August 26: Roxy Rothafel: American Showman Lecture

 ROXY ROTHAFEL: AMERICAN SHOWMAN lecture with screening of 1927's 7th heaven immediately following the lecture
Sunday, August 26, 3:00pm
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
 
Co-presented with the American Cinematheque
 
"The picture business owes the better part of its existence to Sam Rothafel." - The Hollywood Reporter, 1936
 
Samuel 'Roxy' Rothafel built an enormously influential career as a film exhibitor, radio broadcaster, musical arranger, stage producer, war propagandist and international celebrity. Between 1908 and 1935, Rothafel crafted a global reputation and brand name for his elaborate motion picture presentations; helped launch the Rockettes and other stage performers and musicians to stardom; arranged Movietone scores for films such as SUNRISE, STREET ANGEL and FOUR SONS; became one of NBC's biggest stars during the 1920s and 1930s; and helped make motion pictures and radio the dominant forms of mass entertainment. Ross Melnick will discuss Rothafel's multi-faceted and multimedia career and his contributions to film exhibition and American popular culture. Film title TBA, check our website for updates.
 
Ross Melnick, assistant professor of film and media studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the author of American Showman: Samuel 'Roxy' Rothafel and the Birth of the Entertainment Industry (Columbia University Press, 2012), will discuss Rothafel’s contributions to film exhibition and American popular culture. A book signing and screening will follow the lecture.
 
7TH HEAVEN, 1927, 20th Century Fox, 110 min. Dir. Frank Borzage. Sewer worker Chico (Charles Farrell) lives in turn-of-the-century Paris. After saving young prostitute Diane (Janet Gaynor) from her enraged sister one night, Chico spontaneously claims the kind young woman is his wife when police come to investigate the incident. As Chico and Diane gradually fall in love, the ominous shadow of World War I begins to loom, putting the fate and future of the smitten new couple in serious question. This print of 7TH HEAVEN from the 20th Century Fox Film Archive will be accompanied by its Movietone soundtrack. The score was arranged by Samuel 'Roxy' Rothafel and Erno Rapee and performed by members of the 110-piece Roxy Theatre orchestra.
 
Ticket prices are $11 for the general public, ADSLA Members are $7, Seniors 65+ and Students with valid ID are $9.
To purchase tickets, please click here.

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