The "West Side Story" Revival

In 1972 just about every kid in New York City was glued to the TV when the film version of West Side Story was shown. This sentimental musical, with no rock and roll in it, was co-written by Leonard Bernstein. Yeah, Bernstein, of the Philharmonic! It seemed an odd hit for our generation. After all, not only was it corny, but it dealt with greasers, inter-racial fighting and gangs, which were all behind us, right? I mean, this was the dawning of Age of Aquarius, Consciousness III, etc!

Well, maybe the Sixties generation were all so stoned that they believed such drivel. The kids I knew were quite aware of the antipathy between ethnic groups, since many experienced it first-hand. They knew that a real life Tony/Maria romance would spark some resentment. And while none of us belonged to gangs or carried switchblades, the adolescent bravado of the Sharks and Jets was something any teen could relate to. The next day at school just about everyone was walking through the hallway, snapping their fingers in unison. And if you were lucky (or unlucky) enough to be named Tony or Maria, you would be serenaded.

Perhaps Alice Cooper was watching along with us, since on his School’s Out album there appeared a tune called “Gutter Cats Verses the Jets.”