In October 1926, the Senate Theater opened its doors with little fanfare; one run-of-the-mill neighborhood movie house amongst hundreds. It was saved as a by-product of rescuing the 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer, the greatest instrument ever built to accompany silent films, from destruction. One hundred years later, join us to celebrate the miracle of their existence!
Experience the past and help shape the future at two special events on Oct. 7 and Oct. 10, 2026. All proceeds benefit theater and organ restoration and renovation projects.
Party of the Century
Sat. Oct. 10, 2026
Doors @ 7 PM
Entertainment @ 8 PM
Tickets: $25-$150
Put on your 1920s glad rags and join us at Senate Theater–where 1926 meets 2026! To keep the night moving, we’ve arranged a delightfully anachronistic evening of roaring-twenties entertainment including live music and dance, a silent short film and other unexpected performances.
We promise the bathtub gin won’t make you go blind.
Party of the Century Entertainment Provided By:
Emcee Heather Sejnow and Organists John Lauter and Stephen Warner
Tap Dance Detroit
Imaginarium Circus with Jac Wright and Heather Powell
Farren Charles - Magician
Eric Scott Baker - Juggler
Buster Keaton’s One Week accompanied by John Lauter
Stephen Warner Theater Organ Showcase
Other Mommy : A Theatrical Reading of Incidents Around the House by Wowtown and Josh Malerman
Hannah Rose Hoops - Circus
Oceania Cavazos - Spoken Word
Gabriel Duran - Music
Jake Russell - Standup
Marina Casanova - Burlesque
Centennial Encore: The Volga Boatman
Wed. Oct. 7, 2026
Doors @ 6 PM
Film @ 7 PM
Tickets: $15 Click here to purchase tickets just for this event.
Exactly 100 years to-the-day the Senate Theater opened to the public, Lance Luce will accompany Cecil B. DeMille’s silent classic The Volga Boatman. It was a smash hit by a pioneering filmmaker who dominated the box office and defined American filmmaking with his sumptuous style and craftsmanship. The Bolshevik Revolution provides the action-adventure backdrop for a dramatic love story between Princess Vera and Feodor, the Volga boatman. It kicks off our new Centennial Encore series.