THE MONKEES 50th ANNIVERSARY IS COMING IN 2016
First Casting Call For Auditions To Form The Legendary Group Ran 50 Years Ago Today In The Hollywood Reporter Classifieds
The Quartet's Beloved Television Series Will Make Blu-ray Debut In a Limited Edition Collection With All 58 Episodes, The Film HEAD, Plus Loads Of Extras
Available Now For Pre-Order Exclusively At Monkees.com, Available In January
LOS ANGELES - 50 years ago today on September 8, 1965, when producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider placed the below classified ad in The Hollywood Reporter seeking "4 insane boys," they had no idea that they were about to unleash Monkee-mania.
But that's exactly what happened the following year when the first episode of "The Monkees" debuted on NBC on September 12, 1966. The show's blend of improvisational humor and classic pop music struck a chord with millions of fans, earned two Emmy® Awards during its two groundbreaking seasons, and made Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork instant stars.
On the 50th anniversary of that fateful casting call, Rhino is excited to announce the upcoming release of the entire series (58 episodes) on Blu-ray for the very first time, painstakingly restored in high-definition from the original film negatives. The 10-disc Blu-ray collection with also include the 1968 cult-classic "HEAD," along with many never-before-seen outtakes from the film. It's the beginning of many surprises planned to celebrate The Monkees' 50th anniversary in 2016.
The Blu-ray collection can be purchased exclusively at Monkees.com and is available for pre-order now for $199.98 with a release set for January.
Highlights include:
• All 58 episodes, newly remastered in stunning HD from the original negatives for the very first time, plus the 1969 TV Special "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee."
• Bonus material includes commentaries from all four Monkees, original Kellogg's Monkees commercials, and more.
• The 1968 Monkees film "HEAD" in HD with never-before-seen outtakes.
• This fan-only edition includes exclusive packaging and a 7" featuring two previously unreleased TV mixes.
• Strictly limited to 10,000 individually numbered sets.
• Available exclusively at Monkees.com - not available at any other retailer.
The Monkees brought boundless wit, creativity, and high spirits to both TV and the Top 40 in 1966. At the height of their popularity, recordings by The Monkees rivaled those of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and the group shattered sales records previously set by the likes of Elvis Presley and The Beatles.
The Monkees amassed a dozen Top 40 hits, including a trio of tunes that soared to #1. Between September 1966 and December 1967, "Last Train To Clarksville," "I'm A Believer," and "Daydream Believer" collectively occupied the top position for 12 weeks. Sales of their LPs were more phenomenal still: The Monkees occupied the #1 position for 13 consecutive weeks, More Of The Monkees for 18. Both Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. went to the top as well, for a four-in-a-row feat in the incomprehensible space of 13 months. The final tally: 16 million albums and 7.5 million singles sold in a mere 2 1/2 years.
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