Okay. The facts. My grandparents owned the luncheonette next door to the Belair Movie Theater when they both opened, I believe in 1963 or so. I was only four, but spent many a day there. My grandparents were friends with the owner of the theater and my brother and I would get in for free.
I recall two major events there. One was the premiere of The Batman Movie, where Adam West and Burt Ward both appeared live, to introduce the film. I was obsessed with them at this point, and recall this clearly. The second event that I recall, first hand, and which changed my life, was The Dave Clark Five appearing at The Belair to accompany the opening of their film, “Catch Us If You Can,” also in 1965.
Contrary to what was written previously, the band DID perform. Or, let’s say, they tried to perform. Their equipment was set up on stage and the band came out and played one song, possibly, “Glad All Over,” (I was only five, sorry I don’t remember!). The stage was being guarded by an entire phalanx of policemen, standing in front of the stage, holding hands creating a human barricade. By the second song, the screaming teenaged girls stormed the stage, and the band was whisked off… immediately.
Order was restored, and the movie was shown. Afterwards, I recall a girl, mascara running down her face as she cried and bawled, “I touched him… I’ll never wash my hand again… I touched him…” in my grandparents' luncheonette. My little Jewish grandmother was trying to calm her down, to no avail. It was at that moment I knew I’d end up working in Show Biz, in one way or another. I also ended up shooting many rock bands that I grew up listening to. Never the Dave Clark Five, though 😢 If inclined, you can see some of my work at: www.jbloomrosen.com
Okay. The facts. My grandparents owned the luncheonette next door to the Belair Movie Theater when they both opened, I believe in 1963 or so. I was only four, but spent many a day there. My grandparents were friends with the owner of the theater and my brother and I would get in for free.
I recall two major events there. One was the premiere of The Batman Movie, where Adam West and Burt Ward both appeared live, to introduce the film. I was obsessed with them at this point, and recall this clearly. The second event that I recall, first hand, and which changed my life, was The Dave Clark Five appearing at The Belair to accompany the opening of their film, “Catch Us If You Can,” also in 1965.
Contrary to what was written previously, the band DID perform. Or, let’s say, they tried to perform. Their equipment was set up on stage and the band came out and played one song, possibly, “Glad All Over,” (I was only five, sorry I don’t remember!). The stage was being guarded by an entire phalanx of policemen, standing in front of the stage, holding hands creating a human barricade. By the second song, the screaming teenaged girls stormed the stage, and the band was whisked off… immediately.
Order was restored, and the movie was shown. Afterwards, I recall a girl, mascara running down her face as she cried and bawled, “I touched him… I’ll never wash my hand again… I touched him…” in my grandparents' luncheonette. My little Jewish grandmother was trying to calm her down, to no avail. It was at that moment I knew I’d end up working in Show Biz, in one way or another. I also ended up shooting many rock bands that I grew up listening to. Never the Dave Clark Five, though 😢 If inclined, you can see some of my work at: www.jbloomrosen.com