The premiere episode of “The Silent Comedy Watch Party” streamed live on Sunday March 22 at 3:30pm EDT (New York, east coast USA). Hosted by silent film accompanist Ben Model and film historian Steve Massa, the one-hour program will present three rare slapstick comedy shorts. The films are streamed live — Ben Model accompanied them live on piano, and Steve Massa introduced the films.
For information about The Silent Comedy Watch Party and other episodes, go to the live-stream series‘ main page here.
Screened during episode #01:
- SHOT IN THE EXCITEMENT (1914) – Keystone comedy starring Al St. John, Alice Howell and Rube Miller – available on DVD here
- MEET FATHER (1924) – Mirthquake comedy with Bobby Ray, Glen Cavender, Josephine, Pete – available on DVD here
- AN EYE FOR FIGURES (1920) – Arrow comedy starring Hank Mann – unavailable on DVD
Time zone info:
- Pacific Time – 12 noon
- Mountain Time – 1pm
- Central Time – 2pm
- Eastern Time – 3pm
- Argentina Time – 4pm
- UK/England – 7pm
- Europe/Scandinavia et al – 8pm (20:00)
- Eastern Australia – 3am Monday; Western Australia – 6am Monday
- Japan (Tokyo) – 4am Monday
Two Ways You Can Help:
Who’s on First:
If you are able to support me and Steve and the work and craft we put in to be able to visit with you and bring these films to you wherever you’re watching them:
- make a one-time drop-something-in-the-hat right here
- make one every time we do a show on my Patreon page.
I’ve gotten messages from people who viewed the pilot last Sunday and wanted to know about how they could support the The Silent Comedy Watch Party. Which is wonderful. We’ve all been using YouTube for years like it was broadcast TV. But now, it’s really more like Public Television…except that anything you send in goes directly to the artist(s) instead of to the platform you’re watching them on.
What’s on Second:
I’ve created a survey you can take. It’s 7 multiple-choice questions, and your answers will help us improve the show so it’s even more appealing to you and other fans. It’ll only take you a minute or two to fill out, and it’s set up so it won’t capture your email.
I will revise this web page to include the survey right after Sunday’s episode ends.
I Don’t Know’s on Third:
This is a #3 but it’s actually something to help you out. I will always announce these shows to my email list and here on this site. If you subscribe to the blog or to my emails, you will always get a reminder or news about a show.
Steve and I will absolutely post on FB and Twitter, but those platforms’ algorithms are what they are, and even if you see a post on socials you’re going to have to find it again (if you can) at show-time for the link to watch.
Yes, do follow me on Twitter, but I highly recommend you subscribe to this blog or sign up for my emails .
Watch the premiere episode of “The Silent Comedy Watch Party”:
Click the image below to watch the show on YouTube. Our logo design is by the amazing Marlene Weisman
Episode #02
The show page for Episode #02 of The Silent Comedy Watch Party which streams Sunday, March 29 at 3:00 EDT is here.
Loved the Hank Mann but Pete the Pup stole the Show! Thanks again!
Thanks for watching! That Bobby Ray short is really great.
EXCELLENT! The last Gag is in a Semon Short with Babe as Heavy going into the Mud Puddle. Also I loved the Glen Dummy taking the Cliff Fall and of course THAT CLIFF we see in all the Silent Comedies!
How many times have we seen Babe disappear into a puddle in a silent comedy? When my daughter was younger she called the pools of water that would gather on street corners after a big rain “Ollie puddles”.
Agreed!
This was my first time watching silent films, it was really great! Thanks for setting this up :) Looking forward to next week
I’m so thrilled that you’ve discovered silent films, and that this program was your way in! See you next week.