Although it is not in the neighborhood, The Bijou Film Center is opening within walking distance downtown at 304 E. Broad, offering ‘art house cinema’. At one point, there was speculation that the Bowtie movie theater complex was going to be closer to us, building on a block near 3rd Street, but they decided to go the Boulevard location instead. Anyway…

For its first feature to be presented in its own location The Bijou will screen Charlie Chaplin’s classic, “Modern Times,” Sat., Sept. 3.

Show times are 7: 15 p.m and 9:30 p.m. Admission will be $5.00.

“Modern Times” (1936): B&W. 87 minutes. Directed by Charlie Chaplin. Cast: Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Godard, Henry Bergman. Released in the middle of the Great Depression, Chaplin’s Little Tramp character is plunged into the daunting world of the assembly line. He can’t keep up, so he cracks up. Mishaps ensue. He’s hospitalized and jailed. Although the comedy has lots of sound effects, music as well, it doesn’t depend on spoken dialogue to tell the story. However, Chaplin’s voice is heard (for what was the first time in a movie). The popular song, “Smile,” which was written by Chaplin is presented.