Robby, Brett, Ray, Phil, and Ty at the Rock Hall exhibit
The Doors exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame and Museum, Cleveland, Ohio
May 24-25, 2007
Where to begin? What a fun time it was. As I checked into the hotel late on Wednesday, I crossed paths with Doors management Jeff Jampol and Cory Lashever, along with Jim's brother Andy Morrison. I had met Andy in 2004 during the trial, so we were not strangers. I dropped my bags in my room and joined them for a late night drink down the street.
Thursday afternoon I walked to the Rock Hall where I would be allowed a preview of the exhibit before it opened the next day, on May 25th. Riders On The Storm crew and band members arrived a few minutes later, and we were all escorted to the 6th floor to the exhibit. I introduced myself to Brett Scallions in the elevator. Robby and Ray, along with Jeff and Cory, arrived shortly after. The Riders On The Storm band members posed for a few photos.
Robby, Brett, Ray, Phil, and Ty at the Rock Hall exhibit
I have about 40 items from my own collection on loan to the museum for this exhibit, and was tickled beyond belief and proud to discover that almost all of those items were actually being used. Since photography of exhibits is not allowed, I cannot share any photos. However, I can say that items I loaned to the exhibit include both 45's from Rick & The Ravens; foreign 45 picture sleeves; sheet music; licensed watches; Jim Morrison action figure; one of the licensed lunch boxes; a Laserium program; comic books; promo posters; other promo pieces; press kits; several tribute CDs; solo albums and CDs; the Philco hip pocket record; and other miscellaneous items.
The exhibit was done by era, i.e., one wall was pre-Doors items including Jim's Boy Scout uniform and a large early drawing of his. Robby's sitar and John's tabla drums were together in a case. Unbelievably rare 1965 promo posters for Rick & The Ravens, as well as an Aura Records poster with a bearded Ray Manzarek as Ray Daniels, came from the collection of Ray's brother, Rick Manczarek.
Two sections covered The Doors career starting with Ray's Vox, Robby's guitar, John's drum and case, and an amplifier. There were two cases displaying John's clothing, tape boxes with editing marks for (I believe) all six studio albums, a poetry compendium that Ray and Jim shared at UCLA, Ray and Dorothy's original wedding certificate; and the only tour program that the band ever sold, which was photographed and created by Paul Ferrara. There is Jim's "Ode To Brian Jones", signed contracts, an acoustic guitar, lots of handwritten lyrics, and correspondence between the Florida Probation and Parole Commission and Admiral Morrison, Jim's will and newspaper stories, etc. about his death. One case contains Ray's personal copies of Jim's 'The Lords: Notes On Vision'; 'The New Creatures'; and 'An American Prayer.'
The last section covers the period after Jim's death, starting with Michelle Campbell photos of the original and current headstones. The Doors Concerto CD, the Oliver Stone movie, An American Prayer, and the solo careers of Ray, Robby and John are all represented, as well as video releases and licensed merchandise items. Even the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award the band received in February is on display.
There is a wondrous array of concert posters on loan from David Swartz, including probably the only one that ever billed them as The Doors With Jim Morrison. I had never seen most of those, and they were a rare treat to behold. They are worth the price of admission alone! There are also several items loaned from Patti Smith. I should mention that a huge picture of each of the band members towers over each wall, looking down on the exhibit.
Robby and Ray were ushered off to do an interview with NPR station WCPN, and I returned to the hotel with Andy Morrison to get ready for the VIP event a few hours later. That event began about 5:45 on the cafe level of the museum and included invited guests and members of the museum Curatorial staff, etc. Meanwhile, the ground level was filling with museum members who would hear introductions by VP of Exhibitions and Curatorial Affairs Jim Henke (who is writing a book on The Doors, due out later this year), and Director of Curatorial Howard Kramer beginning at 7:00 p.m. Exhibit contributors such as Rick Manczarek and I were introduced, along with Andy Morrison who went onstage to say a few words on behalf of the Morrison family. Robby spoke, then Ray spoke, and then they moved on to sign autographs for the full room of fans until it was time for them to leave to make their 9:00 show time at the nearby House of Blues. Some fans approached Andy to meet him and ask for his autograph, too. More on the House of Blues show and the Guitarmania exhibit in a few days.
Andy Morrison
Andy Morrison & Howard Kramer, Director of Curatorial
Ray, Howard Kramer, Robby, Rick Manczarek
May 30, 2007
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