Upcoming Exhibit at WHS: The High School That Rocked!

Westport Historical Society presents its new exhibit: The High School That Rocked.

Theexhibit runs from June 16, 2017 until September 2, 2017. Opening reception is Friday, June 16, from 6 to 8 pm. The exhibit is built around the subject matter of the new documentary short (with the same title) that has already generated a fair amount of favorable media coverage.

The focus of the exhibit will be on capturing the story of how six legendary bands which were all later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Animals, Yardbirds, Rascals, Doors, Cream and Sly – all performed at Staples High from 1966-68, creating indelible memories for local students.  It is a unique slice of rock history that happened right here in Westport–and a moment in time that will probably never happen again.

The exhibit will display over 100 vintage visuals including replicas of the original concert posters, blow-ups of ticket stubs, clippings from the Staples student newspaper Inklings and the local Town Crier, and photos taken at the concerts and behind the scenes by high school and junior high students.

There will also be a clip from the documentary short, along with a vintage portable record player, records, and clock radio–so that WHS baby-boom visitors can not only relive but also hear some of those classic music memories or, in the case of younger visitors, discover how kids back then actually listened to new music.

Fred Cantor and Mary Gai, curators for this exhibit, hope to capture what was happening locally as accurately as possible–as reflected in local reporting and photos.

Finally, the exhibit will also contain visuals and information pertaining to Staples alumni from that era that made their mark in the world of music.

The ultimate goal is to create not just an exhibit but an atmosphere that will be both informative and pure fun!

Thank you to our sponsors to date:  Newman’s Own, Inc., Laurence S. Untermeyer, Arlene and Marty Yolles.