El Capitan screening of silent film Peter Pan and an Alice comedy
Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre to Play Host to 1924 Silent Classic 'Peter Pan' On April 29th; Dennis James Set to Accompany on the Mighty Wurlitzer Tuesday, April 18, 2000 03:45 PM
Hollywood's classic movie palace, The El Capitan Theatre, will salute the silent era with a special April 29th program featuring a restored version of the 1924 classic, "Peter Pan," accompanied by house organist Dennis James playing the original score on the Mighty Wurlitzer, it was announced today (4/18) by Richard Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group. The film will screen one-time only on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Also on the bill will be a rare showing of Walt Disney's 1924 silent cartoon short, "Alice's Wild West Show." Among the evening's other highlights, noted film historian/critic Leonard Maltin will introduce the program and talk with Virginia Davis McGhee, who played Alice in the original Disney series. This program marks the legendary theatre's first silent film presentation and provides an ideal showcase for it's Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Admission price for this special event will be $12. For further information or to purchase tickets in advance, call 1-800-DISNEY6.
Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, "Ever since we restored and installed 'the Mightiest of the Mighty Wurlitzers' at the El Capitan Theatre last June, we've been wanting to do an evening devoted to the great silent films. 'Peter Pan' is one of the best and a great treat for audiences of all ages. We're also thrilled to be showing one of Walt Disney's very first Hollywood efforts and to have the film's star, Gini McGhee, with us to discuss it. Leonard Maltin has graciously agreed to host this wonderful evening, which we hope will be the first of many."
Originally released in 1924, "Peter Pan" was directed by Herbert Brenon and starred Mary Brian as Wendy and Betty Bronson as Peter Pan. The production had the personal approval of author James M. Barrie and was a huge success, earning $2 million in its theatrical release. Walt Disney is said to have admired the film and purchased it in 1938 when he began development of his animated feature. He proudly invited Brenon to the 1953 debut of "Peter Pan." The 1924 production of "Peter Pan" was restored by The Walt Disney Company in cooperation with the George Eastman House in 1996, working from the only known original 35mm tinted nitrate print.
The El Capitan's Mighty Wurlitzer, which made its debut last June, is the last of only five magnificent "Fox Specials" built in the 1920s. Originally installed in 1929 at the San Francisco Fox Theatre and subsequently purchased by Frank Lanterman in 1963 for his home in La Canada, it is considered the top of the line in theatre organs and was designed with all the "bells and whistles" for movie palaces. Three other "Fox Specials" are currently in use in St. Louis, Detroit and Wichita. For its new home at the El Capitan, the Mighty Wurlitzer required the installation of 2500 pipes in four chambers -- two on each side of the theatre. The largest pipe is over 32-feet long.
Dennis James, an internationally renowned musician who serves as the El Capitan's house organist, will accompany "Peter Pan" and the "Alice" short on the spectacular 4/37 Wurlitzer (four keyboards, 37 ranks of pipes each of which represents a different musical instrument).
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-- Posted: April 19, 2000
Source: Company Press release