Orpheum Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
The Los Angeles Theatre Organ Society presents the 1922 silent movie Beyond the Rocks, starring Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino, with live theatre organ accompaniment by Robert Salisbury. Swanson plays an elegant young woman who marries a wealthy older man and falls in love with a dashing young nobleman (Valentino) while on her honeymoon.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
All dates for this event have expired.
The last event was Friday January 12, 2007 / 8:00pm. (view all dates)
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spooky
A very special one of a kind evening.
This was one of those unexpected delights....a truly special evening! Parking next door to the theater was perfect. Downtown L. A. looked better than ever and the Orpheum theater was a revelation. I had not been there since I was a young man, many years ago. The renovation was, obviously, a grand success. The theater was immaculate, the seats were new and comfortable and the staff was friendly, polite and helpful. The concert before the screening was fun and the old songs played on that wonderful instrument were worth the price of admission. I am not a great organ buff, but quality always wins out and I enjoyed every note. The movie was a hoot and the gentleman who accompanied it on the organ was a master of timing, cleverness and musicianship. We were delighted and would gladly go to another event there!
Once again - good price, great show, no hassles picking up my tickets. I would highly suggest that anyone who has a chance to see ANYTHING in this theatre - GO GO GO!!!. The restoration is beautiful. This particular event was wonderful. Hope they have another. Thank you kindly.
When planning began in 1923 for the Orpheum Theatre as the fourth and final house operated by the Orpheum vaudeville circuit in Los Angeles, who could have foretold the memories this magnificent venue would harbor over the years.
Since its February 15, 1926 opening, the Orpheum has played host to some of the most venerable names in show business - from burlesque queen Sally Rand, ... More
Paramount Pictures knew they had a hit on their hand with Beyond the Rocks. Gloria Swanson was already good friends with Rudolph Valentino, who was the matinee idol of the time. Swanson portrays an elegant young woman who marries an older millionaire and then falls in love with a dashingly handsome nobleman (Valentino) on her honeymoon. Director Sam Wood used his experience with Cecil B. De Mille and infused the story with several "flashback" episodes so the characters could be resplendent in period costumes. There is hardly a corner of Europe that isn’t touched in the film. Each change of location means a corresponding change of costume for Valentino, who makes at least twelve changes, including haircuts. Swanson matches each with a decadent ensemble of her own.
For many years, Beyond the Rocks was presumed to have been lost forever. Gloria Swanson herself became obsessed in the later years of her life searching in vain for a copy of the film. Then on April 17, 2004, Nederlands Filmmuseum made the stunning announcement that they had recovered the film. A Dutch film collector who passed away four years prior left more than 2,000 reels of vintage film prints to the museum. All six reels of Beyond the Rocks were present in the collection. The film has been digitally restored, leaving two short segments showing the deterioration of the print from which it was restored.
The accompanist for this historic film will be Bob Salisbury, who for many years played the Page Theatre Organ in The Casino Avalon Theatre on Catalina Island.
There will be pre-show organ music by Shirley Obert.
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