Rock Is Fifty!
March 20, 2005

This special screening commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the film Blackboard Jungle's world premiere in New York City. The film unwittingly jump-started the popularity of rock 'n' roll when its use of Bill Haley and His Comets' "Rock Around The Clock" led directly to the song's breakthrough success. The song became a Number One single worldwide, eventually selling 25 million copies. The rest, as they say, was hysteria...

Organized by Jytte Jensen, Curator, Department of Film and Media, in collaboration with Martin Lewis, Special Events organizer, American Cinematheque, Los Angeles.
 
Presented in association with The "Rock Is Fifty!" Committee, Sirius Satellite Radio's "Underground Garage," The Museum of Television & Radio (New York & Los Angeles), The American Cinematheque (Los Angeles), The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, SOFA Entertainment. Special Thanks to Warner Home Video.  

Blackboard Jungle. 1955. USA. Directed by Richard Brooks. With Glenn Ford, Sidney Poitier. 101 mins. Followed by Q & A with participants from the film, including Paul Mazursky, and the five surviving members of Bill Haley's Comets.

Sunday, March 20, 8:00. T1

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