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.

MICHIGAN MADE DOCUMENTARY!

BENEFITS THE SENATE THEATER

CO-CREATORS JOSEPH BEYER AND JORDAN IN ATTENDANCE WITH PRODUCERS BETH MILLIGAN AND CHRISTAL FROST ANDERSON

$10 TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR

About:

No one fights to preserve a multiplex, but some people will risk everything to save a marquee. Through booms and busts, Delft Theatres Inc. - and its innovative gem, The Nordic - endured in Marquette Michigan for almost 100 years, even as the world changed endlessly around them. Local kid Bernie Rosendahl’s modern crusade to restore the historic arthouse to its former glory leads filmmakers to discover a hidden cinema empire in the Upper Peninsula.

Portraying the fascinating history of motion pictures through one iconic screen - and featuring dozens of real-life Marquette locations and characters - Marqueetown is the true story of chasing your dreams, redefining failure and success, and reembracing the enduring magic of cinema.

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

2hr 1min | PG | Sci-fi/Adventure | USA 

This Spring, in the year 2024, in this galaxy right here, the Senate implores you to join us in saying, “May the fourth be with you!” as we screen the film that started it all. 

Luke Skywalker begins a journey that will change the galaxy in Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope. Nineteen years after the formation of the Empire, Luke is thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance when he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has lived for years in seclusion on the desert planet of Tatooine. Obi-Wan begin Luke’s Jedi training as Luke joins him on a daring mission to rescue the beautiful Rebel leader Princess Leia from the clutches of Darth Vader and the evil Empire. 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

1hr 26min | R | Comedy | USA 

Two dopes rip their way from California to Mexico and back again, evading the cops entirely by accident in Up in Smoke, a countercultural comedy of errors. 

Starring the stoner comedy duo, Cheech & Chong, this scrappy, meandering, low-budget farce burned bright at the box office in 1978, virtually creating a cinematic subgenre. With its enormous popularity it blazed the trail for every half-baked flick that has since risen from the ashes of the 1970s and remains a touchstone for a certain kind of high-minded film fan. 

We’ll see you on Saturday, April 20. 

But before you come, we’ll be blunt. While we know these guys are going to light up the joint with laughter, THE SENATE REMAINS A STRICTLY NON-SMOKING ESTABLISHMENT. Thank you for your cooperation in advance. 

Snacks will be available at the concessions stand. 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Sat. Mar. 30 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

2hr 7min | PG | Drama/Musical | USA 

Bidi Bidi Bom Bom! Your heart will sing. Como me duele! Your heart will break. 

Selena tells the story of the rise and sudden death of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, the trailblazing Mexican American singer, and the tight-knit family who made it all possible.

Released just two years after her tragic death, (with deep involvement and consent from the family) Selena the film has served as a loving monument to the “Queen of Tejano Music” for over a quarter century. 

Directed with sincerity and respect by Gregory Nava this modern classic has endured. It guides viewers through an uplifting musical journey, made real by the touching performances of stars Jennifer Lopez (in her breakout role) and legendary Mexican American thespian, Edward James Olmos. In the process it has ensured the legacy of its subject, allowing her music and light to shine beyond her time, inspiring new generations who otherwise may have never heard her voice. 

We could fall in love with her. 

So come to the Senate and fall in love (again) with Selena! 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 22min | NR | Historical Drama | France 

Live Organ Accompaniment by Scott Smith 

Presented in partnership with Cinema Lamont

Silents at the Senate and Cinema Lamont invite you to behold this singular film. An exaltation. An ode. A rousing picture of conspiracy, belief, and sacrifice. 

The Passion of Joan of Arc is a timeless artistic achievement, relentless in style and achingly evocative. It rightly stands as one of the finest films of all time.

Watch as an icon of women’s history transcends her era, the psychological drama of her final hours on screen. Listen as her struggle unfolds in bold imagery, invigorated by a live score from organist Scott Smith on the Senate Theater’s Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ. 

Based on the actual medieval records of the trial and execution of Joan of Arc, Carl Th. Dreyer’s masterwork is nothing less than a cinematic reincarnation.

In the soulful visage of Renée Maria Falconetti the patron saint of France comes to life, shot in startling close-ups that aim to “interpret a hymn to the triumph of the soul over life." 

