‘Disco Demolition’ Exhibit Blasts into Town

The date July 12, 1979 may not immediately ring a bell for every Chicagoan, but for those who spent that summer wearing black band tee shirts, listening to rock music on FM radio, and sporting long, shaggy hairstyles, it stands out as a memorable moment from the scrapbook of their young adult lives. It was the night that disco died.

The Elmhurst History Museum presents a new exhibit that examines the story of that July night entitled “Disco Demolition: The Night Disco Died,” which opens June 9 through October 8, 2017. The exhibit was inspired by a book with the same title by Steve Dahl with journalist Dave Hoekstra and photos by Paul Natkin, and exhibit content is written by Hoekstra. Through video footage, eclectic artifacts, interviews, memorabilia, and Natkin’s photographs, “Disco Demolition” explores the cultural and social context, the music, and the promotion that launched Dahl’s career to new heights and propelled disco down the drain. The exhibit’s media sponsor is The Loop radio station WLUP 97.9FM, which is celebrating the station’s 40th anniversary this year.

Exhibit Highlights

Some intriguing artifacts in the Disco Demolition exhibit include:

• A letter of apology from White Sox owner Bill Veeck to a disappointed baseball fan and a Comiskey seat signed by Veeck;
• Personal items from Dahl including his trademark Hawaiian shirt, “Do You Think I’m Disco” record, Insane Coho Lips fan club membership card, and other memorabilia;
• A one-of-a-kind Hamer guitar on loan from Cheap Trick’s lead guitarist and songwriter Rick Nielsen;
• The game jersey worn by White Sox catcher Mike Colbern on Disco Demolition Night.

These items and many others will be incorporated into the exhibit experience, which is highly interactive and engaging. Planned features include a blow-by-blow timeline of the event, a music trivia quiz, disco vs. rock culture vignettes showcasing clothing from the era, a collection of rock concert tee shirts, video kiosks with footage from the “Disco Demolition” documentary, and more.

'Disco Demolition' Programs

The Elmhurst History Museum has planned a summer filled with related programs to enhance the “Disco Demolition” exhibit’s learning experience:

June 25: Disco Explosion Community Event, 3-6 p.m., FREE—The Museum celebrates the exhibit opening and everything ‘70s with a little disco, and a little rock ‘n’ roll. Grammy-winning rocker and songwriter Jim Peterik (Survivor, Ides of March) will perform some of his hits with School of Rock, and The Shagadelics band represents disco with funky gems from the era. Legendary White Sox organist Nancy Faust will perform ball park favorites, and Hoekstra and Natkin will be on hand to sign books. Location: Elmhurst History Museum grounds.

July 12: Block-to-Block Dance Party, 5:30-8:30 p.m., FREE—July 12 marks the 38th anniversary of Disco Demolition Night, and Elmhurst City Centre is celebrating by traveling back in time with a live deejay and disco dancing by the fountain. Local dance troupes will provide inspiration with dance demonstrations. Location: Elmhurst City Centre, York and Schiller St. in downtown Elmhurst.

July 23: “Chicago in the 1970s” Panel Discussion, 2 p.m.—Dave Hoekstra moderates a lively discussion on Chicago’s music, sports and radio scene in the ‘70s. Special guests include: Mike Veeck, former White Sox promotions manager; Mitch Michaels, WLUP deejay; Jeff Schwartz, former WLUP general sales manager; Jim Rittenberg, Faces dance club general manager; and Bob Chicoine, a Comiskey Park vendor on Disco Demolition Night. Location: Elmhurst History Museum Education Center. Reservations required: elmhursthistory.org (Adult Programs section).

August 2: 40th Anniversary Screening of Saturday Night Fever—Classic Cinemas and Elmhurst History Museum present the 1977 cult classic, Saturday Night Fever, with digitally remastered picture and sound. Professor and film historian Peter Hawley of Tribeca Flashpoint College and Fandango’s managing editor Erik Davis will introduce the film that brought disco out of the clubs and to the masses, followed by a brief Q&A session. Location: York Theatre, 150 N. York St., Elmhurst Tickets: $6.50, available at theatre box office.

In addition, monthly family programs explore exhibit-related themes through learning and craft activities for kids age 5-12 with a caregiver. For more details and registration information on these and other programs, go to www.elmhursthistory.org.

This summer, take a trip back to 1979 to explore the sports, music, culture, and style that collided on a warm summer night when a little-known deejay rose to fame—and disco hit the dirt. “Disco Demolition: The Night Disco Died” will be on display from June 9 through October 8, 2017 at the Elmhurst History Museum, located at 120 E. Park Ave. in downtown Elmhurst. Exhibition hours are: Sunday, Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is free, and limited free parking is available. For the latest exhibit and program information, please visit www.elmhursthistory.org or call (630) 833-1457.

Photos by Paul Natkin, used by permission.