Adirondack Museum Rocks To 1950s Beat

The Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake first opened to the public in August 1957. The Frisbee had just been introduced, jukeboxes jumped, and Elvis was king. The museum will host a lighthearted public celebration of its 50th Birthday on Saturday, August 11, 2007.

The whole day, 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., will be filled with 1950s themed music, contests, vintage cars, food, Elvis sightings, and of course, birthday cake! Every visitor will receive a Frisbee or Hula Hoop with paid admission.

To begin the festivities former museum staff, museum members, and residents of local communities are invited to a “Trip Down Memory Lane” slide show and reception in the Auditorium from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The presentation will highlight the Adirondack Museum’s first fifty years.

At 12:00 noon New York Senator Betty Little will give a brief presentation and participate in cutting the Adirondack Museum’s 50th birthday cake. Little (R, Queensbury) represents the residents of the state’s 45th Senate District, comprised of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Warren and Washington Counties. Senator Little is a strong proponent of heritage tourism across New York State.

Rockabilly artists Eddie Angel and Johnny Rabb will headline the birthday musical line-up. The duo will offer two sets of old-school rockabilly, country and R& B, the first from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., the second from 2:45 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair for the concerts.

Grammy nominated Angel tours the world with Los Straightjackets, the internationally renowned instrumental combo. The group has appeared on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” numerous times and their music has been featured in television and the movies.

Fans from the Albany area associate Eddie Angel and Johnny Rabb with the Jailhouse Rockers – an American roots-rock group formed in 1985 that has shaken, rattled and rolled in the Capital Region for more than twenty years. The two also tour throughout Europe with The Neanderthals.

The museum birthday party will include a vintage jukebox playing “oldies” in the Visitor Center, Elvis tribute-artist Joe Ramsay in performance at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and a DJ spinning vintage discs on the main campus.

Children, parents and their grandparents can participate in Hula Hoop and Dance Contests (remember the Twist, Bop and Mashed Potato?) or enjoy 50s era snacks and treats.

All museum exhibits and family activities will be open and available in addition to the birthday party fun. The Serendipity Spinners will demonstrate in the Mark W. Potter Education Center and rustic furniture maker Tom Phillips of Tupper Lake, New York will showcase his craft in the exhibit “Adirondack Rustic Revival.” -- www.adkmuseum.org

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