A Xanadu Fan Site
THE WHOLE HISTORY
This is a website dedicated to the greatest movie ever made -- Xanadu! The movie was released on August 8, 1980, to an unsuspecting public. It stars Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and Michael Beck, and features music by the Electric Light Orchestra and John Farrar, with an appearance by rock band the Tubes. Generally panned by critics and initially considered a flop, the movie was embraced by many fans who connected with it and appreciated it for what it was. It has gained a cult following over the years and continues to be popular to this day.
Below is a brief timeline of important events in Xanadu history. For a more in-depth take on the story of Xanadu, check out Don Fields' essay, starting here.
XANADU TIMELINE
September 18, 1979: Filming of Xanadu begins in Los Angeles, California. Filming locations include the Venice boardwalk (the muse mural), Palisades Park in Santa Monica (the scene where Kira first kisses Sonny), Malibu Pier (where Sonny falls into the water), the Pan-Pacific Auditorium (the outside of Xanadu), the Hollywood Bowl (where Kira and Sonny drink champagne), Fiorucci's in Beverly Hills ("All Over the World" scene), and Hollywood General Studios (the inside of Xanadu). The movie is directed by Robert Greenwald and produced by Joel Silver. It stars Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and Michael Beck, and includes songs written by John Farrar and Jeff Lynne of the Electric Light Orchestra. The dance numbers are choreographed by Kenny Ortega, with one number, "Dancin'," featuring an appearance by rock band the Tubes. There is also a unique animation sequence by former Disney animator Don Bluth.
April 14, 1980: Hollywood Nights, an Olivia Newton-John television special, airs after the 1980 Oscar telecast. Intended partly as publicity for the upcoming release of Xanadu, it features a musical number with Olivia and Gene Kelly, "Makin' Movies."
June, 1980: "Magic," "I'm Alive," and "Xanadu" are released as singles. The soundtrack is released in July, and eventually yields even more hits: "Suddenly," "All Over the World," "Don't Walk Away," and "Suspended in Time."
July 25, 1980: Olivia appears as guest host on The Midnight Special. Several songs from the movie are performed, including "Dancin'," where she is seen in triplicate performing with the Tubes. She also performs "Suddenly" with Cliff Richard, "Suspended in Time," and "Magic."
August, 1980: The Making of Xanadu, a 30-minute television special about the making of the movie, is shown about a week before the movie is released.
August 8, 1980: Xanadu is released in the U.S. The movie is panned by critics but develops a cult following that grows steadily through the years.
May 26, 1984: Xanadu is broadcast for the first time on network television (CBS).
May 30, 1989: The building used for the outdoor shots of Xanadu, the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, burns down.
1989: The Xanadu soundtrack is first released on CD in Australia.
February 2, 1996: The legendary Gene Kelly passes away.
Sept. 8, 1998: The soundtrack is released on CD in the U.S.
July 20, 1999: The DVD is released in the U.S.
July 27, 2000: A smaller version of the Pan-Pacific Auditorium is rebuilt on the same location, completed in April 2002. It is used as a recreational facility.
Summer 2000: Director Annie Dorsen debuts Xanadu Live!, a staged version of the movie, at the 2000 Williamstown Theater Festival.
October 11, 2001: Xanadu Live! begins a one-month run in the 99-seat Gascon Center Theatre in Culver City, California. Produced by actress Amy Pietz and her husband, Kenny Alan Williams, the show is hugely successful and sells out almost every night. It is believed by some that this show sparked a new interest in the movie, leading to many screenings across the U.S. One audience member, Rob Ahrens, is so moved by the show that he begins a five-year process of acquiring the rights for an off-Broadway production of Xanadu.
November 12, 2002: Xanadu dancer and assistant choreographer Russell Clark passes away.
Spring 2006: Plans are announced for an off-Broadway production of Xanadu, starting in the summer of 2007.
June 2, 2006: Vince Welnick, keyboardist for the Tubes, passes away.
July 2, 2006: Fred McCarren, who played Richie, passes away.
May 23, 2007: Xanadu previews begin on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre, with an opening set for June 26. When actor James Carpinello, who plays Sonny, breaks his foot while skating, Cheyenne Jackson is called in to replace him, and the opening is rescheduled for July 10.
