At one time in America every town large and small coveted an auditorium of some sort for entertainment-the play was the thing. As the twentieth century unfolded the places of entertainment turned into palaces of fine art, screening beautiful silent motion pictures accompanied by live music. This unbeatable combination enticed the public to fall in love with the luminous shadows on the silver screen.
Extinction sounds too frighteningly grim, but it's almost true.
Fortunately there are more silent film revivals happening all over the world. Film art houses and museums, as well as some university archives will occasionally run retrospectives on many silent personalities. However, there is one rare bird that has escaped extinction. The Silent Movie Showcase , in Los Angeles, California, and just a pie throw from the heart of Hollywood, screens silent movies, with occasional talkies by crossover artists. From three to seven times a week, the greats live again on the big screen with live accompaniment, oft times provided by an organist who played the real silent palaces when they were in full flower.