Silent Comedy Film “Safety Last” with Live Musical Performance

Experience motion pictures as audiences did 100 years ago. International award winning composer-pianist Nathan Shirley will perform live piano music to accompany Safety Last, one of the most popular and iconic films of the silent era, released in 1923. It will be presented at The Strudel Shop in downtown Columbia — 1237 Washington St; Columbia, SC 29201 — Friday, December 16th at 7:00 PM.

About the film Shirley says, “Harold Lloyd was among the top 3 most famous American directors of the silent film era, along with Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. Like Keaton and Chaplin, Lloyd starred in his own films and even performed his own stunts. Safety Last was easily one of the most influential silent films, and to this day consistently makes lists of the greatest films of all time.”

Shirley continues, “Comedy from the 1920’s doesn’t always hold up well today, but nearly 100 years later, the silly yet incredibly inventive jokes packed into Safety Last never fail to get big laughs from audiences of all ages. I have no doubt that audiences 100 years from now will still enjoy this classic.”

Films during the silent era were most often accompanied by pianists or organists. Nathan Shirley is helping revive that tradition and in recent years has played for silent films throughout the Carolinas.

A former president of the Asheville Piano Forum, Nathan Shirley has performed his original compositions in Europe and on both coasts of the US. He has received 7 national and international awards for his solo, chamber, and orchestral works, which have been featured in concerts in over a dozen countries around the world. Sample his music at: NathanShirley.com

General admission $10 at door. Call 803.995.6127 or email TheStrudelShop@gmail.com for more information.