Experience it the way it was meant to be seen: in the communal atmosphere of a theater, the majestic sounds of a theater organ filling the room. It will be a true feast for the ears, eyes, and spirit. We hope to see you there! 

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.

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

1hr 54min | NR | Noir/Crime | USA 

PRESENTED WITH MOTOR CITY CINEMA SOCIETY ON 16MM FILM

“Made it, Ma! Top of the World!”  

With these iconic lines James Cagney—his voice aching with crazed intensity—cemented his comeback as Hollywood’s most explosive movie star.  In 1949, as moviegoers sat transfixed by the screen, the movie stars’ manic desperation left little doubt: Cagney and White Heat had reached the peak of the gangster film. And today, 75 years later, few, if any, have come close to attaining such heights. 

Using real-life gangsters like Ma Barker and her four criminal sons as a jumping off point, this firecracker of a story travels across the beauty of the High Sierra mountains, deep into the horrors of the penitentiary, and into the mind of a man suffering from “homicidal psychosis.”  

On the edge of the gangster and film noir genres, it features a bold heist, a femme fatale, and moody black and white photography, all directed by gangster flick veteran Raoul Walsh (The Roaring Twenties, High Sierra).

But what really sets it apart is Cagney. Bursting with vulnerability and rage, he embodies Arthur “Cody” Jarrett, a violently volatile, (and highly quotable) criminal madman beset with mommy issues, a debilitating psychosomatic ailment, and a beautiful woman he can’t help but trust.  

Come see why White Heat, decades later, is still on top of the gangster heap, WITH THE REAL FLICKER OF 16MM FILM ON SCREEN!

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

2hr 1min | R | Drama/Comedy | USA 

 A good man may be hard to find but friendship is always there. 

In Waiting to Exhale, directed by Forrest Whitaker, four Black women struggle against the tumult and disappointments of their lives. Through their bond with each other they find joy, love, hope and kinship—with a little help from some vehicular arson. 

Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Terry McMillan (How Stella Got Her Groove Back) this trailblazing hit film spurred the production of similar films for at least a decade and has had a long-lasting cultural impact. Though it focuses on middle class Black women and their particular problems it remains a touchstone of representation for any woman. Meanwhile, it dared to buck the trend of popular Black films that focused on the poverty stricken and violent lives of young Black men, proving once again the viability of films made for and about women—their desires, their issues, and their triumphs.  

Of course, with a cast like this how could you miss?

Superstar singer/actress Whitney Houston and critically acclaimed actress Angela Bassett lead the stacked ensemble,

a who’s who of Black actors from the mid-1990s featuring Loretta Devine, Gregory Hines, Giancarlo Esposito, Wesley Snipes and more. Add to that a soundtrack and score written by R&B giant, Babyface, and it’s no wonder that this film has remained one of the most relevant and beloved classics of the era. 

And we haven’t even mentioned how funny it is.  

We hope to see you there! 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Sat. Feb. 17 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 11min | NR | Drama/Romance | United States 

Live Organ Accompaniment by Lance Luce 
 

Depravity seizes upon poverty as extravagance collides with innocence in Queen Kelly,

a silent drama of doomed romance, presented with live musical accompaniment by Lance Luce on the Senate’s Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ! This incomplete but still captivating exercise in cinematic excess from director/screenwriter Erich von Stroheim proves that even an unfinished work from a master is still a masterwork. 

Co-produced by and starring Gloria Swanson, one of the silent era's biggest stars, what survives of the film tells the story of a playboy aristocrat who balks at his betrothal to his mad queen. On the eve of the marriage, he falls for an enchanting and fiery convent girl (Swanson) and then schemes to possess her, no matter the cost.  

In its existing form, the film presents a meticulously realized world in beautiful detail, a simple but sumptuous tale of worlds colliding—an ill-fated meeting that ends, (spoiler) in tragedy.  

But the epic and transgressive melodrama that could have been was never completed, itself a victim of incompatibility. But rather than a clash of class and circumstance, what doomed Queen Kelly from reaching its potential was the battle between art and business, the vision of an auteur versus censorship. 

Silents at the Senate is proud to present the 1932 release of this almost lost piece of silent film history!

