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Skatetown, U.S.A.

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was...You know, sometimes money isn't everything. It was just bad. I mean, it was bad shooting it. I'm trying to think of any real stories that I have, but it was just insanity. When was that? '79? It was just a guy making a film who didn't know how to make a film. And I don't even know what the story was!
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had happened two and a half months earlier). Aside from some praise for Swayze's skating and screen presence the film was neither a critical nor a box-office success. By the early 21st century a writer for oddculture.com called the film "a true cult item and one of the best 70s time capsules
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and all that crap was coming out. That was one of those things where they sent me the script and I said 'no', but they just kept calling and offering more money! I mean, they offered me a lot of money. And finally I said 'Well, hell. What is it? Two weeks' work? Whatever. Okay. Fine'. And it
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and cropped to widescreen for theatrical release) have been exhibited at film revivals and low quality video copies made from a much faded full frame 16mm print have been in commercial circulation. On March 6, 2019, a 35mm print was screened for the first time in years at Los Angeles'
471:, who had roller skated competitively as a teenager and was a trained dancer, did his own skating and stunts in the film. April Allen, Swayze's uncredited roller-skating partner in the movie, had won the world championship in women's free skating seven years earlier. 841:
It has been shown on cable television. There have been no known licensed VHS or DVD releases, due to Patrick Swayze buying the rights and banning it from release. His autobiography stated he was embarrassed by the film, so he bought the rights and buried it.
586:, who sings the movie's disco-tinged theme song "Skatetown" (written by himself and Brenda Cooper) over the opening credits, is featured as a performer in the roller disco, singing "I Fell in Love" along with a cover of his own 1968 582:, in that it is shown within the plot as being played either through records spun by the roller disco's "wizard" DJ or performed on the club's stage and hence, is heard by both the characters and the movie's audience. 478:
recalled that there was a lot of cocaine being done on the set. McCormick wrote that she fell back into severe cocaine addiction during production, often showing up late for shooting or not coming to work at all.
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as it was never released on VHS, LaserDisc or DVD. The Blu-ray was a bare bones release with only the movie included on the disc. No extras were included, and no menu system was provided on the disc.
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which had opened in West Hollywood on Santa Monica Boulevard earlier in 1979 and was fleetingly a very popular celebrity hangout. The film includes many short, broadly comedic and
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also submitted a song called "Skatetown U.S.A." for use on the soundtrack but it was not used. Among other songs on the soundtrack are the dance hit "
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The film features almost non-stop synchronized music, much by popular disco and pop artists from the mid and late 1970s. Most of this music is
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Following a widely publicized premiere party at Flipper's roller disco in West Hollywood on October 1, 1979 and billed as the
1474: 1023: 948: 1034: 729: 619: 968: 1367: 1489: 439: 1459: 1464: 1297: 643: 1494: 1469: 1403: 1150: 241:. Directed by William A. Levey, the film features many television stars from the 1960s and 1970s, among them 1197: 1058: 467:
can be seen in sundry scenes. Some exteriors were shot on Santa Monica Pier and at nearby Venice Beach.
1015: 297:, a rivalry between two skaters culminates in a contest, the winning prize for which is $ 1,000 and a 1290: 671: 1128: 751: 647: 599: 1072: 826: 876:
was released by Sony on Blu-ray on September 24, 2019. It was the first home media release of
1427: 1256: 932: 722: 651: 611: 1484: 1415: 801: 740: 691: 627: 591: 387: 134: 98: 1172: 265:'s leading role as the skater "Ace" was his first movie performance. Also in the cast are 8: 1454: 486:
I have blocked that movie from my memory, it was so bad...That was that whole time where
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subplots set between long roller skating sequences and musical performances.
