At first glance, you might be forgiven for thinking the hirsute young men in the clips below are The Strokes or someone comparable, but no …. these videos date back to 1969, and the band featured is a little beat combo from Holland called The Motions, depicted cavorting around midtown Manhattan in a style popularized by “A Hard Day’s Night” and “The Monkees” — who, coincidentally, make a cameo in the third clip.
If the name doesn’t ring a bell with you, don’t feel too bad. The band never made a major dent here and were done and dusted shortly after this was all filmed. They were evidently in town to play a venue at 301 West 46th Street called The Scene. One can’t help feel a little bad for them watching this, knowing that their stars were crossed.
In any case, it’s still an interesting glimpse of a lost New York City. I would have been about two years old, while this was going on.
Don’t go looking for The Scene today. The building that housed it was razed and in its footprint now stands The Riu Plaza New York Times Square Hotel.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
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