Free Halloween Double Feature and “Lost Theatres” Exhibit at Mudflat Studio
SOMERVILLE, Mass. – To mark the 100th anniversary of the grand opening of the Broadway Theatre, Mudflat Studio – the ceramic arts school and studio that now occupies the theater’s building – will host a series of special events in October that explore and celebrate the legacy of cinema, arts and entertainment in East Somerville.
Events range from a free Halloween-themed double feature on Oct. 24 that mixes thrills and chills to an intriguing exhibit exploring the heyday of Somerville’s beloved neighborhood theaters.
The Broadway Theatre opened in November of 1915 amid much acclaim, offering both films and live acts, as was then typical of movie theaters. After closing in 1982, the building served as a warehouse until it was purchased and renovated by Mudflat Studio, a 44-year-old non-profit school and studio for the ceramic arts. In 2011 Mudflat moved into the building, which retains traces of its former theatrical grandeur, including a striking proscenium arch from which the movie screen once hung.
“We wanted to honor the building’s history by bringing back cinema for the night,” said Angela Cunningham, Mudflat Studio board president. “This theater was once the social heart of the neighborhood and Mudflat has carried on the legacy of community and arts.”
In a Halloween treat for the whole family, Mudflat Studio will show the beloved 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland, on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m. Sing along with Dorothy and her traveling companions or munch on free popcorn. Face painting begins at 3 p.m. and costumes are welcome.
At 7 p.m., the landmark silent horror film, “Nosferatu,” which has terrified audiences since 1922, will be shown. Organist Jeff Rapsis, one of the nation’s leading silent film accompanists, will provide a live score for the film. Made when vampires were terrifying not romantic, this special screening of “Nosferatu” would be a perfect date night for the Thriller Generation. The 2013 HD restored version of the original movie – which was the first filmed version of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” – will be screened.
The double feature is co-sponsored by the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.
The 100th anniversary celebration kicks off Oct. 20 with an exhibit at Mudflat on “The Lost Theatres of Somerville,” which chronicles the history of Somerville’s 14 theaters with photographs, movie posters and artifacts on loan from the Somerville Museum, Tufts University anthropologist Dr. David Guss, and the Somerville Theater. A reception will be held Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. The exhibit continues through Oct. 31.
All events are free and open to the public. Mudflat Studio is located at 81 Broadway in Somerville. For more information, see: http://www.mudflat.org or https://www.facebook.com/events/1630160280575309/ call 617-628-0589.
Description: Macintosh HD:Users:stephanieschorow:Desktop:logomudfalt.jpgMudflat is a nonprofit 501(C)3 organization offering the greater Boston community a unique opportunity for clay work and play since 1971. Now located in the renovated Broadway Theatre in Somerville, Mudflat promotes and expands appreciation of and participation in the ceramic arts, offering classes, workshops, outreach programming and events for students of all ages, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. http://www.mudflat.org.