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Will Harris, "Scott Baio talks Chachi, Bob Loblaw, and Howard Cosell",
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was a fast-waning fad and the popularity of disco music had peaked (
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Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice
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April Allen as Charlene (Ace's girlfriend and skating partner)
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Blood Money: A History of the First Teen Slasher Film Cycle
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around...There's just something magical about a slutty
1312: 850:full frame prints of the film (which was shot in 237:produced to capitalize on the short-lived fad of 1446: 366:as customer at snack bar (girl who orders pizza) 1161:, August 6, 2010, retrieved September 28, 2010 988:Index to motion picture credits, Skatetown USA 1298: 1173:Mary Pickford Theater, Past Screenings: 2008 697:A soundtrack album was released in 1979 by 1305: 1291: 29: 690:" by the Hounds, and "Skatetown U.S.A." ( 959: 957: 926: 924: 922: 920: 902: 819:Rock and Roller Disco Movie of the Year 1447: 1263:Roller Disco Cinema: Skatetown, U.S.A. 1129:Roller Disco Cinema: Skatetown, U.S.A. 1122: 1120: 1083:from the original on November 28, 2007 943:, Simon and Schuster, 2009, pp 74–75, 889: 417:Denny Johnston as the wizard (club DJ) 1286: 954: 917: 74:Peter E. Strauss (executive producer) 1006: 1004: 834:eating drugged pizza with a bearded 730:Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) 1368:The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington 1151:Birthday Bash & Other Fun Stuff 1117: 433: 13: 1313:Films directed by William A. Levey 14: 1511: 1211: 1051: 1028: 1001: 930:Swayze, Patrick and Niemi, Lisa, 474:Twenty-nine years after filming, 309:, the two rivals become friends. 1104:Premiere Party For Skatetown USA 1018:, pp 123–124. October 14, 2008, 1347:Wham! Bam! Thank You, Spaceman! 1186: 1164: 1142: 1095: 459:soap bubbles blown by a machine 453:Filming was done mostly at the 1277:Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace 1205:, retrieved September 28, 2010 1183:, retrieved September 28, 2010 1139:, retrieved September 28, 2010 1065: 979: 914:, retrieved September 25, 2010 440:Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace 1: 1500:English-language comedy films 1480:Films scored by Miles Goodman 1404:Lightning, the White Stallion 1279:roller rink in West Hollywood 883: 868: 821:, by the time of its release 505: 16:1979 film by William A. Levey 1475:1970s English-language films 812: 342:Greg Bradford as Stan Nelson 7: 1114:, retrieved October 3, 2010 998:, retrieved October 2, 2010 976:, retrieved October 2, 2010 951:, retrieved October 1, 2010 72:William A. Levey (producer) 10: 1516: 694:) during the end credits. 1490:Films shot in Los Angeles 1318: 1148:hanktank88.blogspot.com, 672:Disco Nights (Rock-Freak) 564: 548: 536: 528: 517: 512: 215: 207: 199: 189: 166: 156: 140: 122: 112: 104: 78: 70:Lorin Dreyfuss (producer) 66: 48: 40: 35:Theatrical release poster 28: 23: 1200:October 6, 2010, at the 1109:August 15, 2023, at the 938:August 15, 2023, at the 648:McFadden & Whitehead 644:Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now 438:The setting is based on 62:William A. Levey (story) 1460:Columbia Pictures films 482:Scott Baio later said: 