Resurgo (2026)
Apr
10
7:00 PM19:00
Movie

Resurgo (2026)

TICKETS

Fri. Apr. 10

Doors – 6:00 PM  

Film – 7:00 PM  

Tickets - $10 

Q&A with director Stephen McGee after the film

Resurgo: The Rise from Within is a landmark documentary from director Stephen McGee and poet-producer Jessica Care Moore, created from twenty years of immersive filmmaking in Detroit. Drawing from millions of photographs and thousands of hours of footage, the film rejects the decades-old national narrative of Detroit as a symbol of decline. Instead, it presents a powerful, people-centered portrait of a city defined by creativity, endurance, and humanity. Through intimate storytelling, poetic narration, and stunning cinematography, Resurgo reframes Detroit for both longtime residents and global audiences, offering a truer and more dignified reflection of the city’s soul.

The documentary has generated exceptional audience response and critical momentum. Resurgo won Best Feature Film at the Fresh Coast Film Festival and has been recognized by reviewers for its emotional honesty, visual depth, and social relevance. Screenings across Michigan have consistently sold out or neared capacity, often ending in standing ovations and extended Q&A sessions, many lasting an hour or more, with audiences fully engaged until the final moment. Each event has sparked meaningful conversation about Detroit’s identity and the importance of narrative ownership, underscoring the film’s cultural and community impact.

As word spreads, Resurgo is rapidly becoming a catalyst for renewed civic pride and broader national attention. Viewers frequently describe the film as transformative,reshaping their understanding of Detroit and revealing stories rarely seen in mainstream media. With its blend of historical archive, artistic voice, and lived experience, Resurgo is not only documenting a city’s evolution but contributing to it. The project stands poised to influence how Detroit is perceived for years to come, marking it as one of the most significant and emotionally resonant films to emerge from the region in decades.

Following the film will be a Q+A with director Stephen McGee.

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

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Silents at the Senate Presents: Our Hospitality (1923)
Apr
11
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Silents at the Senate Presents: Our Hospitality (1923)

TICKETS

Silents at the Senate Presents: Our Hospitality (1923)  

 

Sat. Apr. 11 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $12  

1hr 13min | NR | Comedy| USA 

Live organ accompaniment by Stephen Warner 

 

 

Daring rescues, narrow escapes, and gags galore, all with a live organ score! 

 

Silents at the Senate continues its 2026 season with actor/director Buster Keaton’s seminal silent comedy, Our Hospitality. Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Stephen Warner on the Senate’s Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, the eighth largest instrument of its kind ever constructed!  

Using the famous real-life family feud between the Hatfields and McCoys as inspiration, Keaton’s second feature was a groundbreaking work, seamlessly weaving its comedy and signature Keaton stunt work into a drama of generational bloodletting. Here Keaton proved himself not only a brilliant stager of gags and thrilling physical feats, but a true cinematic artist.  

And, as always, following the silent film presentation patrons will have a chance to take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. Additionally, the organist for the evening will be available to field any questions you may have about theater organ and the art of silent film accompaniment! 

 

 

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

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Organ Pops Concert Featuring Brett Valliant
Apr
19
3:00 PM15:00
Concerts

Organ Pops Concert Featuring Brett Valliant

TICKET

Organ Pops Concert Featuring Brett Valliant

 

Sunday, Apr. 19 

Doors - 2:00 PM  

Concert - 3:00 PM  

Tickets - $17  

  

The Detroit Theater Organ Society’s illustrious Organ Pops Concert series inaugurates its 2026 season with another afternoon of top notch organ music at the historical Senate Theater. For over sixty years DTOS has brought in some of the nation's and world's finest organists to harness the power of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. This year, in the Senate's 100th year, we are happy to continue that tradition here in Southwest Detroit!

To start the season we are bringing you the superlative talents of organist, Brett Valliant! Don’t miss your chance to experience the majesty, nuance and diversity of sounds that only a theater pipe organ can provide.  

 

 

 

About the Artist: 

Brett Valliant is an organist who delights in every opportunity to perform the music he loves on the instrument he loves. Whether seated at a concert hall organ, a majestic church instrument, or a mighty Wurlitzer in a historic theatre, Brett is truly at home.

His fascination with the organ began at just three years old, inspired by the sound of the instrument in church. At age five, he began piano study with Ruth Cline, and soon thereafter started organ lessons with Anna Jeter in Wichita, Kansas. By twelve, Brett was serving as a church organist, fulfilling the dream he had embraced so early in life. At nineteen, he embarked on his first international concert tour.

For twenty-one years, Brett served as Organist and Music Director at First United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, where he performed on a large pipe organ featured on the church’s televised worship broadcasts, reaching thousands throughout the Midwest. He also serves as Artist-in-Residence for the Wichita Wurlitzer, performing frequently on the historic former New York Paramount Wurlitzer, now installed in Wichita.

Brett studied organ at Wichita State University with Robert Town and continued his studies privately in both the United States and Australia. His three recordings have been featured on National Public Radio’s Pipe Dreams as well as on the National Bible Broadcasting Network.

Today, Brett is one of two resident organists at the iconic Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, Arizona, home to the world’s largest theatre organ and a destination that entertains thousands of guests each year. In addition to his performances there, Brett is widely recognized for accompanying and scoring silent films and appears annually at numerous film festivals.

A frequent performer at conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society and the American Guild of Organists, Brett has toured extensively throughout the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. In 2021, he was honored as Organist of the Year by the American Theatre Organ Society.

 

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

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Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
Apr
25
2:00 PM14:00
Movie

Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest (1992)

TICKETS

Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest (1992)  

Sat. Apr. 25 

Doors – 1:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 1:30 PM  

Films – 2:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 16min | G | Family/Fantasy | USA/Australia 

Special guests Green Living Science   

 

 

 

A curious fairy, a rad dude, and a batty bat fight for the survival of the rainforest in the classic 90s family film Fern Gully, starring Tim Curry, Robin Williams, and Christian Slater. 

The denizens of Fern Gully have lived in ecological harmony for millennia, free from the voracious consumption of human civilization. Until one day they see smoke on the horizon, a harbinger of an existential threat. Soon they are under attack by the machinery of man and the very spirit of destruction, an oily smoke monster known as Hexxus. Can their ancient magic stand up to this new threat? 

Find out at the Senate Theater’s Earth Day screening of this 90s kids flick. It has what producers proudly declared a “blatantly environmental” message. It has a rapping lizard (voiced by Tone-loc) and a rapping bat (Robin Williams). It has magic, thrills, and indelible imagery. It has the ability to stir up the passionate environmental consciousness in us all.  

 

 

About our special guest: 

Green Living Science, a Detroit-based environmental education and green space stewardship nonprofit focused on recycling, sustainability, and community engagement, will be in attendance at the special screening of FernGully. For the past 15 years, the organization has brought interactive environmental lessons to more than 200,000 students, supported neighborhood parks throughout Detroit, provided recycling resources, and helped local businesses strengthen their sustainability practices. At the screening, representatives from Green Living Science will be on hand to celebrate the film’s environmental message with families and young moviegoers, offering fun and educational materials—including free activity books for kids—so children can continue learning about protecting the planet long after the movie ends. Their presence adds a hands-on, community-focused element to the event, helping inspire the next generation of planet protectors while connecting Detroit families with local environmental champions who work every day to keep the city greener.    

 

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

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Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Apr
25
7:00 PM19:00
Movie

Cinema Paradiso (1988)

TICKETS

Cinema Paradiso (1988) 

Sat. Apr. 25 

Doors – 6:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 6:30 PM  

Film – 7:00 PM  

Tickets - $10  

2hr 4min | PG | Drama | Italy/France 

Presented in partnership with WRCJ’s “The Soundtrack” with Haley Taylor to celebrate their 1 year anniversary! 

Post Film Q & A with Haley Taylor 

 

 

Together with WRCJ’s film score focused radio program “The Soundtrack” the Senate Theater invites you to a special screening of Cinema Paradiso! To celebrate the magic of the movies (and The Soundtrack’s one year anniversary) we’re bringing this international art house sensation and its finely tuned romantic score to the big screen. You’ll be swept away by the ecstatic synthesis of moving pictures and moving melody by Italian master Ennio Morricone and his son Andrea Morricone. 

Winner of the Grand Prix du Jury at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and the 1989 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Cinema Paradiso is a poignant, tearjerking, ecstatically life-affirming trip through melancholy, joy, art and longing!  

