Claes Oldenburg "Happenings": Ray Gun Theater 1962 (1962)

Claes Oldenburg "Happenings": Ray Gun Theater 1962 (1962) poster

Early in 1962 Claes Oldenburg offered a remarkable series of ten 'Happenings' in a store on East Second Street in New York City. The audiences were kept small to heighten the intimacy of the experience. What is a 'Happening'? It would seem impossible to describe afterwards. Yet Raymond Saroff compressed the rich and sprawling imagery of each evening-length work to the essential matter in hand, reassembling a visual realization of what was seemingly consigned to the memories of its audience. All the characterizations, the unprepared transitions, the very personal rhythms with something of Saroff's own: the 'Happenings' impact on a sensitive eye, its reduction to a single and coherent point of view. Features "Store Days I & II", "Nekropolis I & II", "Injun I & II", "Voyages I & II", and "World's Fair I & II."

Director: Raymond Saroff
Runtime: 128 min
Release Date:
Original Language: en
More Films by Director: Raymond Saroff

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Claes Oldenburg "Happenings": Ray Gun Theater 1962 about?
Early in 1962 Claes Oldenburg offered a remarkable series of ten 'Happenings' in a store on East Second Street in New York City. The audiences were kept small to heighten the intimacy of the experience. What is a 'Happening'? It would seem impossible to describe afterwards. Yet Raymond Saroff compressed the rich and sprawling imagery of each evening-length work to the essential matter in hand, reassembling a visual realization of what was seemingly consigned to the memories of its audience. All the characterizations, the unprepared transitions, the very personal rhythms with something of Saroff's own: the 'Happenings' impact on a sensitive eye, its reduction to a single and coherent point of view. Features "Store Days I & II", "Nekropolis I & II", "Injun I & II", "Voyages I & II", and "World's Fair I & II."
Who directed Claes Oldenburg "Happenings": Ray Gun Theater 1962?
Claes Oldenburg "Happenings": Ray Gun Theater 1962 was directed by Raymond Saroff.
How long is Claes Oldenburg "Happenings": Ray Gun Theater 1962?
Claes Oldenburg "Happenings": Ray Gun Theater 1962 has a runtime of 2h 8m (128 minutes).