SUBMITTED ARTICLE
MONTEREY — The Monterey International Pop Festival marked a special time in cultural history for three days in 1967. It was where D.A. Pennebaker filmed “Monterey Pop,” the acclaimed and ground-breaking documentary that captured the spirit and sounds of that era and propelled the careers of many rock legends.
It blends music and film and the overall scene at the extraordinary event held 50 years ago at the Monterey Fairgrounds.
Now the community can step back in time for a special screening of “Monterey Pop” on Friday, May 12. The Monterey County Film Commission will present the “groovy” evening at the Golden State Theatre at 417 Alvarado St. in Monterey.
Wear flowers in your hair and join the fun reminiscing with others who were there at the original festival. Even those who weren’t yet born in the 1960s will enjoy a glimpse of what the youth and the music of the day were like at this Monterey celebration of the “Summer of Love.”
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with refreshments available for purchase in the lobby. The program begins at 7:15 p.m. with an introduction by the nonprofit Monterey County Film Commission. Noted rock ‘n’ roll photographer Tom Gundelfinger O’Neal, whose photos from the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival launched his extraordinary career, will share his memories of the festival and insights on capturing the now-famous moments — and performers — on film.
At 8 p.m. the film “Monterey Pop” will be screened. Musical icons of the 1960s who performed on the festival stage will appear on the theater’s big screen — Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, John Phillips and Mama Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas, Pete Townshend of The Who, Johnny Rivers, Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield, Simon and Garfunkel, Otis Redding, Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane, Ravi Shankar, Paul Butterfield and more.
Purchase tickets at $16 (open seating) via the Golden State Theatre, goldenstatetheatre.com or call 831-649-1070. Proceeds of ticket sales will benefit two nonprofits, the Monterey County Film Commission and the Monterey International Pop Festival Foundation.
Event sponsors and partners include the Golden State Theatre, the Arts Council of Monterey, Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, TGO Photography, the County of Monterey and Lou Adler.
For more information, contact the film commission at 831-646-0910 or [email protected].
