Guitar signed by Bob Dylan among items on display.
An exhibition celebrating the impact of the iconic Philadelphia music
venue Electric Factory and its concert promotion arm, Electric Factory
Concerts, will be on display through December 30 in the Paul Peck Alumni
Center Gallery and the Bossone Research Center on Drexel's campus.
The exhibition, entitled “Electrified: 50 Years of the Electric
Factory,” includes original posters, photographs and memorabilia from
the Electric Factory's storied history producing and promoting rock,
blues and jazz concerts in Philadelphia, from its roots as a converted
tire shop in the late 1960s through many years of producing shows at
venues like the Spectrum and Tower Theater and finally its own history
as a legendary concert space on North 7th Street. Iconic guitars played
by Bruce Springsteen, Jack Bruce of Cream, and Mick Taylor of the
Rolling Stones will be on display.
"For many Philadelphians, 'Electrified' will evoke treasured musical
memories stretching back over decades," said Derek Gillman, executive
director of University Collections and Exhibitions at Drexel.
Youngmoo Kim, PhD, professor of electrical and computer engineering and
director of Drexel's Expressive and Creative Interactive Technologies
(ExCITe) Center, served on the steering committee that brought the
exhibit to campus. He says that engineers should have a particular
interest in seeing what’s on display.
"The Electric Factory was more than a place — they produced so many huge
shows, including Live Aid in 1985,” he said. “To fill a stadium or large
space with rock and roll sound that is mixed correctly and can be heard
is a major feat of engineering.”
The exhibition will feature scaled-down stacks of the powerful Clair
Brothers speakers engineered specifically for rock concerts. The
company, founded in 1966 in Lititz, Pennsylvania and now called Clair
Global, has become the standard for the industry. Legendary performers
like Mick Jagger will only perform with the speakers.
"There is tremendous power, electrical, acoustics and mechanical
engineering involved in setting this sound equipment up and suspending
the speakers, which can weight hundreds of pounds, over an audience,”
Kim explains. “Any of Drexel’s engineering students or faculty can
appreciate the work and problem solving that goes into getting that just
right.
Kim said he hopes the glimpse into the engineering behind epic concerts
will inspire future engineers.
"We want all engineers to enjoy it and be inspired by the local tie-in
and engineering tie-in,” he said.
The exhibit will be open Wednesdays through Fridays, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
and Saturdays from noon until 5 p.m.