Exhibit includes memorabilia from Lou Adler’s archives
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Roxy and its enduring relevance, the Grammy Museum announces its newest exhibit, The Roxy: 50 Years On The Sunset Strip, which explores the club’s origins and rich musical history. The exhibit will offer visitors a front-row view of the many musicians that played onstage, the celebrities who mingled upstairs at On The Rox — the Roxy’s VIP space — and the eclectic details of the Rocky Horror stage show and movie. The exhibit launches at the Grammy Museum on September 15, 2023 with a special film screening, a rooftop reception, and a Q&A with Lou Adler and his sons Nic and Cisco. The exhibit will run through January 7, 2024.
“I look forward to experiencing and sharing with the public the 50 years of Roxy history as memorialized by the Grammy Musem,” Adler shares.
“The Roxy and the Sunset Strip are deeply embedded in music history, and 50 years later, the Roxy continues to be a club where music’s most exciting moments still take place,” adds Jasen Emmons, Chief Curator and VP of Curatorial Affairs at the Grammy Museum. “This exhibit highlights Lou Adler and the Roxy’s ability to tap into the cultural zeitgeist and lets visitors dive into the rich world of one of the most historic and beloved locations in Los Angeles.”
On September 20, 1973, Lou Adler and Elmer Valentine, along with Peter Asher, David Geffen, Bill Graham, Chuck Landis, and Elliot Roberts as advisors, opened The Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip. Neil Young and the Santa Monica Flyers initiated the club with a three-night stand, playing two shows every evening, and The Roxy quickly became one of the city’s premier clubs. Several months later, in March 1974, The Roxy debuted the US theatrical production of The Rocky Horror Show, which two years later became the cult classic film produced by Adler, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and continues to be in distribution since its release. The Roxy: 50 Years On The Sunset Strip highlights the Los Angeles institution’s legacy through artifact displays including Roxy memorabilia from Lou Adler’s archives, an original film, and photographs.
The exhibit includes 60 photographs of performers such as Cheech & Chong, The Clash, the Go-Go’s, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Marley, Mötley Crüe, Patti Smith, Neil Young, and Frank Zappa; candid behind-the-scenes photos of celebrities like Jack Nicholson at On The Rox; photos from the original production of The Rocky Horror Show and movie; historical Roxy memorabilia from Lou Adler’s archives, including original invitations for the Roxy’s opening night and to the debut of The Rocky Horror Show; the original membership application for On The Rox, including key given to members; and the white upright piano from On The Rox that was played by Elton John, John Lennon, and Bruce Springsteen, among others; and an original documentary short film, featuring interviews with Lou Adler, his sons Nic and Cisco, Peter Asher, and David Foster, whose first gig in Los Angeles was as the keyboard player for The Rocky Horror Show.
From the legends who once graced the stage, to the up and coming acts who hope to follow in their footsteps, The Roxy remains one of the most renown venues in the world. This September, the legendary club is celebrating its 50th anniversary with special performances from artists who shaped the venue into what it is today as well as current bands who will continue to shape the future of The Roxy and music itself. Young is scheduled to perform on September 20th with additional announcements to be made soon via theroxyturns50.com.
https://www.facebook.com/theroxy/posts/pfbid0WuzRR8eevpn7WBarcJEfSnGooahPdCLY34M8c54vbEbPkNKtD3pEZ15nnZicsQvYl
