Growing Group of Young Fans Speaks Volumes for Interest in Silent Films

Secretary Ruth Morris of Studio City has pictures of Clara Bow throughout her apartment. She dresses in 1920s hats, antique jewelry and tight-fitting clothes like the silent-screen star and visits the Forest Lawn grave of the “It” girl every Sunday afternoon.

“A lot of people are becoming silent-films fans these days,” said Morris, 36, a bubbly redhead much like her on-screen heroine. “A lot of people my age are admitting that we feel like we were born in the wrong era.”

Although most are not as devoted as Morris, a growing number of young professionals are rediscovering the silent-screen era because of an unprecedented resurgence of restored films being shown in Los Angeles. The Silent Society--a preservation group showing silent films every month--has a mailing list of more than 400. Most members joined in the past year after revival houses, museums, universities and video stores issued and showed many reconstructed versions of the early movies.

A most popular silent-film event begins this evening when “Silents Under the Stars” starts its third summer of movies shown outside at the outdoor amphitheater at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills. After the sun sets over the movie ranch, an organist will accompany the movie “Kid Boots,” starring Clara Bow and Eddie Cantor.

“We have had so much response that we are adding an extra showing this year,” said National Park Service film permit coordinator Alice Allen, whose idea it was to show silent movies at the ranch where films have been shot since the 1930s. “We have all kinds of people come out--young people interested in preservation, older people who remember silent movies, and people who live in the neighborhood who like the scenery.”

Like a Hollywood Bowl event, many moviegoers pack elaborate picnic baskets with candles, wine goblets and delicious spreads, Allen said. Others play softball or hike in the park until the movie starts.

“It is a type of performance art because of the live music,” Allen said. “And the techniques of lighting and camera angles used in these first films are the same still being used today.”

Films for this summer event were chosen by CBS program coordinator Randy Haberkamp, who is chairman of the Silent Society, which is a subgroup of the Hollywood Heritage Inc. preservation group. “Fine Manners,” with Gloria Swanson, is scheduled for Aug. 19 and “Son of the Sheik,” starring Rudolph Valentino, will play Sept. 15 and 16.

“People may have heard of these stars but have never seen a movie of theirs,” Haberkamp said. “We get people who wouldn’t normally go see silent movies because it’s in such a relaxed atmosphere.”

Many baby boomers have not seen silent movies, said Haberkamp, who stumbled across his first silent film on PBS when he was a teen-ager in 1972. “A generation has gone by and suddenly silent movies are not old-fashioned, they have become rare antiques,” added Haberkamp, 33, who said the Silent Society is mostly made up of people his age.

“A lot of us are realizing that just because a movie has color and a soundtrack doesn’t mean it’s a good picture,” Haberkamp said. “What these actors say with their eyes is much more honest than the verbal communication of talking pictures.”

Morris insists that none of today’s actors can compare to the talents of silent stars. As part of tonight’s event, she has arranged a book signing by David Stenn, who wrote “Clara Bow: Runnin’ Wild.” She has become an unofficial expert on Bow and has met most of the actress’s family and friends.

“It is sad that people today don’t know what silents are like,” said Morris, a volunteer at the Hollywood Studio Museum, which is devoted to early movie history. “These pioneers kept the studios alive in the early days.”

Morris, who has “IT GIRL” on her license plate and delayed a trip to Toronto to see her family to celebrate Bow’s birthday July 29, admits she might be a little obsessive.

“People may say I’m a bit extreme, but the emotional quality of silent films and the persona of Clara Bow have given me inner strength,” Morris said. “I just hope others can get the chance to experience silent movies like I have.”

“Kid Boots”

Part of the Silents Under the Stars film series, Paramount Ranch (213) 874-2276 or (818) 597-9192.

8:30 tonight

Price: $6 admission.