SiriusXM Celebrates Peter Lorre’s Birthday

Over the week of Monday, June 26, 2023, Radio Classics host Greg Bell celebrates Peter Lorre’s birthday with two different 2-hour blocks of Peter’s radio work – plus a Lorre episode of Suspense.

“Peter Lorre Birthday (1)” includes guest appearances on Fred Allen’s show The Texaco Star Theater (January 3, 1943) and Duffy’s Tavern (October 19, 1943); an episode of the anthology series Inner Sanctum Mysteries, “The Black Seagull” (March 7, 1943); and finally, an episode of Suspense, “Of Maestro and Man” (July 20, 1944).

“Peter Lorre Birthday (2)” includes an episode from Peter’s own 13-week summer series Mystery in the Air, “The Marvelous Barastro” (August 7, 1947); an episode of the anthology series Suspense, “Nobody Loves Me” (August 30, 1945); and an episode of the Armed Forces Radio Services anthology series Mystery Playhouse, “The Dilemma”, originally airing on Mollé Mystery Theater (November 21, 1944). A Joseph Julian episode of Suspense, “Menace in Wax” (November 17, 1942), ends the block.

In addition to these Lorre programs, Peter’s Suspense episode, “The Devil’s Saint” (January 19, 1943), will air throughout the week.

And in between the programs, Greg Bell offers tidbits of information about Peter's life and career.

The Lorre programs and tributes will air on these dates and times ~

Monday, June 26 ~
Peter Lorre Birthday #1
3 pm Pacific, 6 pm Eastern

Peter Lorre Birthday #2
7 pm Pacific, 10 pm Eastern

Tuesday, June 27 ~
Suspense, “The Devil’s Saint”
10 am Pacific, 1 pm Eastern

Wednesday, June 28 ~
Birthday #2
1 am Pacific, 4 am Eastern

Thursday, June 29 ~
Birthday #1
3 am Pacific, 6 am Eastern

Friday, June 30 ~
Suspense, “The Devil’s Saint”
10 am Pacific, 1 pm Eastern

Birthday #2
1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern

Saturday, July 1 ~
Birthday #1
7 pm Pacific, 10 pm Eastern

The full schedule for the week of Monday, June 26, to Sunday, July 2, 2023, is available on Greg Bell’s website.

Satellite radio provider SiriusXM airs Radio Classics over channel 148. Subscribers may also listen to the programs over the internet or through the SiriusXM app on a Smart Phone or Smart Speaker. Not a subscriber? A 3-month trial is available for one dollar through the SiriusXM radio website.

The life and career of Peter Lorre is chronicled in the pages of The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre by Stephen D. Youngkin, who began his research in the 1970s and interviewed Peter’s brothers Andrew and Francis, his first wife Celia Lovsky, his sister-in-law Barbara through his second wife Karen Verne, his daughter Catherine Lorre, friends, fellow actors, and the directors, producers, and crew who worked with him throughout his career.

These interviews shed light on Peter’s birth on June 26, 1904, his childhood, his early days in theater, his career on film, radio, and television, and his sad final days.

The Appendix of The Lost One includes the most complete list available of Peter’s credits – radio, film, stage, and television.

The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre may be purchased from many brick-and-mortar shops, as well as these online merchants ~

• Amazon U.S.
• Amazon Canada
• Amazon U.K

El Segundo Cinema Hosts Lorre Classic

Lorre fans in the area of El Segundo, California, can enjoy an early celebration of Peter’s birthday (June 26, 1904) this weekend with a showing of Casablanca (1942) at the Old Town Music Hall on June 24 and 25, 2023.

Casablanca will be shown these dates and times ~

• Saturday, June 24 – 2:30 pm and 7 pm
• Sunday, June 25 – 2:30 pm

Harlan Lebo, author of the book Casablanca: Behind the Scenes (1992), will also appear during the showings. Casablanca: Behind the Scenes may be purchased through Amazon U.S.

Admission is $12 for adults and children, and $10 for seniors age 62 and older. Tickets may be purchased at the box office, which opens 30 minutes before show time. Tickets may also be purchased online through the cinema’s website. A nominal booking fee will be added to each ticket.

The Old Town Music Hall is located at 140 Richmond Street, near the Los Angeles International Airport, in El Segundo, California. Directions to the theater are available on the venue’s website.

Parking is available in the lot beside the Old Town Music Hall.