Released only in Europe well into the “talkie” period, this is the most concise and cinematically pure version of the film. It features the so-called “Swanson” ending, filmed after the dismissal of Stroheim and shot two years after the abrupt end to the production due to massive cost overruns and the directors’ efforts to skirt the demands of censors. 

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. 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

2hr 4min | PG-13 | Romance/Sports Drama | USA 

Passion and courage. Desire and determination. A deep connection built on shared dreams. 

In Love & Basketball, romance got game. 

In this new classic of American cinema, the lives of two young athletes and childhood friends (Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps) are intertwined as they attempt to navigate the world of competitive basketball. Meanwhile, a powerful attraction keeps them drawn to each other again and again through injury, struggle, and distance.  

Gina Prince-Bythewood's semi-autobiographical debut feature is equal parts coming-of-age love story and nuanced sports drama, originally intended as a Black When Harry Met Sally. Upon its release this soon-to-be cult favorite garnered plenty of critical praise but was only a minor success at the box office. In the twenty plus years since, however, its reputation has only grown, turning it into a perennial favorite for Valentine’s Day viewing and earning it a rightful place in the National Film Registry.  

Come see this Spike Lee produced gem at the Senate, with all its action—on the court and off—splashed across our big screen! 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Nuestra Cultura's Chicano History Week 2024 (Detroit, MI)

Join us for an exciting event celebrating Chicano History at the Senate Theater in Detroit, MI! Get ready for a vibrant and immersive experience as we explore the rich cultural heritage of the Chicano community. We will be screening the film, American Homeboy, by Director Brandon Loran Maxwell. From engaging live art and thought-provoking panel discussions to Chicano art exhibitions, this event promises to be an unforgettable celebration of Chicano history and culture.

American Homeboy is a documentary film that explores the complex origins of pachuco and cholo culture which sprouted from American soil in response to wartime sentiment, social alienation, and government discrimination only to become a pop culture phenomenon. The film draws from rare interviews shot on 5k with leading Mexican American historians, academics, artists, activists, cholos, and former law enforcement officers against a backdrop of 50 hours of restored archival footage.

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

1hr 38min | R | Kung-fu/Mystery | Hong Kong 

Centipede! Snake! Scorpion! Lizard! Toad! 

Five deadly men. Five deadly fighting styles. Five Deadly Venoms. 

In a feudal world of violence, corruption and intrigue, a young novice of the Poison Clan must seek out and discover the identities of the five former pupils of his kung-fu master so that he might reclaim the good reputation of their clan. But will he be able to tell which of them can be trusted and which of them must be defeated? 

The Senate is excited to present this kaleidoscopic blend of kung-fu action, superhuman exploits, and intricate mystery from Hong Kong’s storied Shaw Brothers Studio. This is the film, perhaps more than any other martial arts picture in the post-Bruce Lee era, that kept kung-fu in the cultural consciousness within the United States. Through screenings at urban “grindhouse” theaters and steady rotation on television throughout the 1980s a cult following developed.

And with its dazzling, fantasy world this low-budget adventure provided an escape to countless youth on Saturday afternoons while it inspired filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and hip-hop luminaries like the Wu-Tang Clan.  

Don’t miss your chance to see this classic of Hong Kong cinema, presented just like Americans first saw it in 1978—dubbed in English with all the acrobatic action and bright colors splashed across a big screen. 

We're being joined at Five Deadly Venoms by our friends at the Detroit Kung Fu Academy for a special guest introduction and a 5-10 minute kung fu demonstration during intermission.

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Sat. Jan. 20 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

1hr 32min | Not Rated |Noir/Thriller | USA 

Love and hate. Darkness and light. A terrifying evil that only righteousness can overcome.  

The stuff of fables, of scripture, of the deep and eternal struggle in our souls. An old story, but rarely has this tale been told with such indelible and nightmarish beauty as in the noir/thriller classic, The Night of the Hunter! 

Robert Mitchum stars as Robert Powell, a murderous “preacher” in Great Depression era West Virginia. After being released from the state penitentiary he quickly closes in on the stash of stolen money he knows to be hidden somewhere in the home of his now executed cellmate. With charisma and sex appeal he insinuates himself into the life of the widow Willa Harper, (Shelley Winters) presenting himself as a man of God as he preys upon her unfulfilled desire and the innocence of her children. 

