For Your Valentine’s...

The Second Sunday Speaker Series at the museum continues on Feb. 12, 2024 with Postal Poetry: The Art and Commerce of Valentine’s Cards. Historical Commission chair Alan Earls will explore the remarkably long story of Valentine’s greetings and how entrepreneurs and new technologies turned sentiment into big business in the 19th century. The story includes key Massachusetts innovators like Louis Prang and pioneering woman business leader, Esther Howland – plus images of many beautiful old cards.  A limited number of free, vintage reprint sample cards will be available at the event. Doors open at 1 and the presentation begins at 1:15 at Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central Street, Franklin, MA. FREE

Feature Films Return

Later in the month, the Museum will welcome the public to Cinema 80 – a new program of films of the 20th century, curated by Chris Leverone in cooperation with the Franklin Senior Center. Leverone, a videographer and graphics artist from Franklin, has directed promotional and fundraising videos, and is currently a producer at Franklin TV and is extremely passionate about film. Silent Saturdays start at 6 p.m. on Feb. 17 and Feb. 24.

On Feb, 17 Cinema 80 will screen the first of two treasures by comic genius Harold Lloyd, Safety Last, an over-the-top version of a young man trying to make good in the big city story (in this case, bustling, Jazz-Age Los Angeles). Then, on Feb. 24 it’s The Freshman, a hilarious look at college culture 100 years ago, (we are a college town after all!). Both films are about 75 minutes in length.

“We are excited to provide this free, innovative programming in a time slot that should leave people free to squeeze even more into their Saturday night,” said Commission Chair Alan Earls. “The best of the silent films are amazing and just as entertaining as anything Hollywood is doing today, we are sure our Franklin audience will agree,” he added.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10AM-1PM and Sunday afternoons from 1 - 4 p.m. When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry.