Silents at the Senate – Safety Last (1923) 100th Anniversary Screening 

Sat. Apr. 1 

Doors – 7:00 PM 

Film – 8:00 PM 

Tickets - $12 

1hr 20min | NR | Slapstick/Romance| USA  

Ask Father short film  

13min | NR | Slapstick/Romance| USA 

Harold Lloyd, one of the titans of silent slapstick comedy, was known for his exhilarating stunts, fast-paced chase scenes, and the high-energy, go-getting, bespectacled characters he so often played. He was also a man who lost a thumb and forefinger to a bomb mistaken for a prop and has been first and foremost remembered for this film, Safety Last.  

Go figure. 

Yes, Lloyd may have had a dubious commitment to safety. But if he played it safe, we might not have this opportunity to celebrate the centennial of his most famous work, featuring one of the most iconic sequences of all time. The film follows a small-town guy, (Lloyd) as he fumblingly attempts to make his way in the big city so that he can earn the hand of his sweetheart. In the course of this striving hijinks ensue, and at one point Lloyd scales a skyscraper and dangles perilously from the hands of its giant clock.  

So, what we’re saying is it’s a zany good time, made all the zanier by organist Andrew Rogers’ expert comedic timing at our Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ! Which, according to Harold Lloyd himself, is exactly the kind of instrument to accompany his film. Lloyd once said, “I just don’t like pictures played with pianos. We never intended them to be played with pianos,” even refusing to allow screenings if an organ wasn’t available, an opinion we can’t help but appreciate. 

The show will also include the Harold Lloyd short film, Ask Father. And remember to stick around after the show for a chance to ask the organist a question and take a tour of the organ pipe chambers. This is a rare opportunity to get an up-close look at the inner workings of this marvelous musical machine!  

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.