The first and last film directed by acclaimed British actor Charles Laughton, The Night of the Hunter was initially ignored by audiences and harshly reviewed by critics. This, despite its daring visual style, a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize winner James Agee, and a movie star lead. Over the decades, however, the film developed a cult following thanks to television and revival art house theaters. Audiences were drawn to its strange synthesis of film noir mood, horror aesthetics, elemental themes, and abstract set design. As a result, its cult burgeoned while simultaneously undergoing a critical reassessment that now places it among the best of all time. 

Don’t miss this masterpiece on our big screen! 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Sat. Jan. 13 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

2hr 16min | R |Action/Sci-fi | USA 

This January 2024 the Senate Theater is going to party like it’s 1999 . . . 

IN OUR MINDS! 

By party, of course, we mean we’re inviting you to follow the white rabbit into our auditorium to once again experience The Matrix. This all-time mind-bender is turning 25 and there’s no better way to celebrate than to come see it on the big screen just like you saw it for the very first time. 

Woah! Déjà vu! 

Following Neo (née Mr. Anderson), an unsuspecting computer programmer dogged by nefarious men in black, The Matrix takes place in a world where humans are trapped in a simulation created by artificial intelligence. After meeting a pair of mysterious strangers named Trinity and Morpheus, Neo is ripped from his computer fabricated existence and soon discovers that he may be “the one” to release humanity from its virtual prison. 

But you’ve visited the Oracle, so you already know that, right? Or maybe you’ve come to the conclusion that ignorance is bliss? Either way, we can’t wait to see you at the theater to see this award-winning and influential special effects action spectacle! 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Sat. Dec. 2 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

2hr 10min | PG |Drama/Comedy | USA 

Merry Christmas, Detroit! Merry Christmas Michigan Avenue! Merry Christmas you wonderful old Senate Theater! 

We’re kicking off the season of giving this year by bringing you It’s a Wonderful Life. More than seventy-five years on, this enduring holiday classic remains just as romantic, funny, and heart wrenching as ever.  

You’ve seen it again and again, but now you can see it on the big screen in a theater that was playing movies back in 1946 when this classic was released. 

George Bailey (James Stewart) is an idealist, dedicated to his family and neighbors. Almost universally beloved, he is known as a man of integrity and generosity, living his entire life within the quaint confines of his hometown. But will a stifled ambition, the cruelty of fate, and the darkness lurking beneath his picturesque surroundings lead him over the edge of despair into ultimate destruction?  

You probably know the answer. But the strength of this film, where integrity, generosity and the power of community defeats deceit, greed and a lust for power, is that knowing the end doesn’t matter. It never gets old, watching the life story of our flawed but thoroughly decent hero. We laugh and cheer at his triumphs. We ache and cry with him in his moments of darkness. We long to descend into the picture as Clarence, his guardian angel, descends from heaven to save his soul. 

Come experience this beautiful picture once again at the Senate. We’ll see you there! 

The Senate Theater and The Detroit Theater Organ Society, a non-profit and all-volunteer organization, is supported in part by The Michigan Arts and Culture Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. 

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

Sat. Nov. 18

Doors – 7:00 PM

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM

Film – 8:00 PM

Tickets - $6

2hr 6min | PG-13 | Sci-Fi/Action | France 

Whether you’re a supreme, cosmic being or just another meat popsicle, you don’t want to miss The Fifth Element at the Senate Theater.

A science-fiction cult classic with elaborate, over-the-top style

The Fifth Element is an extravaganza of big movie stars, bigger performances and galactic scope. It is a garish vision of a wasteful and corrupt future as goofy, unhinged and colorful as it is dystopian. But beneath all the camp and color lies the belief that the “divine light” of love can conquer all — even an “ultimate evil” from the deepest, darkest depths of outer space. 

Hollywood writer Robert Mark Kamen (The Karate Kid, Taken) and French writer/director Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita, Léon: The Professional) worked together to blend their American and European sensibilities, giving birth to this

perhaps the oddest sci-fi extravaganza to ever make a killing at the international box office.

And though it divided critics at the time, The Fifth Element has only grown in popularity and esteem since its release. Not only a lavish visual spectacle of practical and computer effects with exciting action sequences, it also boasts iconic turns from the likes of Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman and Milla Jovovich. 