312: 284: 1178:July 29, 2014, at the 1044:April 7, 2014, at the 993:July 27, 2011, at the 971:July 16, 2011, at the 859:on a double bill with 827:Disco Demolition Night 723:Earth, Wind & Fire 612:Earth, Wind & Fire 503: 55:(screenplay and story) 1465:American comedy films 1156:July 8, 2011, at the 1134:January 30, 2013, at 1073:"Skatetown u.s.a. LP" 1048:accessed 7 April 2014 966:Allen (Powell), April 899:Continuum, 2011 p 259 662:), "Perfect Dancer" ( 652:I Want You to Want Me 484: 1495:1970s American films 1470:Roller skating films 1010:McCormick, Maureen, 963:susan-a-miller.com, 426:Len Bari as Alphonse 388:Katherine Kelly Lang 305:played on motorized 293:roller disco called 99:Katherine Kelly Lang 933:The Time of My Life 786:"I Fell in Love" – 775:"Perfect Dancer" – 501:? That was crapola. 455:Hollywood Palladium 414:as Skatetown doctor 230:is a 1979 American 1257:TCM Movie Database 857:New Beverly Cinema 658:), "Roller Girl" ( 464:Lawrence Welk Show 390:as Allison Johnson 301:. After a game of 1442: 1441: 1434: 1422: 1410: 1398: 1386: 1380:Skatetown, U.S.A. 1374: 1362: 1357:Slumber Party '57 1352: 1342: 1330: 1252:Skatetown, U.S.A. 1241:Skatetown, U.S.A. 1230:Skatetown, U.S.A. 1219:Skatetown, U.S.A. 1101:gettyimages.com, 1024:978-0-06-149014-9 949:978-1-4391-5858-6 797:" – Hounds (4:17) 756:Patrick Hernandez 719:Boogie Wonderland 608:Boogie Wonderland 604:Patrick Hernandez 576: 575: 513:Skatetown, U.S.A. 499:Skatetown, U.S.A. 476:Maureen McCormick 412:Bill Kirchenbauer 337:Maureen McCormick 295:Skatetown, U.S.A. 289:One evening at a 277:centerfold model 251:Maureen McCormick 227:Skatetown, U.S.A. 223: 222: 175:October 1979 161:Columbia Pictures 95:Maureen McCormick 24:Skatetown, U.S.A. 1507: 1432: 1420: 1408: 1396: 1384: 1372: 1360: 1350: 1340: 1328: 1307: 1300: 1293: 1284: 1283: 1275:blog page about 1206: 1190: 1184: 1168: 1162: 1146: 1140: 1126:oddculture.com, 1124: 1115: 1099: 1093: 1092: 1090: 1088: 1069: 1063: 1062: 1055: 1049: 1032: 1026: 1008: 999: 983: 977: 961: 952: 928: 915: 906: 900: 895:Richard Nowell, 893: 768:"Roller Girl" – 752:Born to Be Alive 699:Columbia Records 600:Born to Be Alive 571:Columbia Records 560: 559: 555: 519:Soundtrack album 510: 509: 434:Production notes 364:Dorothy Stratten 279:Dorothy Stratten 182: 180: 108:Donald M. Morgan 44:William A. Levey 33: 21: 20: 1515: 1514: 1510: 1509: 1508: 1506: 1505: 1504: 1445: 1444: 1443: 1438: 1314: 1311: 1235:Rotten Tomatoes 1214: 1209: 1202:Wayback Machine 1191: 1187: 1180:Wayback Machine 1169: 1165: 1158:Wayback Machine 1147: 1143: 1125: 1118: 1111:Wayback Machine 1100: 1096: 1086: 1084: 1071: 1070: 1066: 1057: 1056: 1052: 1046:Wayback Machine 1033: 1029: 1009: 1002: 995:Wayback Machine 984: 980: 973:Wayback Machine 962: 955: 940:Wayback Machine 929: 918: 907: 903: 894: 890: 886: 871: 815: 802:Feelin' Alright 781:Billy Davis Jr. 668:Billy Davis Jr. 620:Shake Your Body 592:Feelin' Alright 557: 553: 552: 524: 523:various artists 508: 436: 406:Murray Langston 394:David Landsberg 339:as Susan Nelson 315: 287: 192: 185: 178: 176: 169: 152: 145: 143: 133: 129: 117:Gene Fowler Jr. 97: 93: 89: 85: 73: 71: 61: 56: 36: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1513: 1503: 1502: 1497: 1492: 1487: 1482: 1477: 1472: 1467: 1462: 1457: 1440: 1439: 1437: 1436: 1424: 1412: 1400: 1392:Monaco Forever 1388: 1376: 1364: 1354: 1344: 1332: 1319: 1316: 1315: 1310: 1309: 1302: 1295: 1287: 1281: 1280: 1270: 1268:oddculture.com 