January 22–29, 1998

six pick

The Scopitone Film Jukebox

Video Vanguard

The music video didn't start with MTV. Variations on the concept of musicians performing on film have been around since Tom Edison's coin-op Kinescopes first appeared in 1895, followed by The Mills Panoram in 1939. After falling somewhat out of vogue, the French Cameca company reintroduced the "video" (it's actually celluloid) concept with the Scopitone film jukebox—a 16-selection video screen which featured, for the first time, color films. This Friday, Jay Schwartz (Secret Cinema brainchild who was just presented an award by Spain's Internacional Festival de Cine de Gijon for "collecting, preserving, and showing the treasures of obscure cinema") will present the Scopitone Party. The evening will showcase '60s Scopitone films unearthed from the storage space of a retired Virginia jukebox dealer, featuring known names like Dion, Procol Harum and Nancy Sinatra; obscure French pop stars Johnny Hallyday and Dalida; and Britain's Elvis-inspired Vince Taylor, among others. Afterwards, Schwartz will give a lecture and slide presentation.

Fri., Jan. 23, 8 p.m., Moore College of Art and Design, 20th and the Parkway, 568-4515.

-Brian Howard