East Lynne Presents ‘Habeas Corpus’ in Time for Halloween

CAPE MAY – The final evening of East Lynne Theater Company’s and The Cape May Film Society’s Sunday Film Series is also the last day of The Cape May Film Festival: Oct. 19. Under the title “Spooky Comic Silent Shorts,” the main feature is “Habeas Corpus” starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, but there will also be animated films and a few surprises – all just in time for Halloween. And all accompanied live by organist Wayne Zimmerman.
“Habeas Corpus,” first shown in theaters in 1928, opens with the famous comic duo showing up at the home of an eccentric professor. Sensing that the two men need money, he offers to pay them for a dead body that he can use for his experiments. After procuring shovels, Stan and Ollie head for the graveyard – but they are not alone!
From 1927 to 1940, Laurel and Hardy made 60 short comedies and 16 features for Hal Roach Studios, including “Big Business” (1929) and “Sons of the Desert” (1933). There are two museums dedicated to them. One is located at Laurel’s birthplace in Ulverston, in the Lake District of England. The other Laurel and Hardy Museum is in Hardy’s hometown, Harlem, Georgia, where on the first Saturday of every October they have an Oliver Hardy Festival.
The organist accompanying the silent classics is Wayne Zimmerman, who recently accompanied “The Black Pirate” as part this Sunday Film Series. He has performed on note-worthy pipe organs, including the Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia and the Loew’s Theater organ in Jersey City. Although there is usually someone credited in silent films as having written the music, he creates his own score for every film. He plays his scores from memory, never taking a break during the performance. It is rare nowadays that film lovers have the opportunity to see silent films as they were meant to be shown, with live music.
For those who have Weekend Passes for The Cape May Film Festival, admission is free. For others attending just this event, tickets are $15 for general admission, and anyone age 12 and under is free. Reservations are appreciated for “Spooky Comic Silent Shorts” and these tickets may be purchased at the door or through ELTC’s website www.eastlynnetheater.org. The location is The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes St., where ELTC is in residence, and the time is 8:00 p.m.
For reservations and information contact ELTC at 609-884-5898 or online at eastlynneco@aol.com. For information about The Cape May Film Festival, go to www.capemayfilm.org or call 609-326-fest.
Meanwhile, East Lynne Theater Company is in its final week of “Within the Law” which much close Oct. 12.