For more information, please contact the cinema at 310-322-2592.

Summer Film Festivals Include Lorre Classic

Summer has begun, and many movie theaters host festivals of classic movies. This year, The Maltese Falcon (1941) is on the calendar of two cinemas – the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas; and the Ohio Theatre in Columbus, Ohio.

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On Sunday, June 18, 2023, the historic Paramount Theatre, located in Austin, Texas, celebrates the Hustons – director John Huston and his father Walter Huston – with a double-feature including The Maltese Falcon (1941) and The Treasure of the Sierre Madre (1948).

The Maltese Falcon will begin at 2 pm. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre will follow at 4:10 pm.

Tickets are $11 for adults, which covers both movies. Tickets may be purchased at the box-office. Tickets may also be purchased online through Paramount website.

The Paramount Theatre is located at 712 Congress Avenue, in Austin, Texas.

Parking is available at the One American Center parking garage, located at 600 Congress Avenue, one block from the Paramount. Parking is also available at meters throughout downtown Austin. More information about parking, as well as directions to the cinema, may be found on the Paramount Theatre website.

Now in its 49th season, the film festival began on Friday, May 26, 2023, and runs until Saturday, September 2, 2023. The schedule is available on the Paramount website.

For more information, please call the Paramount at 512-472-5470.

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On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the Ohio Theatre, located in Columbus, Ohio, will show The Maltese Falcon (1941) as part of its CAPA (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts) Summer Movie Series.

The film begins at 7:30 pm.

Tickets are $6 standard, and $5 for seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the CBUSArts Ticket Center, located at 39 East State Street in Columbus, Ohio. Tickets may also be purchased online through the CAPA website, or by phone at 614-469-0939. Tickets purchased online will be charged a nominal booking fee.

The historic Ohio Theatre is located 39 East State Street, in downtown Columbus, Ohio, between Third and High streets and across the street from the Ohio Statehouse.

Parking is available in several lots in downtown Columbus. Closest is the Columbus Commons Underground Garage, located 191 South Third Street in Columbus, Ohio. This garage includes an elevator to the Ohio Theatre. More information about parking is available on the CAPA website.

Now in its 54th season, the CAPA Summer Movie Series begins on Thursday, June 15, and runs until Sunday, July 16, 2023. The schedule is available on the CAPA website.

For more information, please call the Ohio Theatre at 614-469-0939.

Lorre Classic in Australian Cinema

The historic Astor Theatre, located in the St. Kilda area of Melbourne, Australia, will show Casablanca (1942) on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

Casablanca will be shown at 4:30 pm.

Tickets are $19.50 for adults, $18 for Concessions, and $17 for members of the Palace Movie Club. Tickets may be purchased at the Astor box-office, which opens between 1 hour and 30 minutes before the start of the first program of the day. Tickets may also be purchased online through the Astor website. A nominal booking fee will be added to each ticket purchased online.

The Astor Theatre is located at the corner of Chapel Street and Dandenong Road in St. Kilda. Parking is available along Chapel Street. A parking lot is also available off Chapel Street. The Astor is also well-served by public transportation, including trams and trains. More information about parking is available on the Astor’s website.

Opening in 1936, the Astor Theatre is the last single-screen cinema in Melbourne, Australia. With its golden curtains parting to reveal the screen before the movie begins, its stalls and dress circle, Lorre fans entering the Astor can step back in time to enjoy an evening at the cinema as moviegoers would have experienced it when Peter’s movies – and Casablanca – were originally shown.

Happy viewing!

AFI Silver Celebrates Warners’ 100th Anniversary

From late April to mid-July, 2023, the AFI Silver, located in Silver Spring, Maryland, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Warner Bros. studio with a special series of classics, including Peter Lorre in The Maltese Falcon (1941), Casablanca (1942), and Arsenic and Old Lace (1944).

“Warner Bros. Centennial, Part One” begins Friday, April 28, and ends Thursday, July 13, 2023. The full schedule is available on the cinema’s website.

