RECOMMENDED: The Scopitone was a kind of early video jukebox that was common in Europe — most notably France — in the 1950s and 1960s; it was basically a jukebox that played 16mm films instead of records, and while prevalent, loads of artists of the time produced what amounts to the earliest instances of what we’d now recognize as the music video. (At right: France Gall‘s “Baby Pop” Scopitone.) Viewed today, they are campy, sometimes they are outright weird, but most of all, they are very, very entertaining. The Secret Cinema has done a program of all Scopitones before, and tonight at Moore College Of Art & Design, it is repeated, complete with Jay Schwartz‘s illuminating historical overview beforehand. For fans of French pop, music videos and pop culture history, we cannot recommend this highly enough.
The Secret Cinema at Moore College of Art & Design presents SCOPITONE PARTY screening and talk: Friday, February 27, 8:00 pm. Admission: $7.00. Moore College of Art & Design, 20th & Race Streets. (215) 965-4099

ALSO NEW IN THEATERS THIS WEEK: Two Lovers, starring Joaquin Phoenix (thankfully not doing whatever lame Andy Kauffman thing he’s trying to pull right now) and Gwyneth Paltrow (also thankfully not telling you how to live your life); Echelon Conspiracy, notable only for the fact that it’s nice to see that Ving Rhames still gets work; Street Fighter: The Legend Of Chun-Li, which you will be totally stoked on because you’re 9; and Jonas Brothers 3-D Concert Movie, which is more proof that God is dead and something far, far more sinister has taken His place.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 27th, 2009 at 4:41 pm.