Explore Black History

October 25, 1980

A flier for “Chief Rocker Busy Bee's Birthday,” at Ecstasy Garage. The flier is in portrait orientation and printed on white paper with black text in varying sizes and fonts, graphics, and a black-and-white photograph. At the top of the flier is the event title [CHIEF [five-pointed star graphic] ROCKER / BUSY BEE’S / BIRTHDAY] with a large five-pointed star graphic next to the word [BIRTHDAY]. Pointing hand graphics bookend the words [CHIEF] and [ROCKER]. A small photograph of Busy Bee in the top left corner depicts the artist from the waist up, standing against a wood paneled wall. He is wearing a black tee-shirt and is holding his proper left hand up, pointing upwards.
Centered below the event title is small text that reads [Featuring] above the two featured acts, [Lovebug / Starski] on the left, [Kool / DJ AJ] on the right, and [PLUS / THEODORE / FANTASIC [graphic of a hand with five splayed fingers] MC’s] centered below. To the right of [THEODORE] is the text [And / of / course / New York’s No. 1 Lady / SHA·ROCK!] above a graphic of two women disco dancing under four lights. Just above the graphic is the text [DISCO] and below is the text [Happy Birthday]. At the center of the flier is a small graphic of a male and female couple dancing together. To the left of the graphic is a list of event invitees: [Invites[sic]: / Bambaataa· / Spoonie Gee / Flash· / Breakout· / Funky 4+1· / Mercedes Ladies]. The bottom third of the flier features the event location, date, time, admission fees, dress code, and deejay names. The text on the left reads [ECSTASY / GARAGE / 172 ST MACOMBS RD / first 15 LADIES / FREE!!! / CRASH CREW DJ’S / DRESS CASUAL / INVITED MCS]. The text on the right reads [SATURDAY / OCT.25 / 9TIL / GUYS 3 / $ / GALS 2 / b/4 / 11pm / WITH HOUSE DJ’s / Mean Gene]. Directions to the venue are printed in small, vertically oriented text near the bottom left corner: [NO. 4 TRAIN TO ONE 70TH STREET / WALK TWO BLOCKS / 1508 Macombs Rd.]. Four graphics of eight notes are scattered throughout the text with two framing the center graphic. The back of the flier is has no text or inscriptions.

Transcribed by digital volunteers

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Memorabilia and Ephemera - Advertisements

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2020.38.1.22

fliers (printed matter)

Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

ink on paper (fiber product)

H x W: 8 3/16 × 6 1/4 in. (20.8 × 15.9 cm)

Object Name • Flier for “Chief Rocker Busy Bee’s Birthday”

nmaahc_2020.38.1.22

NMAAHC

FLIER FOR “CHIEF ROCKER BUSY BEE’S BIRTHDAY”

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1980s

Funky 4 + 1 • Mercedes Ladies • Fantastic Five • DJ Mean Gene • Kool DJ AJ • Livingston, Theodore • Ecstasy Garage Disco • MC Sha-Rock • Crash Crew • Furious Five • DJ Breakout • Afrika Bambaataa • Lovebug Starski • Busy Bee Starski • Spoonie Gee • Grandmaster Flash

New York City • United States • North and Central America • Bronx

Design • Nightlife • Graphic arts • Hip-hop (Music) • Disco (Music) • Rappers (Musicians) • DJs (Musicians) • Urban life

Locale • Bronx • City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Images

No Known Copyright Restrictions