On July 8 the Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association started our new outdoor movie series, Silent Nights in Woodland Heights. Woodland Heights community members are scrappy, creative and used to doing more with less. Community members had the idea of selecting public domain (copyright-free) silent films, which were made pre-1927 and building a community film series.
We still needed a viewing space, though, and a screen to project our films on. A neighborhood couple were generous enough to offer their driveway and their garage door. And so on July 8, chairs were set up in the driveway of a neighborhood home near Lafayette Park. And Maurice Tourneur’s 1918 film “The Blue Bird” was projected onto the garage door to the delight of all those gathered.
We wanted this film series to be simple, and we thought it important not to disturb surrounding neighbors with amplified noise, so the films are shown without any soundtrack. Neighbors are instead encouraged to talk, laugh and joke throughout the showings. Laughter and running commentary are the soundtracks to Silent Nights.
Our most popular Silent Night (so far) was July 21, when we projected three early silent film versions of “Alice in Wonderland” (1903, 1910, and 1915). It was a magical evening full of Cheshire Cats, Mock Turtles, White Rabbits and cheerful giggles from gathered neighbors.
We think that Silent Nights in Woodland Heights is definitely the best time that you can have watching a silent movie on a garage door on the north side of Springfield. And it’s a great way to get to know your neighbors.
Silent Nights in Woodland Heights will return every other Friday while weather permits to a garage door in Woodland Heights. Visit woodlandheightsneighborhood.org and our social media for scheduled showings.
