Better yet, how do you say it?
Scopitone, pronounced like scope-E-tone, was the precursor to music videos. The machine worked like a jukebox in that for a quarter you could hear your favorite songs. But on top of the machine was a small screen where you could watch a film version of the song as well. Inside the machine were 16mm reels of the hottest hits of the day.
It all started in France in the late fifties when superstars such as Johnny Hallyday and Serge Gainsbourg created the first song films. Soon the fad spread to Germany, England, and by the mid sixties, it was catching on in the US. The intent was to place these machines inside bars, on military bases and other risque places.
The formula for making one of these US Scopitones was easy: hit song + cute girls + vaguely interested artist = Good times! Watch an example of my fave one:
After watching a handful of these, I began to realize they were all about one thing: ASS! If the song sucks, doesn't matter. If one girl or group of girls shakes their butt, it takes your mind off the music. Even if it's a song about heartbreak or animals, or something completely non-related to girls or dancing, they're dancing! I guess the bosses figured the guys would keep paying a quarter just to see some tail.
Anywho, the BIG stars of the day such as Neil Sedaka, Dick & DeeDee, Debbie Reynolds, Vic Damone, Bobby Vee, Nancy Sinatra and countless others performed their hits in front of cheesy backdrops with cheesy dancers, but made it fun! The so-called "stories" they tried to exhibit in these things are so silly and often don't have anything to do with the song. I guess if you make a song that's hard to illustrate on screen, you're pretty much screwed. When in doubt, just go with girls, I guess.
Now for the sad news: Scopitones quickly faded towards the end of the 60's and are now rarely heard of or even seen. But, thanks to our friends on YouTube, we are now able to see these masterpieces after all these years. Coupled with mechanical problems, ties to the mafia and overall disinterest, the machines were fazed out and forgotten. Now they're highly collectible and mostly found in France, but if you're lucky you could see one at a garage sale in LA.
Okay, so maybe I can't go watch Scopitones at my nearest dive bar, but for an introductory price of FREE, I can watch all the song films I want. YouTube has an amazing collection of these babies and they're just hilarious to watch. Colors are vivid, sound is great and the selection is endless. Elvis imitator with spaghetti legs? See Vince Taylor in "Peppermint Twist". Scary older woman in spider web? Check out Joi Lansing in "Web of Love". Oh the fun!
Click here to watch my Scopitone Best of the Best Playlist on YouTube.
Plus, check out these Scopitone Links:
0 comments:
Post a Comment