The Strand Theater presents The Gold Rush starring Charlie Chaplin, with live piano accompaniment by Ben Model. This screening is part of Classic Movie Mondays, The Strand’s weekly summer film series.

In this classic silent comedy, the Little Tramp (Charles Chaplin) heads north to join in the Klondike gold rush. Trapped in a small cabin by a blizzard, the Tramp is forced to share close quarters with a successful prospector (Mack Swain) and a fugitive (Tom Murray). Eventually able to leave the cabin, he falls for a lovely barmaid (Georgia Hale), trying valiantly to win her affections. When the prospector needs help locating his claim, it appears the Tramp’s fortunes may change. Renowned silent film accompanist-historian Ben Model will introduce the films and will accompany them with his own scores on piano.

Screening rights courtesy of Janus Films

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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