Joe Rinaudo is the proud founder of SCAAT. 

SCAAT was founded by Joe Rinaudo, an internationally recognized specialist in the restoration of silent cinema equipment. 

Joe Rinaudo is particularly known for his expertise in fotoplayers­ complex mechanical instruments designed to accompany silent films with synchronized music and sound effects. His work combines deep historical research with exceptional mechanical skill, allowing rare instruments to return to the screen not as museum objects, but as living machines. 

Over decades of work, Joe Rinaudo has collaborated with archives, museums, film festivals, and cultural institutions worldwide, contributing to the revival of authentic silent film performances and the preservation of the silent cinema’s technological and musical heritage.

The goal of Silent Cinema Art and Technology is to share and preserve the art and the technology of the silent film, which began over one hundred and thirty years ago. This will be accomplished through a hands-on approach to restoration, reproduction and live demonstrations. We aim to engage the public with this lost era of innovation and creativity. Ensuring its legacy lives on for future generations. We define the “ART” of the silent film era as encompassing all forms of its music and motion picture imagery as they relate to the silent film. Though the films themselves were silent, they were brought vividly to life through richly orchestrated scores, solo piano, organ accompaniment, photoplayers and especially arranged cue sheets tailored to specific scenes and emotions. These musical forms were delivered in a wide variety of media such as printed sheet music for orchestra, pipe organ or piano as well as paper music rolls for pipe organs, photoplayers and mechanical orchestrions. This list also includes cylinder and disc phonograph records as phonographs were used as musical accompaniment in some of the early nickelodeon theaters. We define the “TECHNOLOGY” as all forms of mechanical music including pipe organs as well as all forms of mechanical projection equipment such as, Hand cranked 35mm motion picture projectors, early and late-model 35mm mechanical sound projectors. These later devices allow us to demonstrate silent motion picture shows using these 35mm and 16mm sound projectors enhanced with historically appropriate period soundtracks. This also includes magic lanterns and early motion machines. Silent Cinema Art and Technology is committed to keeping alive not only the films themselves but the full cultural and technological ecosystem that made the silent cinema a true art form. Our non-profit mission includes offering live shows featuring hand cranked 35mm projection with piano, photoplayer and/or pipe organ accompaniment to live audiences.