The Oriental Theatre turned 80 back in July and to celebrate, one of Milwaukee's last remaining movie palaces -- and certainly its most celebrated -- hosts an event on Thursday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m.
The festivities begin at 6 p.m. with organ music and hors d'oeuvres and follows with a 7 p.m. screening of the 1927 film "Underworld," with live musical accompaniment by the Alloy Orchestra.
Although writer Ben Hecht didn't want his name associated with a picture that was predicted to flop, he went on to win an Oscar for "Underworld" -- which starred Academy Award nominee George Bancroft -- in 1929.
Meanwhile, the silent film will be accompanied by music by the three-piece, Boston-area group, Alloy Orchestra, which Roger Ebert has called "the best in the world at accompanying silent films."
Built by the Saxe brothers, the Oriental opened in July 1927 and has endured as a Milwaukee landmark. In the early 1980s it was where the Violent Femmes first gained attention, opening for The Pretenders who saw the trio busking outside. The theater and its adjacent complex is currently owned by New Land Enterprises.
Admission to the event is $12 and $10 for seniors, students and kids.