Rare Concert Drive-in Movie Series To Highlight The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Cher, Tina Turner, And More

After a duo of successful summer drive-in concerts, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center (WHBPAC) is co-hosting with Shelley Archives a Rare Concert Film Drive-in Series this fall. The screenings will be held at Westhampton Presbyterian Church.

“The drive-in series is a great way for us to partner with the Shelley Archives and their incredible wealth of footage,” Heather Draskin, WHBPAC Communications Manager, noted. “While we would normally show these films in the theatre, we’re amping up the nostalgia factor by doing them drive-in style until we are able to reopen our doors.”

Shelley Archives has amassed over 100,000 reels of original 35mm and 16mm films, as well as more than 10,000 hours of extraordinary concerts, television shows, interviews, Hollywood features and shorts, cartoons, promos, outtakes, newsreels and home movies.

The Rare Concert Film Drive-in Series will feature The Rolling Stones Rare Clips 1970s-1980s on Wednesday, September 23, Little Richard The Inventor of Rock and Roll on Wednesday, September 30 and Ladies of Pop, Rock, & Soul featuring Dusty Springfield, Cher, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Darlene Love and More on Monday, October 5.

“The best part of these rare films is that experiencing them as a drive-in will reignite that nostalgic memory of watching movies under the stars with a special someone while listening to classic hits from Little Richard and the Ladies of Pop, Rock and Soul,” Draskin shared.

Bill Shelley established Shelley Archives Inc. in 1985. Prior to that, he had been filming bands professionally – like Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, The Stray Cats, and Twisted Sister – in small clubs before they made it big. While working with rap group Public Enemy (known at the time as Spectrum City), the band invited him to join their cablevision television studio, Channel Zero. He also directed their music videos for Paranoid and Conspiracy featuring Andreus 13, among others. In 1993, his collaborated with Readers Digest Entertainment on the three part “Legends Of Comedy, which was nominated for an Emmy. His continued championing of rare silent films – for both theatrical and home use – has earned high praises amongst scholars in the motion picture field.

“This is footage you won’t see anywhere else, and we are so thrilled to have partnered with Shelley Archives,” added WHBPAC Executive Director Julienne Penza-Boone.

Reservations are required and each show is limited to 40 cars. Admission is $50 per car. Sound will be transmitted via radio, and attendees must remain in their vehicle at all times. Showings will commence at 7:30 p.m.

Westhampton Beach Presbyterian Church at 90 Meeting House Road in Westhampton Beach. For more information, visit whbpac.org.