By Linda Chuss

During the afternoon of March 27, Fran Hart treated attendees at the Bleakney Senior Center to the “Beat Generation – a cultural review of the 1950s through music.” The multimedia performance was designed to highlight the best (and sometimes the worst) of the decade. People of all ages came to learn about the youthful experiences and tastes of those who are seniors today.

Hart, a founding member of the Beatles tribute band, 4EverFab, played acoustic renditions honoring the greats of the era: Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Little Richard, James Brown, Fats Domino, Pat Boone, and others. Audience members were invited to sing along to familiar favorites.

Audio and video clips evoking key events from that timeframe accompanied the musical performance. The Korean War and the beginning of the Cold War. The origins of the Civil Rights movement. And on a lighter note, the Hula-Hoop and the iconic Elvis Presley.

Hart also shared interesting facts from the era, like the average cost of a home in 1950 being $7,150. He displayed a photo of one of the earliest television remote controls, which was made by Zenith. It bears no resemblance to today’s models, but perhaps would have been easier to use than modern versions.

The Beat Generation performance included facts and items from the 1950s, like an early remote control device. Courtesy photo

Coincidentally, there were 57 attendees at the ‘50s-themed event. Laura Neill, program coordinator for the senior center, said, “The presentation was great and transported our seniors back in time!”

This is the second time Hart has performed at the Milford senior center, the first being a Beatles review. Hart only recently created the ‘50s show, and its performance at the Milford senior center was one of the first.

The musical event was made possible through a grant from the Milford Cultural Council. According to its webpage, the council’s purpose is “to promote excellence, inclusion, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and sciences to foster a rich cultural life for all Milford residents, thereby contributing to the vitality of our community and economy.”

Other grants awarded for 2024 include “Songs of Stage and Screen Spring Concert,” as performed by the Greater Milford Community Chorus at Town Hall on May 5, at 1:30 p.m., and “Anastasia the Musical,” at the Milford Performing Arts Center in June. For a complete list of grant recipients as well as information about how to apply for a program grant, see milfordma.gov/milford-cultural-council. Follow events on Facebook @MilfordCulturalCouncil.