Scopitone: Jukebox That Ate the Cocktail Lounge

Rated Unknown; 80min; Director:Kier-La Janisse

Location: Alamo Downtown

This show is a part of the DOLLAR NIGHT - $1 admission! Signature Series, Click to See More



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SCOPITONE: THE JUKEBOX THAT ATE THE COCKTAIL LOUNGE
Compiled by Kier-La Janisse, written by Jack Stevenson, 2005 Video 80min. Unrated

More than just a new style, a new sound or a new technology, Scopitone was a full-blown cultural phenomenon, a creature of its time as rooted in the mid-sixties as the Nickelodeon was rooted in the first decade of the Twentieth century. The Scopitone movie-jukebox was brashly promoted at its west coast unveiling in 1964 as nothing less than a ""revolutionary"" new concept. Basically a visual jukebox with tiny 16mm film reels and a rear-projection screen, it was hailed as the most remarkable innovation in entertainment since television. And yet in spite of all the red-hot hype, Scopitone flared out surprisingly quickly and today its metallic hulk floats free in an outer orbit of America's pop culture past ... a tumbling, clanging robotic piece of junk.

Today a last remaining few of these boxy machines loom silent, dust-covered and forgotten in dark alcoves of old warehouses, half draped with greasy blankets and ready to throw a tingly chill into the young teenage burglar or stock boy across whose bug-eyed expression falls the long shadow of one of these alien contraptions that launched the careers of so many international superstars. (Jack Stevenson)

This original Alamo compilation is co-presented by SCOPITONES.COM and features scopitones by Francoise Hardy, France Gall, Debbie Reynolds, Nancy Sinatra, Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass, scopitone superstar Joi Lansing, as well as the most popular scopitone of all time, THE ROBOT - and many more!

Kid Policy: 18 and up; Children 6 and up will be allowed only with a parent or guardian. No children under the age of 6 will be allowed.

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