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WITH DIRECTOR MIKE PLANTE IN PERSON TO INTRO THE FILM AND HOST Q&A!

On June 13, 1978, the soon-to-be legendary rock band The Cramps went to play Napa State, a psychiatric hospital in the small town of Napa in Northern California. Opening for them was The Mutants, an eclectic septet of art school punks from nearby San Francisco. Also in the van was seminal Bay Area art collective Target Video, there to capture the show using one of the first video cameras available to the public, democratizing a medium controlled by mainstream media outlets.

What resulted may be the most unique punk show ever, as the two bands played for the residents at the hospital, a rehabilitation facility that was skimming the danger of being shut down by former California Governor Ronald Reagan.

Later, in the early 1980s, Target Video released the footage of the show as “The Cramps at Napa State” worldwide on the brand new VHS home video format. It became one of the most seen rock videos ever, The Cramps in an incredible performance for a crowd of hospital residents and visiting punk rockers, too similar to tell apart.

This release presents for the first time the entire Cramps performance tape unedited with an additional song, remastered from the original ½” open reel video tape used in the video recording deck at the show. Also presented for the first time: the previously lost footage of The Mutants playing at Napa State, unedited and remastered from the original source tape.

Screening in between the Napa performances is the short documentary We Were There to Be There (2021, 27 minutes, directed by Mike Plante and Jason Willis) which goes into the background of Target Video and how the Napa State show happened, with interviews from people who were at the show and rare photos. The doc also explores the deep history of Napa State and how Governor Reagan’s tactics with mental health facilities are still affecting us today.

Directed by Joe Target Rees

1978/2023 | USA | English language | DCP

Online sales end 15 minutes prior to showtime. Please visit the Harris Theater box office after this time to purchase tickets.

Concessions

Concessions are available for all screenings and the Harris Theater is now BYOB. Guests who bring alcoholic beverages must be 21 years or older and provide valid photo ID upon request, a $5 charge will be issued per guest.