Movie premieres in 1970 functioned as gatherings of countercultural protest energy

Evidence

West, seventy-six, graced the opening and thrilled the brazen, drag-enriched crowd outside the Criterion. EVO cited the “festive, often violent atmosphere” reminiscent of the Columbia building seizures—“cops, pickets, police barricades, press, television cameras, pushing, showing off, camaraderie, hurt feelings, and heroes.” (The New York Times reported that 2,000 screaming citizens blocked Times Square and attempted to vault barriers.) — J. Hoberman, Everything Is Now, 1571

Categorization

• XREF: The theater premiere as proto-street-protest connects to the reader’s turf-wars material: the moment mass culture and street culture merge.