July 10, 2007: Xanadu opens on Broadway, with Olivia Newton-John and John Farrar in attendance. The reviews are mostly positive, and the show starts selling out on a regular basis.
Below is a brief timeline of important events in Xanadu history. For a more in-depth take on the story of Xanadu, check out Don Fields' essay, starting here.
September 18, 1979: Filming of Xanadu begins in Los Angeles, California. Filming locations include the Venice boardwalk (the muse mural), Palisades Park in Santa Monica (the scene where Kira first kisses Sonny), Malibu Pier (where Sonny falls into the water), the Pan-Pacific Auditorium (the outside of Xanadu), the Hollywood Bowl (where Kira and Sonny drink champagne), Fiorucci's in Beverly Hills ("All Over the World" scene), and Hollywood General Studios (the inside of Xanadu). The movie is directed by Robert Greenwald and produced by Joel Silver. It stars Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and Michael Beck, and includes songs written by John Farrar and Jeff Lynne of the Electric Light Orchestra. The dance numbers are choreographed by Kenny Ortega, with one number, "Dancin'," featuring an appearance by rock band the Tubes. There is also a unique animation sequence by former Disney animator Don Bluth.
April 14, 1980: Hollywood Nights, an Olivia Newton-John television special, airs after the 1980 Oscar telecast. Intended partly as publicity for the upcoming release of Xanadu, it features a musical number with Olivia and Gene Kelly, "Makin' Movies."
June, 1980: "Magic," "I'm Alive," and "Xanadu" are released as singles. The soundtrack is released in July, and eventually yields even more hits: "Suddenly," "All Over the World," "Don't Walk Away," and "Suspended in Time."
July 25, 1980: Olivia appears as guest host on The Midnight Special. Several songs from the movie are performed, including "Dancin'," where she is seen in triplicate performing with the Tubes. She also performs "Suddenly" with Cliff Richard, "Suspended in Time," and "Magic."
August, 1980: The Making of Xanadu, a 30-minute television special about the making of the movie, is shown about a week before the movie is released.
August 8, 1980: Xanadu is released in the U.S. The movie is panned by critics but develops a cult following that grows steadily through the years.
May 26, 1984: Xanadu is broadcast for the first time on network television (CBS).
May 30, 1989: The building used for the outdoor shots of Xanadu, the Pan-Pacific Auditorium, burns down.
1989: The Xanadu soundtrack is first released on CD in Australia.
February 2, 1996: The legendary Gene Kelly passes away.
Sept. 8, 1998: The soundtrack is released on CD in the U.S.
July 20, 1999: The DVD is released in the U.S.
July 27, 2000: A smaller version of the Pan-Pacific Auditorium is rebuilt on the same location, completed in April 2002. It is used as a recreational facility.
Summer 2000: Director Annie Dorsen debuts Xanadu Live!, a staged version of the movie, at the 2000 Williamstown Theater Festival.
October 11, 2001: Xanadu Live! begins a one-month run in the 99-seat Gascon Center Theatre in Culver City, California. Produced by actress Amy Pietz and her husband, Kenny Alan Williams, the show is hugely successful and sells out almost every night. It is believed by some that this show sparked a new interest in the movie, leading to many screenings across the U.S. One audience member, Rob Ahrens, is so moved by the show that he begins a five-year process of acquiring the rights for an off-Broadway production of Xanadu.
November 12, 2002: Xanadu dancer and assistant choreographer Russell Clark passes away.
Spring 2006: Plans are announced for an off-Broadway production of Xanadu, starting in the summer of 2007.
June 2, 2006: Vince Welnick, keyboardist for the Tubes, passes away.
July 2, 2006: Fred McCarren, who played Richie, passes away.
May 23, 2007: Xanadu previews begin on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre, with an opening set for June 26. When actor James Carpinello, who plays Sonny, breaks his foot while skating, Cheyenne Jackson is called in to replace him, and the opening is rescheduled for July 10.
July 10, 2007: Xanadu opens on Broadway, with Olivia Newton-John and John Farrar in attendance. The reviews are mostly positive, and the show starts selling out on a regular basis.