Back to the Big Screen: Inside Schroon Lake's Classic Movie Mondays
What do Charlie Chaplin, You've Got Mail, The Quiet Man, 1776, and a century-old Adirondack movie theater have in common?
They're all part of Classic Movie Mondays, a wonderful addition to Schroon Lake’s summer cultural programs. Each Monday screening pairs a beloved film with someone who has a unique connection to it—a filmmaker, producer, casting director, historian, critic, performer, or presenter who helps audiences see the movie in a whole new light.
In this episode of ADK Talks, hosts Jane and Steve sit down with Liz McNamara of Schroon Lake's historic Strand Theater and nationally recognized silent film accompanist Ben Model to explore the series, the theater behind it, and why audiences keep coming back year after year.
The conversation begins with Ben, who opens this year's series on July 6 with a live accompaniment to Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush (1925). But as listeners quickly discover, his story is really part of a larger one: how a small Adirondack theater has created a summer tradition that combines film, storytelling, history, and community.
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Press play to hear the conversation.
What makes a small-town Adirondack movie series so special that audiences return year after year? In this episode of ADK Talks, Jane and Steve sit down with Strand Theatre owner LIz McNamara and silent film accompanist Ben Model to explore the people, films, and stories behind Classic Movie Mondays.
What you'll hear.
Why Classic Movie Mondays has become one of the region’s most popular summer cultural traditions
The remarkable history of Schroon Lake's Strand Theatre and its role in community life
How silent film accompanist Ben Model became one of the nation's leading advocates for classic cinema
Why audiences continue to flock to experiences they can't stream at home
What makes this year's lineup especially compelling for both movie buffs and casual film fans
More than a movie series.
The Strand Theatre has been part of Schroon Lake's Main Street for generations.
Open continuously as a theater since 1937 and operating as a movie house for more than a century, it remains one of the Adirondacks' great gathering places.
Under the stewardship of the McNamara family, the Strand has evolved beyond first-run movies to become a hub for lectures, concerts, special events, and film programming.
Classic Movie Mondays are an outstanding example of their creative offerings.
What began as a modest classic film program has grown into a summer series that attracts movie lovers from throughout the Adirondacks and beyond.
What makes Classic Movie Mondays different.
Most theaters show movies.
Classic Movie Mondays creates conversations.
Each screening features a presenter with a special connection to the film. This summer's lineup includes nationally recognized silent film accompanist Ben Model, Turner Classic Movies contributor Jeremy Arnold, a producer who worked closely with Nora Ephron, a casting director sharing behind-the-scenes stories from a Hollywood production, and performers from the Seagle Festival presenting selections connected to Dead Man Walking.
The films span genres, eras, and audiences.
One week may feature Charlie Chaplin. Another may spotlight You've Got Mail. Another brings audiences into the world of John Ford's The Quiet Man or the musical 1776.
The common thread is context.
Every movie comes with a story.
The Ben Model story.
Ben Model could have been a fascinating podcast guest even if Classic Movie Mondays didn't exist.
A silent film accompanist, historian, author, and preservationist, Model has spent decades introducing modern audiences to silent cinema. His work has been featured everywhere from film festivals and historic theaters to national publications, including a profile in The New Yorker.
His mission is simple: to help audiences rediscover movies they may not realize they'll love.
As he explains during the conversation, silent films were never truly silent. Musicians once accompanied screenings live, shaping the mood and energy of every performance.
Today, Model continues that tradition using a portable digital organ and specialized technology that recreates the sounds of the grand Wurlitzer theater organs that once filled America's movie palaces.
His appearance at the Strand is not only a screening of The Gold Rush—it's a recreation of an entire moviegoing experience that nearly disappeared.
Meet Ben Model.
Before hearing Ben Model on ADK Talks, watch this short profile exploring his unusual career as a silent film accompanist, historian, and preservationist. The video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the art form he has spent decades keeping alive.
A fascinating profile of silent film accompanist Ben Model, whose work has introduced thousands of modern audiences to the experience of live silent film accompaniment.
Ben Model opens Schroon Lake's 2026 Classic Movie Mondays series with a live accompaniment to Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush at the historic Strand Theatre.
Preserving experiences, not just buildings.
The Adirondacks have long valued preservation.
Historic camps, railroads, fire towers, theaters, and museums help connect residents and visitors to the region's past.
“Silent films were never actually silent.”
This episode explores another form of preservation: preserving experiences.
Elizabeth and Ben discuss why shared cultural traditions still matter, why audiences respond so strongly to them, and what happens when communities create opportunities for people to gather around something larger than themselves.
The result is a conversation about much more than movies.
Why this matters in the Adirondacks.
One reason Classic Movie Mondays works so well in Schroon Lake is that it reflects something fundamental about the Adirondacks.
People come here seeking experiences.
Not content.
Not algorithms.
Experiences.
Whether it's a paddle on a quiet lake, a hike to a fire tower, a concert in a historic venue, or a movie accompanied by live music, the appeal lies in being present for something unique.
Classic Movie Mondays offers exactly that.
Listen now.
Whether you're a longtime film buff, a Schroon Lake regular, or someone who simply enjoys discovering hidden cultural gems, this episode offers a fascinating look at one of the Adirondacks' most creative summer traditions.
Listen now on ADKTaste.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Mentioned in the podcast.
The Strand at Schroon Lake
Adirondack Theater
Pitkin’s
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