08/04/2026
August 13, 7 pm
Film enthusiasts, music historians, and lovers of classic cinema are invited to a unique cultural event when The Matinee Idol (1928) will be presented at Arthouse at the Blue Star Arts Complex, 134 Blue Star, San Antonio, TX 78204.
Directed by legendary, Frank Capra, The Matinee Idol is a 1928 silent comedy starring Bessie Love, Johnnie Walker, Lionel Belmore, and David Mir. The screening will feature live piano and organ accompaniment by Jacinto Guevara, performing a painstaking reconstruction of the original musical score prescribed for this Columbia Pictures’ 1928 release.
What makes this presentation especially significant is the extensive historical research behind the music. Over several months, Guevara located, acquired, and mastered 30 extremely rare musical compositions specified on the original 1928 cue sheet prepared for the film. Five prescribed selections could not be located despite exhaustive research. To preserve the historical integrity of the performance, Guevara substituted period-appropriate melodies or composed original pieces based on the surviving one-line musical references documented on the original cue sheet.
This screening offers audiences an opportunity to experience The Matinee Idol much as audiences would have in 1928, with live accompaniment that closely reflects the musical intentions of the film’s original presentation.
Jacinto Guevara’s dedication to early cinema spans more than five decades. Since 1969, he has been an enthusiastic supporter, researcher, and collector of silent-era film memorabilia. His personal collection includes early sheet music, original movie memorabilia, production stills, and more than 420 original 5x7” movie star portraits, dating from 1926 through 1929, which were distributed to fans during Hollywood’s silent film era.
Guevara’s work combines historical scholarship with live performance, helping preserve an important chapter of American film and musical history while introducing contemporary audiences to the authentic experience of silent cinema.
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