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originally published: 01/24/2022

(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- A livestream premiere of the documentary “A Mile Square of Music: 1960 to 1970” will take place on Sunday, January 30 at 5:00pm. This virtual screening is presented by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, the City of Hoboken and the Hoboken Historical Museum.

 “A Mile Square of Music: 1960 to 1970”, a 30 minute film, features interviews with Luke Faust, Julio Fernandez, Jim & Beverly Hans, Patrick “Jude” Petrullo, Dorothy Blackwell McNeil, and members of the local band The Vee Jays, Ed Kwedar, Omar Mesa, and Frank Musumici who share their exciting stories about the music scene at that time.

Hoboken has a colorful musical past. Composer Stephen Foster wrote “Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair” while living here in 1854. It’s the birthplace of singers Frank Sinatra and Jimmy Roselli. Gerome Ragni and James Rado wrote the book and lyrics to the iconic Broadway musical Hair while living here in the 1960s. From the late 1970s thru the 1990s, it was home to the infamous, metro area rock venue Maxwell’s, spawning ground of a thriving indie music scene, as well as home to Bar/None Records.  The stories are numerous and the music eclectic.

 

To watch online on Sunday, January 30 starting at 5:00pm - watch at YouTube or Facebook.

After the video, stay tuned in online and use the chat feature for our live Q & A with special guests. Transcripts and audio files of the complete interviews will be made available through the Hoboken Historical Museum and Public Library at a later date. 

 

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The film was produced by Branding Shorts. The project was coordinated by The Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs.

The producers spoke to many others, but were limited as to what could be included in this project due to funding constraints and a shortage of time. There is so much that needs to be discovered, documented and preserved. We encourage anyone interested in this aspect of Hoboken history to do their own research.

Special thanks to all of the participants for sharing their stories, The Hoboken Historical Museum, Bob Foster, Rand Hoppe, Lois Dilivio, Tony Parente, Micki Pagano-Parente, Grace Hill, Chrissy McLarty Whisler, Irwin Chusid, Rob Harari, and Jack Silbert.

The Hoboken Historical Museum is located at 1301 Hudson Street in Hoboken, New Jersey.

This program is made possible by a grant from The New Jersey State Historical Commission, a Division of the Department of State, and administered by the Hudson County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, Thomas A. DeGise, Hudson County Executive and the Board of County Commissioners.