the orpheum in vancouver (very old, beautiful theatre that I couldn't post about under my username for fear of doxxing myself) was playing silent films this year accompanied by an old wurlitzer organ that's literally built into the walls there, and going there has been so much fun. I feel like it really changed my appreciation for silent films and how it must have been to see them in theaters.
when phantom of the opera was playing, a woman behind me whispered "kitty!" to her friends whenever the cat appeared on screen. everybody laughed when clara bow made a guy ride the bus with her. the organist played bits of scotland the brave and yo ho ho and a bottle of rum and what do you do with a drunken sailor during the black pirate with douglas fairbanks. it's just been such an amazing, lovely experience to go to the theatre and see something beautiful and transporting, because that really was the goal, and it still feels fresh and new because you're watching people do things that haven't been done before!
if they start again this summer I highly recommend it for anyone in vancouver, and for people in other places, I recommend watching a silent film on a big screen in a dark room. it's a totally different way of experiencing it than just watching on youtube in the daytime!
oh that sounds so wonderful. good on you for going! and love that organist, they sound brilliant