Few people were watching in August 1981 when MTV debuted on cable television. Filmmakers Patrick Waldrop and Tyler Measom have made a film about the birth and evolution of the television network that revolutionized the culture.
If you were one of the few people in America who had cable TV in 1981, and you happened to be watching on August 1, you may have seen the start of something big. There was a broadcast of a space shuttle taking off. A man landed on the moon. And then, there was a music video. It was the birth of MTV. Filmmakers Patrick Waldrop and Tyler Measom have made a film about the birth and evolution of the television network that revolutionized music, fashion, video, and the very nature of celebrity.
Note: RadioWest is on a short hiatus, but we will still be airing our monthly documentary film series shows throughout the summer. Tune in to this one-hour special on Friday, June 14, at 1 p.m. or Sunday, June 16, at 12 p.m.
On Wednesday, June 19, we’re hosting a free screening of Patrick Waldrop and Tyler Measom's documentary film I Want My MTV at 7 p.m. at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in downtown Salt Lake City. It’s part of our Through the Lens series, our partnership with the Utah Film Center. Co-director Tyler Measom will be there for a post-film Q&A with Doug Fabrizio.
