra pit and a hydraulically ascending theatre organ.
NOSFERATU – Wisbourg, Germany based estate agent Knock dispatches his associate, Hutter, to Count Orlok’s castle in Transylvania as the Count wants to purchase a isolated house in Wisbourg. They plan on selling him the one across the way from Hutter’s own home. Hutter leaves his innocent wife, Ellen, with some friends while he is away. Hutter’s trek is an unusual one, with many locals not wanting to take him near the castle where strange events have been occurring. Once at the castle, Hutter does manage to sell the Count the house, but he also notices and feels unusual occurrences, primarily feeling like there is a dark shadow hanging over him, even in the daytime when the Count is unusually asleep. Hutter eventually sees the Count’s sleeping chamber in a crypt, and based on a book he has recently read, believes the Count is really a vampire or Nosferatu. While Hutter is trapped in the castle, the Count, hiding in a shipment of coffins, makes his way to Wisbourg, causing death along his way, which most attribute to the plague. Hutter himself tries to rush home to save his town and most importantly save Ellen from Nosferatu’s imminent arrival. In Wisbourg, Ellen can feel the impending darkness as Nosferatu gets closer. But she learns that a sinless woman can sacrifice herself to kill the vampire. Will Hutter be able to save Ellen either from Nosferatu and/or her self-sacrifice?
December 1, 2011 Comments Off
THE SUBTERRANEAN HOWL SCORESINTENSE 1927 LON CHANEY CARNY CRIME FLICK
At the Hollywood Theatre, the Organ Grinders silent film series takes you to a dark carnival with Lon Chaney and Joan Crawford as your guides.
On December 15th, the Subterranean Howl storms the stage preaching with frequencies not meant for the instruments from which they emanate. The sermon: Tod Browning’s THE UNKNOWN, a 1927 tale of love, lies, murder, and the circus. The Subterranean Howl, taking their name from Kerouac’s “The Subterraneans” and Ginsberg’s “Howl”, indulges the listeners’ ears with dynamics ranging from the howl of a deranged street preacher to the murmur of a subterranean river.
In a special one-time performance, the Hollywood Theatre is transformed back to its vaudeville days of bowler hat bedecked musicians and big screen spectacles.
Organ Grinders: THE UNKNOWN
December 15th – 8pm >
Hollywood Theatre – $12
Tickets available at Filmusik.com and the Hollywood Theatre box office
Click Here for tickets http://bit.ly/u9t9BF
Organ Grinders’ trailer for the event: vimeo.com/32479221
If there’s one thing The Subterranean Howl has mastered, it’s dynamics. As one writer eloquently puts it, “Like the beat writers from which their name borrows, The Subterranean Howl leave style as an afterthought and spontaneously create music that is both catchy and surprisingly fresh.” It is precisely this amalgamation of sweet and tender melodies and dance inspiring grooves juxtaposed with earth-threatening sonic explosions that give the band their unique, a-pop-alyptic sound.
ORGAN GRINDERS – From under the screen, the sounds of modern groups are paired with movies from a different era, updating the genre of Silent Film accompaniment to the sounds around us today. Organ Grinders revisits the original vision of the Hollywood Theatre, built in 1926 with an orchestra pit and a hydraulically ascending theatre organ.
THE UNKNOWN – Alonzo The Armless (Lon Chaney) is a circus freak who uses his feet to toss knives and fire a rifle at his partner Nanon Zanzi (Joan Crawford). However, Alonzo is an imposter and a fugitive who keeps his arms tightly bound to his torso. Alonzo’s right hand has a double thumb, which would identify him as the perpetrator of many crimes. Alonzo is secretly in love with Nanon, who curiously has a strong fear of men’s arms. When Nanon’s father Antonio discovers Alonzo’s secret, Alonzo kills him. The harrowing tale of Alonzo’s secret and the lengths he will go to in order to protect and keep Nanon close reveals Tod Brown as a storyteller at his Shakespearean best.
November 15, 2011 Comments Off
Hello! This weekend we’re amped up to be presenting the fine work 1939 Ensemble. They have been working with us for a long time on November’s Organ Grinders. This month the film is Faust, the 1926 silent film that was the special effects masterpiece of the time.
1939 ENSEMBLE SCORES GERMAN SILENT MASTERPIECE WITH JOSE MEDELES OF THE BREEDERS
At the Hollywood Theatre, the Organ Grinders silent film series takes on a classic folktale in a neoclassical way. On November 18th, the 1939 Ensemble takes the stage with a secret laboratory worth of drums, mallets and chimes. Their target: Goethe’s tale of the Alchemist and the Devil, the 1926 Silent film by F.W. Murnau. Led by Jose Medeles of the Breeders, the 1939 Ensemble mixes a gaggle of percussion influences into their exciting live performances. In a special one-time performance, the Hollywood Theatre is transformed back to its vaudeville days of bowler hat bedecked musicians and big screen spectacles.
Organ Grinders: FAUST
November 18th – 8pm
Hollywood Theatre – $12
Tickets available by clicking here http://bit.ly/tpKpD7
And the Hollywood Theatre box office
Organ Grinders’ trailer for the event: www.vimeo.com/30811338
1939 are an instrumental duo from Portland Or. with an unusual line-up: drums, vibraphone & noise. drawing influences from Jazz, Krautrock and No Wave, 1939 Ensemble moves between ominous dissonance and noise to sharp bombastic beats. The duo features Jose Medeles of The Breeders and David Coniglio.
ORGAN GRINDERS – From under the screen, the sounds of modern groups are paired with movies from a different era, updating the genre of Silent Film accompaniment to the sounds around us today. Organ Grinders revisits the original vision of the Hollywood Theatre, built in 1926 with an orchestra pit and a hydraulically ascending theatre organ.
FAUST – God and Satan war over earth; to settle things, they wager on the soul of Faust, a learned and prayerful alchemist. During a plague, Faust despairs and burns his books after failing to stop death; Satan sends Mephisto to tempt Faust, first with insight into treating the plague and then with a day’s return to youth. Mephisto is clever, timing the end of this 24 hours as Faust embraces the beautiful Duchess of Parma. Faust trades his soul for youth. Some time later, he’s bored, and demands on Easter Sunday that Mephisto take him home. Faust promptly sees and falls in love with the beautiful Gretchen, whose liaison with him brings her dishonor. Is there redemption? Who wins the wager?
Jose Medeles is the drummer for The Breeders and 1939 Ensemble. In 1998 played drums for Face to Face as a touring member. He also played drums in 22 Jacks, appearing on Overserved and their final album Going North.
David Coniglio played with Either/Orchestra and side projects with Dana Colley of Morphine. David moved to Portland, OR in 2006, and is now actively gigging with 1939 Ensemble and M. Village.
Hollywood Theatre Box Office: 503-281-4215
