Southern Sonoma County-based actor/musician and empress of the world of classic moving pictures, the one and only Annie Lore is currently hard at work to put her cornucopia of a movable movie house, the Excelsior Electric Theatre, on the map.
As Annie Lore says: "Real film on reels has real magic!" I've known Annie Lore for many years as one of the West Coast's most ardent historical researchers/educational entertainers. She is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate for the arts, quite brilliant and very deserving of support in launching her one-of-a-kind movie theatre company to the next level.
As director of the Excelsior Moveable Movie Palace, she is dedicated to bringing silent movies on real film to old-movie fans far and wide (or at least in Northern California, to start). "Silent film festivals are often located far away and don't always fall on ideal dates, but Excelsior can provide a custom movie show just about wherever and whenever it's wanted, with live accompaniment and other period trimmings," says Annie.
Her shows enhance public and private events such as festivals, fundraisers, conventions, reunions, parties, classes, historic reenactments, period balls and a host of other appropriate gatherings... anywhere they'll be enjoyed as great old-time movie entertainment tha offers a splendid window, almost a door, to the past.
Annie Lore's recent move from one rural location in the Petaluma area to another has led to a predicament of where and how best to store the remarkable treasure trove of film history that she has collected, curated actually, over the years.
She has launched a crowdfunding campaign with some pretty nifty incentives for vintage film fans to spread word of her unique entertainment business enterprise and to boost the necessary coffers for taking care of her heritage film trove, projectors, costumes, musical instruments, song sheets and slides.
"We can set up in clubhouses, small theaters, homes, garages, barns, classrooms, auditoriums, hotels, restaurants, libraries, churches, museums, historic houses, wineries, B&Bs, offices, community centers, senior facilities, parks, even tents — if there's electricity and a way to dim the lights," says Annie.
"We can make a Movie Palace. We have a wealth of wonderful things planned, but for some time now we've been stalled and struggling! It's a terrible waste of a great resource, and we're not giving up yet".
Have a good look at what it's all about: Visit ExcelsiorCompany.com
"We love giving movie shows for people who love movie shows; what's a more perfect match? We also love giving movie shows for people who don't know they love our movie shows till they see one," says Annie. "We have special programs for children, too, for whom the non-digital movie experience can be a real revelation. And many of Excelsior's shows provide a showcase for period entertainers".
With a boost from supporters the Moveable Movie Palace will be up and running full-time and spreading celluloid (well, acetate) joy far and wide.
Click here to support this wonderful Sonoma County-based venture. Donate from $10 to $1,000. If you live within 100 miles of Petaluma, for a $250 donation treat yourself to a visit from Excelsior Company with a movie screening of your choice. At the $750 level, expect a piano and costumed piano playing host, too!
I'd love to see a winter series of vintage film screenings here in Petaluma.
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