Blast from the past

A jukebox with visuals!

Site: Scopitones

Time magazine informed readers in 1964 of the revolutionary Scopitone Machine — a jukebox with visuals! For just a quarter you could choose one of 36 musical movies in “delirious colour and hi-fi Scooby-ooby-doo.” They were in at least 500 bars, restaurants and servicemen’s clubs across the US. But it was in France and Europe where they took off.

At Scopitones.com you can watch more than 40 of these classic early videos. Skinny French chanteuses, goofy floppy-haired boys and big buxom American starlets abound. See and hear Les Surfs, Petula Clark, Sylvie Vartan, Julie Driscoll and January Jones! You would swear gay boys and girls directed all the videos.

Favourites include “Comic Strip” featuring the sly Serge Gainsbourg sauntering through a room filled with balloons as a brunette Brigitte Bardot (in pink tights and a cape) sings “Shabam! Pow! Blop! Whizz!” But “Web Of Love” with bombed blonde-shell Joi Lansing writhing in a soundstage voodoo cauldron and seductively caressing a dancing boy snake is the charmer.

Read More About:
Culture, Toronto

Keep Reading

How trans comics can save the world

ANALYSIS: The world is growing increasingly hostile toward the LGBTQ2S+ community. We need superheroes now more than ever

‘Disappoint Me’ is a study in compassion

Nicola Dinan’s second novel raises big questions about forgiveness, justice and responsibility
A pink background with two hands made out of American dollar bills in a handshake; behind the hands are women playing sports

Womens sports is booming. Can it continue ethically?

ANALYSIS: The WNBA and PWHL are thriving, but will problematic partnerships in the interest of profits threaten their success?
Protestors under a silhouette of a singer.

Is it time for Eurovision to face the music over Israel’s participation?

Pressure is mounting for the über-popular song contest to drop its most controversial contestant