On Wednesday, September 23 the Secret Cinema will return to the Rotunda for a brand new program called D for Design: Form and Function at Mid-Century. It will include several short films exploring the role and methods of product designers, as well as the style revolution that occurred in the post-war years (in recent times celebrated as "Mid-Century Modern"). Most of the films will be making their Secret Cinema debut.
There will be one complete show, starting at 8:00 pm. Admission is free.
Just a few highlights of Famous Films 2026 include:
About Design (1975) - A philosophical treatment of the problem of design, produced by IBM. The film employs abstract photography and creative editing along with many views of Selectric type balls, 8" floppy disks, CRT screens and other now obsolete-yet-beautiful examples of technology (ironically, this is the newest film in the program).
D for Design (1956) - Produced by the Government Film Commission of Denmark, this colorful look at modern Danish furniture, fabrics, ceramics and silverware takes us inside factories to show the work of the artisans who design these bold looking products -- often basing them on patterns found in nature.
(1959) - Eliot Noyes worked for IBM for 21 years, creating their first corporate-wide design program. In this rare film, made for in-house use, he discusses those design concerns from a technical standpoint, showing how they created a practical, unified look for their new computer consoles, paper tape readers and high speed printers. Noyes would soon design the IBM Selectric typewriter and the look of Mobil gas stations, and is considered one of the key industrial designers and architects of the 20th century. A feature-length documentary about his achievements, was released in 2023.
American Look (1958) - "Improved styling constantly adds to the ease and grace and gaiety of American living." Showcasing a veritable orgy of fifties Populuxe design in furniture, housewares, appliances and packaging, American Look professes that "the basic freedom of the American people…is the freedom of individual choice." Following this extensive tour of Mid-Century Modern consumerism, we get a peek inside Chevrolet's lavish design studios, where sketch artists, clay modelers and colorists are busy at work. This visually stunning time-capsule would not be the same in black-and-white -- fortunately for us, it was printed on non-fading Technicolor film stock. Produced by prolific industrial film studio Jam Handy (for their most frequent client, General Motors).
Plus more!
Admission is FREE