Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush with Peter Krasinski

A century ago, the name Chaplin was as famous as that of Spielberg, Redford, or Streep. In Hollywood’s early days, he was a comedian, producer, writer, director and composer widely regarded as the greatest comic artist of films—and, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, one of the most important figures ever in motion picture history.

On Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2, at 3:30pm a Charlie Chaplin masterpiece, The Gold Rush, will be featured marking the 100^th anniversary of this silent-film classic, with live organ accompaniment by maestro Peter Krasinski in the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church.

The Gold Rush is a 1925 American silent film comedy written, produced and directed by Chaplin. It received an Academy Award nomination, and it has since been added to the National Film registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural, historic and aesthetic significance.

Silent films aren’t silent at all. Before ‘talkies’ came along the action was augmented by vigorous pianists or skilled organists whose music swelled or swooned to match the action. The Gold Rush will be accompanied by Peter Krasinski, a master of improvised silent movie accompaniment, whose exciting performances delight kids and adults alike. Krasinski will exploit all the tone colors and power of the 1893 Hutchings/Fisk organ, creating music that adds mystery, intrigue and excitement to this notable film.