Silent Film Benefit Tickets

Catalina Island Museum Silent Film Benefit Tickets on Sale Now!

The Catalina Island Museum announces The Sea Hawk as its feature presentation for the museum's 24th Annual Silent Film Benefit Saturday, May 14th at 1:00 pm in the historic Avalon Theatre.  A stirring tale of romance and adventure, this 1924 film tells the story of Oliver Tressilian, a British nobleman falsely accused of murder, who struggles vailiantly to restore his name and honor.  The film stars Lloyd Hughes in the lead role, but The Sea Hawk is best known for its rousing sea battles, which were staged with such ferocious realism that movie-goers were left awed and hungry for more.  To achieve such authenticity, full-scale wooden replicas of 16th-century warships were constructed and filmed doing battle off the coast of Catalina Island.  Over a thousand extras participated in the filming, and the effect was so spectacular that Warner Brothers spliced scenes from the silent film into its 1940 remake of the same title, starring Errol Flynn.  Motion Picture magazine called The Sea Hawk the year's "Best Picture," and a New York Times critic described the film as "far and away the best sea story that's yet been done..."

No finer version of The Sea Hawk exists.  The UCLA Film & Television Archive has meticulously restored the 35mm print of the film that will be exhibited during the Catalina Island Museum's Annual Silent Film Benefit.  This annual Benefit is the museum's most important fundraising event and all proceeds are applied to the operations of the Museum.  Established in 1953, the Catalina Island Museum is the only museum on Catalina Island and the sole institution in Avalon devoted to art, history and culture.

Tickets are only $15 for General Admission and $13 for members of the museum and children under 12 years of age.  Group discounts are available, call for more information.  Purchasing tickets is easy.  For tickets by phone call: 310-510-2414 or go to the events page of the museum's website www.CatalinaMuseum.org.  Tickets are also available at the museum or mail a check to Catalina Island Museum, PO Box 366, Avalon, CA 90704 (Attn: Silent Film).

The Catalina Island Museum is located on the ground floor of the Avalon Casino, and is open 7 days a week, from 10:00am to 5:00pm.