Our building has a history worth remembering. One filled with passion and community, but also with its darker chapters.

Long before our little theater became Brain Dead Studios, John and Dorothy Hampton owned and operated The Silent Movie Theater, a gathering spot for cinephiles and preservationists who kept the spirit of early cinema alive.

The Palace of Silents (2010)

Director: Iain Kennedy    Runtime: 80 min

We’ll begin the night with The Palace of Silents (2010), Iain Kennedy’s documentary chronicling the Silent Movie Theater’s legacy – its caretakers, its tragedies, and its resilience.

Kennedy will join us in person for a post-screening Q&A.

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Director: F.W. Murnau    Runtime: 94 min

Then we turn to F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927), presented on 35mm – the very film scheduled to play on the night of owner Lawrence Austin’s tragic death in this theater.

Tonight it returns to the screen with new life, accompanied by a live score from local electronic artists, Marc Merza and Emma Palm. The Taiwanese-American and Filipino-American duo from Los Angeles weave textured, atmospheric works—Emma layering field recordings, synths, and vocals, while Marc blends improvisation and arrangement with guitar, clarinet, and electronics. They have performed with LA Filmforum, Indexical, Clockshop, Dublab, and others, touring across the U.S. and Taiwan. For Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, they will be joined by Michael A. Flanagan and present a contemporary score of modern instrumentation and electronics to this nearly century-old film.

This night is both a history lesson and a remembrance — honoring those who came before us, acknowledging the shadows, and carrying the story forward together.

Members, apply your code for a discount!