1259: 1248: 1237: 1226: 1213: 1212:External links 1210: 1208: 1207: 1192:brutallo.com, 1185: 1163: 1141: 1116: 1094: 1064: 1050: 1027: 1016:William Morrow 1000: 978: 953: 916: 911:Skatetown, USA 908:allmovie.com, 901: 887: 885: 882: 870: 867: 814: 811: 810: 809: 798: 795:Under My Thumb 791: 784: 773: 770:John Sebastian 760: 759: 748: 737: 726: 715: 710:"Skatetown" – 688:Under My Thumb 684:Keith Richards 660:John Sebastian 596:The Beach Boys 574: 573: 568: 562: 561: 550: 546: 545: 540: 534: 533: 530: 526: 525: 522: 515: 514: 507: 504: 469:Patrick Swayze 435: 432: 431: 430: 427: 424: 418: 415: 409: 403: 400:Sydney Lassick 397: 391: 385: 379: 373: 367: 361: 355: 349: 343: 340: 334: 333:as Ace Johnson 331:Patrick Swayze 328: 327:as Harvey Ross 322: 314: 311: 286: 283: 267:Sydney Lassick 263:Patrick Swayze 221: 220: 219:$ 2.35 million 217: 213: 212: 209: 205: 204: 201: 197: 196: 193: 190: 187: 186: 184: 183: 172: 170: 167: 164: 163: 158: 157:Distributed by 154: 153: 148: 146: 141: 138: 137: 124: 120: 119: 114: 110: 109: 106: 105:Cinematography 102: 101: 87:Patrick Swayze 80: 76: 75: 68: 64: 63: 58:Lorin Dreyfuss 50: 46: 45: 42: 38: 37: 34: 26: 25: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1512: 1501: 1498: 1496: 1493: 1491: 1488: 1486: 1483: 1481: 1478: 1476: 1473: 1471: 1468: 1466: 1463: 1461: 1458: 1456: 1453: 1452: 1450: 1430: 1429: 1425: 1418: 1417: 1413: 1406: 1405: 1401: 1394: 1393: 1389: 1382: 1381: 1377: 1370: 1369: 1365: 1358: 1355: 1348: 1345: 1338: 1337: 1333: 1326: 1325: 1321: 1320: 1317: 1308: 1303: 1301: 1296: 1294: 1289: 1288: 1285: 1278: 1274: 1271: 1269: 1265: 1264: 1260: 1258: 1254: 1253: 1249: 1247: 1243: 1242: 1238: 1236: 1232: 1231: 1227: 1225: 1221: 1220: 1216: 1215: 1204: 1203: 1199: 1196: 1189: 1182: 1181: 1177: 1174: 1167: 1160: 1159: 1155: 1152: 1145: 1138: 1137: 1136:archive.today 1133: 1130: 1123: 1121: 1113: 1112: 1108: 1105: 1098: 1087:September 11, 1082: 1078: 1074: 1068: 1060: 1054: 1047: 1043: 1040: 1038: 1031: 1025: 1021: 1017: 1013: 1007: 1005: 997: 996: 992: 989: 982: 975: 974: 970: 967: 960: 958: 950: 946: 942: 941: 937: 934: 927: 925: 923: 921: 913: 912: 905: 898: 892: 888: 881: 879: 878:Skatetown USA 875: 874:Skatetown USA 866: 864: 863: 862:Roller Boogie 858: 853: 849: 845: 839: 837: 833: 828: 824: 820: 807: 803: 799: 796: 792: 789: 785: 782: 778: 777:Marilyn McCoo 774: 771: 767: 766: 765: 764: 757: 753: 749: 746: 742: 741:Boogie Nights 738: 735: 731: 727: 724: 720: 716: 713: 709: 708: 707: 706: 702: 700: 695: 693: 689: 685: 681: 678:, a cover of 677: 673: 669: 665: 664:Marilyn McCoo 661: 657: 653: 649: 645: 641: 637: 633: 629: 628:Boogie Nights 625: 621: 617: 613: 609: 605: 601: 597: 593: 589: 585: 581: 572: 569: 567: 563: 551: 547: 544: 541: 539: 535: 531: 527: 520: 516: 511: 502: 500: 495: 494: 493:Roller Boogie 489: 483: 480: 477: 472: 470: 466: 465: 460: 456: 451: 449: 445: 441: 428: 425: 422: 419: 416: 413: 410: 407: 404: 401: 398: 395: 392: 389: 386: 383: 380: 377: 374: 372:as rent-a-cop 371: 368: 365: 362: 359: 356: 353: 350: 347: 344: 341: 338: 335: 332: 329: 326: 323: 320: 317: 316: 310: 308: 307:roller skates 304: 300: 296: 292: 282: 280: 276: 272: 268: 264: 260: 256: 252: 248: 244: 240: 236: 233: 229: 228: 218: 214: 210: 206: 203:United States 202: 198: 194: 188: 174: 173: 171: 165: 162: 159: 155: 151: 147: 139: 136: 132: 128: 127:Miles Goodman 125: 121: 118: 115: 111: 107: 103: 100: 96: 92: 88: 84: 81: 77: 69: 65: 59: 54: 51: 47: 