PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: SOUL TRAIN: THE HIPPEST TRIP IN AMERICA IN NEW YORK {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's Inside Media events. Held at the Paley Center in New York, this evening celebrates “Soul Train” (the groundbreaking American musical variety show) and the documentary “Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America.” Host Ron Simon (curator of television and radio, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and then brings Vh1 “Rock Docs” executive producer Brad Abramson to the stage. Abramson introduces “Hippest Trip” executive producer Anthony Maddox, who provides background about the documentary, which is then screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 100739.)
After the screening, Simon introduces moderator Danyel Smith (editor-in-chief, Vibe magazine), and then the panelists: “Soul Train” dancer Tyrone Proctor; rapper Big Bang Hank of the Sugarhill Gang; and musician and music producer Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson.
The discussion touches on such topics as: the deaths of artists Teddy Pendergrass and Marvin Gaye and the value of the footage of their performances on the show; the panel’s favorite episodes of “Soul Train”; how making the documentary was “like a high school reunion” for Proctor and his fellow dancers; Proctor’s unusual method for getting on the show, including hiding in a car trunk; his continued friendship with many of the dancers and their “strong community”; and host Don Cornelius’ initial reticence about rap music and eventual appreciation.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: Thompson’s collection of tapes of old “Soul Train” episodes and whether they will be available to the public; the “magic” of the show; the show’s varying late-night timeslots; memories of specific shows with famous musicians; updates on the lives of other former dancers; Thompson’s “bittersweet” experience being on the show after Cornelius had left and his worry that the show might have “jumped the shark” since his departure; trivia and details about the show from DJ Nick Fresh, creator of the website Soul Train Fans, present in the audience; behind-the-scenes information on the tapings of the show; its influence on fashion as well as musical culture; the infamous KFC lunches served to the dancers; the party life of the dancers after hours and popular clubs; the show’s impact on gay culture; how Cornelius can be “hard to read” but generous, and an anecdote about his helping Proctor out of a sticky financial spot; how many of the dancers “double-dipped” by appearing on both “Soul Train” and other shows like “American Bandstand” because they were unpaid; Cornelius’ interest in putting the good of the community before his own personal tastes; casting director Pam Brown’s involvement with finding dancers; how dancers are the “least respected” artists in the field; the show’s use of “fillers” as well as professional dancers; and Cornelius’ reaction to the documentary.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: January 27, 2010 6:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:57:07
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 100700
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ron Simon … Host
- Danyel Smith … Moderator
- Tyrone Proctor … Panelist
- Big Bank Hank … Panelist
- Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson … Panelist
- Anthony Maddox … Guest
- Brad Abramson … Guest
- Nick "Fresh" Puzzo … Guest
- Pam Brown
- Don Cornelius
- Marvin Gaye
- Teddy Pendergrass