The Mahoning Drive-In in Lehighton, PA, one of the last movie drive-ins in the United States with one of the largest screens which runs Retro programs of classic and cult movies, had their first movie event dedicated to The Monkees. The program consisted of three Monkees TV episodes on 35mm prints from the late 1960’s-early 1970’s Saturday morning run with rare commercials and 1970’s Monkees music replacing the original songs from the 1960’s prints. The main feature was a 35mm print of The Monkees 1968 movie ‘Head’.
Monkees fans and Mahoning Drive-In regulars who came from all over the country attended the event. Prior to the screenings that began at dusk, fans were able to purchase Monkees records, t-shirts and memorabilia and met and had books signed by authors Michael A. Ventrella (‘Long Title: Looking For The Good Times: Examining The Monkees Songs One By One’, ‘Headquartered: A Timeline of The Monkees Solo Years’), Thom Johnny “Beefstew” Shubilla (‘Primetime 1966-1967: The Full Spectrum of Television’s First All-Color Season’) and Fred Velez (‘A Little Bit You, A Little Bit Me: The Monkees From A Fan’s Perspective’, ‘A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You 2: The Monkees From International Fan Perspectives’). Mick Lawless of The Monkees and Michael Nesmith tribute band Loose Salute did a live set of Monkees and Nesmith songs. Monkees music was played over the Mahoning In-House Radio station.
As dusk settled, it was time for the screening which began with a short video history of The Monkees followed by specially recorded intros by Monkees friend and actress Valerie Kairys Venet (widow of Capitol Records executive Nick Venet who discovered The Beach Boys) and Micky Dolenz who hoped the fans would enjoy the movie ‘Head’ and if anyone understood it, to please let him know as he was still trying to figure it out!
Micky Dolenz Video Intro: https://www.facebook.com/9329229/videos/850255063046876/
The first two episodes shown with the Saturday morning commercials were ‘The Spy Who Came In From The Cool’ and ‘Card Carrying Red Shoes’, both which had a similar theme of The Monkees against foreign spies and secret microfilms. The song ‘All Alone In The Dark’ from The Monkees 1970 album ‘Changes’ replaced ‘Saturday’s Child’ from the original 1960’s prints of ‘The Spy’ episode.
After a short intermission the 35mm print of the movie ‘Head’ was projected on the large screen. After the movie, a bonus Saturday morning episode was shown, ‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers’ with the replacement song ‘Do You Feel It Too’ from the ‘Changes’ album replacing ‘Last Train To Clarksville’.
The event was well attended and Mark Nelson who supervised it was pleased at the turnout. “I put together the kind of event I myself would want to attend as a longtime Monkeemaniac, and was thrilled to see so many celebrate the Guys, traveling from as far away as Michigan! Many thanks to all who attended and help spread the word. See you all for Part 2 on a Saturday in 2024!”
Fred Velez, 2022.
Freddy Pop! 