This coming-of-age classic explores the power of cinema and nostalgia, told in vivid flashback through the eyes of a film director as he recollects the formative events of his childhood. Cinema Paradiso asks how the pull of a home left behind, the residue of youthful yearning for more, and the artist’s drive to create can continuously shape the understanding of oneself. Can we find truth through expression and reflection, through mutable memory, through the metamorphic potential of cinema—its extraordinary synthesis of sound and vision? 

Message From Our Partner:

This event celebrates the first anniversary of The Soundtrack, and the community that has grown around it. The show was created to explore the power of film music: the way a melody can bring us back to a place, a person, or a moment in our lives. With this screening of Cinema Paradiso, we’re stepping beyond radio to experience that connection together, in a theater, the way film was meant to be seen and heard.

Cinema Paradiso, with its unforgettable score by Ennio Morricone, is ultimately a story about memory, mentorship, and the lifelong impact of cinema. It reflects the heart of what The Soundtrack is about: the relationship between music and storytelling, and the people who carry those stories forward.

This evening is an opportunity to bring listeners, film lovers, and our broader community into the same room, not just to watch a film, but to share in the experience of it. Following the screening, we’ll host a live Q&A with the audience to talk about The Soundtrack, Cinema Paradiso, and The Senate Theater.

I’m especially grateful to partner with The Senate Theater, a historic space that embodies the enduring magic of film and music. Together, we’re celebrating not just an anniversary, but the shared experience that makes public radio, and cinema, so meaningful.

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

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Blazing Saddles (1974) 16mm Film Presentation
May
2
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Blazing Saddles (1974) 16mm Film Presentation

TICKETS

Blazing Saddles (1974) 16mm Film Presentation 

Sat. May 2 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 33min | R | Comedy | USA 

Presented in collaboration with Motor City Cinema Society 

 

 

Blazing Saddles is full of beans. It’s an explosively funny spoof. It’s full of hot, hilarious air. It’s a real gas.  

And the Senate Theater is playing it on 16mm film, courtesy of our friends at Motor City Cinema Society! 

 

An irreverent and witty comedy shootout at the “Is it OK if I laugh at this?” Corral, this 70s classic isn’t just an excuse for flatulence-based humor. It takes a sharpened razor to the Western genre’s filthy prospector beard, uncovering the dark racial history and myth building at the heart of the form and America itself. But always with a laugh. Belly laughs so hearty your guts might bust, making you wonder how they found a take where the actors don’t break.  

 

Wind across the desolate beauty of a mesa! 

 

Yes, you can almost smell the sweat and feel the dust blowing. Just like any quality cowboy flick Blazing Saddles is full of wide-open vistas and rousing music. The only difference being that you must imagine director Mel Brooks shout, “Cut!” The cheese (of the highest quality) so irresistibly pungent that he himself could hardly go on. But then, beneath the hilarity is a righteousness, asking us to reflect and rise above our past. It says, “Pull up! Pull! My finger points at you, yes. But it also points beyond. To a promised land!”  

 

See you at the Senate! 

 

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

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Silents at the Senate Presents: The Sheik (1921) with the Arab Film Festival
May
8
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Silents at the Senate Presents: The Sheik (1921) with the Arab Film Festival

TICKETS

Silents at the Senate Presents: The Sheik (1921)  

 

Fri. May 8 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $15  

1hr 26min | NR | Romance/Adventure| USA 

Live organ accompaniment by Scott Smith 

Presented with the Arab American National Museum for the Arab Film Festival 

 

 

 

Century old art can be, to use the parlance of our times, problematic. It can be said that The Sheik, with its dated cultural stereotypes and sexual politics, is just that. However, it is also a film about confronting the darkness in one’s past and moving forward with moral clarity. 

 

Which is why Silents at the Senate and the Arab Film Festival are excited to screen this silent era blockbuster on our big screen. And to reiterate the importance of artistic preservation, this rousing tale will be presented as it was seen in 1921, with a live organ score (on our nearly century old Mighty Wurlitzer) by the indominable Scott Smith! Providing historical and cultural context will be Dr. Matthew Jaber Stiffler from the Arab Film Festival, who will introduce the film. 

Based on the wildly popular “desert romance” novel of the same name, this adventure melodrama was the breakout role for the most adored sex symbol of the 1920s, Rudolph Valentino. In keeping with the then current trends of exoticism and orientalist portrayals of Arabs in western popular culture, it is draped lavishly in billowy fabric and adorned judiciously with the seductive, vaguely “ethnic” face of its star. Modern audiences may not find this story particularly romantic, but its craftsmanship and the striking visage of Mr. Valentino remain as compelling as ever.   

 

Come see it at The Senate on the big screen and behold what brought last centuries earliest cinematic worshipers to the temple of their idol! 

Following the silent film presentation patrons will have a chance to take a tour of the organ pipe chambers and the organist will be around to field any questions you may have about theater organ and the art of silent film accompaniment!

 

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

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Cairo Station (1958) Arab Film Festival Screening
May
9
4:30 PM16:30
Movie

Cairo Station (1958) Arab Film Festival Screening

TICKETs

Cairo Station (1958) 

 

Sat. May 9 

Doors – 3:30 PM  

Organ Overture – 4:00 PM  

Film – 4:30 PM  

Tickets - $ 

1hr 17min | NR | Crime/Drama| Egypt 

Presented with the Arab American National Museum for the Arab Film Festival 

 

 

The Senate Theater, as part of the 2026 Arab Film Festival, is excited to screen Cairo Station, a masterpiece from Egypt’s golden age of cinema. Now newly restored, this crime drama blends influences from Italian neorealism and film-noir to tell a story of class conflict, violence and sexual repression.  

 

Released at the height of Egyptian cinema, when it was the world’s third largest industry, this film was directed by the legendary and acclaimed Youssef Chahine. Chahine, who also stars in the film and would have turned 100 years old this year, took advantage of the short period between the fall of the Egyptian monarchy and the nationalization of the film industry to push boundaries. Much revered by the international film community, he was an artist who rankled authorities and challenged his audience.  

 

Cairo Station, for example, tells of a newspaper seller’s sexual obsession in a city rocked by a serial killer’s spree. Its controversial themes, bold style, dark tone, and sympathetic portrayal of a victim of sexual violence made Egyptian audiences uncomfortable. More accustomed to happy endings and straightforward melodrama, Cairo Station was a box-office failure at home but was a film festival favorite abroad. Still, it was quickly forgotten. 

Thankfully critics and cinephiles, along with generations of Arab filmmakers saw its value, reviving its reputation starting in the 1970s. Now you can see this provocative and influential classic on the big screen as it was meant to be experienced, fully restored and with an introduction from Dr. Matthew Jaber Stiffler of the Arab Film Festival. 

 

 

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

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Organ Pops Concert Featuring Nick Renkosik
May
17
3:00 PM15:00
Concerts

Organ Pops Concert Featuring Nick Renkosik

TICKET

Sunday, May 17  

Doors - 2:00 PM   

Concert - 3:00 PM   

Tickets - $17   

   

The 2026 season of the Detroit Theater Organ Society’s storied Organ Pops Concert series continues with another afternoon of superlative organ music at the historical Senate Theater. For over sixty years DTOS has brought in some of the nation's and world's finest organists to harness the power of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. This year, in the Senate's 100th year, we are happy to continue that tradition here in Southwest Detroit! 

 

For our second concert this season we are bringing in esteemed organist, Nick Renkosik! Mr. Renkosik promises to bring “Bacharach, Brubeck, Burlesque and Beyond!” Don’t miss your chance to experience the majesty, nuance and diversity of sounds that only a theater pipe organ can provide.   

  

  

  

About the Artist:  

Based out of out of Kenosha, WI, nestled between Chicago and Milwaukee, Nick Renkosik is a nationally acclaimed organist that has performed at such venues as Sanfilippo’s Place De La Musique in Barrington Hills, IL; the Oriental and Riverside Theatres in Milwaukee, WI; the Coronado Theatre in Rockford, IL; the Allen Organs of Chicago Showroom; the Rialto Theatre in Joliet, IL; the Tampa Theatre in Tampa, FL; the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, MO; the Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, CA; Orchestra Hall in Chicago, IL, Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee, WI; the Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, NY; Babson College in Wellesley, MA; etc. 

Nick's education in music began at age four. In high school, he studied piano with Barbara Paul of Crystal Lake, IL, and organ with Jelani Eddington of Racine, WI. In 2021, he formally received a Bachelors of Arts (Cum Laude) in Instrumental Performance (organ and piano) at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, where he was a student in the studios of Mr. Christopher Berry (organ) and Dr. Wael Farouk (piano). Nick also competed in the 2017 American Theatre Organ Society's Young Organist Competition in Tampa, FL, and was placed as a runner up. 

