presents

“ALL FOR LOVE”
Silent Films with Live Musical Accompaniment

Auditorium, APS Conference Center, Argonne National Laboratory

Friday February 10, 2006 at 7:30 p.m.

[Mabel Normand and Roscoe Arbuckle] [Mary Pickford] [Walter Hiers and Dorothy Devore]
Mabel Normand and Roscoe Arbuckle Mary Pickford Walter Hiers and Dorothy Devore

More on the program, the artist, the location, and ordering tickets below.

This program is partially supported by The University of Chicago and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency

  • About the Program

    • The silent films selected for this evening's performance all deal, one way or another, with the trials and tribulations of love — in particular, the incredible complications that may ensue for those caught in its throes. Watch what happens when jealousy dampens (quite literally) Mabel and “Fatty's ” honeymoon. See how Mary Pickford deals with the hostility of potential rivals. Peer into the future (through the lens of the 1920s) to see the evolution of marriage! And hold your breath as sweet Dorothy Devore, intent on bringing home the bacon for her family, teeters on the brink of disaster!

  • About the Artist

    • [David Drazin]
    David Drazin

    Live piano accompaniment for the films is provided by Chicago musician David Drazin, official silent-film accompanist for the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute at Chicago.

    Pianist/composer David Drazin's keyboard command and creative musical accompaniments enhance performances of film, theater, and dance. An adventurous improviser with a solid foundation in musical structure, he shifts easily from dramatic classical style to lively jazz. Mr. Drazin's repertoire includes modern and traditional jazz, boogie-woogie and blues, and original novelty compositions. He has a strong flair for Harlem stride piano style.

    A native of Cleveland, Ohio, David Drazin received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Ohio State University. He has played live improvised piano accompaniment for silent-film screenings at the Pordenone Silent Film Festival, Sacile, Italy; Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute, Chicago (where he has been staff accompanist since 1985); Silent Film Society of Chicago; Cinevent, Columbus, Ohio; Arts at Argonne, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois; North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio, Museum of Art and the Cleveland Cinematheque; and many universities, libraries, and churches.

    Mr. Drazin is notable among contemporary film accompanists for his use of 1920s-era jazz and blues, rather than classic ragtime, to play for silent comedies. His dance-accompaniment improvisational skills serve him well in developing music for dramas. He has accompanied ballet classes for Evanston School of Ballet, Gus Giordano Dance Center, Northwestern University, Hubbard Street Dance, and the Lou Conte School.

    Mr. Drazin's recordings include ballet improvisations, modern and traditional jazz, original comedy songs with vocals and piano accompaniment, and a live nightclub performance featuring Chicago blues guitar legend Floyd McDaniel.

  • Location

    • The Silent-Film Night will be presented in the Auditorium of the APS Conference Center (Bldg. 402) at Argonne. The event is open to the public. For US citizens, photo identification is required to enter the laboratory site. Non-US citizens need to register prior to the event by calling 630-252-3751 during regular working hours.

    Don't know how to reach Argonne? Confused about the layout of the laboratory site? Here are some navigational aides:

  • Tickets

    • Admission to the silent-film night is $5. Order your tickets by phone (630-252-3751); VISA and MasterCard accepted.

    Remaining tickets will be sold in the lobby of the Argonne Cafeteria (Bldg. 213) in the week of February 21 between noon and 1:00 p.m. The Auditorium Box Office will be open on the day of the performance at 7:00 p.m.

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