Last night Antenna-TV, channel 114 on Cablevision in NYC, ran four straight rock n roll movies. I watched the first, Rock Around the Clock (1956), which I hadn’t seen since the ‘60’s. It was made to capitalize on the burgeoning genre, and to promote it. What is good clean fun by today’s standards was scandalous to many back then. Although the story is thin, the terminology archaic and the humor corny, it has a lot of charm and energy. To my surprise, all but one of the faces of the main cast, John Archer, were unfamiliar. Johnny Johnston, the star, playing a manager, does not have many film credits. He was a singer during the Big Band era. Archer, Henry Slate and the two females leads, Alix Talton and Lisa Gaye, a terrific dancer, all have an impressive number of credits listed at IMDb, where the film is rated 6.1 of ten. Legendary DJ Alan Freed, who did a lot to popularize rock n roll, is also on hand. Only two years after the release of the film, he was cited in the infamous payola scandal, as was Dick Clark, accused of taking money to play and promote the records of certain artists. Freed died of the effects of alcoholism in 1965 at the age of 43. The real stars of Rock Around the Clock are the bands, particularly Bill Haley and the Comets, whose antics during Rudy’s Rock are a trip. The Platters, not one of my favorite groups, also do several numbers. Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, of whom I had no recollection whatsoever, did two songs. Their bass player used an electric model, which surprised me, as I doubt many were used at that time. The most unusual act, doing several numbers, was fronted by Tony Martinez, and I’d label the music as salsa. I’d guess all four acts were represented by the same manager. If Martinez’s name rings a bell, it may be because he played Pepino in 141 episodes of The Real McCoys, which starred Walter Brennan and Richard Crenna. I believe all the numbers were lip-synched and pantomimed. There is also great interest to film buffs regarding the men behind the scenes. Fred F. Sears, has 44 credits as a director and 75 as an actor. Scanning the lists, it appears all his work was in B films. He was at the helm of Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956). Tragically, he was felled by a heart attack at 44. He was doing five films a year. I wonder if overwork killed him. Producer Sam Katzman has 241 credits going all the way back to 1933 and until 1972. Many were exploitation flicks similar to the one in question. In fact, in the few minutes I viewed of Don’t Knock the Twist (1962), it seemed to be following the script of Rock Around the Clock to a T. As Rock... wound down, the words “The Living End” appeared on the screen. Nostalgia is nice sometimes.
In Kyle Smith’s op-ed piece in today’s NY Post, he cites a new term British conservative writer Peter Hitchens has invented: “Coincidence Theorists,” ascribed those who deny chicanery, a lack of connection about events that appear to have something in common, such as IRS targeting and the harassment of filmmakers critical of the President.
I spotted an interesting headline at google news and followed it to this life-affirming article that brought tears to my eyes: http://www.ydr.com/nation-world/ci_24995685/california-familys-promise-gave-life-man-31-year
It was only 20 degrees, but the sun was shining and the wind was blocked by the Chase bank, so I decided to set up the floating book shop. 30 minutes later the clouds moved in and the warmth the sun provided was eventually obliterated. Fortunately, my car was in the perfect spot, so I was able to put in a couple of hours. My thanks to the two gentlemen who bought.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Horror Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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