When he is not performing in a solo setting, Nick is an organist/accompanist on staff at several churches in Northern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin, and is an organ restoration technician for JL Weiler, Inc. in Chicago, IL. He has also regularly performed at the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee, WI, presenting pre-picture organ music. In his free time, he enjoys collecting and restoring art deco and art nouveau objects d'art and mechanical antiques, time outdoors, reading, and time with family and friends. 

 

 

  

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

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Nacho Libre (2006) 20th Anniversary Matinee Screening
May
30
3:00 PM15:00
Movie

Nacho Libre (2006) 20th Anniversary Matinee Screening

TICKETS

Sat. May 30 

Doors – 2:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 2:30 PM  

Film – 3:00 PM 

Tickets - $6  

1hr 32min | PG | Comedy/Family | USA 

 

In the name of the father, son and holy piledriver, get ready for Nacho Libre! The Senate Theater is bringing everyone’s favorite Catholic themed Lucha Libre comedy starring Jack Black to the big screen for a one-time only matinee! 

Based loosely on a real Mexican Catholic priest, this outrageous family comedy follows the antics, (in and out of the wrestling ring) of the often clueless but goodhearted Ignacio, a friar and cook at a monastery and orphanage in Oaxaca. Ignacio, frustrated with the meager meals he and the monks provide, begins to moonlight as a professional wrestler. Despite a series of wacky setbacks, Ignacio remains determined to transform his dreams of wrestling glory into improved conditions at the orphanage in which he serves, the only home he has ever known. 

The follow-up to director Jared Hess’ indie comedy phenomenon Napoleon Dynamite, this broad and beloved comedy was dismissed by critics on its release. But fan devotion has since body slammed those naysayers into submission, pummeling them with windup punches, clotheslines and flying kicks until their snobbery gets booed out of the arena of public opinion.  

Pin this date to your calendar. See Nacho Libre at the Senate! 

 

 

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

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Silents at the Senate Presents: Salomé (1923)
Jun
13
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Silents at the Senate Presents: Salomé (1923)

TICKETS

Silents at the Senate Presents: Salomé (1923)  

 

Sat. Jun. 13 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $15  

1hr 14min | NR | Drama| USA 

Live organ accompaniment by John Lauter 

 

 

 

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

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Organ Pops Concert Featuring Walt Strony
Sep
20
3:00 PM15:00
Concerts

Organ Pops Concert Featuring Walt Strony

TICKET

Organ Pops Concert Featuring Walt Strony 

  

Sunday, September 20  

Doors - 2:00 PM   

Concert - 3:00 PM   

Tickets - $17   

   

The 2026 season of the Detroit Theater Organ Society’s Organ Pops Concert series is back after a summer break with even more top-notch organ music at the historical Senate Theater! For over sixty years DTOS has brought in some of the nation's and world's finest organists to harness the power of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. This year, in the Senate's 100th year, we are happy to continue that tradition here in Southwest Detroit! 

 

For our third concert this season we are excited to present the one and only Walt Strony returning to the console at the Senate Theater! Don’t miss your chance to experience the majesty, nuance and diversity of sounds that only a theater pipe organ can provide.   

  

  

  

About the Artist:  

Walt Strony is one of America's premier concert organists.  Since his debut in 1974 at the age of 18, he has established himself as one of the few organists equally at home playing both theatre and classical organ. 

 

Mr. Strony has performed from coast-to-coast in the United States as well as in Japan, Australia, England and Canada.  He has performed for more conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society than anyone living and has also performed numerous times for chapters of the America Guild of Organists. 

 

Among his many triumphs are having performed two concerts at Radio City Music Hall, and twice on the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia, the world's largest fully-operable pipe organ.  He has been a regular performer on many series including the Spreckels Organ in Balboa Park, San Diego and the Kotzschmar Organ in Portland, ME -- as well as having performed on nearly every important theatre organ in the world. He has performed with the symphony orchestras of Calgary, El Paso, Allentown and Symphony Silicon Valley. 

 

In addition to being one of America's most sought after organists, equally at home on the Mighty  

Born in Chicago, he began music studies at the age of seven.  His theatre organ teacher was Al Melgard, the much-loved organist at the Chicago Stadium, who began his career as a very popular silent film accompanist in Chicago.  Needless to say, he taught Walt all he knew.   As a result, Walt is one of the last generation of organists with a genuine connection to those that played silent films in the 1920s.  Appropriately, Walt strives to be as authentic as possible when creating a score -- so it's a close as possible to what was done originally.  His classical studies were with Herbert L. White and Karel Paukert. 

 

This well-rounded musician brings a wealth of experience to any organ console. This experience has brought him the reputation of being one of America's most original and interesting sounding organists.  As one reviewer noted years ago -- " Strony has become one of the rare breed of today's younger theatre organists to have developed a style uniquely his own.  While looking backwards, respectfully to the masters of theatre organ tradition, he manages to look forward with a refreshing approach in all his musical arrangements."  "It is a style that is inventive, harmonically interesting, and above all, right for today." 

 

 

  

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

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Silents at the Senate Presents: A Centennial Encore of Cecille B. DeMille’s The Volga Boatman (1926)
Oct
7
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Silents at the Senate Presents: A Centennial Encore of Cecille B. DeMille’s The Volga Boatman (1926)

TICKETS

Silents at the Senate Presents: A Centennial Encore of Cecille B. DeMille’s The Volga Boatman (1926)  

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Senate Theater’s Grand Opening! 

 

Wed. Oct. 7 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $15 

2hr 00min | NR | Drama| USA 

Live organ accompaniment by Lance Luce 

 

 

 

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

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Silents at the Senate Presents: Faust (1926) 100th Anniversary Screening
Oct
17
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Silents at the Senate Presents: Faust (1926) 100th Anniversary Screening

TICKETS

Silents at the Senate Presents: Faust (1926) 100th Anniversary Screening 

 

Sat. Oct. 17 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $15  

1hr 46min | NR | Fantasy/Drama/Horror | Germany 

Live organ accompaniment by Stephen Warner 

 

 

 

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

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Silents at the Senate Presents: The Freshman (1925)
Nov
7
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Silents at the Senate Presents: The Freshman (1925)

TICKETS

Silents at the Senate Presents: The Freshman (1925) 

 

Sat. Nov. 7 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Film – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $15  

1hr 16min | NR | Comedy/Football | USA 

Live organ accompaniment by John Lauter 

 

 

 

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

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Organ Pops Concert Featuring Scott Smith
Nov
15
3:00 PM15:00
Concerts

Organ Pops Concert Featuring Scott Smith

TICKET

Organ Pops Concert Featuring Scott Smith 

  

Sunday, November 15 

Doors - 2:00 PM   

Concert - 3:00 PM   

Tickets - $17   

   

The 2026 season of the Detroit Theater Organ Society’s Organ Pops Concert series moves right along into Fall with yet another concert, bringing you some truly marvelous organ music at the historical Senate Theater! For over sixty years DTOS has brought in some of the nation's and world's finest organists to harness the power of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. This year, in the Senate's 100th year, we are happy to continue that tradition here in Southwest Detroit! 

 

For this installment, we welcome the indomitable Scott Smith back to the Senate Theater! Don’t miss your chance to experience the majesty, nuance and diversity of sounds that only a theater pipe organ can provide.   

  

  

  

About the Artist:  

Scott Smith has performed concerts and accompanied silent films across the country, but first performed regularly at the Michigan Theatre in Lansing as its last staff organist, from 1972 to 1980. When the organ’s new home was secured as the Grand Ledge Opera House in Grand Ledge, Michigan, he was responsible for the organ’s redesign and oversaw its installation and tonal refinement, where he has been House Organist since 1995. 

Mr. Smith is a life-long resident of Lansing, Michigan. He is the owner of Scott Smith Pipe Organs, LLC, a full-service pipe organ business that services and restores both theatre and church/classical pipe organs. He has worked extensively in the field of pipe organ maintenance and restoration since high school, when he joined the volunteer crew that restored and maintained the Barton organ in Lansing’s Michigan Theatre. 

