SATURDAY, July 12, 8:00-10:00PM
Garibaldi plaza

Step back in time with The Museum of Interesting Things with a presentation of rare 16mm short films featuring legendary performers like Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and Bessie Smith. These vintage films from the early 1900s offer a glimpse into the roots of jazz, blues, vaudeville, and the cultural revolutions that would later shape rock and roll. This event is supported through the Washington Square Park Conservancy 2025 Arts Grants.

Between screenings, enjoy hands-on demonstrations of historic technology from the Museum’s collection, including antique cameras, Magic Lanterns, zoetropes, and even a Thomas Edison wax cylinder phonograph. We’ll explore how these devices shaped the way we experience music and film—from the first still photos to motion pictures and 3D.

This event is fully interactive and educational, featuring fascinating tools like 3-foot bellows box cameras, 19th-century stereoscopic photography, Camera Obscuras, tintypes, albumen prints, and more. It aligns with the Core Content Curriculum Standards for Visual and Performing Arts, making it perfect for curious minds of all ages.

Come experience the art, sound, and magic of history in motion!

For cancelations/updates due to weather, please check Instagram stories.