1916 Silent Film Snow White with Live Accompaniment at Fredonia Opera House
9 Church Street, Fredonia, NY 14063
National Silent Movie Day is September 29! Join us just three days later for a special screening of the long-lost first theatrical version of Snow White (1916) with live musical accompaniment. Everyone knows Disney’s 1937 animated film classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; but few are aware that a teenage Walt Disney growing up in Kansas City saw the original silent movie of the fairy tale. It was this 1916 silent film that inspired him to blaze a path in filmmaking and make his own version 21 years later.
Seattle Harpist/Composer Leslie McMichael will perform her original score live on the concert harp for this 63-minute film, accompanied by her sister Barbara McMichael on viola. Call 716-679-1891 for information or visit www.fredopera.org
Tickets: $18, $15 (Opera House Members), $10 (Students)
The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a 390-seat restored Vaudeville theater that offers a wide range of programming including live music, theater, dance and an independent cinema series. The Opera House also presents live high-definition satellite broadcasts of opera productions from the renowned Metropolitan Opera in NYC, live theatre from the National Theatre, in London, and various special concerts and programs from various arenas and theatres around the globe.
A landmark fixture on Fredonia’s Barker Commons, the Opera House was saved from destruction in the early 1980s when the Fredonia Preservation Society (which came into existence in response to the threatened demolition) and a corps of committed volunteers undertook what was to become a nine-year restoration of the theater. At a cost of more than $1 million and with more than 30,000 volunteer hours, the Opera House was returned to its splendor and has operated year-round continually since its grand reopening in November 1994.
The recipient of a New York State Historic Preservation Award, the Opera House combines turn-of-the-century beauty and charm with modern comforts. In fact, many individuals and organizations find the Opera House an ideal venue and rent it for events, conferences, meetings and even weddings. For information on events, tours or rentals, contact the Fredonia Opera House at 716-679-0891 or visit www.fredopera.org.