Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

Shorts Program: The Goat (1921) and One Week (1920)  

48min | NR | Comedy | United States  

Feature: Sherlock Jr. (1924) 100th Anniversary Screening! 

45min | NR | Comedy/Fantasy | United States 

Live organ accompaniment by Dennis Scott

A season of Silents at the Senate would not be complete without the timeless pairing of cinema and physical comedy—SLAPSTICK!

With two classic shorts and one short feature directed and starring the most deadpan titan of silent comedy, An Evening with Buster Keaton is sure to delight.  

Irate cops stepping into open elevator shafts, a crudely assembled house with teetering walls, a movie screen turned into a doorway toward which a dreamer falls, searching for a way back to his beloved. Even after a century or more, his films—overflowing with physicality, absurdity, mischief, and even wonder—remain as captivating and hilarious as ever. They are . . .

PURE MOVIE MAGIC!

And their magic will be made all the more powerful by the internationally known silent film accompanist out of Chicago, Dennis Scott. At the console of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, Mr. Scott is sure to show off our instrument’s kaleidoscopic tonal color without ever showing up the images on the screen as he creates a live film score in real time, right before your very ears! 

A LIVE FILM SCORE IN REAL TIME, RIGHT BEFORE YOUR VERY EARS!

Be sure to stick around after the show for a chance to ask the organist a question and take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. This is a rare opportunity to get an up-close look at the inner workings of this marvelous musical machine! 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts 

Parking is available in a gated parking lot on Gilbert St., behind the theater.

Cantinflas en El Bolero de Raquel
EN ESPAÑOL with English Subtitles 

Sat. Sep. 23 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

1hr 41min | NR | Comedy | USA 

Presented in partnership with La Carpa Theatre and Cinema Lamont 

The Senate Theater, La Carpa Theatre and Cinema Lamont are proud to present El Bolero de Raquel, a classic farce from the legendary Mexican comedian Mario Moreno, better known as Cantinflas!  

In keeping with the kind of roles he was known for, Cantinflas portrays a poor shoeshine man who makes up for his lack of education with quick wit and charm. After finding himself in charge of his newfound godson, he embarks on a quest to better himself so that he might better take care of the young boy. But will his bad luck, hijinks and a new romance get in the way? 

Probably.  

But if you know Cantinflas you know that, win or lose, he’ll always have something clever to say about it! So don’t miss your opportunity to see this classic of Mexican cinema on the big screen at the Senate Theater. 

But this event is not only an opportunity to celebrate the genius of the so-called “Charlie Chaplin of Mexico.” It also doubles as a fundraiser for the Detroit teen theatre ensemble, La Carpa Theatre! Which is fitting, considering that Cantinflas got his start in the “carpa” travelling theater circuit of Mexico from which La Carpa Theatre gets its inspiration. The carpas of Cantinflas’ day typically took place in travelling tents and featured a variety of performances, including comedic sketches, dance, acrobatics and more. Today the La Carpa Teen Ensemble offers an opportunity for the youth to “embrace their voice and shed light on their community and their future” through the arts. 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society is supported by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

The Senate Theater, La Carpa Theatre y Cinema Lamont están orgullosos de presentar El Bolero de Raquel, una farsa clásica del legendario comediante Mexicano Mario Moreno “Cantinflas”. 

Como era la tradición de sus característicos personajes, Cantinflas interpreta a un pobre bolero de zapatos quien, aunque falto educación, tiene un gran ingenio y encanto. Después de heredar la tutela de su nuevo ahijado, decide cambiar de rumbo para mejorar su vida y cuidar mejor del joven niño. ¿Pero, será que su mala suerte y un nuevo romance se interpondrán en su camino?  

¡Probablemente! 

Pero si conoces a Cantinflas, sabes bien que, gane o pierda, el siempre encontrara una ingeniosa perspectiva ante la vida. Así que no te pierdas la oportunidad de ver este clásico del cine mexicano en la pantalla grande del Senate Theater!  

Además de ser un evento para celebrar al llamado “Charlie Chaplin de México”, será también una recaudación de fondos para el grupo de teatro juvenil La Carpa Theatre! Lo cual tiene mucho sentido, ya que Cantinflas empezó su carrera artística en “las carpas” un tipo de teatro mexicano ambulante a principios del siglo 20. Es de ahí de donde surge la inspiración para el nombre del grupo de teatro juvenil La Crapa Theatre. Las Carpas de la época de Cantinflas, eran carpas que se montaban en diferentes comunidades para ofrecer facil acceso a diferentes presentaciones artísticas como “sketches” cómicos, acrobacias, bailes, música y más. Hoy el grupo juvenil de La Carpa ofrece a los jóvenes la oportunidad de abrazar su propia voz, iluminando así a su comunidad y a su futuro por medio de las artes escénicas.  

The Senate Theater y The Detroit Theater Organ Society es patrocinado por The Michigan Arts and Culture Council y The National Endowment for the Arts. 

Parking is available in our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue