You Should Have Been Seen at The Scene!

Well Ladies and Gents, The Scene here at the History Center earlier this month on September 4th was a huge smash! The building was bursting at the seams with folks enjoying great music from Uptown Syndicate, Jim Edgar and the Roadrunners, Brewer and Brewer, and the Five Americans while dancing the night away. I thought I'd give you a little taste of what we got to enjoy that night.


The line of eager Scene-goers was long even before the doors were opened!


It was Ronnie Kaye's birthday, so we made sure we had plenty of cake.


Uptown Syndicate got the night started off right with some great funk.


The crowd really loved Jim Edgar and the Roadrunners, who played the hits of the '50s and '60s.


The crowd really got after it!


Brewer and Brewer played "One Toke Over the Line."


And the Five Americans rocked their hit "Western Union."

It was a great evening to reminisce, see old friends, and to just get down and boogie. The History Center dance floor definitely got its workout that night! Thanks to everyone who came out to make The Scene such a great time!

The Scene!

Ever feel nostalgic for go-go boots, mini-skirts, and psychedelic music? On Friday night, September 4, 2009 the Oklahoma History Center, KOMA, and the Oklahoma Gazette are proud to present "The Scene," a recreation of the 1960s dance party television show hosted by Ronnie Kaye.

The party will feature special performances by The Five Americans, Jim Edgar and the Roadrunners, and Uptown Syndicate, as well as the famous Scene Dancers!

The doors open at 6:30pm on September 4th for this dance down memory lane. Tickets for this groovy shindig are only $15 and can be purchased at Thrifty Pharmacy locations (10904 N. May in OKC and inside Crest Foods at 15th and Santa Fe in Edmond) as well as at the Oklahoma History Center. Call (405)522-0765 for more information. Ronnie will see you there!

It's Like a Grammy, But Different

Our spiffy and awesome website for Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock and Roll Exhibit just won Best Website for the Oklahoma Museums Association Awards in the $100,000+ category! The History Center also won awards for its Education Programs and its exhibit on the art of the Houser/Haozous family entitled Unconquered: Allan Houser and the Legacy of One Apache Family.

You can read the full list of winners at the OMA website.

Pass Me the Comics!

As plans continue for a Museum of Music and Pop Culture in Tulsa, the Oklahoma Historical Society is acquiring collections from folks who want to see this awesome undertaking reach fruition. One of those individuals is cartoonist Michael Vance. Take a peek at his collection and the plans for Tulsa. They're both very exciting!

Update on the AAR Front

Director of Exhibits Jeff Moore fixing the AAR panel.

Just thought we'd show you that yes, history is being made every day! Remember our previous entry about the All-American Rejects on the Today Show? Well, later that day we updated their panel in the exhibit to show that "Gives You Hell" had indeed made it to #1.

Thanks Tyson, Nick, Mike, and Chris!

Dfest 2009!

Well Rock and Rollers, Dfest in Tulsa has come and gone, and we here at the History Center were there to document every music-filled, jam-packed minute of it. While our crack team of videographers caught interviews with some of the industry’s shining stars and up-and-comers during the conference, we sold a few copies of Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock and Roll Story and got out some information about the amazing exhibit that you still need to come see down here at 23rd and Lincoln. In the evenings, we videoed and photographed the local bands making good on the various stages and watched the crowds go wild (including yours truly!) for the headliners like Blue October, Cake, and the Black Crowes.


Colourmusic kicked off the festival Thursday night with a great performance at the IDL Ballroom.


During the day we talked to folks about the exhibit, sold the book, and conducted interviews for the upcoming documentary and for the oral history collections.


We took every opportunity to get our name out there, including the provided art wall!


Crocodile had a great show Friday night!


I found a cool, new-to-me band: Gogol Bordello.


The crowds were lovin' it! Here they are cheering on Blue October.


And there were lots of up-and-coming Oklahoma bands, like Head Over Hills from Claremore.


Great trip for research and some amazing music! Thank you, Dfest!

Dfest, founded by Tom and Angie Green, has become the largest music conference and festival in the Midwest. It is a place for new talent to learn the skills necessary to make it in the industry and a showcase for up-and-coming bands from across the country and right here in Oklahoma.

Sign It Like a Rock Star

On Thursday, July 16, the Oklahoma History Center launched Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock and Roll Story, the companion book to the Center’s Rock and Roll exhibit. We celebrated with a book signing featuring the cover artist, several of the 16 authors, and even a couple of members of the early Punk band Debris, featured in the book, showed up and signed their pages. The Hosty Duo provided some great music, folks got a chance to go through the Artists Gallery of Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock and Roll Exhibit, and a good time was had by all!


Overhead view of the book signing line.


Signing my first book!


Chatting with the friendly folks in line.


Hosty Duo providing some awesome tunes.


Get your copy of Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock and Roll Story, great for your coffee table or, according to some radio DJs, for your bathroom ;-) Books are available at the Oklahoma History Center, and we’ll be out at Dfest this weekend in Tulsa with copies available!