The Sprocket Society

01/06/2026

Bon voyage, Bela Tarr

Béla Tarr interview. Conducted by Scott Foundas in 2023.

12/26/2025

Every time a bell rings, some gets their comeuppance.

William Shatner introduces the never-before-seen lost ending of It's a Wonderful Life, where George Bailey (Dana Carvey) and the people of Bedford Falls take...

10/22/2025

Bela makes a compelling argument for coming to our SECRET VAULT OF TORMENT show, one week from tonight -- Tues. Oct. 28 at 7:00 PM at Northwest Film Forum. See Bela and Boris in a secret feature film, plus loads of spooky shorts. All on 16mm film! Visit our website for info + advance tix!

10/07/2025

Don't miss our brain-meltingly awesome Halloween show on Tues. October 28 at Northwest Film Forum! Link in the comments!

09/19/2025

Get a privileged tour inside one of the L.A. Cinerama Dome's three projection booths used to run 3-strip Cinerama films, and a super-rare look at the sound reader, which also served to sync all four machines. The actual booth portion starts at 9:00 minutes. There's also an excerpt of a rare 3-strip commercial following that.

On Tuesday October 1st 2019, the Pacific Cinerama theater in down town Hollywood California, ran a three strip restored version of 'How the West was Won' and...

09/17/2025

Lengthy excerpt (illustrated with photos) from a 1964 interview with the legendary slapstick comedian Chester Conklin, recorded by Kalton Lahue, the great (and prolific) film historian. Apparently more such recordings are forthcoming, which would be fantastic.

Step into silent film history with this rare and never-before-seen interview featuring Keystone comedy legend Chester Conklin!This interview comes from the c...

09/09/2025

This nearly 8 min. story from NHK shows excerpts from the recently restored Japanese animated paper films. Surprise: many had accompanying soundtracks on vinyl records! Preservation and more are also shown. In English w/ subtitles as warranted.

In the 1930s, Japan produced animated movies on paper, not celluloid. A US professor has been restoring existing films, which were known for their full color...

08/21/2025

A fine 30 min. documentary about Martin Hill, a collector in Midland, NC, with a treasure trove of filmmaking equipment, including cameras used to shoot classics like “Lawrence of Arabia” and “The Gold Rush.” Also, a bunch a 3-D gear. Produced by PBS North Carolina -- yet another fine reason to support PBS, now more than ever.

A collector whose cinematic treasures include cameras that shot classics like “Lawrence of Arabia.”

08/19/2025

Susie Purves of the Pickford Film Center and Gail Ridenour of the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra are interviewed in this article about Friday's SUNSET FLICKS show, outside the Pickford in Bellingham, WA. (Bring a chair!)

On Friday, August 22, the BSO and Pickford will close off Bay Street to traffic (right in front of the Pickford!) for a free, family-friendly event, Sunset Flicks, that celebrates live music and classic cinema.

08/10/2025

COMING SOON - FRIDAY, AUG. 22 in BELLINGHAM -- for FREE! An outdoor screening of silent shorts, accompanied LIVE by members of the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra! Buster Keaton, Felix the Cat, Lois Weber, death-deying stunts by Helen Holmes, and A TRIP TO THE MOON presented with live narration and its original hand-painted colors!

Accompaniment includes two new scores by Kevin Woods, Dir. of Jazz Studies at WWU for septet of strings and percussion, solo piano improvisations by BSO principal pianist Andrea Rackl and, for TRIP TO THE MOON, an arrangement of Offenbach's 1875 opera-faerie, "Le voyage dans la lune," performed by a quintet of woodwinds and horn.

Festivities begin at 7:30 PM, with food trucks and a raffle. Movies start at dusk.

All films will be presented digitally. Program curated by Spencer Sundell.

Bring a chair and don't miss this very special event!

OUTSIDE THE Pickford Film Center at 1318 Bay Street in Bellingham, WA.

Sunset Flicks is made possible by a grant from the City of Bellingham to activate downtown spaces.

07/09/2025

Friday, August 22 in Bellingham, WA! See a FREE outdoor program of silent shorts curated by our own Spencer Sundell, with live accompaniment by ensembles from the Bellingham Sympony Orchestra! It'll be in the street right outside of the Pickford Film Center (bring a folding chair). Festivities, food trucks, and more start at 7:30 PM, and the movies start at sunset.

Join us to experience talented local performers, internationally-renowned guest artists, and music that is powerful, beautiful, and inspiring!

02/22/2025

The TeenTix blog recently posted this in-depth review/profile of our Secret Matinee series. Thanks!

I was just getting into film, and Grand Illusion was simply perfect: a volunteer-run arthouse theater that harbored a strong community while displaying…