The smells of popcorn and bug spray were thick in the air surrounding the Baton Rouge Gallery on Saturday night as locals braved the lingering summer heat to watch Charlie Chaplin in “The Kid.”
Despite its original format as a silent movie, attendees to the gallery’s monthly summer event, Movies & Music on the Lawn, are never deprived of audio.
Local band Righteous Buddha provided a largely improvisational musical performance to accompany the 1920s film. They are one of three alternating bands performing at Movies and Music this season.
Every last Saturday of the month, from May to October, the Baton Rouge Gallery welcomes members and guests to bring chairs, blankets, food and pets to the outdoor space behind the gallery to enjoy a classic silent film — scored by a local band — on a big screen.
The gallery has hosted Movies & Music on the Lawn since the late 1980s, said Jason Andreasen, executive director for the gallery. Most screenings draw a crowd of about 150 people. However, Andreasen said “The Kid” attracted an audience of about 360 — the biggest crowd he has seen since he started working at the gallery five years ago.
“We’ve made an effort to make the program better,” Andreasen said. “This year’s theme is Slapstick. When you do slapstick comedy, the subject is a lot more accessible. Almost everybody knows the name Chaplin.”
Righteous Buddha, comprised of Denton Hatcher, guitar, Scott Sibley, drums, David Hinson, bass, and John Smart, keyboard, is performing at Movies & Music for their second season. Hinson said it’s fun to play when spontaneously inspired by the emotions in the movie.
“We get to entertain while also being entertained,” he said. “It’s different and fun to play continuously and to improv for the fight scenes or the sentimental scenes. This is the biggest crowd we’ve seen so far.”
Andreasen said the community is attracted to uniqueness and originality of the event.
“There’s something different about watching a film that you know when it was first shown it didn’t sound anything like this,” Andreasen said. “You’re watching Charlie Chaplin next to a jam band. No one has ever heard it before, and they’ll never hear it again.”
Barrett Miller, business sophomore, said he enjoyed the experience.
“This definitely has a much better atmosphere,” Miller said. “There’s roomier seating compared to a theater. And at five dollars, the price is twice as good.”
Andreasen said keeping the event free for gallery members, inexpensive for everyone else and offering free popcorn is a method of introducing people to the event, the gallery and contemporary art.
“People are always looking for something that is fun and different and affordable,” he said. “There really isn’t another place in town where you can experience an outdoor movie with live music and free popcorn for five dollars.”
 
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Contact Morgan Searles at [email protected]