43: 39: 32: 27: 22: 19: 1426: 1414: 1402: 1390: 1379: 1378: 1366: 1356: 1346: 1336:To Be a Rose 1334: 1324:Blackenstein 1322: 1261: 1251: 1240: 1229: 1218: 1193: 1188: 1171: 1166: 1149: 1144: 1127: 1102: 1097: 1085:. Retrieved 1076: 1067: 1053: 1039:3 April 2014 1036: 1030: 1011: 986: 985:oscars.org, 981: 964: 931: 909: 904: 896: 891: 877: 873: 872: 860: 840: 823:roller disco 818: 816: 762: 761: 734:The Jacksons 704: 703: 696: 636:Baby Hold On 624:The Jacksons 616:The Emotions 577: 498: 491: 487: 485: 481: 473: 462: 452: 437: 408:as the drunk 352:Judy Landers 294: 288: 274: 239:roller disco 235:musical film 226: 225: 224: 191:Running time 168:Release date 18: 1485:Disco films 1195:Cult films! 680:Mick Jagger 656:Cheap Trick 640:Eddie Money 444:roller rink 382:Billy Barty 370:Joe E. Ross 346:Ron Palillo 325:Flip Wilson 291:Los Angeles 271:Billy Barty 255:Ron Palillo 247:Flip Wilson 91:Flip Wilson 67:Produced by 53:Nick Castle 41:Directed by 1455:1979 films 1449:Categories 884:References 869:Home media 806:Dave Mason 788:Dave Mason 712:Dave Mason 584:Dave Mason 506:Soundtrack 442:, a disco 421:Vic Dunlop 378:as himself 376:Dave Mason 358:Ruth Buzzi 348:as Frankey 319:Scott Baio 259:Ruth Buzzi 243:Scott Baio 216:Box office 195:94 minutes 142:Production 131:Dave Mason 83:Scott Baio 49:Written by 1428:Committed 1170:loc.gov, 813:Reception 692:John Beal 461:from the 448:slapstick 423:as Ripple 402:as Murray 360:as Elvira 321:as Richie 135:John Beal 113:Edited by 1416:Hellgate 1246:AllMovie 1198:Archived 1176:Archived 1154:Archived 1132:Archived 1107:Archived 1081:Archived 1042:Archived 991:Archived 969:Archived 936:Archived 836:Horshack 745:Heatwave 632:Heatwave 580:diegetic 529:Released 521: by 396:as Irwin 384:as Jimmy 208:Language 123:Music by 79:Starring 1273:Go Go's 1255:at the 1037:AV Club 763:Side B: 705:Side A: 588:Traffic 354:as Teri 303:chicken 275:Playboy 211:English 200:Country 179:1979-10 177: ( 144:company 60:(story) 1077:Amazon 1022:  947:  832:Marsha 808:(4:30) 790:(2:21) 783:(6:28) 779:& 772:(3:10) 758:(3:23) 747:(3:38) 736:(3:45) 725:(4:49) 714:(3:11) 549:Length 488:Xanadu 232:comedy 150:Rastar 674:" by 602:" by 590:hit " 566:Label 543:Disco 538:Genre 299:moped 1433:1991 1421:1989 1409:1986 1397:1984 1385:1979 1373:1977 1361:1976 1351:1975 1341:1974 1329:1973 1224:IMDb 1089:2017 1020:ISBN 945:ISBN 852:35mm 848:16mm 846:and 844:35mm 804:" – 754:" – 743:" – 732:" – 721:" – 682:and 670:), " 666:and 650:), " 642:), " 634:), " 626:), " 618:), " 614:and 532:1979 490:and 313:Cast 285:Plot 273:and 257:and 1266:at 1244:at 1233:at 1222:at 838:". 686:' " 654:" ( 646:" ( 638:" ( 630:" ( 622:" ( 610:" ( 606:, " 594:". 1451:: 1119:^ 1079:. 1075:. 1014:, 1003:^ 956:^ 919:^ 865:. 701:. 676:GQ 558:00 554:39 281:. 269:, 261:. 253:, 249:, 245:, 1435:) 1431:( 1423:) 1419:( 1411:) 1407:( 1399:) 1395:( 1387:) 1383:( 1375:) 1371:( 1363:) 1359:( 1353:) 1349:( 1343:) 1339:( 1331:) 1327:( 1306:e 1299:t 1292:v 1091:. 1061:. 800:" 793:" 750:" 739:" 728:" 717:" 556:: 181:)

Index


Nick Castle
Lorin Dreyfuss
Scott Baio
Patrick Swayze
Flip Wilson
Maureen McCormick
Katherine Kelly Lang
Gene Fowler Jr.
Miles Goodman
Dave Mason
John Beal
Rastar
Columbia Pictures
comedy
musical film
roller disco
Scott Baio
Flip Wilson
Maureen McCormick
Ron Palillo
Ruth Buzzi
Patrick Swayze
Sydney Lassick
Billy Barty
Dorothy Stratten
Los Angeles
moped
chicken
roller skates

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