Articles

- By Dr Celia Netolicky

For the The Perth Nostalgia Festival
fundraiser event at the Astor Theatre:

This is a must attend event for the “wild ones” from the 50s and 60s. Re-live the rebellious 1950’s through the Perth Nostalgia Festival’s movie matinee and dance extravaganza. This will be a truly memorable event for those from the era, or anyone who just loves music, dance and rock’n'roll.

There will be a screening of the ground-breaking film Blackboard Jungle, the film that popularised rock’n'roll music and was widely banned for its radical portrayals and views that stimulated riots and rebellion in cities across the globe.

This is more than a movie re-hash. You will be dazzled by the swing, rock’n'roll and rockabilly dance demos. There will be two hours of rock’n'roll and rockabilly music by the Roadmasters and awards for best nostalgia celebrity and best period outfits (so come dressed-up and ready to rock’n'roll). There will be free popcorn, vintage cars delivering guests, photographers and videographers documenting the event, a master of ceremonies, and well-known local guest artists performing hit songs from the era.

Blackboard Jungle was the movie that popularised Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock and rock’n'roll dancing. It was also the career springboard for actors Sidney Poitier, Glenn Ford, Jamee Farah (now known as Jamie Farr from MASH) and Anne Francis. The movie was shocking in its time and was banned in a number of cities for its multi-racial content and for sparking violence and riots. Some suggest it is a truer depiction of the teenage angst of the period than Rebel Without a Cause or The Wild One.

This is a Perth Nostalgia Festival Fundraiser, but it is also a major must-attend social event in itself. There will be five hours of film, dance and music, great value for your $25 (prepaid) or $30 (at the door) ticket.

The event is on Sunday 26th October, so rock up in your finest gear to the Astor in Mt Lawley, a charming theatre capturing the magic of the era. Doors open at 2pm for a dance demo and viewing of National Bandstand (filmed at the Capitol Theatre in Perth in 1965, featuring legendary performers Max Merritt and the Meteors, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Ray Brown and the Whispers and Lynn Randell).

The main movie, Blackboard Jungle, starts at 3pm, followed by two hours of rocking music by the Roadmasters, and the chance to dance till you drop. During the band’s break, guest artists Peter Anderson (from the Troubadours), Kelly Green and Brenton Fosdike will perform hits from the era, so you can dance non-stop till 7pm.

All proceeds raised go to making the Perth Nostalgia Festival a very memorable event. The Festival, to be held 29 March 2009 on the South Perth foreshore, will feature swing, rock’n'roll and rockabilly music and dance, vintage cars, vintage gear, dance demos and a period fashion parade. The Festival is a non-profit event supported by the City of South Perth.

For tickets for the event, or for more information about the Festival, phone 0407 996 261 or visit the Social Events page at the Festival website: www.perthnostalgiafestival.org.