We’ll see you at the theater! (Multipass not required for entry.) 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Sat. Nov. 4 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 8min | NR | Comedy/Drama | USA

Live Organ Accompaniment by Lance Luce
 

Brace yourselves for the magical and magnificent sounds of our Mighty Wurlitzer!  

It’s another installment of our ongoing silent film series, Silents at the Senate. This time we’re screening one of the most significant, well regarded, and beloved silent films, The Kid. Watch as Charlie Chaplin’s iconic face and physicality grace our screen. Listen as organist Lance Luce enhances the action with the Senate’s powerful theater organ. 

A poignant and charming mixture of pathos and playful comedy, The Kid is a masterwork in visual storytelling and one of the most financially and artistically successful films of the silent era.  

It should not be missed. 

Released in 1921, The Kid marks a turning point for Charlie Chaplin, who wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the film. Previously Chaplin had almost exclusively appeared in or directed short films, almost all of which were comedies. With The Kid, however, he set out to not only lengthen the runtime, but also break free from the constraints of pure comedy and create a perfect blend of what he termed, “raw slapstick and sentiment.” There was perhaps no better vessel to achieve that aim than through his beloved character, the Tramp. With his trademark ill-fitting clothes, silly mustache and clownish walk, Chaplin’s iconic vagrant had already delighted audiences for years. But never had he pulled so deliberately upon their heartstrings as he does in The Kid, which proclaims at the start to be, “a picture with a smile—and perhaps, a tear.” 

Which is exactly what our organ is built for. From comedy to melodrama, from epic and grandiose to idyllic and domestic, the theater organ is an instrument built to evoke the full spectrum of human emotion. But first and foremost, these instruments were built so that they might enhance the feelings a filmmaker endeavored to provoke within the viewer. Indeed, there is no better way to enjoy a silent film than with a theater organ, blasting air through its pipes and notes into your ears, blending its aural artistry seamlessly with the visual artistry on screen.  

We’ll see you at the theater! 

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. 

6:30 p.m. Doors open, audience check-in begins

7:00 p.m. CALIGARI begins

8:45 p.m. Intermission - Check-in for NOSFERATU ticketholders

9:00 p.m. NOSFERATU begins

CINEMA DETROIT presents INVINCIBLE CZARS and their nightmarishly fun live soundtracks to THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1920) and NOSFERATU (1922) at the Senate!

This immersive live sound experience will transport you back 100+ years via these age-old tales accompanied by chilling modern scores and sound effects, created with an impressive blend of traditional acoustic and present-day electronic instruments. Known for performing their own eclectic live film soundtracks nationwide, INVINCIBLE CZARS will mesmerize you into the world of these films.

The world’s first feature-length horror film, THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI has inspired many artists including Tim Burton and David Bowie (among many others) with its strikingly modern visuals. Its craggy edges, disjointed backgrounds and heavy makeup have earned this dark fairy tale a reputation as the quintessential German Expressionist film. Its influential twist ending is also considered the first in cinematic history.

NOSFERATU, the first feature-length vampire movie, has endured for more than a century inspiring countless vampire films, video games, memes, publications and other content. The Invincible Czars’ chilling soundtrack, inspired by everything from Romanian folk music to horror sound design, amplifies the scariness to a goosebumps-inducing heights.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The first film, CALIGARI, starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 each for either of the films or $30 for both. Complete info and tickets available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cinema-detroit-presents-invincible-czars-tickets-554667283777

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 

Joan Crawford in Rain (1932) “Pre-Code” Hollywood Presentation 

Sat. Sep. 16 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

1hr 34min | NR | Drama| USA 

DRAMA! DRAMA! DRAMA! 

The word alone doesn’t do justice to Rain. It is a film so overflowing with fervid emotion, so redolent of the deepest and darkest impulses of humanity that only caps-lock, exclamation points and repetition can come close to matching its passionate intensity. 

So, in other words, Rain presents an excellent example of films released during the so-called “pre-code Hollywood” era. This brief period (1927-1934) before the enforcement of the Hays Code censorship guidelines was marked by shocking, salacious, suggestive, and even surprisingly sexually explicit plotlines that both scandalized and tantalized moviegoers.  

