Before there was Art Walk there was the Young Turks

Tonight there will likely be a large, young crowd of new Downtown enthusiasts strolling Spring Street, Main and 4th for the monthly Art Walk. In the late 1970s, performance artist Stephen Seemayer used an 8mm movie camera to film the artists who were starting to inhabit Downtown, "before skyscrapers, MOCA and loft living." His 1981 documentary, "Young Turks," has been re-cut with found footage of Al's Bar, Pino's Tropical Paradise, the Atomic Cafe and other landmarks of the Downtown art scene that no longer exist. Seemayer and film editor Pamela Wilson will start screening the film in Downtown later this month.

"The streets were rough...the beer was warm..." Trailer: