Holmesburg Prison - Redbone, Up Close and Personal, and Acres of Skin
African American History Celebrity Concerts, Music Festivals Controversies Crimes & Criminals (real and alleged) Famous People History Jails, Prisons Movies, Films, Cinema Native Americans Rock and Roll Rock Stars
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Holmesburg Prison - Redbone, Up Close and Personal, and Acres of Skin
In the 1970s, the Native American rock band Redbone performed a concert for the inmates of this prison. It was broadcasted several times on local public TV. It would be great to find a copy of that film or tape.
It took place on Christmas or around Christmas, 1970. I recall, as a youngster, seeing it played on Channel 12 over and over. I contacted WHYY a few years ago, and more recently other stations that played it as that information became available on the Web (ex., listings on newspapers.com), to no avail (no one even remembers it), as well as a Redbone fan club (www.markguerrero.com/23.php discusses the concert).Philly radio pioneer Jerry Stevens conceived of and produced the show. Even in this Internet age, I can't find contact information for him. This Redbone concert was Philly's equivalent to Johnny Cash's at Folsom and San Quentin, yet there is no trace of it today. The film (tape?) is important and should be offered for viewing somewhere, somehow. But where is it? Does anyone have any idea who might have a copy of the performance?
Also, parts of the movie "Up Close and Personal" were filmed here. Other films were shot here, too; see the Wikipedia site for the prison.
Dr. Albert Kligman, a professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, led human subject research on prisoners here from the 1950s to the 1970s, most of whom were African Americans. This is detailed in Allen Hornblum's book, "Acres of Skin." See, for ex., the Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/10/21, at p. E2.
| Publication date | Jun 24, 2018 |
Property ID: 21
Updated on: May 22, 2021
In the 1970s, the Native American rock band Redbone performed a concert for the inmates of this prison. It was broadcasted several times on local public TV. It would be great to find a copy of that film or tape.
It took place on Christmas or around Christmas, 1970. I recall, as a youngster, seeing it played on Channel 12 over and over. I contacted WHYY a few years ago, and more recently other stations that played it as that information became available on the Web (ex., listings on newspapers.com), to no avail (no one even remembers it), as well as a Redbone fan club (www.markguerrero.com/23.php discusses the concert).Philly radio pioneer Jerry Stevens conceived of and produced the show. Even in this Internet age, I can't find contact information for him. This Redbone concert was Philly's equivalent to Johnny Cash's at Folsom and San Quentin, yet there is no trace of it today. The film (tape?) is important and should be offered for viewing somewhere, somehow. But where is it? Does anyone have any idea who might have a copy of the performance?
Also, parts of the movie "Up Close and Personal" were filmed here. Other films were shot here, too; see the Wikipedia site for the prison.
Dr. Albert Kligman, a professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, led human subject research on prisoners here from the 1950s to the 1970s, most of whom were African Americans. This is detailed in Allen Hornblum's book, "Acres of Skin." See, for ex., the Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/10/21, at p. E2.
info
Location:
Holmesburg Prison , 8215 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19136, United States
Listing Category:
African American History Celebrity Concerts, Music Festivals Controversies Crimes & Criminals (real and alleged) Famous People History Jails, Prisons Movies, Films, Cinema Native Americans Rock and Roll Rock Stars
Virtual / Real:
Virtual
Created Date:
06-24-2018
Created by
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Comments
Name : Frank Chmielewski
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : Getting closer. Obtained a 10.5 minute file from the Temple University archives. It is raw, rough news footage of the concert by KYW TV3. If anyone is interested in purchasing a copy, let me know and I will forward the contact information.
Date : 2020-07-27
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : Getting closer. Obtained a 10.5 minute file from the Temple University archives. It is raw, rough news footage of the concert by KYW TV3. If anyone is interested in purchasing a copy, let me know and I will forward the contact information.
Date : 2020-07-27
Name : Francis M. Chmielewski
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : Today's Philadelphia Inquirer, at p. A2, has an article that mentions the atrocities at this prison, some the subject of the book Acres of Skin, Human Experiments at Holmesburg Prison, and also the Klondike bake-oven which was used to punish prisoners.
Date : 2019-07-25
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : Today's Philadelphia Inquirer, at p. A2, has an article that mentions the atrocities at this prison, some the subject of the book Acres of Skin, Human Experiments at Holmesburg Prison, and also the Klondike bake-oven which was used to punish prisoners.
Date : 2019-07-25
Name : markerwriter
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : The Listening Booth record stores had an ad in the 6/4/71 Philadelphia Inquirer at p. 86 that included a notice for a broadcast of the Redbone at Holmesburg concert. The same paper, on 6/8/71, at p. 22, had an article about the concert. The former says 600 inmates attended, the latter 700. The latter says the concert was produced and directed by Thomas S. Ward for broadcast on the Eastern Educational Network (now, American Public Television).
Date : 2020-01-05
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : The Listening Booth record stores had an ad in the 6/4/71 Philadelphia Inquirer at p. 86 that included a notice for a broadcast of the Redbone at Holmesburg concert. The same paper, on 6/8/71, at p. 22, had an article about the concert. The former says 600 inmates attended, the latter 700. The latter says the concert was produced and directed by Thomas S. Ward for broadcast on the Eastern Educational Network (now, American Public Television).
Date : 2020-01-05
Name : markerwriter
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : There is a photo of the Redbone at Holmesburg Prison concert I had not seen before, from the Urban Archives of Temple University's Special Collections Research Center, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/23/17, in an article at pp. B1, B7.
Date : 2020-07-04
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : There is a photo of the Redbone at Holmesburg Prison concert I had not seen before, from the Urban Archives of Temple University's Special Collections Research Center, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/23/17, in an article at pp. B1, B7.
Date : 2020-07-04
Name : Barbara DeGennaro
Email : bjdegenn@att.net
Comments : I have emailed you Frank Chmielewski regarding getting a copy of the tape or film from this concert. I am searching everywhere looking to see if it still out there. Please contact me.
Date : 2019-05-21
Email : bjdegenn@att.net
Comments : I have emailed you Frank Chmielewski regarding getting a copy of the tape or film from this concert. I am searching everywhere looking to see if it still out there. Please contact me.
Date : 2019-05-21
Name : Gary
Email : Garychilutti@gmail.com
Comments : http://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/jerry-stevens-radio-dj-on-air-personality-philadelphia-wmmr--20200115.html
Date : 2025-02-24
Email : Garychilutti@gmail.com
Comments : http://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/jerry-stevens-radio-dj-on-air-personality-philadelphia-wmmr--20200115.html
Date : 2025-02-24
Name : Francis Chmielewski
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : I have been trying to find a tape (film?) of the Holmesburg Prison appearance of Redbone. It took place on Christmas or around Christmas, 1970. I recall, as a youngster, seeing it played on Channel 12 over and over. I contacted WHYY a few years ago, and more recently other stations that played it as that information became available on the Web (ex., listings on newspapers.com), to no avail (no one even remembers it), as well as a Redbone fan club (www.markguerrero.com/23.php discusses the concert).Philly radio pioneer Jerry Stevens conceived of and produced the show. Even in this Internet age, I can't find contact information for him. This Redbone concert was Philly's equivalent to Johnny Cash's at Folsom and San Quentin, yet there is no trace of it today. The film (tape?) is important and should be offered for viewing somewhere, somehow. But where is it?Does anyone have any idea who might have a copy of the performance?
Date : 2018-11-21
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : I have been trying to find a tape (film?) of the Holmesburg Prison appearance of Redbone. It took place on Christmas or around Christmas, 1970. I recall, as a youngster, seeing it played on Channel 12 over and over. I contacted WHYY a few years ago, and more recently other stations that played it as that information became available on the Web (ex., listings on newspapers.com), to no avail (no one even remembers it), as well as a Redbone fan club (www.markguerrero.com/23.php discusses the concert).Philly radio pioneer Jerry Stevens conceived of and produced the show. Even in this Internet age, I can't find contact information for him. This Redbone concert was Philly's equivalent to Johnny Cash's at Folsom and San Quentin, yet there is no trace of it today. The film (tape?) is important and should be offered for viewing somewhere, somehow. But where is it?Does anyone have any idea who might have a copy of the performance?
Date : 2018-11-21
Email : sjkc0072@aol.com
Comments : Legendary jazz pianist, the late Hassan Ibn Ali, was arrested for drug possession and incarcerated here. He has not gotten the recognition he deserves but that may be changing. This information is from the Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/9/21, at pp. D1, 8.
Date : 2021-05-22