This event takes place at Washington, Iowa's State Theatre

** Sunday's show is SOLD OUT! **

FilmScene, The University of Iowa Libraries and Fridley Theatres present a very special celebration of Iowa's rich film history—now in glorious color!

Tickets now on sale - General Admission: $15 for adults, $5 for children under 18
VIP: $40 Sunday only, includes reserved seating and celebratory reception

About the Brinton Extravaganza

Now in glorious color! Newly unceoverd color films from the historic Brinton Collection will be shown for the first time in over 100 years at Washington, Iowa's historic State Theatre, and FilmScene encourages Eastern Iowa cinema lovers to join the fun.

The extravaganza celebrates the significant contributions of motion picture pioneer W. Frank Brinton, who introduced movies to much of rural Iowa in his traveling shows, and later went on to manage the State Theatre, then known as the Graham Opera House, now thought to be the world's oldest operating cinema.

The “Brinton Extravaganza” is a two-hour variety show hosted by historian Michael Zahs featuring dozens of short films, magic lantern slides, live music from Red Cedar Chamber Music, song slides and sing-along with film scholar Rick Altman. Color film from the Brinton collection will be presented using one of Brinton’s original hand-cranked 35mm film projectors, which has recently been restored.

Tickets to the Extravaganza are $15 for adults and $5 for children. On Sunday afternoon, a $40 VIP ticket is offered with reserved seating and admission to a celebratory reception following the show. The reception will recreate the oyster bar that was across the street from the Graham 120 years ago, and will be held at the historic Blair House, across the street from the State Theatre.

About The Brinton Collection

The one-time showreels of barnstorming movie pioneer W. Frank Brinton, the Brinton film collection is well over a century old, comprised of films from the late 1890s and early 1900s. Preserved in the Library of Congress, the films have recently gained national attention for containing both unique and popular films from a seldom seen era of cinema. With support from the University of Iowa Libraries and the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, recently uncovered color originals of some of Brinton's most well-regarded films have been digitally preserved and restored, now available to show publicly for the first time in over 100 years.

About Michael Zahs

Historian Michael Zahs, has been referred to as “the Sage of Washington County.” A storyteller with a deep knowledge and appreciation for Iowa's history, Michael brings history to life through presentations on a wide variety of topics, from seed sacks to early cinema. A former Iowa Teacher of the Year, he taught in Iowa public schools for 39 years. He received his BA and MA degress from the University of Northern Iowa.