The Maltese Falcon will be shown these dates and times ~

• June 10, Saturday – 5 pm
• June 12, Monday – 12:30 pm
• June 14, Wednesday – 9:10 pm
• June 15, Thursday – 12 noon

Casablanca will be shown these dates and times ~

• June 16, Thursday – 4:20 pm and 7:15 pm
• June 17, Saturday – 5 pm
• June 18, Sunday – 5 pm
• June 19, Monday – 4:30 pm
• June 20, Tuesday – 12:10 pm, 2:20 pm, and 4:30 pm
• June 21, Wednesday – 12:10 pm, 2:20 pm, and 4:30 pm
• June 22, Thursday – 12:10 pm, 2:20 pm, and 4:30 pm

Arsenic and Old Lace will be shown these dates and times ~

• June 24, Saturday – 2:05 pm
• June 26, Monday – 2 pm
• June 29, Thursday – 7 pm

Ticket prices are $13 General Admission; $11 for seniors (age 65 and older), students, and military with valid ID; and $8 for children age 12 and under; $11 for AFI members (2-star level and higher); and $10 for matinee showings, weekdays before 5 pm; and Saturday and Sundays before noon..

Tickets may be purchased at the box office, which opens approximately 30 minutes before the first scheduled screening each day. Tickets may also be purchased through the AFI Silver website. More information about tickets is available on the website.

The AFI Silver Theatre is located at 8633 Colesville Road, at the intersection of Colesville Road and Georgia Avenue, in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Parking is available in several public parking decks close to the theater. Most convenient is the Wayne Avenue garage, located at 921 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland. Parking at the Wayne Avenue garage is free on weekends.

Directions to the cinema, as well as information about parking and public transportation, may be found on the AFI Silver website.

Lorre Classic at the New Beverly Cinema

Lorre fans in the area of Los Angeles, California, can enjoy Peter on the big screen this weekend when the New Beverly Cinema shows a 35mm print of the Disney classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) this weekend as part of their “Kiddee Matinee” series.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will be shown on 2 pm on Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11, 2023.

Ticket prices are $10 for all seats. Young patrons age 12 and under will get a free bag of popcorn.

Tickets may be purchased online through the New Beverly website. A nominal booking fee will be added to each ticket purchased online.

The New Beverly Cinema is located at 7165 Beverly Boulevard, one block west of La Brea Avenue, in Los Angeles, California.

Parking is available on Beverly Boulevard and Formosa Avenue. The New Beverly is also served by public transportation. More information about parking and MTA lines is available on the cinema’s website.

Lorre Movies on TV in June

Summer in June brings a handful of Lorre films on the Turner Classic Movies channel, as well as other channels, including Talking Pictures TV.

American times shown are Eastern Standard.

Peter Lorre’s page on the TV Guide Channel website lists the Lorre films scheduled on various television channels over a 2-week period.


June, 2023

A birthday tribute to a Lorre co-star and a visit to Noir Alley are the highlights this month on TCM.

June 8 (Thurs), 6 pm, TCM – The Constant Nymph (1943). The daytime theme is a birthday salute to Alexis Smith, including the only movie she made with Peter Lorre.

June 10 (Sat), 12:30 am, TCM – The Verdict (1946). The "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller presents this Victorian mystery in which neighbors and best friends (Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet) team up to solve a murder committed in a locked room.

June 11 (Sun), 10 am, TCM – The Verdict (1946). Missed "Noir Alley" last night? Here's the encore showing!

June 15 (Thurs), 7:35 am, Movies! Network – Quicksand (1950).

June 16 (Fri), 11:20 am, Fox Movies Channel – Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961).

June 20 (Tues), 11:30 am, Fox Movies Channel – Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961).


Sneak Peek at July, 2023

July brings a handful of Lorre movies.

July 2 (Sun), 4 pm, TCM – Casablanca (1942). TCM celebrates the Fourth of July weekend with a series of patriotic movies, including this classic set in the North African city.

July 11 (Tues), 4:30 am, TCM – Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956). The primetime theme is "What Happens in Vegas . . .", including this musical comedy about a lucky gambler, with a cameo by Peter as a blackjack player.

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Many of these and other Lorre movies and television programs are now available on DVD and Blu-Ray – many remastered and packaged with extra features. For more information on the films of Peter Lorre released to home video, head on over to the DVD – VHS section of The Lost One website.

In The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre, Stephen D. Youngkin discusses the making of Peter’s movies, including interviews with many of the directors, writers, actors, and crew who worked with Peter.

A complete list of Peter’s movies and television credits is available in the book’s Appendix.

The Lost One: A Life of Peter Lorre may be purchased from many brick-and-mortar shops, as well as these online merchants ~

• Amazon U.S.
• Amazon Canada
• Amazon U.K

Happy viewing!