 

 

  

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

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Holiday Organ Pops Concert Featuring David Marsh
Dec
6
3:00 PM15:00
Concerts

Holiday Organ Pops Concert Featuring David Marsh

TICKET

Holiday Organ Pops Concert Featuring David Marsh 

  

Sunday, December 6 

Doors - 2:00 PM   

Concert - 3:00 PM   

Tickets - $17   

   

The the Detroit Theater Organ Society’s Organ Pops Concert series closes its 2026 with a tradition: The Holiday Organ Pops Concert, the perfect way to kick start your holiday spirit at the Senate Theater! For over sixty years DTOS has brought in some of the nation's and world's finest organists to harness the power of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. This year, in the Senate's 100th year, we are happy to continue that tradition here in Southwest Detroit! 

 

This year, the Christmas cheer will be courtesy of jolly old David Marsh back to the Senate Theater! Don’t miss your chance to experience the majesty, nuance and diversity of sounds that only a theater pipe organ can provide.   

  

  

  

About the Artist:  

David Marsh is a pianist and organist performing concerts across the United States, specializing in jazz and classical improvisation. Whether delivering the dynamic rhythms and harmonies of jazz or spontaneously crafting pieces in the styles of Rachmaninoff, Debussy, or Ravel, David brings a rare versatility to his performances. Yet what truly sets him apart is his comedic, self-deprecating stage presence, turning every concert into a joyful, social gathering where audiences feel right at home. 

David’s musical journey began at the piano as early as he can remember, later expanding to the organ at age 14, drawn to its expressive range and the unique personality of each instrument. While his path hasn’t followed a traditional academic route, he’s been shaped and supported by influential mentors such as Gene Roberson and Rosemary Bailey, whose guidance helped him cultivate his artistry. 

  

His career has taken him to notable venues including Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, the RBTL Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, NY, the Oklahoma City History Center and Museum, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Balboa Park in San Diego, Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, The Senate Theater in Detroit, and Bandrika Studios in Tarzana with the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. He’s also shared his music with communities across California, Georgia, Michigan, and New York. 

  

In addition to performing, David teaches piano, composition, arranging, and music theory. His teaching style departs from conventional methods, offering a holistic approach that balances easygoing encouragement with high standards. He first discovered his passion for teaching as Director of Music Technology at Villa Park High School and later as Administrator of Operations at Soli Studios Music in Orange County, CA, before transitioning into private instruction. 

  

Outside of music, David enjoys cooking, walking in nature, and dabbling in photography (though he humbly claims no expertise). He also creates comedic videos—currently kept private but perhaps destined for a wider audience one day. His musical tastes are wide-ranging, from rock and folk to dubstep, where he admires the craftsmanship behind electronic music production. 

At his core, David is dedicated to forging his own path, defying expectations, and sharing joy through music. Whether performing jazz standards, improvising in the grand tradition of classical masters, or bringing a smile to his audience’s faces, his mission is simple: make music fun, meaningful, and unforgettable. 

 

 

  

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

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11th Annual Detroit International Festival of Animation
Apr
4
8:00 PM20:00
Movie, Community Events

11th Annual Detroit International Festival of Animation

TICKETS

DIFA 11

 11th annual Detroit International Festival of Animation Saturday, April 4, 2026

Doors Open 7pm

Organ Pre-show 7:30pm

Showtime 8pm


Join us for the 11th annual DETROIT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ANIMATION (DIFA) on Saturday, April 4th, 2026. Immerse yourself in an eclectic 90-minute mix of animated shorts showcasing a vibrant selection of works from both local and international animators.

Set in the historic Senate Theater in Detroit, this 1920’s Art Deco gem is not only known for its visual charm but also houses the world’s 8th largest Wurlitzer pipe organ. Enjoy the classic concession stand, comfortable lounging areas, and the added convenience of secure parking.

Be sure to arrive early to catch the enchanting Wurlitzer Pipe Organ pre-show by the Detroit Theater Organ Society.

Admission is $10 and half of all ticket sales go to support the continued preservation and operations of the Senate Theater.

Doors open at 7pm, with organ performance at 7:30pm and showtime at 8pm.

For more details, visit difestofanim.com, or follow @difestofanim on your favorite social medias.

Please note, parental guidance is suggested due to some mature content and language.

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

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Barbara Stanwyck Weekend
Mar
27
to Mar 28
Movie

Barbara Stanwyck Weekend

TICKETS

Barbara Stanwyck Weekend 

Fri. Mar. 27 – Sat. Mar. 28  

 

Baby Face – Fri. Mar. 27 @8:00 PM 

Meet John Doe – Sat. Mar. 28 @3:00 PM  

Double Indemnity – Sat. Mar. 28 @8:00 PM 

 

Doors – 1 hour prior to showtime  

Organ Overture – 1/2 hour prior to showtime  

Tickets - $6 per film, $15 weekend pass 

 

Baby Face (1933) 

1hr 11min | NR | Drama | USA 

 

Meet John Doe (1941) 

2hr 2min | NR | Comedy/Drama | USA 

 

Double Indemnity (1944) 

1hr 47min | NR | Film Noir/Crime Drama | USA 

  

  

  

Appearing in nearly 100 films from the late 1920s and into the middle of the 1960s, Barbara Stanwyck was easily one of the brightest stars of the Hollywood’s Golden Age. From the transition to talkies to the dissolution of the “studio system” she was a consistent marquee presence and remains an icon. The Senate is excited to bring you three of her finest films on our big screen for a weekend of melodrama, socially conscious dramedy, and criminal scheming. 

 

Come Friday evening for Baby Face, an excellent example of the freewheeling “pre-code” era of Hollywood. With its frank portrayal of prostitution, poverty, and selfish ambition this story of a woman determined to climb the social ladder is often credited with ushering in the full enforcement of the “Hays" Production Code. 

 

On Saturday afternoon we will be screening Frank Capra’s darkly humorous social satire Meet John Doe. This classic stars Stanwyck as an ethically compromised newspaper columnist who uses a down on his luck former athlete (Gary Cooper) to hold onto her job, unwittingly creating a populist political movement in the process. 

 

Finally, on Saturday evening come see Billy Wilder’s all-time noir stunner, Double Indemnity, one of the most revered American films ever made. In this, her signature role, Stanwyck gives a knockout performance as the femme fatale to Fred MacMurray’s corrupt insurance man. 

 

 

 

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

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Hands On Theater Organ Workshop with Dennis Scott
Mar
22
1:00 PM13:00
Community Events

Hands On Theater Organ Workshop with Dennis Scott

TICKETS

Sunday March 22 1-3 pm

FREE! Suggested donation $25

ALL MUSICIANS WELCOME!

Learn about theater organ and silent film accompaniment from a master of the craft, Dennis Scott. This intimate workshop will be adaptable for those familiar with church organs as well as those who just know piano.

It will include a basic explanation and demonstration of the function of the Senate's unique Mighty Wurlitzer 4/34 theater pipe organ, as well as the opportunity to sit down and play under Dennis' supervision

This event is free. However, if you would like to make a donation, we thank you for your support! The Senate Theater is owned and operated by the Detroit Theater Organ Society, an all-volunteer non-profit organization. All donations from this event will go towards maintaining and preserving the Senate and its Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ.

 

 

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

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Silents at the Senate Presents: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)
Mar
21
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Silents at the Senate Presents: Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

TICKET

Sat. Mar. 21 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $12  

1hr 35min | NR | Drama | USA 

Live organ accompaniment by Dennis Scott 

 

 

What is lust against the power of love? What are the temptations of modernity against the bedrock of human connection? 

Find out as Silents at the Senate begins its 2026 season with F.W. Murnau’s silent film, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. Live musical accompaniment will be provided by Dennis Scott on the Senate’s Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. This massive and magnificent instrument is the eighth largest instrument of its kind and made its debut inside Detroit’s Fisher Theater in 1928, one year after this film was first screened! 

Released on the eve of the sound era and a Best Picture winner at the inaugural Academy Awards in 1929, Sunrise is considered a masterpiece of silent cinema, representing the zenith of purely visual storytelling. Its groundbreaking techniques in cinematography and special effects tell a story of a marriage threatened by temptation and deadly sin, using intertitles sparingly in favor of action and expressive acting. The result is a superlative work, with all the impressionistic power of poetry. 

Though it was one of the first films released with synchronized music and sound effects, patrons at the Senate will be treated to a live score from the aforementioned Mr. Scott, one of today’s premiere silent film accompanists. 

And, as always, following the silent film presentation patrons will have a chance to take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. Additionally, the organist for the evening will be available to field any questions you may have about theater organ and the art of silent film accompaniment! 

