Padlocked (1926) -- A Centennial Celebration at the Cranford Theater

Step back in time and join us for a truly special cinematic event as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Padlocked (1926), the very first motion picture to premiere at the Cranford Theater when our doors first opened in 1926.

Thanks to the incredible preservation efforts of the San Francisco Film Preserve, Padlocked has been beautifully restored for modern audiences, allowing us to present this silent-era classic exactly one century after it first graced the screen in Cranford.

On Saturday, November 7, 2026, moviegoers are invited to experience the magic of silent cinema as audiences would have a century ago. Guests are encouraged to dress in 1920s attire and immerse themselves in the glamour, fashion, and excitement of the Roaring Twenties. Together, we'll travel back to an era when movie palaces were grand gathering places and live musical accompaniment brought every scene to life.

About the Film
Padlocked tells the story of Edith Gilbert, the daughter of a wealthy but strict reformer whose rigid beliefs leave little room for understanding. Following her mother's death, Edith leaves home and heads to Broadway in search of independence and opportunity. Working as a café dancer, she finds herself drawn into a world that challenges society's expectations and tests the bonds of family, love, and redemption.

As Edith navigates romance, scandal, and hardship, her father becomes convinced she has strayed from the values he holds dear. A series of misunderstandings and tragic decisions leads Edith down a difficult path, forcing both father and daughter to confront their prejudices and mistakes. Ultimately, Padlocked is a moving story of forgiveness, reconciliation, and second chances.

Live Musical Accompaniment by Ben Model
This special screening will feature live accompaniment by acclaimed silent film musician Ben Model, who will perform his original score on theatre organ throughout the film.
To recreate the experience audiences would have enjoyed at the Cranford Theater in 1926, Ben will bring a portable 21st-century equivalent of the mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ, filling the auditorium with the rich sounds that once accompanied silent films.



Widely regarded as one of the nation's leading silent film accompanists, Ben has spent more than four decades creating and performing live scores for silent films at universities, museums, historic theaters, and film festivals throughout the United States and around the world. He serves as resident accompanist for silent film screenings at the Museum of Modern Art and the Library of Congress Packard Campus Theatre, and is among the few artists dedicated full-time to preserving the art of live silent film accompaniment.

Don't miss this once-in-a-century opportunity to experience the film that started it all at the Cranford Theater. Join us as we celebrate our history, honor the silent film era, and relive the magic of moviegoing as audiences did 100 years ago.

CAST: Lois Moran, Noah Beery, Louise Dresser, Helen Jerome Eddy, Allan Simpson, Florence Turner

DIRECTOR: Allan Dwan

RUN TIME: 70 min

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