~Society ~ School Vacation at the Movies

Kids of all ages are invited to be entertained by pianist and historian Richard Hughes as he presents a special children’s silent movie program at the Samuel Slater Experience museum on April 20 at 2 p.m.

Richard will begin with a ragtime solo from the early 1900s. He will talk about silent movie days, cylinder phonographs, synchronized sound effects, animation devices, and motion picture cameras. And, of course, he will play the piano along with historic movie clips, just as it was done a century ago.

The event is free, but registration is required. Register at Eventbrite.com. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Samuel Slater Experience will not be open for regular tours on April 20th.

Richard and his Traveling Silent Movie Shows is sponsored in part by the Webster Cultural Council.

Charlie Chaplin, Train Whistles, and Flying horses at the Samuel Slater Experience

Samuel Slater Experience is located at 31 Ray Street in Webster. FMI visit: www. samuelslaterexperience.org, email admin @samuelslaterexperience. org or call 508461-2955.

ski, Terry McGill, Keith Edwards, and Lilian Fraker.

The Grass Roots Coffeehouse is located at the Rockdale Congregational Church, 42 Fowler Road, northbridge and is run by Krissy and Bob Dick. Bob is a longtime member of the new England Bluegrass community. The concerts are held downstairs and hot soups/chili, beverages and desserts are available for purchase.

Admission is $15, $5 for students under 18. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Rockdale Congregational Church. Info: www.rockdalechurchonline.org, FMI email: aplandbob@aol. com, 617-429-0347.

The program will take place in the museum’s recreated Main Street, which features a theater showing silent movies as a standard exhibit. “Kids love watching the silent movies,” said Museum Director Barbara Van Reed.

“So, we are sure Richard Hughes’ specially planned silent movie program will be a big hit with kids.”

Richard and his Traveling Silent Movie Shows will begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, and last about oneand-a-half hours, with an intermission.

ABOUT SAMUEL SLATER EXPERIEnCE

Samuel Slater Experience opened last year to tell the story of Samuel Slater, the beginnings of the American Industrial Revolution, and Slater’s impact on mill towns such as Webster. Described as “Disney-like,” Samuel Slater Experience employs state-of-the-art 4-D digital technology with immersive video and interactive exhibits to recreate two time periods: the early 1800s and the early 1900s.