Revisiting the Golden Age: Silent Movie Mondays Light Up Balboa Theatre

The stars of yesteryear like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Anita Page, and Harrold Lloyd, may be long gone, but they can still be seen on the big screen.

And for anyone who loves film history or enjoys a unique cinematic experience, Silent Movie Mondays at the Balboa Theatre in San Diego are an event worth attending.

Every Monday, this series offers a glimpse into a time when films relied entirely on expressive acting, intertitles, and live music to tell their stories, without spoken dialogue.

Silent Movie Mondays came to fruition as part of the ongoing celebration of the Balboa Theatre’s 100th anniversary, inspired by the desire to return to its roots as a silent cinema house with live organ accompaniment. The series highlights the theatre’s rich history, including its unique status as home to one of the few remaining Wonder Morton organs.

“San Diego Theatres is committed to preserving the tradition of organ music and making it accessible to the public, pairing top organists with classic silent films to offer an immersive entertainment experience. The 2024 series will run over five nights, from October to April 2025,” said San Diego Theatres Marketing Manager Corie Fiebiger.

For Halloween and Series Kick-off

The series kicks off with a hauntingly exciting Halloween-themed screening of The Phantom of the Opera (1925), featuring Lon Chaney, on Oct. 28. This iconic film will immerse audiences in a world of eerie elegance and haunting melodies, setting the perfect mood for the season. The iconic horror masterpiece, known for its gothic sets and legendary performances, will be accompanied by live organ music performed by renowned San Diego organist Russ Peck. In addition to the screening, the evening will feature a special post-film discussion led by Tonya Mantooth, CEO and artistic director of the San Diego International Film Festival, diving into the film’s cultural and cinematic significance.

“As we celebrate 100 years of the Balboa Theatre, we remain dedicated to curating content that honors the theatre’s rich history and diverse audience while keeping the theatre organ alive for future generations,” said Abigail Buell, vice president of San Diego Theatres. “Silent Movie Mondays showcase this commitment by returning to the Balboa’s vaudeville and silent cinema roots. Paired with the Wonder Morton organ, these events transport audiences back to the 1920s in the very venue that originally screened them.”

Historic Beyond Words

If you’re not familiar with the venue, the Balboa Theatre, nestled in the heart of downtown San Diego, stands as a remarkable testament to the city’s cultural and architectural history. Opening on March 28, 1924, the theatre was originally conceived as a grand vaudeville and cinema palace.

Designed by architect William H. Wheeler in a Spanish Revival style, the theatre boasted intricate plaster fretwork, a distinctive tiled dome, and two live waterfalls that flanked its proscenium arch. At its inception, the Balboa Theatre seated 1,534 patrons, offering them a unique experience with a blend of live performances and films, accompanied by one of the five original Wonder Organs, the same 426-pipe marvel that filled the space with music mentioned above.

During its early years, the Balboa was a vibrant venue for vaudeville acts and films, attracting major performers such as the Sunkist Beauties and Fanchon & Marco. The theatre’s location next to Horton Plaza made it a central entertainment hub for San Diegans.

In 1930, it was remodeled to accommodate sound films, and its neon marquee became an iconic sight in the downtown area. Also, in the 1930s, as the city’s Latino community grew, the theatre was rebranded as “Teatro Balboa.” Thus, it began screening Spanish-language films, cementing its place in the city’s evolving cultural landscape.

Down Hill and a Makeover

However, things changed and the theatre’s fortunes ebbed in the post-World War II era. By the 1950s, the Balboa had become a second-run movie house, facing potential demolition. In 1959, the Russo family stepped in, saving the building from being razed and operating it as a movie venue until 1985. Its unique architecture, including the tiled dome reminiscent of the nearby Santa Fe Depot, made it a candidate for preservation.

The theatre was added to the city of San Diego’s historic site registry in 1972 and later placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

In 1986, the city of San Diego purchased the Balboa, intending to redevelop it. Several plans, including converting it into retail or museum space, failed to gain traction, and the theatre sat dark for nearly two decades.

Finally, in 2005, after significant public advocacy, the city undertook a $26.5 million restoration. Over 3.5 years, the theatre was meticulously restored by the architectural firm Westlake, Reed & Leskowsky, bringing back its iconic features, including the live waterfalls, original plaster details, and a replicated marquee. One of the original Wonder Morton organs, installed in New York’s Loew’s Valencia Theatre, was relocated to the Balboa, marking its musical revival in 2009.

