The Ambler Theater celebrated 90th Birthday with special screening
The Ambler Theater celebrated 90 years on Tuesday night October 23rd with a special 35mm screening of Our Dancing Daughters, a report on the state of the theater, and, of course, birthday cake. The evening was also a celebration of 15 years since the Ambler reopened as a nonprofit, a key piece in the revitalization of Ambler Borough.
2018 Member Meeting
The screening was preceded by the theater’s annual Member Meeting and release of the 2018 Annual Report. Co-Director Chris Collier presented the meeting noting some of the theater’s successes over the past year. Programming highlights included the Breaking the Celluloid Ceiling series honoring Ida Lupino and women behind the camera, the inaugural 35mm Festival held in April, and increased attendance at our educational and local filmmaker events, specifically our Film 101 and First Wednesday Discussion programs.
Another bright spot over the past year was the incredibly successful Summer Membership Drive. The goal of 200 first time members between Memorial Day and Labor Day was not only met, but both stretch goals added were also met and exceeded. At the end of the summer we finished the drive with 326 new members. The Ambler now has over 9,500 members!
Collier also noted that the theater is on solid financial standing due to a year of great films and the support of our members and donors. This year we were able to make needed improvements to the theater’s roof and masonry. (The theater is 90 years old after all!) He also remarked on the plans to add a fourth screen to the theater, converting property that is currently occupied by Launch or Land. This project is still a couple years in the future, but would mean a greater variety of films and special events at the theater once it is completed.
The Main Event: “Our Dancing Daughters”
Our Dancing Daughters was the first film to play at the Ambler on opening night December 31, 1928. The movie stars Joan Crawford as a flamboyant flapper competing with a scheming friend for the affection of a wealthy, eligible bachelor. Bringing it back to the theater was a special treat made even more special by the fact that it was presented on 35mm film with a live accompanist Ben Model.
Model is one of the nation’s leading silent film accompanists, and performs on both piano and theatre organ. He is a resident film accompanist at the Museum of Modern Art (NY) and at the Library of Congress’ Packard Campus Theatre, and performs at theaters, museums, schools and other venues around the US and internationally. And over the past 35+ years Model has created and performed live scores for several hundred silent films — lasting anywhere from one minute to five hours.
You can read more about Model and his craft and approach to scoring films in our Five Questions With Ben Model post.
The film was preceded by a rare silent short, also accompanied by Model, “Dinky Doodle and Little Red Riding Hood” from 1925. The film was donated to the Library of Congress by Lou DiCrescenzo and the copy screened was possibly one of the only copies of the film remaining.
Historical Slideshow 1928–2018
Before the screening, the audience was treated to a special slideshow documenting the history of the Ambler Theater. We have shared it with you below. Enjoy! And thanks for helping us celebrate this momentous birthday.
