On Saturday, March 26, 2011, the Secret Cinema at Moore College of Art & Design will present the first screening in several years centered on rock music: A WALK ON THE SOFT SIDE: FILMS OF THE BEACH BOYS AND FRIENDS. The program, sure to be welcomed by those rediscovering the charms of the “sunshine pop” and “soft rock”* genres, features difficult to find footage from lost television specials and educational films. Much of the program features the Beach Boys, but there are also rare appearances by the Fifth Dimension, Jimmy Webb, Johnny Rivers, Merrilee Rush and others. Noted musician, pop historian, and Beach Boys authority Dennis Diken will be on hand to introduce the screening. Best known as the drummer for The Smithereens (and gaining attention for his solo project Bell Sound, who performed recently at Johnny Brenda’s), Diken has written liner notes for and helped produce numerous reissue albums by artists such as the Lovin’Spoonful, the Four Seasons, Louis Prima, Del Shannon, Henry Mancini, Joe Meek, the Four Freshmen, and of course the Beach Boys — whose every member he managed to meet. Diken will place our Beach Boys films in context within their time and the group’s career, as well as discuss the other films to be shown, and if time allows, answer questions about his life of making and chronicling pop music. MORE
Saturday, March 26 8:00 pm
Admission: $8.00
Moore College of Art & Design
20th & Race Streets, Philadelphia
(215) 965-4099