PaperHouse Theatre
presents
at
Classic Silent films
With Live Accompaniment
Upcoming Shows
Sunday
August 23rd:
Sunday
September 27th:
Sunday
October 25th:
Held on the fourth Sunday of each month at 1:00 PM, each program features a curated selection of classic silent shorts or a feature presentation. Every screening includes a brief introduction to provide context and create a relaxed, welcoming environment to experience cinema from 100 years ago.
As part of VisArt’s education programming, each event also includes a zine-style handout with essays, images, and notes that expand on the film’s history and significance.
Whether you’re new to silent film or a longtime fan, this series offers a cool, casual atmosphere to immerse yourself in these one-of-a-kind works of visual storytelling, all in the intimate screening room at the back of VisArt Video.
The adjacent VisArt Café will be open before, during, and after the screenings, offering espresso, tea, beer, wine, sodas, snacks, baked goods, and items from their lunch menu. Feel free to bring your refreshments into the theater to enjoy during the film.
Sunday, August 23 at 1pm
"The Bat" (1926)
Featuring live improvised accompaniment by Charlotte musician MonaLisa Musiq
A mysterious criminal known only as "The Bat" stalks a sprawling country mansion where a group of strangers search for a hidden fortune. Filled with secret passages, suspicious characters, eerie atmosphere, unexpected laughs, and ingenious twists, this fast-paced silent classic helped define the "old dark house" mystery, influencing generations of suspense films, mysteries, and even the creation of Gotham City's famous caped crusader.
This screening features Undercrank Productions' acclaimed 2K restoration.
Silent Cinema Café celebrates the magic of silent film as it was originally experienced: on the big screen with live musical accompaniment. Whether you're a longtime silent film enthusiast or discovering these classics for the first time, this is a unique opportunity to experience one of silent cinema's most entertaining mystery thrillers in a lively communal setting.
Sunday, June 28th at 1pm
Marion Davies in
Beverly of Graustark (1926)
Featuring live improvised accompaniment by Charlotte musician Kate Bankston.
In one of her most charming and energetic performances, Marion Davies stars as an American college student who must masquerade as a prince to save the kingdom of Graustark. The result is a delightfully gender-bending romantic comedy packed with mistaken identities, political intrigue, cross-dressing hijinks, swordfights, chases, and unexpected romance.
This screening will feature the acclaimed 4K restoration from the Library of Congress, presented courtesy of Undercrank Productions, our June Silent Cinema Café sponsor.
Silent Cinema Café celebrates the magic of silent film as it was originally experienced: on the big screen with live musical accompaniment. Whether you're a longtime silent film enthusiast or discovering these classics for the first time, this is a unique opportunity to experience one of the silent era's most charismatic stars in a lively communal setting.
The Venue
Each screening will take place in the intimate screening room located in the back of the legendary VisArt Video. A landmark of Charlotte's East Side, Charlotte's only surviving video store is conveniently located near Plaza-Midwood and many preshow dinning options in the Eastway Crossing shopping center