The Adirondack State Theater presents a special screening of Steamboat Bill Jr., with live piano accompaniment by Ben Model. This screening is a part of Adirondack State Theater’s 2026 Classic Film Series, which runs Tues-Sun through the summer and fall.

In STEAMBOAT BILL, JR., Buster Keaton plays the son of a riverboat captain (Ernest Torrence) who comes home from college to help run the family business. As luck would have it, his girlfriend from school (Marion Byron) also has a father with a steamboat, who is trying to put Steamboat Bill, Sr. out of business. In the film ‘s climax, Buster faces a windstorm to save his father and his boat and win the heart of his girl. The film is known for what might be considered Keaton’s most famous film stunt: the facade of an entire house falls on top of him while he stands in the perfect spot to pass through the open attic window instead of being flattened. In 2016, the film was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. Renowned silent film accompanist-historian Ben Model will introduce the films and will accompany them with his own scores on piano.

Guests

Ben Model

Ben Model is one of the nation’s leading silent film accompanists, performing on both piano and theatre organ. Over the past 44 years, he has created and performed thousands of live scores for silent films at universities, museums, and historic theaters, and is one of the few exponents of this craft who is working at it full-time. Ben is a resident film accompanist at the Museum of Modern Art (NY) and at the Library of Congress’ Packard Campus Theatre, and he accompanies silents at classic film festivals around the USA and internationally.

Ben’s Blu-ray/DVD label Undercrank Productions works with archives and collectors to bring undiscovered gems of silent cinema to fans. Ben is a Visiting Professor of Film at Wesleyan University. His book The Silent Film Universe will be published on June 17, 2025. To learn more, visit: silentfilmmusic.com or follow Ben on social media @silentfilmmusic

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