THE STAIRWAY TO STARDOM MIXTAPE (Presented by AGFA)

Long before AMERICAN IDOL, there was STAIRWAY TO STARDOM — a public access show from New York City that felt like it was broadcast from a TV station in David Lynch’s TWIN PEAKS. Filmed on video in a Staten Island basement, STAIRWAY TO STARDOM was hosted by lounge singer Frank Masi and his wife Tillie from 1979 to the early 1990s. From homemade R&B party hits to aggro stand-up comics, from interpretive dance by zombified children to amateur magicians, the show was a treasure trove of otherworldly entertainment — all delivered through a magical combination of hot mics, neon vector graphics, and heavenly fashions. Bootlegs of STAIRWAY were a staple among VHS traders for decades, and the show helped define the culture of early found footage mixtapes. THE STAIRWAY TO STARDOM MIXTAPE is the definitive presentation of this fascinating cultural artifact. Meticulously edited from over 15 hours of footage, this compilation distills STAIRWAY TO STARDOM into a 70-minute vortex of outsider songs, unhinged performances, and stupefying stand-up comedy. You’ll never think of the word “hairdresser” in the same way again. (Joseph A. Ziemba)