Stax Museum, located at 926 E. McLemore Ave, is collaborating with Indie Memphis on a film series this spring. All of the films in the series will star Stax alumnus Isaac Hayes.
Purple carpet, wall-to-ceiling vinyl record sleeves and low-lighting line the path that leads to a glassencased Oscar in front of a slow spinning car.
It’s Isaac Hayes’ 1972 Cadillac Eldorado complete with a solid gold grill and trim.
Ryan Watt, 35, executive director of Indie Memphis, and Jeff Kollath, 38, executive director of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music look on.
“Stax, mainly known as a record label, also dabbled into films,†Kollath said. “Had Stax stuck around, they’d probably have been a big player in the film industry.â€
Watt and Kollath have joined forces to host a Soul Cinema screening series at Stax Museum.
“We try to tie in music as often as possible to our events,†Watts said. “Anytime music and film come together it’s perfect for us.â€
The series kicks-off with the 1974 classic, Truck Tucker at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 29 which starts Isaac Hayes as a bounty hunter. Admission is pay-what-you-can.
“We’re really trying to make what we do here accessible to as many people as possible,†Kollath said. This is the first time Indie Memphis has held a screening at Stax.
Watt said because it’s in a different part of town, he hopes it will bring people out who wouldn’t normally go to the film festival and people who wouldn’t normally go to Stax.
“This is totally different from anything else we are doing,†Watt said. Tour guide and Stax guest service representative, Joshua Goolsby, 35, of Memphis, said he’s excited.
“I’ve been a huge fan of soul cinema my whole life,†Goolsby said. “It’s very heartfelt and direct.â€
Goolsby said his mom was a recording artist at Stax. Kollath said Goolsby knew Isaac Hayes.
“We’re bringing back what has been done and enhancing it,†Kollath said. “We have so much here and so many stories to tell. Artifacts, photos, and things we haven’t put out.â€
All the films being screened in this series include the work of Isaac Hayes. March 28 will show another 1974 film, Three Tough Guys, and on April 25 they will show Shaft (1971).
“We’re treating this almost as a pilot series and I think we’re going to get good response,†Kollath said.
On April 27 there will be a live performance from the Memphis Strings featuring members of the Memphis Symphony playing part of the Shaft soundtrack to officially end the series.
“It’s a great opportunity to showcase Stax musicians and artists who were involved in film,†Watt said.
Kollath said there is still one active member of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra who played on the original Shaft soundtrack.
“This is something that hasn’t really been seen in Memphis thus far,†Goolsby said.
Goolsby said he thinks there is an interest in soul cinema in Memphis that hasn’t been tapped into yet.
This series is one of many Indie Memphis is involved in throughout the year. Anyone can join the email list at http://indiememphis.com/mailing-list/ for events.
“By doing really compelling free programming, we’re able to affect a lot of people,†Kollath said. “Share what we do, share our mission and share where we’re going in the future too.â€