 

 

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

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Detroit Rock City: Rock ‘n’ Roll Film Screening & Party
Mar
13
6:00 PM18:00
Movie

Detroit Rock City: Rock ‘n’ Roll Film Screening & Party

TICKETS

Detroit Rock City: Rock ‘n’ Roll Film Screening & Party

Fri. Mar. 13

Tickets – $10 ($15 includes Detroit Rock City button)

Doors, Vendors and KISS Facepainting – 6:00 PM

Detroit Rock n Roll DJ Set from Adam Stanfel – 6:30 PM until 7:15 PM

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM

Film – 8:00 PM | 1hr 35min | R | Comedy/Musical | USA

- KISS/Detroit rock themed trivia before the film and at intermission with GeminEye Tarot

- Hosted by 94.7 WCSX’s Doni Flynn

- Record vendor – Gingko Records (@gingko_records)

- Costume contest (KISS/Rock n Roll/Detroit Rock City themed)

 

 

It’s 313 Day. And for those who want to rock ‘n’ roll all night, (if you want to party every day, that’s your business) we’re gettin’ you started with a killer night of film and rock in the motor city to benefit the Senate Theater! On top of a screening of the world’s premiere flick about teenagers on a mission to see the world’s premiere rock band (1999’s Detroit Rock City) you can expect vendors, a DJ set, KISS facepainting and trivia.  

 

And be sure to dress to kill for your chance to win the costume contest. Come in full KISS garb! Dress as your favorite rock star or Detroit Rock City character! Just bring your baddest, glamest, rock ‘n’ roll self! Get wild! Get crazy! Get prizes! 

 

But whatever you come as just be sure to secure your tickets so you can celebrate the spirit of rock n roll at the Senate, Detroit’s most rocking film theater!  

 

 

About the movie: 

In the fall of 1978 four teenage burnouts from Ohio embark on a Rock n Roll odyssey. They must dodge hostile disco dudes, carry out reform school breakouts, and even risk their immortal souls for a chance to see their idols in concert at Detroit’s Cobo Hall. This teen comedy is a love letter to youthful rebellion and the connective power of a shared musical obsession. It features performances from Edward Furlong, (Terminator 2) Natasha Lyonne, (American Pie) and the original lineup of KISS, all bringing the attitude and irreverence they’re known for. 

 

 

 

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

with promotional support from:

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Daisies (1966)
Mar
7
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Daisies (1966)

TICKETS

Daisies (1966)  

Sat. Mar. 7 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 16min | NR | Comedy/Chaos | Czechoslovakia 

Preshow includes a 22min Short Film – At the World Cafeteria directed by Věra Chytilová

 

 

Audacity. Anarchy. Daisies.  

Hedonism. Nihilism. Daisies. 

Gluttony. Debauchery. Daisies. 

Experimentation. Provocation. Daisies. 

Out of the creative fecundity of the 1960’s Czechoslovak New Wave sprung Daisies, a satirical comedy born of the mind of writer/director Věra Chytilová and her collaborators Pavel Juráček and Ester Krumbachová. Playful and surreal, this critique of authority, patriarchy and empty decadence delivers catharsis just as it evokes discomfiture. With a manic visual approach and antagonistic attitude it presents a sly condemnation of a social order that would rather look away politely than confront the inequality and oppression at the heart of society.  

Ostensibly about two young women named Marie on an extended spree of gleeful depravity, Daisies demands your attention. What you make of it—a profound political statement or just a far-out trip into absurdity—is up to you. 

Don’t miss your chance to see it at the Senate on the big screen. 

 

 

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

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Blade (1998)
Feb
28
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Blade (1998)

TICKETS

Sat. Feb. 28 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

2hr 0min | R | Action/Horror | USA 

 

 

Between the realms of man and the immortal rends Blade, vampire hunter, fighting blood lust with a thirst for vengeance. 

 

Directed by special effects master Stephen Norrington and starring the eternally cool Wesley Snipes, Blade is a dark horror take on the superhero genre. It combines gory monster action with pulpy comic book storytelling, decked out in leather and sporting a techno inflected score. It’s the cinematic equivalent of wearing sunglasses at night while wielding a samurai sword and having the confidence and charisma to actually pull it off.  

 

Detailing the exploits of Eric Brooks (alias Blade), a half-man half-vampire “daywalker” with a mission to destroy the creatures responsible for his condition and the death of his mother, Blade is a tale of obsession, revenge and hubris. With the help of a father-figure with munitions expertise, Blade wages war on vampires, a tortured soul pitting itself against superhuman evil. But can our hero keep this ancient power at bay when an upstart vampire faction plots to enslave all of humanity? 

 

However it ends, Blade will do it with style. See him in action at the Senate. 

 

 

 

 

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

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Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)
Feb
27
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999)

TICKETS

Fri. Feb. 27 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1r 56min | R | Crime/Drama | USA/France/Germany/Japan 

Guest Introduction by Dr. Justin Williams, Associate Professor of History and Director of the African American Studies Programs at University of Detroit Mercy

 

 

A hitman with a warrior code. A samurai with guns. A movie with a vibe.  

 

Jim Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, starring Forrest Whitaker and featuring a score and soundtrack from hip-hop luminary RZA, is a strange and beguiling film. Its meaning elusive, it strikes a dreamy balance between genre tropes and the cool, off-kilter hangout style typical of its director.  

 

It tells of Ghost Dog, a killer for hire in late 1990s New Jersey whose strict adherence to the samurai warrior code keeps him eternally bound to his mafia masters. He walks alone through a nihilistic world, alienated from these modern times, meditating upon death and the philosophies of the ancients. When a job goes wrong, only a centuries old Japanese text, a dovecote of homing pigeons, and a local ice cream vendor who he can’t understand can keep him from the despair of the world and the desolation he inflicts. That, and some firearms training. 

 

See it at the Senate. See it on the big screen. It is the way.  

 

 

 

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

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True Romance (1993) Unrated Director's Cut
Feb
14
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

True Romance (1993) Unrated Director's Cut

TICKETS

Sat. Feb. 14 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

2hr 1min | UR | Crime/Romance | USA 

 

 

Can love conquer all? What about bullets, a whole lot of cocaine, and a bunch of bloodthirsty gangsters? Find out in True Romance, a bombastic and quirkily stylish sleeper hit from the 1990s! 

 

Tony Scott (Top Gun, Man on Fire, Crimson Tide) directs Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette in this tale of romance and criminal violence written by Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds, Kill Bill). Taking inspiration from mid-century pulp magazines and heavily indebted to both the sordid story of Bonnie and Clyde and the crime novels of Elmore Leonard, True Romance begins in the grit of a 1990s Detroit and ends in the bright glare of Los Angeles. It follows two lovers, pitting their budding romance against the dangers of the seedy underworld, populated by strange and dangerous men (Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, James Gandolfini, Brad Pitt and more.) 

 

It may be bloody, but so too is the heart.  

 

See it unrated and as the director intended on the big screen with us! 

 

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

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Jungle Fever (1991)
Feb
7
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Jungle Fever (1991)

TICKETS

Sat. Feb. 7 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

2hr 12min | R | Romance/Drama | USA 

 

 

Love, sex, race, politics, ambition, drugs, gender, religion, family strife, struggle, violence, hatred. Everything.  

This February Spike Lee’s provocative romantic drama Jungle Fever brings it all to big screen at the Senate! A modern classic of American cinema from a master of the artform, it stars Wesley Snipes and Annabella Sciorra alongside a stacked supporting cast, (Samuel L. Jackson, John Turturo, Anthony Quinn, Ossie Davis and more) and features original music from Stevie Wonder. 

Inside a world of simmering racial tensions, unchecked misogyny, and the still raging crack epidemic of the early 90s, this story of an interracial extra-marital affair explores its complex themes with the daring, witty and sometimes surreal style typical of its acclaimed director. Released in 1991 two years after his signature work Do the Right Thing was met with commercial success and critical acclaim, Jungle Fever further solidified Lee’s reputation as a singular artist. Bold and unsparing, sometimes chaotic, constantly questioning and loudly political, this is a director who is always and unabashedly himself.  

 

Nobody makes Spike Lee Joints but Spike Lee, and this film is no exception.  

 

 

 

 

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

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Fleischer Studios Cartoon Festival FREE 12 AND UNDER MATINEE SCREENING
Feb
7
3:00 PM15:00
Movie

Fleischer Studios Cartoon Festival FREE 12 AND UNDER MATINEE SCREENING

TICKETS

 

Sat. Feb. 7 

Doors – 2:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 2:30 PM  

Films – 3:00 PM  

Tickets – $6 (12 AND UNDER FREE) 

Program Runtime – 1hr 33min 

Presented digitally and on 16mm film! 