Rain was one such film. Set on an island in the South Pacific against a backdrop of tropical disease and monsoon rains, it stars a young Joan Crawford and Walter Huston. Crawford plays Sadie Thompson, a prostitute fleeing the law while Huston portrays the self-righteous missionary determined to dominate her. Both are passengers from a ship, now stranded due to a cholera outbreak. Both are in danger of being consumed by sin, lust, and compulsion. Neither may make it out of Pago Pago with their soul intact.  

Come see how this DRAMA! DRAMA! DRAMA! unfolds at the Senate. 

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.

Sat. Aug. 5 in the Senate Coney Lot  

Doors – 8:00 PM 

Film – Dusk 

Tickets – FREE 

1hr 37min | NR | Horror | USA 

We’re once again heading outside this summer for a FREE film screening in the Senate Coney Lot!

Just like last year concessions and bathrooms inside the theater are open, and you’ll have to be sure to bring your own chair. 

And, for the third year running we’re going to play the mother of all zombie flicks, Night of the Living Dead. It's a movie—much like an ambling, undead monster out for brains — that will never get old, thanks to a tense script and iconic, boundary smashing imagery.   

Most horror flicks have tended to lose their terrifying luster as the genre pushes ever onward into the realm of guts and gore, but Night of the Living Dead remains a frightening experience that will make you wonder if they really are, “coming to get you” whether your name is Barbara or not. 

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

Sat. Jul. 29 

Tickets – $6 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

First Film – 8:00 PM 

Second Film – 9:30 PM (approximately) 

The Screaming Skull 

1hr 8min | NR | Horror/Thriller| USA 

Manos: The Hands of Fate 

1hr 14min | NR | Horror | USA 

Our Hot, Sweaty & Weird summer cult film series wouldn’t be complete without a movie so bad it’s almost . . . good?

This year, we’re bringing you Manos: The Hands of Fate, a film so legendarily terrible that it makes Ed Wood’s Plan 9 from Outer Space look like Citizen Kane. In no universe would this independently (and ineptly) made film be considered quality, but we can at least guarantee a quality time at the theater, provided you like laughing at bizarre and strangely unsettling cinematic failures. 

And, yes, much like on Mystery Science Theater 3000, the television series responsible for the film’s cult following, good natured heckling at the screen is encouraged! 

A unique and personal vision, the film was conceived by one man, Harold P. Warren, a fertilizer salesman who had never written, directed, or produced anything. To describe the plot of this cult film about a cult would be useless. That’s not the appeal. It is a strange glimpse into one man’s subconscious and a mood piece that has been described as a “brave experiment,” “a train wreck,” “unnerving outsider art,” “a crime against humanity,” and “made by people with absolutely no business making a movie.” 

In short, Manos: The Hands of Fate is an eccentric failure that fails so completely it just might be a triumph. 

And, since we know bad movie aficionados are nothing if not gluttons for punishment, you’ll be treated to a bonus piece of horror schlock, a not-so-classic of the drive-in era with a title that truly delivers, The Screaming Skull. This ghost story was intended as a psychological horror/thriller. Unfortunately, the road to audiences smirking at accidental humor on screen is paved with good intentions. 

We hope to see you all at the theater for this night of D-movie fun! 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Making of Mucho Gusto, Nice to Meet You Documentary Premiere and La Carpa Teen Ensemble Kick Off! 

Sat. Jul. 22

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

FREE COMMUNITY EVENT

1hr 22min

Enjoy a documentary about last summer's first La Carpa Theatre production, Mucho Gusto, Nice to Meet You. Then meet the organizers and learn more about this amazing theater opportunity for our neighborhood teens!  

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Polyester (1981)  

Sat. Jul. 15 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets – $6 

1hr 26min | R| Comedy/Satire | USA 

Summer is here, which means the Senate is once again getting Hot, Sweaty, and Weird. Our cult film series begins this year with a classic that has a decidedly . . . funky reputation. 

Prepare your eyes, ears, and—yes—YOUR NOSE for John Waters’ Polyester, presented in Odorama!  

You'll gasp. You’ll guffaw. You may even be scandalized by the sounds and sights on screen. But your mind won’t believe your sniffer as your nostrils collide with this, the most astoundingly aromatic gimmick to ever invade the unsuspecting schnozzolas of moviegoers anywhere. 

Don’t miss it! Sniff it!

(By “it,” of course, we mean the scratch and sniff card given to the first 100 patrons through the door, allowing them to “smell” the action on screen.) 

