The Museum of Television & Radio Presents American Pop

Thursday, April 1, 2004

New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA—The Museum of Television & Radio presents American Pop, a freewheeling survey of American popular music as experienced through the medium of television. Under the umbrella title American Pop, the series will offer thematic screenings featuring performances and interviews with American pop stars as well as rarely seen programs produced to showcase popular music. The Shock of the New, the second part of this ongoing series, opens on April 9, 2004, and runs through May 30, 2004, in both New York and Los Angeles. The following programs will be featured:

CBS News Special: Inside Pop—The Rock Revolution

An enthusiastic Leonard Bernstein hosts this special program, intended to shed light on the exploding cultural impact of teen-oriented pop music in the mid-1960s. Bernstein deconstructs hits of the day with his piano, interviews musicians including Frank Zappa and the Byrds' Roger McGuinn, and presents rare performance footage of Brian Wilson and cult folk troubadour Tim Buckley. (1967; 60 minutes)

The First Hour of MTV

The revolution begins here, with the Buggles' wryly prophetic clip "Video Killed the Radio Star." The first hour also features videos from Pat Benatar, Styx, and the Pretenders, as well as an interview with the Ramones. (1981; 60 minutes)

American Pop: The Shock of the New will screen in New York Thursdays through Sundays at 4:00 p.m., and in Los Angeles Wednesdays through Sundays at 1:00 p.m. Screenings are included with the Museum's suggested contribution: Members free; $10.00 for adults; $8.00 for senior citizens and students; and $5.00 for children under fourteen. Admission is free in Los Angeles.

Previous American Pop screenings included Soul Survivors, featuring the work of Al Green and James Brown.

The Museum of Television & Radio, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, is a nonprofit organization founded by William S. Paley to collect and preserve television and radio programs and advertisements and to make them available to the public. Since opening in 1976, the Museum has organized exhibitions, screening and listening series, seminars, and education classes to showcase its collection of over 100,000 television and radio programs and advertisements. Programs in the Museum's permanent collection are selected for their artistic, cultural, and historic significance.

The Museum of Television & Radio in New York, located at 25 West 52 Street in Manhattan, is open Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 6:00 p.m. and until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The Museum of Television & Radio in California, located at 465 North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, is open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m. Both Museums are closed on New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Suggested contribution: Members free; $10.00 for adults; $8.00 for senior citizens and students; and $5.00 for children under fourteen. Admission is free in Los Angeles. The public areas in both Museums are accessible to wheelchairs, and assisted listening devices are available. Programs are subject to change. You may call the Museum in New York at (212) 621-6800, or in Los Angeles at (310) 786-1000. Visit the Museum's website at www.mtr.org.