The Hollywood Theater is showing to 16mm skateboarding films on Monday, February 16 at 7:00 pm in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are only $5 so that’s a no brainer if you’re on the fence. You’ve probably seen Skater Dater before, but you’ve not likely seen the Australian film Ultimate Flex Machine. These prints are owned by Stephen Slappe, and they are only shown every couple of years in order to prevent wear and tear. Both of these films had theatrical releases, Skater Dater in 1965 and Ultimate Flex machine in 1975. Slappe’s print of Ultimate Flex Machine is in especially good condition, and he’s got a newer print of Skater Dater than he had previously shown. Slappe has a couple of short mystery reels that will also be included in the show. You can check out larger versions of the posters for Ultimate Flex Machine as well as some stills after the jump. See you at the Hollywood on Monday!
From the Hollywood Theater
16mm skate films!
Stephen Slappe presents a program of rare 16mm films from his archive, showing early documents of skateboarding’s cinematic history. A show like this only comes around every few years so tell all your skater friends!
SKATERDATER (1965), 18 mins.
SKATERDATER is the earliest skateboarding film outside of home movie footage. In it, a gang of clay wheel rippers session the streets of their suburb to a fuzzed out, surf instrumental soundtrack. It won the Golden Palm for the Best Short Film at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival. During the 1970’s and 80’s, SKATERDATERS’s status was relegated to educational film and it was shown in classrooms across the country as a parable of pubescent love. The color on this newly-acquired print is only slightly warm, a beautiful copy!
THE ULTIMATE FLEX MACHINE (1975), 60 mins.
This is a rare treat from Australia and the highlight of my skate film collection. THE ULTIMATE FLEX MACHINE is a 1975 documentary featuring an army of long haired, barefoot Aussie kids carving banks, bombing hills, and killin’ the hippie jumps. Russ Howell and Torger Johnson make appearances as visiting American pros. This film will probably never see an official re-release due to the large number of 1960’s hit songs that make up the soundtrack. Excellent Fuji color print!
Stills from Ultimate Flex Machine courtesy of Stephen Slappe
Skater Dater soundtrack.
7 comments
Donald Platt
My brother Steven Platt was in a fair bit of this move, I believe it was his feet on the skate board at the start of the movie.
Steven past 12 years ago and we still have not found his body.
My mother is still alive and remembers everything.
This was part of her life.
She and I miss him, but don
Paul Coumbis
Hi Michael …..omg r u still alive. It
Mike Middleton
I made the film
The Ultimate Flex Machine… !!
I have the original A and B rolls and the original material it is my copyright ?
Cate
Hi Mike, did you do “funny ” skits around Cronulla to put in the movie?
Michael Harris
I used to skate the slopes of Heathcote High school and saw the movie which I was in !
Kilwag
Is that a question? You should know if you actually made it. Send me an email. (see contact tab up top)
kevin
wish i could go skater dater look sick rad