 

 

Get ready for an afternoon of family fun at the Senate with a variety show of vintage animation. From living vegetables to caped crusaders and from scheming kitty cats to fightin’ sailors, these cartoon classics are just an ol’ fashioned good time for everyone!  

 

Producers of Popeye, Betty Boop and Superman cartoons, Fleischer Studios was once the premiere animation studio in the world, competing head-to-head with Walt Disney. Thanks to its grittier style and technical innovations, its most popular creations have remained vital for decades, long after the studio that gave birth to them was folded into Paramount Pictures in 1942.  

 

We can’t wait to share them with you. And, thanks to our friends at Motor City Cinema Society, the final three shorts of the afternoon will be presented on 16mm film! 

 

 

Film Schedule: 

 

Part 1 – appox. 43 min 

The Fresh Vegetable Mystery (1939) – 6min (digital) 

A Kick in Time (1939) – 8min (digital) 

Superman (1941) – 10min (digital) 

Popeye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves (1937) – 17min (digital) 

Intermission – 20min 

Part 2 – approx. 50min 

Hold It (1938) – 7min (digital) 

Educated Fish (1937) – 7min (digital) 

Poor Cinderella (1934, Betty Boop) – 11min (16mm) 

The Bulleteers (1942, Superman) – 8min (16mm) 

Popeye the Sailor Meets Sindbad the Sailor (1936) – 18min (16mm) 

 

 

 

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

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Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Jan
31
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

TICKETS

Sat. Jan. 31 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture by Dave Calendine – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 35min | PG | Comedy/War | USA 

 

 

If Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb was a person, it could start collecting social security in 2026. Which is to say, (with apologies to 62-year-olds across America) this film is old. However, its deadly serious message, delivered with a 50 megaton dose of zany irreverence, is not.   

 

A satirical take on the Cold War era, it took aim at Red Scare paranoia, conspiratorial thinking, and the precarity of our post-atomic world, seeking mutually assured destruction for all its unsuspecting targets. Its terrifying scenario imagines the consequences of a rogue general intent on kicking off nuclear war, and the woefully unprepared executive branch tasked with stopping him before it’s too late. But with jokes. 

 

Starring the chameleonic Peter Sellers, (in a triple role as the U.S. president, a British air force captain, and the titular doctor) Dr. Strangelove is a comedy classic for its age, this age, and whatever age comes next. And though we may never know the nature of the world our cinephile children will inherit, they will surely be able to return to the wit and enduring relevance of this film for generations—provided humanity keeps a sense of humor and has a way to watch it in the bunker.  

 

Just kidding. But not really. See you at the Senate!  

 

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

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Roman Holiday (1953)
Jan
17
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Roman Holiday (1953)

TICKETS

Sat. Jan. 17 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 58min | G | Comedy/Romance | USA 

 

 

A princess. A reporter. A fabled city. A timeless romance. 

 

See Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in William Wyler’s Roman Holiday! This award-winning romantic comedy about the intensity of love and the weight of one’s responsibilities has wooed audiences for over seventy years. See it on the big screen at Detroit’s oldest surviving neighborhood movie theater. 

 

Secretly co-written by Dalton Trumbo, who was then on the infamous Hollywood blacklist, Roman Holiday was filmed on location in Rome and has long sat within the Hollywood pantheon of all-time greats. It follows the unexpected and instantly deep connection between an incognito European princess and a charming American reporter. Over the course of a single, whirlwind day the pair embark on an enchanting (and often silly) tour of one of the world’s most iconic cities, zooming through the ancient streets on the 20th century Italian version of a fairytale steed: a Vespa motor scooter.  

 

It’s classic movie escapism with a hint of melancholy that will surely find its place in your heart. 

 

 

 

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

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Fargo (1996) 30th Anniversary Screening
Jan
10
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Fargo (1996) 30th Anniversary Screening

TICKETS

Sat. Jan. 10 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 37min | R | Crime/Thriller | USA 

 

 

Didya hear the one ‘bout the funny lookin’ fella, the real super lady detective, and the woodchipper?   

  

It’s called Fargo and, oh jeez, whadya know? It’s playing at the Senate Theater for a 30th anniversary screening!  

  

Revolving around the bloody consequences of a foolhardy kidnapping scheme, Fargo was a hit with critics and audiences, earning this modest but masterful film a pile of accolades and a lucrative run at the box office. Since its release, the Coen Brothers’ witty neo-noir thriller has evolved from a popular phenomenon to a revered modern classic.   

  

It's a potent mixture of rich and folksy characterization, memorable quotations, and an unnerving combination of farce and senseless violence—not to mention iconic turns from stars Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, and Steve Buscemi. And in the preceding three decades it has proven to be endlessly rewatchable, a superlative entertainment that nevertheless reveals the bleak but alluring depths of humanity—the primordial corruption that lives within and permeates the vast, metaphysical plains that separate us all.  

  

It’s a darn tootin’ good movie, dontcha know! 

 

 

 

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

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Morocco (1930)
Jan
3
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Morocco (1930)

TICKETS

Sat. Jan. 3 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 31min | NR | Drama/Romance | USA 

 

 

Sure, you’ve seen the old black and white classics, but have you born witness to “Forbidden Hollywood?” 

 

Kick off your new year right, (and oh, so delightfully wrong) with a cinematic journey into the salacious, controversial, and provocative pre-code era of American movies with Josef von Sternberg’s Morocco!  

 

Starring the singularly iconoclastic Marlene Dietrich and the singularly tall and handsome Gary Cooper, this torrid tale of love and lust against the backdrop of colonial conflict defiantly walked on the very edge of acceptability. Its frank representation of sexuality and boundary pushing exploration of gender norms made it a hit with audiences of the 1930s. And, wooing the critics and fellow filmmakers, it’s masterful blending of audio and visual storytelling confidently bridged the gap between the silent and sound eras of filmmaking.  

 

In short, it was and remains an artistic and technical triumph, as bold as it is beautiful. Don’t miss it! 

 

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

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Scrooged (1988)
Dec
20
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Scrooged (1988)

TICKETS

Scrooged (1988) 

 

Sat. Dec. 20 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 40min | PG-13 | Comedy/Fantasy | USA 

 

Cutthroat TV executive Frank Cross doesn’t know the meaning of Christmas. Focused solely upon his personal ambitions, he is as uncaring and callous as Ebeneezer Scrooge.  

 

Only a quadruple haunting will allow him to see the error of his ways.  

 

In the tradition of It’s A Wonderful Life, Scrooged, starring Bill Murray was met by mixed to negative reviews from critics who were put off by the film's juxtaposition of sentimentality and cynicism. But ultimately filmgoers recognized this Reagan era retelling of Dickens’ classic as a worthy addition to the Yuletide cinematic canon. At its heart it is a tale of hope, declaring joyfully that even in a world under siege by nastiness and greed the goodness in us all can always be rekindled.  

 

Whether you’re a Victorian merchant or a Me Generation media executive, there’s nothing like a metaphysical exploration of your empathy deficit to really kick start your shriveled conscience. Come to the Senate for proof this holiday season! 

 

 

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

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Holiday Organ Pops Concert Featuring Tim Schramm
Dec
14
3:00 PM15:00
Concerts

Holiday Organ Pops Concert Featuring Tim Schramm

TICKETS

Doors - 2:00 PM 
Concert - 3:00 PM 
Tickets - $17 

Christmas cookie exchange in the concessions lobby at intermission!

 

 

'Tis the season to listen to holiday music, and there's no better instrument to provide that festive soundtrack than a Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. (Okay, we're biased, but we think you'll agree!) That's right, we're carrying on tradition by closing out the 2025 Organ Pops Concert series at the Senate with a Christmas concert. This year we are featuring the connoisseur of the console, Tim Schramm with an innovative multi-media presentation providing a new type of theater organ experience! 

 

About the Artist: 

Tim Schramm is a native of Rochester, NY and is no stranger to the piano & organ. He showed a keen interest in and started playing the piano at the age of six. At the age of ten he attended his first organ concert and it was love at first sight! Since that day the organ has become his passion. Tim played his first church service at the age of eleven. 
 
