By Ella Willmot, Contributing Writer
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m., the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra returned to the Majestic Theater to perform the original score to Harold Lloyd’s silent film, “Safety Last!” A mix of Gettysburg College students, Majestic Theater and local community members came together to experience the magic of the silver screen, just as it would have been when “Safety Last!” first premiered in 1923. The orchestra performed “Prelude to Motion Picture Comedy” from 1918, by Mel. B. Kaufmann as the lights dimmed and audience members settled into their seats.
Rick Benjamin, the founder and director of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra.R.O., started off the show by inviting the audience to “be a 1923 movie audience.” Benjamin reminded the crowd of the spectacularity of this experience for the audiences of this time, noting, “the magic of the screen, the combination of the music, the beautiful building.” Audience members were encouraged to gasp at scenes of danger, yell “boo” at a sinister villain, say “awww” at a romantic moment, and most importantly, to laugh to their hearts’ content.
After Benjamin’s speech, a light, jovial song was played by the PRO as the introductory credits rolled. Throughout the first half, the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra did an excellent job performing the 1923 score for the film, compiled by James C. Bradford. Each song narrated the emotion of the scene, encouraging audience members to react to the film at just the right moments.
A short intermission was held at the midpoint, right when “the Boy,” played by Harold Lloyd, found his opportunity to earn the money he had been searching for throughout the film. For the remainder of the film, the audience watched excitedly as Lloyd performed his anxiety-inducing stunts, most notably when he hung high above the city streets by just the arm of a skyscraper’s clock.
Audience member and Conservator at Gettysburg College’s Special Collections and College Archives, Mary Wootton, remarked how interesting it was to “see the movie in the theater that is almost the same age.” Benjamin made similar remarks earlier, mentioning how the historic nature of the Majestic Theater creates an environment that would have been almost identical to when “Safety Last!” would have been first shown.
As the premiere event of the Majestic’s 2026-2027 season, Brett W. Messenger, the Executive Director of the Majestic, was “thrilled to welcome” audiences to witness the “unparalleled artistry” of the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Messenger remarked that he hopes the ensemble’s return to the Majestic this past Thursday will become an annual tradition, a “silent in September,” as he called it.
The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra is a year-round, professional ensemble of musicians who specialize in recreating the sounds of the early days of theater, silent films and dancing. They have performed in 48 states and several countries, in celebrated locations such as the Kennedy center, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Lincoln Center, where they made their formal debut in 1988.
The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra is celebrating their 41st season this year and have upcoming shows all over the country. They have also recently been featured on PBS’s “Now Hear This,” the episode titled “Everybody Loves Joplin,” which is now streaming.
