HIT celebrates Halloween with 'Nosferatu' screening

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood - The Historic Ironwood Theatre celebrated Halloween Saturday with a showing of the the classic silent horror film "Nosferatu."

Saturday's showing was accompanied by a musical score, as many silent movies originally were, performed by Andrew Rogers on the theatre's Barton organ.

Rogers is the staff organist at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor and has performed at the theatre several times.

Bruce Greenhill, the theatre's managing director, said the theatre has developed somewhat of a tradition of celebrating Halloween by showing classic movies; having shown various movies the past three years or so.

Rogers selected "Nosferatu," Greenhill said, having accompanied showings at various locations throughout the state this year.

The film, first released in Germany in 1922, is a retelling of Bram Stoker's "Dracula."

Before the movie, Rogers performed a brief concert of organ music. A short intermission followed the performance.

Prior to the break, Rogers explained the intermission was before the movie so as to not interrupt the building of suspense.

Greenhill was pleased with the turnout for the movie, estimating that around 120 to 130 people purchased tickets.

"It's always nice to see 120-130 people, (that's) always good for something like this," Greenhill said. "It's nice to see some new people (who haven't been to the theatre before)."

Roughly six people said it was their first time attending the theatre during a short speech Greenhill made prior to turning the stage over to Rogers.

While most attendees were undoubtedly local, Greenhill said at least one audience member travelled all the way from Ames, Iowa to listen to the organ performance.

Information about future events at the theatre can be found at ironwoodtheatre.net.