Tim is currently Director of Music Ministries and organist at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Newark, NY. Tim has retired from the Rochester City School District where he was a full-time choir accompanist at The School of the Arts. Tim has been House Organist for Shea’s Buffalo Theater where he played their celebrated Wurlitzer. He is currently House Organist for the Rochester Broadway Theater League’s Auditorium Center and has served on the board of the Rochester Theatre Organ Society for many years as their Program Chair. 
 
Tim has traveled extensively giving concerts throughout the US as well as Canada & England. 

 

 

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 

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Rankin/Bass Holiday Shorts FREE 12 AND UNDER MATINEE SCREENING
Dec
13
3:00 PM15:00
Movie

Rankin/Bass Holiday Shorts FREE 12 AND UNDER MATINEE SCREENING

TICKETS

Rankin/Bass Holiday Shorts FREE 12 AND UNDER MATINEE SCREENING

 

Sat. Dec. 13 

Doors – 2:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 2:30 PM  

Films – 3:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974) 

25min | NR | Family | USA 

A Year Without a Santa Clause (1974) 

51min | NR | Family | USA 

 

 Get into the spirit of the season at the Senate Theater with two animated Christmas classics from Rankin/Bass productions, the studio that brought you Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! This matinee event will be free for anyone 12 and under. Children of all ages can expect to encounter a very special—and jolly—guest who would love to hear what you want under your Christmas tree this year! 

We’re excited to share in the holiday magic with you. These two films about rediscovering the power of generosity and the joy of believing, (plus a very sensitive Santa Claus) will equally delight nostalgia seekers, animation lovers, and children of all ages.  

You and your family don’t want to miss these classic and original Christmas songs, the signature  
“animagic” style, and especially the one-of-a-kind strangeness of Heat Miser and Snow Miser, troll-like keepers of the elements.  

See you at the Senate!  And don’t forget to bring your Christmas cheer. Santa Claus is counting on you! 

 

 

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

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The Moth Detroit GrandSLAM Championship SOLD OUT!
Dec
12
7:00 PM19:00
Community Events

The Moth Detroit GrandSLAM Championship SOLD OUT!

SOLD OUT!

Doors 7 p.m.

Organ Overture 7:30 p.m.

Stories Begin 8 p.m.

The Moth presents the Detroit GrandSLAM, a battle of wits and words - fierce, hilarious, heartbreaking and all points between.

The Moth is dedicated to finding people from all walks of life to tell inspired stories. At The Moth StorySLAM, those people find us. On this night, winners from our StorySLAM series compete to determine The Detroit GrandSLAM Story Champion.

Tonight's theme is COMFORT ZONE

Listen as ten StorySLAM champs tell tales of awkward encounters, ouchy revelations or finally landing on the sweet spot where everything finally feels like home. The caterpillar is probably comfy in the cocoon but once she busts a move? Moth Wings!

About the Moth: The Moth is true stories, told live and without notes. As an organization, it celebrates the ability of stories to honor the diversity and commonality of the human experience. This curated live event features 10 storytellers who share true stories on an array of topics, creating an experience that is intimate, inspiring, captivating, theatrical, and enlightening.

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Ballet Folklórico De Detroit Annual Holiday Concert
Dec
7
1:00 PM13:00
Community Events, Concerts

Ballet Folklórico De Detroit Annual Holiday Concert

Learn more

Ballet Folklórico De Detroit is a volunteer run organization that provides affordable dance classes to the community. Join us for their annual holiday concert of traditional Mexican folk dancing,

Ballet folklórico, traditional Mexican folk dancing, is not any one style of dance, but rather, the  combination of traditional indigenous roots mixed with African, Spanish or other European styles.  Ballet folklórico encompasses all of these various traditional, regional and ethnically diverse dances.

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1969: Killers, Freaks, and Radicals
Dec
5
7:30 PM19:30
Movie

1969: Killers, Freaks, and Radicals

TICKETS

Detroit Premiere! Locally Produced Documentary!

Fri. Dec. 5

Doors – 6:30 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:00 PM  

Film – 7:30 PM

Director Q&A to follow film

Tickets - $12  

1hr 51min | NR | Documentary | USA 

Amid the radical politics and cultural upheaval of the late 1960s, a series of brutal murders targeting young women gripped the twin university towns of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan. This independent and locally-made documentary examines not just a series of crimes, but the social and political tensions that enabled them—many of which still resonate today. Followed by a Q+A with Director Andrew Templeton.

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

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A Higher Power Film and Cast & Crew Q&A
Nov
29
9:00 PM21:00
Community Events, Movie

A Higher Power Film and Cast & Crew Q&A

TICKETS

Sat. Nov 29

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Cast/Crew Q&A – 8:00 PM

Film – 9:00 PM  

This is the Detroit premiere of a brand new classic of Chicano cinema!

Starring Mr. Homicide, Pete Vásquez, Angel Salazar, Omar Gooding and Panchito Gómez, this film unites icons from Blood in Blood Out, Mi Vida Loca, Scarface, Colors, American Me, and more.

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A Higher Power
Nov
29
5:00 PM17:00
Community Events, Movie

A Higher Power

TICKETS

Sat. Nov 29

Doors – 4:00 PM  

Film – 5:00 PM  

This is the Detroit premiere of a brand new classic of Chicano cinema!

Starring Mr. Homicide, Pete Vásquez, Angel Salazar, Omar Gooding and Panchito Gómez, this film unites icons from Blood in Blood Out, Mi Vida Loca, Scarface, Colors, American Me, and more.

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In Sequence — A Premiere Showcase of the Detroit Narrative Agency ’24-25 Fellowship Films
Nov
21
7:00 PM19:00
Movie, Community Events

In Sequence — A Premiere Showcase of the Detroit Narrative Agency ’24-25 Fellowship Films

Friday, November 21, 2025 | 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Doors — 7:00 p.m.

Organ Overture — 7:30 p.m.

Films — 8:00 p.m.

1hr | Mini Q&A to Follow
Tickets — Free with RSVP | Limited Tickets Available | Donations with RSVP support Senate Theater preservation

A Red Carpet Event

RSVP

The Detroit Narrative Agency (DNA) proudly presents In Sequence, the highly anticipated premiere of its 2024–2025 Film Fellows — four visionary filmmakers whose short films explore lineage, identity, and legacy through a distinctly Detroit lens. The premiere will be held at the historic Senate Theatre, where audiences will experience a powerful collection of original films that reflect the spirit, complexity, and creativity of Detroit’s storytelling tradition.

The 2024–2025 DNA Film Fellowship supports emerging filmmakers of color in Metro Detroit in developing, producing, and premiering deeply personal films that challenge dominant narratives and expand cinematic language.

“At DNA, we believe that narrative power belongs in the hands of the people living the stories. This cohort represents the future of Detroit cinema — bold, diverse, and deeply intentional about the stories they tell and who they tell them for.”
— Ashley Calhoun, Interim Executive Artistic Director, Detroit Narrative Agency

The Films

To Move in My Mother’s Prayers

Director: Diop Russell | Producer: Leah Hill
A rebellious, nonbinary teenager wrestles with their hardworking single mom over joining the Legacy League—an elite organization for high school girls.

Heaven in Detroit

Director: Chris “INPAQ” Sutton | Producer: Miles N. Reuben
After the unexpected loss of his mother, a young house-head searches for his own sense of paradise and purpose on the last night of Detroit’s iconic LGBT+ sanctuary—Club Heaven. 

MIN EEDI | From My Hand

Director: Costa Kazaleh Sirdenis | Producer: Frisly Soberanis
After the sudden loss of his Mother from cancer in 2022, a Palestinian American artist recalls and reaffirms his Mother’s life from Palestine to Detroit. Min Eedi exists to reflect the family's extensive material archive of his Mother, and the memory that exists of her within the realms of grieving.

Until It Feels Like Worship

Director: Ifayomí Christine | Producer: Nina Young
Isolated by years of grief, a woman allows the wisdom of her ancestors to guide her into a living practice of joy, ritual, and connection. 

About Detroit Narrative Agency

Founded in 2015 by ill weaver and adrienne maree brown, with support from Jeanette Lee of Allied Media Projects, the Detroit Narrative Agency (DNA) was created to disrupt harmful and incomplete stories about Detroit. For decades, mainstream narratives have portrayed the city as broken or in need of saving—first through deficit and later through gentrified “revival.” DNA exists to amplify the Detroit that has always been saving itself: the Detroit rooted in resistance, creativity, and collective power.

Through mentorship, funding, and hands-on production opportunities, DNA supports Black, Indigenous, and People of Color filmmakers in telling authentic, community-centered stories. The agency is building a film and media ecosystem that reflects Detroit’s brilliance—locally and globally.



