A historic piece of footage was released in theaters briefly, in 1973. Motown Records also released it on a double LP, never to be seen again until now, some 50 years later. Thanks to Jesse Jackson and his family, the film has been digitally remastered and back in circulation. It contains clips of 1970s Black America, young children, and some of the hottest Black entertainers of their day. NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell, Ossie Davis, musician Smokey Robinson, and stand-up comic turned activist Dick Gregory, were all pledging everyone to ‘Save The Children,’ which is still needed today.
In 1971, Reverend Jesse Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United To Save Humanity). The next year he put on a highly successful five-day expo highlighting Black culture and beyond. Entertainers, musicians, comedians, political figures, and Black owned business owners all came together to form a Black film crew and cast to document it all. It was directed by the renowned Stan Lathan and produced by the Black Godfather, Clarence Avant, along with Matt Robinson.
This five-day festival took place in the fall of 1972, at Chicago Illinois’ International Amphitheatre. It was released in theaters a year later. For whatever reason, unless you caught its initial run in 1973, it was pulled from theaters shortly after its release. This important piece of film footage went virtually unseen for over 50 years.
Many hometown heroes took the stage at the festival including former Impressions group members Curtis Mayfield & Jerry Butler, The Staple Singers, gospel giants Albertina Walker & Reverend James Cleveland, Jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis and the Chi-Lites. Motown superstars like the Jackson 5 from nearby Gary, Indiana, had the arena in a frenzy after Soul Train’s Don Cornelius introduced the five young men. The Temptations, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and Marvin Gaye (The title of the film comes from one of his songs from the monumental album What’s Goin’ On released just one year prior) delighted the crowd. Other performers include Roberta Flack & the marvelous Quincy Jones (who also worked with the artist on this film), Brenda Lee Eager, Bill Withers, The O’Jays, The Main Ingredient, Nancy Wilson, Isaac Hayes, Cannonball Adderley Quintet, and many many more.
Sammy Davis Jr, fresh off of endorsing then President Richard Nixon for re-election earlier in the year, faced the crowd head on about his political views before moving into his song, the perfectly titled “I Gotta Be Me.” What I’m describing is just what was filmed for release. The likes of Wilson Pickett, Sly & the Family Stone, The Supremes, Ashford & Simpson and Earth Wind & Fire also performed at this star-studded week-long festival. Maybe there is some more exclusive footage for our eyes to see!
A soundtrack album was released on Berry Gordy’s Motown Records (who worked behind the scenes.) This double-LP set actually did not feature the exact set list as the film. Save The Children original motion picture soundtrack peaked on Billboards Top Soul LPs in the summer of 1974.
Save The Children takes place in the same time period as similar films like the recently released lost films; 1969 Summer of Soul (2021) and Aretha Franklin’s 1972 Amazing Grace (2018.)
Another 1972 outing, WattStax, a similar film and theme took place across country in California a few months prior to the Save The Children festival. (Al Bell, from STAX records was instrumental in Save The Children as well as WattStax.) Another is The Night James Brown Saved Boston. This concert happened a day after Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in 1968.
Save the Children: A Concert For the Ages is now streaming on Netflix
