The Rock-afire Explosion

Sunday, May 16
7:30 PM
Admission: $5.00
Movies on a Big Screen at The Guild
2828 35th St, Sacramento, CA


The Rock-afire Explosion
In the early eighties, kids all over the US flocked to Showbiz Pizza for the rides, games, and animatronic rock band, The Rock-afire Explosion. Created by 23-year-old prodigy Aaron Fechter, The Rock-afire Explosion amazed children and adults alike before being mysteriously pulled from showrooms and replaced by the now popular Chuck-E-Cheese in the early nineties.

Nearly twenty years later, still profoundly affected by his experience at Showbiz Pizza, small-town disc-jockey Chris Thrash sought out Fechter and purchased a Rock-afire band of his own. Some clever programming on Chris' part, and the band was once again performing for millions, this time on YouTube.

The Rock-afire Explosion reveals how Chris came to revive this fallen 80's gem, explores his and a number of other fan's obsessions with the animatronic band, and chronicles the rise and fall of Showbiz Pizza and what was once a 20 million dollar per-year venture for inventor Aaron Fechter. More than this, the film is a look at the importance of nostalgia, ever-changing media culture, and the eternal quest to stay young.

"The greatest rock doc of all time" - VH1 Best Week Ever

"In 'The Rock-afire Explosion,' director Brett Whitcomb chronicles the rise and fall of Rock-afire and, I'm telling you, it's utterly fascinating." - USA Today

"A tale of strange obsession, squandered wealth, uncertain love and animatronic, guitar-playing bears, ‘The Rock-afire Explosion’ is something of a minor miracle, packed with heart-on-sleeve pathos and moments of unexpected, heartwrenching beauty." - Time Out London