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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) MATINEE SCREENING!
Nov
8
3:00 PM15:00
Movie

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) MATINEE SCREENING!

TICKETS

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) 

 

Sat. Nov 8 

Doors – 2:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 2:30 PM  

Film – 3:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 33min |PG| Family/Action | Hong Kong/USA 

 

 Something is a-Foot at the Senate. Only turtle power and a rat with sage advice can keep it bay. 

 

No, we’re not making a funny here. We’re going to party like it’s 1990 with a totally radical matinee screening of 1990s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! 

 

This martial arts comedy about radioactive brothers fighting crime in New York City will make you want to shout, “cowabunga!” Marking the theatrical debut of the world’s foremost band of wise-cracking reptilian mutants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was one of the most successful independent films ever released.  

 

Its success lies not just in the satisfying action and rebellious attitude, but in the endearing and whimsical production design, with iconic costumes designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Which is why we invited our special guest for the afternoon, Ninja Turtle superfan Michele Ivey. Her passion for the Turtles led her to amass an impressive collection of related memorabilia, which will be on display in our lobby for your viewing pleasure before the film and at intermission!  

 

See you there, dudes and dudettes!  

 

 

 

About our special guest: 

 

Michele Ivey is best known for her appearances on TV shows such as VH1’s Totally Obsessed, Anderson Cooper Live, and FANatical. She can also be seen in documentaries such as The Turtle Power Documentary and The Toys That Made Us. All these series focus on her passion for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.   

 

Michele became a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1989, and kept pushing her fandom to whole new levels as she did children birthday parties, going backstage at their live concerts, visiting the set of the Next Mutation TV series, and making friends with the behind the scenes talent. She even worked on a few official TMNT projects from a Next Mutation Sticker Album to the 2007 TMNT Movie.  

 

As a loud Ninja Turtle fan, Michele finds all fans are equal and feels that the unique items in her collection should be out there for all the fandom. She brings her collection to conventions, galleries, and other events to share with the fandom. She also shares even more through her YouTube show “Cowabunga Corner”, with reviews, event coverage, and interviews with fans and the talent behind TMNT!  

 

Come by to see some of Michele’s collection of Ninja Turtle history from the merchandise you could find at the stores to original production items like original comic and animation artwork, rare toys, and movie props. While none of her collection is for sale, she’s happy to display and share the history of TMNT, and learn more from fellow fans.   

 

 

 

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

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Organ Pops Concert Featuring Justin Stahl
Nov
2
3:00 PM15:00
Concerts

Organ Pops Concert Featuring Justin Stahl

TICKETS

Organ Pops Concert Featuring Justin Stahl 

 

Sunday, Nov. 2 

Doors - 2:00 PM  

Concert - 3:00 PM  

Tickets - $17  

  

The Detroit Theater Organ Society’s long running Organ Pops Concert series continues the 2025 season with yet another afternoon of songs and splendor at the Senate. This time around we’re combining the power of our Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ, (the eighth largest ever constructed) with the diverse musical talents of organist, Justin Stahl! Don’t miss your chance to experience the majesty, nuance and diversity of sounds that only a theater pipe organ can provide.  

 

 

 

About the Artist: 

Justin Stahl is a native of Beech Grove, Indiana. Beginning at age five with the encouragement of his great-grandfather, Justin was mostly self-taught in piano and organ. His passion for music has reached many venues that have included accompanying for several choral departments, contributing as his church's music director, playing for community theatre, and serving for over twelve years in the Indiana Army National Guard's 38th Infantry Division Band. 

Justin has most recently entertained thousands of patrons of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in the last three productions of their annual Yuletide Celebration, playing the 3/24 Wurlitzer installed at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. Theatre organ has always been an "advanced hobby" of Justin's and it has taken him to performance venues in Birmingham, Detroit, Boston, Joliet, and Erie. Most recently, Justin was a featured artist at the 59th American Theatre Organ Society Convention held in Indianapolis. 

A graduate of Marian University with a Bachelor's degree in piano performance, Justin taught at the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, where he served as a choral director. His approach and philosophy includes the continued promotion of the theatre organ by using a wide base of musical genres. 

 

 

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 a gated parking lot on Gilbert St., behind the theater. 

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Encounters of the Spooky Kind (1980)
Nov
1
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Encounters of the Spooky Kind (1980)

TICKETS

Encounters of the Spooky Kind (1980) 

 

Sat. Nov 1 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

1hr 42min |R| Martial Arts/Horror/Comedy | Hong Kong 

 

 

 Sorcery and possession. Ghosts and zombies. High kicks and hijinks.   

 

. . . A hopping vampire?  

 

It’s the trailblazing action horror comedy kung fu mashup, Encounters of the Spooky Kind, written, directed and starring Hong Kong legend, Sammo Hung! Released on the cusp of a long string of hits for Hung, (including several action comedies with his drama academy classmate, Jackie Chan) this sensational martial arts romp follows the exploits of Bold Cheung, a hapless rickshaw driver facing haunted temples, monsters in various stages of decomposition, an unfriendly sorcerer, and his unfaithful wife.  

 

With timing and finesse, (both in the comedy and fight choreography) Encounters helped set a new standard in the martial arts action comedy subgenre. And, by adding to the mix supernatural horror influenced by Chinese folklore, it even started a sub-subgenre of “hopping vampire” flicks based on the mythological jiangshi, reanimated corpses who have come to suck your. . . vital force.  

 

It’s eerie. It’s exciting. It’s absurd. It’s a lark.  

 

It’s at the Senate. 

 

 

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

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Suspiria (1977) 3rd Annual Halloween Fundraiser and Costume Party
Oct
25
6:00 PM18:00
Movie

Suspiria (1977) 3rd Annual Halloween Fundraiser and Costume Party

TICKETS

Suspiria (1977) 3rd Annual Halloween Fundraiser and Costume Party 

Sat. Oct. 25 

Doors – 6:00 PM 

DJ Adam Stanfel (aka DEATH) 6:45-7:30 PM

Spooooky Organ Overture – 7:30 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM  

1hr 35min | R | Mystery/Horror | Italy

Tickets – $10 

Costume contest 

Seasonal Vibes 

 

 

Join us for a special screening of Dario Argento’s supernatural horror classic Suspiria, a movie that synthesizes its sound and vision to such an extent it might just be about trippy colors and totally sick music. What happens on screen? Murder and magic at the intersection of ballet and an actual coven of witches. What happens in your mind? A descent into our collective, primordial terror, conjured from the mind of a cinematic sorcerer.  

All proceeds support the Senate Theater and the further restoration of our historic Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. 

In addition to our usual film screening, you can expect an Death himself as DJ, extra special spooky organ overture, vendors costume contest and eerie seasonal music. Admission starts at $10 but further donations of any amount are graciously accepted.  

Vendor List:
Cherismagikalmanifestations

Beth_amber_detroit

MichelleL. Unique Jackets

Green Brain Comics

 

 

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

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Frankenstein (1931) PLUS Silent Frankenstein (1910)
Oct
18
8:00 PM20:00
Movie

Frankenstein (1931) PLUS Silent Frankenstein (1910)

TICKETS

Frankenstein (1931) PLUS Silent Frankenstein (1910) 

 

Sat. Oct. 18 

Doors – 7:00 PM  

Organ Overture – 7:30 PM  

Films – 8:00 PM  

Tickets - $6  

Frankenstein (1910)  

Live organ accompaniment by Dave Calendine

16min |NR| Horror| USA 

Frankenstein (1931) 

1hr 11min |NR| Horror | USA 

 

Demoralizing! Gruesome! Unsuitable for the nervous! Banned for “strangeness”! Blasphemous! Morally debased! It must be 1931’s Frankenstein! 

 

Don’t miss this Universal monster classic at the Senate, starring Boris Karlof as the monster! Based on Mary Shelley’s famous gothic novel about the folly of man and the potentially destructive nature of creation, Frank Whale's adaptation was a sensational and controversial hit. Today it remains true to say IT'S ALIVE . . . with lavish photography, iconic makeup, and timeless chills and thrills!

 

And before the feature we are excited to present, with live organ accompaniment from Dave Calendine, a short silent film version of this familiar tale. Produced in 1910 by Thomas Edison’s Edison Studios, this one-reeler is a very loose but fascinating adaptation. It is the very first screen appearance of Frankenstein and a great chance to behold a feat of early 20th century technology, the Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ in action! 

 

 

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 

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