“Saturday Night Live” and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have joined forces to create “SNL: Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of Music.” This is a comprehensive and immersive exhibit celebrating the iconic show’s musical history, storied performances and sketches.
Through state-of-the-art video installations and a first-ever virtual experience, this collaborative and in-depth exhibit will bring to life some of the show’s most memorable musical performances from the early years of the show—from Blondie, RUN-D.M.C. and Mick Jagger—to more contemporary stagings of artists like Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and Sabrina Carpenter.
The exhibit takes fans through these cultural touchstone moments by mirroring the flow of the show, beginning with the cold open and moving into the home base stage where the hosts announce the musical guests. Fans will move through a re-creation of the famed Studio 8H facade in Rockefeller Center (unique to this exhibit) and have an opportunity to create their own moment as host of the show. Fan-favorite musical sketches will also be brought to life through featured costumes from The Blues Brothers, D–k in a Box, Sweeney Sisters and more. As fans exit through the “Goodnights” section, they will be surrounded by displays of 50 years of indelible “SNL” musical performances.
Other elements of the show, such as the iconic photography bumpers and notable stage props, will be woven throughout, and fans will be able to leave the exhibit with portraits of themselves in select bumper formats from the custom-built SNL50 photo booth.
Playing throughout the exhibit’s run, in the museum’s Foster Theater, will be a special, exclusive 20-minute edit of the critically acclaimed documentary, “Ladies & Gentleman… 50 Years of SNL Music” directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, featuring never-before-seen musical performance footage, playing hourly. Additionally, a specially curated, printed guidebook with a foreword authored by former cast member Fred Armisen will be available for fans to use as a pilot for their experience.
“SNL: Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of Music” will also be the Rock Hall’s first-ever exhibit to have a robust digital companion and joins several other exhibits that include both Spanish and English translations and offer fans with auditory, visual and sensory impairments additional options for their experience.
‘“Saturday Night Live’ has brought amazing live music into our living rooms for 50 years, including groundbreaking appearances by over 100 of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees. Along with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, we are thrilled to be joining with our friends at ‘SNL’ to share this exciting story with the millions of fans who walk through our doors in Cleveland or online at RockHall.com every year,” says Greg Harris, President & CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Fans visiting the SNL50 exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will also have access to shop exclusive co-branded merchandise only available at the museum store.
Other exhibits currently running at the Rock Hall include the “2024 Inductees Exhibit” featuring artifacts from Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Mary J. Blige and more from the class of 2024; “Revolutionary Women in Music,“ “Bon Jovi: Forever” and “1984,” which explores the biggest year in pop music’s history and includes rarities from artists such as Tina Turner, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and more.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is free to all city of Cleveland residents through the CLE VIP program sponsored by Key Bank. For more information and to purchase tickets and plan your visit, visit: rockhall.com
Photo: Wayne’s World baseball cap autographed by Alice Cooper. Photo courtesy Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