In keeping with its goofy marketing ploy Polyester is a sleazy comedy with ridiculous characters and a low-brow sensibility, starring Divine, the unmatched (drag) queen of garish flamboyance. Sure, we can’t deny it, this is an outrageous and crass piece of trashy cinema, but it is also a witty satire. (No, really, it is.) Lampooning the dramatic excess of the suburban melodramas of 1950s Hollywood, it tells a story of infidelity, murder, strange sexual addictions, and anti-social teenage angst.  And it does it all with a cheesy organ soundtrack right out of a daytime soap and a visual style that crudely apes the king of 50s melodrama, Douglas Sirk.  

It’s one of John Waters’ best. Cheap and gaudy, but also thoughtful and remarkably crowd-pleasing. We hope to see you there! 

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Sat. Jun. 17 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

1hr 30min | PG | Comedy/Family | USA 

An oddball star, an oddball script, and an oddball director walk into the basement of the Alamo with a trucker named Large Marge, an ill-fitting suit, and a cast of the quirkiest weirdos this side of Alice’s Wonderland.  

If you haven’t figured it out by now—and the heading above didn’t tip you off—it can only be Pee-wee's Big Adventure! It’s a bizarro road trip masterpiece for all, (except perhaps the very small).  

Following the trials and triumphs of a child-like man on a search for his missing bicycle, this classic family comedy was the breakout success of actor Paul Reubens and his iconic character, Pee-wee Herman. Not only that, but it was the mainstream feature film debut of director Tim Burton and composer Danny Elfman. A manic score combines with Burton’s off-kilter sensibility and visual flair to compliment a truly absurd series of events. It’s simply brimming with slapstick action, silly circumstances, and over-the-top performances. 

Yes, it's about as ridiculous as pancakes topped with fried eggs and Mr. T breakfast cereal! Expect outrageous chases, surreal dream sequences, guys in rubber lizard suits, Santa Clause, goofy dance numbers, other wacky things to put into zany lists, and a great time at the movies!  

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 our gated lot, on Gilbert, and Michigan Avenue

Silents at the Senate – Robin Hood (1922) 

Sat. May 20 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets – $12 

2hr 12min | NR | Adventure/Drama | USA 

Live Organ Accompaniment by Scott Smith 

It is a familiar tale.  

An absent king. A tyrannical prince. An evil sheriff. A band of merry men. A Lady named Marian. A champion of the people who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. 

It can only be Robin Hood. But not just any Robin Hood.  

 
Silents at the Senate is proud to present a silent film that is truly the equal of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. Its towering sets, baroque costumes, and exciting feats of derring-do have stood the test of time. And they will only stand taller with the marvelous musical wizardry of a theater organ at its side, played by the talented silent film accompanist, Scott Smith. 

Starring, co-written, and produced by silent screen titan, Douglas Fairbanks, this grandiose adaptation marked the first feature length screen appearance Robin Hood. Through its massive success the film firmly established a host of familiar story elements that would be repeated in later screen versions and cemented its star as a swashbuckling icon of the Roaring Twenties. The castle set alone covered ten acres in the then country setting of Hollywood, complementing the elaborate court pageantry that makes up much of the film’s first half. And when Douglas Fairbanks transforms into the acrobatic and mischievous folk hero, Robin Hood in the second half, the nearby woods of Hollywood serve as a convincing Sherwood Forest. 

So, join us, all ye merry moviegoers, for a night of action, adventure, and drama, with a live organ score to match the emotion of every minute! And remember 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. 
 

Doors - 7:00 PM

Organ Overture - 7:30 PM

Show - 8:00 PM

Tickets - $10

Join us on Saturday, May 6th, 2023 for the 8th Annual Detroit International Festival of Animation (DIFA). This celebration of animation will showcase a diverse range of works from local and international animators. With approximately 90 minutes of animated shorts on display, DIFA will feature a wide range of styles, from experimental and quirky to more sophisticated mini-features.

The 2023 schedule and advance tickets will be available by April 1st.

NOTE: This event is recommended for 18+ due to some mature content and themes.

