STAY TUNED
ROCK’N MESSAGE
From The Ed Sullivan Show to The
Voice, rock and roll has shaped
television (and vice versa). This
special exhibit tells the story of
how TV launched rock’s iconic
stars, brought them into our homes,
kept them in the spotlight and
connected them to us with music
and visual imagery.
The multimedia exhibit provides
viewers with an experience that’s
narrated with exclusive footage
from Mike Meyers, Martha Quinn,
Kelly Clarkson, Micky Dolenz, Kevin
Eubanks, Cyndi Lauper, Paul
Shaffer and Darlene Love.
Rock and television exploded on to
the scene in the 1940s, with TV
going to for the safe, commercial
audience and rock and roll offering
a loud, anti-establishment
alternative. By the 1960s, the
growing teen market and youth
culture became too big for TV to
ignore. The exhibit brings archival
footage, original artifacts and new
interviews together to create a fun,
intergenerational experience that
connects the early days of rock and
TV to their ongoing evolution.
Variety shows like The Smothers
Brothers, The Johnny Cash Show,
Sonny & Cher, and Donny & Marie
made music a weekly ritual.
Performance shows like Soul Train,
Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, Solid
Gold, and Austin City Limits
introduced us to our future heroes.
Competition shows like Star
Search, American Idol, and The
Voice changed the music business.
Pop culture institutions like MTV
and Saturday Night
Live shaped our culture.
See archival footage and hundreds
of original artifacts on display,
such as original stage designs from
the Beatles’ history Ed Sullivan
Show appearance, outfits worn by
Sonny and Cher on their hit series,
CeeLo Green’s jacket worn on The
Voice and the original animation
cels from A-ha’s “Take on Me”
music video. The Who’s Keith Moon
blowing up his drum set on The
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in
the late ‘60s was inspiring to
artists like Dave Grohl.
Original MTV VJ Martha Quinn was
impacted by Dick Clark’s
interview techniques on American
Bandstand. Michael Jackson’s
videos and the Beatles appearances
on the Ed Sullivan Show inspired
countless Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Inductees. Stay Tuned: Rock on TV
tells these stories and more..
ADDRESS
360 North State Street,
2nd Floor
Chicago, IL
60654-5411
MUSEUM EXHIBIT HOURS
Thursdays 10 AM - 8 PM,
Fridays - Sundays 10 AM - 5 PM.
Last admission taken one hour prior
to museum close each day.