Rock music exploded on the big screen in 1955 when Bill Haley & His Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock” played behind the opening credits of Blackboard Jungle. Frenzied teenagers danced in the aisles, and there were reports of violence and vandalism at theaters around the world. Rock’s instant notoriety would end up contributing to the movie’s appeal.
Hollywood recognized the power of the teen audience and unleashed a series of films featuring rock and R&B musicians performing their hits as the soundtrack to movies about rebellious high schoolers, daredevil hot-rodders, and antics-prone college students. Movies and rock formed a valuable commercial partnership, whether it was Elvis Presley singing in 31 mostly forgettable films or the Beatles’ groundbreaking A Hard Day’s Night in 1964.
Media historian Brian Rose looks at rock movies’ first decade and how Hollywood benefited from the power of this music—and its target audience.
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