The Gilbert House Screening Article - James Wylder

The Gilbert House Screening
By Staff Writer, Urban Legendarium

Shrouded in rumor, the legends of the infamous “Gilbert House Screening” of the lost silent film Soldiers of the Stone have enraptured fans of the mysterious and while not as well known as more famous incidents, has taken its place among mysteries such as Polybius among connoisseurs of the strange.

The mystery began when tickets appeared in the mail from an anonymous collector who claimed to have a print of the lost film. Buzz began to build, and with tickets to the event being exclusive, some resold for a high price to those who wanted a seat at the screening, which was to be held at The Gilbert House in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The packed screening held many famous faces, including several high profile actors and directors, as well as director Sergei Johnson who would go on to produce a controversial remake of the film for television, and who is one of the few sources who claim openly to have been at the screening.

What happened next is layered in mystery and intrigue! An organist was brought from Notre Dame University to play a score during the film, and performed an overture as the elite guests filtered into the screening. The anonymous collector did not appear, but instead sent a letter which was read by one of the theater staff in front of the screen. The letter thanked the attendees for coming, but warned them not to read the final title cards of the film for their own safety. This caused a reaction of laughter from the audience. The letter then went on to say that “Mother” was watching, and that “she” didn’t want the screening to happen.

The film then began, and by all accounts the first two-thirds of the screening really happened, and were greatly enjoyed by the audience. Accounts of the final third of the film vary greatly, and have led to the legend. A few accounts say that the film projector broke, and that the staff was unwilling to continue the screening at risk of damaging the print, so they sent everyone home. However, was this what really happened?
Another account states that gunfire broke out, and a group of teenage thugs came in armed in an attempt to steal the film, but were thwarted by men in black suits who came in and stole it instead, with the resulting firefight causing the Gilbert House’s restoration project later that year.

The final account, which doesn’t line up with the others, said that two characters in the film, Brett Harmon and Nari Park, turned to look at the audience, and their next title card gave them some sort of cryptic warning so terrible and so horrifying that the screening turned into pandemonium, and those at the screening fled, tramping over each other.

In his account, Director Sergei Johnson gives a more detailed description of the screening that seems to combine elements of all of these stories in some form or another, without matching any entirely. This has caused some to wonder if he really was at the screening, or if he simply took existing stories to make up a new one that would give validation to his own remake of the film.
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Whatever the truth. The mystery of the Gilbert House Screening will continue to mesmerize and baffle people for years to come!

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