On Saturday, 19 February 2005, Dennis James accompanied the Buster Keaton short "The Balloonatic", and the full length Keaton feature "The Navigator" on the Great Theatre Pipe Organ of the Arlington.  As always, Dennis did a superb job with sound effects and musical snippets that were highly appropriate for the action on screen.  We had excellent prints of both Keaton movies.

    The Navigator was filmed aboard an old ship that was destined to be sunk after salvagable items were removed.  For $50,000, Keaton and crew were able to delay the sinking for two weeks.  In that period of time, they could do anything they wanted with the ship, hence, The Navigator was filmed.  Our audience of about 400 people throughly enjoyed the performance and gave Dennis a rousing applause at the end.

    After the movie, about 30 people took part in the customary tour of Main Chamber II to see the pipework and toy counter.  As always, a person asked "Where are the loudspeakers?"  She was told there are no loudspeakers in the organ.  All sound is created acoustically with air driven whistles, horns, and real instruments under control of the organist who sits center stage.

Dinner with Dennis James, Friday, 18 February 2005, at Harry's.  Clockwise around table: Bonnie Murdock, George Ferrand, Lucky Hawkins, Harold Clementz, John Oien, Steve Malott, Mahlon Balderston, David Gell, Betty Ferrand, Diane Davis, Dennis James.

Keith Connes announces Dennis James and the movies.

Dennis James gives background on "The Balloonatic", which was the short before the main feature.

Why does the microphone always fail at the most inopportune time?

Dennis talks (without microphone) with the audience and explains how Keaton and crew were able to secure the ship for filming in the main feature: The Navigator.