Special Event Showtimes:
• Saturday, Feb. 8: 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 12: 7:30 p.m.
Silents Synced is back! Following the success of last year’s Nosferatu paired with Radiohead, this year’s event combines Buster Keaton’s iconic silent film Sherlock Jr. with a modern soundtrack featuring R.E.M.’s Monster and New Adventures in Hi-Fi.
This groundbreaking series reimagines silent classics with soundtracks from legendary artists like Radiohead, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, and The Pixies. Created by Blue Starlite Drive-in and distributed by CineLife Entertainment, Silents Synced delivers a unique fusion of film and music that offers audiences a fresh reason to head out to the movies.
“Silents Synced has paired Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. with a soundtrack by R.E.M., breathing new life into one of the greatest classic silent films of all time and uniting two art forms,” says James Throssel of the Cameo Art House Theatre. “I hope this pairing makes it more accessible to new and younger audiences who might not typically find themselves enthralled by the idea of a silent film. Whether you’re a film buff, a music enthusiast, or both, nothing brings me more joy than using the Cameo screen to introduce people to the magic of cinema. You can’t get much more magical than a master like Buster Keaton, whose creativity and visual storytelling laid the foundation for modern filmmaking and continues to inspire today.”
Buster Keaton was one of the most iconic figures of silent cinema and remains a towering influence in the world of comedy and film. Known as "The Great Stone Face," Keaton's hallmark was his deadpan expression, even in the face of the most absurd or dangerous situations.
Keaton began his film career in 1917 alongside Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, creating a series of successful comedies before branching out on his own. Known for his technical ingenuity and fearless approach, Keaton performed his own elaborate stunts, often at great personal risk, and became a master of groundbreaking special effects. His most iconic works include The General (1926), a Civil War epic combining action, comedy, and romance; Sherlock Jr. (1924), a surreal comedy about a projectionist who dreams himself into a movie; Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928), featuring his famous falling building stunt; and Seven Chances (1925), a hilarious tale of a man pursued by hundreds of brides.
However, the advent of sound cinema in the late 1920s brought challenges, as signing with MGM in 1928 limited his creative freedom, and his later works lacked the inventiveness of his silent films.
Struggles with alcoholism and personal troubles further contributed to a career decline during the 1930s and 1940s. Still, by the 1950s, Keaton’s career came back to life on television in commercials and the film Sunset Boulevard (1950). His contributions to cinema were recognized with an honorary Oscar in 1959 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A Full-Circle Moment for the Cameo
The Cameo Art House Theatre, founded in 2000, is the perfect venue for this unique event. The building, originally opened in 1914 as The New Dixie, was Fayetteville’s very first movie theater, showcasing silent films during cinema’s golden age.
Over the decades, it transformed into a pool hall and then a record store before being gutted and lovingly restored as the Cameo.
An Invitation to Celebrate the Cameo’s History
Do you have old photos of the Cameo building from its days as The New Dixie, Dixie Billiards or Eddie’s Music Store? Share your photos and stories with them by emailing nasim@cameoarthouse.com
Why Silents Synced?
Silents Synced exemplifies the creativity, DIY ethos and commitment to cinema as an art form. Music fans will go to great lengths for shared experiences. With essential artists like R.E.M., we aim to inspire people to gather in cinemas and invigorate independent theaters with engaging and unique events.
Tickets are on sale now at the Cameo Art House Theatre box office or their website at https://www.cameoarthouse.com/ or call 910-486-6633.

(Image courtesy of Cameo Art House Theatre)