For details please visit:

• difestofanim.com

Sci-fi Double Feature! The Last Man on Earth (1964) & The Omega Man (1971) 

Sat. Apr. 22 

Tickets - $6 

Doors – 6:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 6:30 PM 

First Film – 7:00 PM 

Second Film – 8:45 PM (approximately) 

The Last Man on Earth 

1hr 26min | NR | Horror/Sci-fi | USA 

The Omega Man 

1hr 38min | PG| Horror/Sci-fi | USA 

Two films. Two acting titans. Two takes on I Am Legend, the classic novel of a post-apocalyptic world, ruled by a humanity transformed into monsters by plague.  

It’s The Last Man on Earth, starring the incomparable Vincent Price, and The Omega Man, starring the unparalleled Charlton Heston! For one night only, the Senate is placing them side by side, one final man against another, in a fight to the end of the night to see which film does it better.  

Will it be Price’s Last Man, with its garlic averse creatures who lumber about in the dark like zombies? Or, will it be Heston’s Omega Man, with its mutant, albino maniacs created by warfare in a Soviet biological weapon attack? It’s not an easy decision. But, if it helps, one has a dog and one has Charlton Heston wearing a green velvet blazer and ruffled shirt.  

It will be up to you to choose your champion!  

Yes, science fiction reveals to us the possibilities of the future — endless and often terrifying, but sometimes filled with groovy super 70s fashion. In this double feature you will see two futures, both revealing the consequences of profound upheaval and the horror of difference. Seen one after the other they will uncover the limitless possibilities of the road ahead, but also of the myriad ways to tell the same story. 

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. 

Silents at the Senate – Safety Last (1923) 100th Anniversary Screening 

Sat. Apr. 1 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 20min | NR | Slapstick/Romance| USA  

Ask Father short film  

13min | NR | Slapstick/Romance| USA

Live Organ Accompaniment by Andrew Rogers

Harold Lloyd, one of the titans of silent slapstick comedy, was known for his exhilarating stunts, fast-paced chase scenes, and the high-energy, go-getting, bespectacled characters he so often played. He was also a man who lost a thumb and forefinger to a bomb mistaken for a prop and has been first and foremost remembered for this film, Safety Last.  

Go figure. 

Yes, Lloyd may have had a dubious commitment to safety. But if he played it safe, we might not have this opportunity to celebrate the centennial of his most famous work, featuring one of the most iconic sequences of all time. The film follows a small-town guy, (Lloyd) as he fumblingly attempts to make his way in the big city so that he can earn the hand of his sweetheart. In the course of this striving hijinks ensue, and at one point Lloyd scales a skyscraper and dangles perilously from the hands of its giant clock.  

So, what we’re saying is it’s a zany good time, made all the zanier by organist Andrew Rogers’ expert comedic timing at our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ! Which, according to Harold Lloyd himself, is exactly the kind of instrument to accompany his film. Lloyd once said, “I just don’t like pictures played with pianos. We never intended them to be played with pianos,” even refusing to allow screenings if an organ wasn’t available, an opinion we can’t help but appreciate. 

The show will also include the Harold Lloyd short film, Ask Father. And remember to stick around after the feature 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. 

Rope (1948) 75th Anniversary Screening 

Sat. Mar. 18 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $6 

1hr 20min | PG | Crime/Thriller | USA 

It just takes a plan. A brilliant, meticulous plan, hatched within a brilliant, meticulous mind. With that, one could get away with just about anything . . . even murder.  

That, or you might just be able to pull off the impressive feat of film technique and dramatic flair that is Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope.  

In this classic bit of Hitchcock suspense, the action proceeds in real time, in long, fluid shots, entirely within the luxurious Manhattan apartment of Brandon Shaw and Philip Morgan, two wealthy and sophisticated young men. Brandon and Philip are throwing a small dinner party but with one guest conspicuously absent — their “friend” David, who they strangled in the opening shot and stashed inside the large wooden chest around which all the other guests wonder, “where can he be?” And they did it for the simple reason of proving that they could get away with it, on account of their, “superiority.” 

Loosely based on the Leopold and Loeb murder of 1924, Rope is a cinematic experiment about an intellectual exercise taken to the ultimate, violent extreme. It stars Hitchcock regular and Hollywood legend, James Stewart alongside a chilling John Dall and an unravelling Farley Granger as the murderous hosts.  

Don’t let yourself be the one who everyone is missing, and make sure you make it to see Rope at the Senate! 

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.