The theatre reopened on Jan. 19, 2008, with a gala event, offering 1,335 seats and serving as a premier venue for live performances, concerts, and community events. The restoration transformed the Balboa into a state-of-the-art performing arts center while preserving its historic character.

Today, the Balboa Theatre continues to play a vital role in San Diego’s arts scene, hosting a wide array of performances and standing as a cherished reminder of the city’s past and its enduring commitment to the arts. Its journey from a vaudeville and cinema palace to a restored cultural landmark is a testament to the power of preservation and community effort.

Why Silent Films Still Draw People

When discussing silent films, some believe they represent the foundation of modern cinema, and offer a completely different viewing experience from what we’re used to today. Without spoken dialogue, these films depend on the actors’ body language, facial expressions, and visual storytelling to communicate with the audience.

Historian Kevin Brownlow, one of the most notable authorities on silent films, captured this sentiment perfectly when he said: “Silent films were never meant to be seen in silence. The live music accompaniment is what brings them to life.”

“Watching these films with live music at the Balboa Theatre creates an immersive experience that echoes what early audiences felt, bringing the stories on the screen to life in a profound way,” Fiebiger said.

People remain interested in silent films decades later because they offer a unique experience that modern films can’t replicate. Silent films rely on visual storytelling and creative expression, with live musical accompaniment, especially on a historic theatre organ like the Wonder Morton, adding a powerful, atmospheric layer to the experience. The organ’s rich, resonant sound enhances the emotional depth of the film and transports the audience back in time, creating a nostalgic and sensory experience, Fiebiger added.

“The artistry of early cinema, combined with the cultural and historical significance of these films, continues to captivate audiences who appreciate the roots of modern filmmaking.

“Events like Silent Movie Mondays, which pair classic silent films with live organ music, create a dynamic connection to the past that can’t be recreated with digital media alone, making the experience truly unforgettable, ” she said.

Attending Silent Movie Mondays is a rare opportunity to see historic films on the big screen, accompanied by the best theatre organ players in the country.

Honoring Film History

As Brownlow and others have pointed out, many silent films have been lost over time, making the ones that survive all the more important. Seeing them projected on a theater screen, with the original music concept, helps modern audiences appreciate them the way they were intended.

“We are incredibly fortunate to still have these films,” said David Shepard, a film preservationist, in a lecture on silent film. “But it’s even rarer to have the opportunity to experience them with live music in a theater like the Balboa.”

Yes, this sense of preservation and respect for cinema’s past is at the heart of Silent Movie Mondays.

“The Balboa Theatre plays a significant role in this preservation by bringing these films to contemporary audiences. The theater ensures that future generations can experience the roots of modern cinema firsthand, allowing them to see how much the silent film era influenced the visual language of today’s films,” Fiebiger said.

“Visitors still appreciate the history behind the theatre because it offers a tangible connection to the past, evoking a sense of nostalgia and admiration for the craftsmanship and cultural significance that shaped the building. Historic theatres like the Balboa Theatre serve as architectural and cultural landmarks, preserving stories of the community’s artistic evolution and the entertainment eras they represent. For many, stepping into a century-old venue like the Balboa Theatre is like stepping back in time—it’s not just about watching a performance, but about experiencing a piece of history.”

These are the scheduled films and what audiences can look forward to on Mondays:

• The Phantom of the Opera (1925), accompanied by Russ Peck – Oct. 28
• Cops (1922) and Big Business (1929), accompanied by Ken Double – Dec. 9
• The Gold Rush (1925), accompanied by Russ Peck – Feb. 24, 2025
• The Mark of Zorro (1920), accompanied by Ken Double – April 14, 2025
• Flesh and the Devil (1926), accompanied by Russ Peck – June 9, 2025

General admission tickets are $24, with discounts available for seniors, students, and military personnel. For a premium experience, VIP tickets are available for $39, which include reserved seating and access to a pre-show discussion with the organist, covering the history and themes of the film.

Secure tickets here for an unforgettable Silent Movie Monday experience: both VIP and general admission tickets are available, with VIP holders enjoying exclusive access to behind-the-scenes insights, early entry, and reserved seating. Don’t miss these one-of-a-kind evenings at the Balboa Theatre.

Sources:

Kevin Brownlow, Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film (1980), various interviews.

David Shepard, lecture on silent film preservation, presented at the University of California Los Angeles, 2005.