Women Behind the Camera During the Silent Era with Dwight M. Cleveland
The 418 Project, Small Theater | 155 S. River Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Event Details
Submitted by the Event Organizer
Women Behind the Camera During the Silent Era with Dwight M. Cleveland
Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM The 418 Project, Santa Cruz, California
Join film historian, author, and renowned movie poster collector Dwight M. Cleveland for an illustrated lecture exploring the overlooked contributions of women who helped establish the American film industry during the silent era.
Drawing from nearly 50 years of collecting, Cleveland will present rare historical film posters and lobby cards, with particular attention to the women who worked as directors, screenwriters, and producers during cinema’s formative decades. His collection includes more than 10,000 silent film lobby cards documenting the careers of over 1,000 women, many of whom have received little recognition in traditional film histories.
Cleveland’s collections have been exhibited at Poster House in New York City and the Norton Museum of Art. His archival materials have also contributed to Dartmouth College’s Early Cinema Compendium, a research initiative supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The presentation will examine the historical significance of these surviving materials and their role in documenting women’s foundational contributions to cinema.
A limited number of copies of Cleveland’s book, CINEMA ON PAPER: The Graphic Genius of Movie Posters (Assouline, 2019), will be available for purchase and signing.
Event Details
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Doors open at 7:00 PM. Presentation begins at 7:30 PM.
The 418 Project, Small Theater 155 S. River Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
Cost: $10*
