  Access Timeline by era:
B-boy PREhistory (past–1973)
The Golden Age of b-boying (1973–1980)
Media Spread/Mainstream
Exploitation era (1981–Mid 1985) The Winter Season of b-boying
(Mid 1985–1990) The Stirring Warmup from Winter
(1991–1994) The Revival era (1994–2000)
Permanent Integration era
(2000–beyond+)  |
Access Timeline by year: (click year links below)
1801 1927 1969 1972 1974
1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
1907 1968 1971 1973 1975
1977 1979 1981 1983
1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999
2001 2003 2005 2007 2009
2011 2013
Timeline
Key Symbols:  link to
outside resource
for more information  link to
pictures  link to
video  link to sound
or music Media Spread/ Mainstream Exploitation era (1981–Mid 1985) - Once corporate & mainstream America discovered Hip Hop & b-boying, predictably they turned them into commodities to make money off of. Although this widespread attention to the culture had brought it to the minds of those outside NYC and bboy circles, such mainstream media exploitation was bound to eventually lead to a cold Winter season for b-boying.
1981:
March (Day?)
   Henry Chalfant begins filming for his documentary film project STYLE WARS.
April (Day?…Saturday)
Henry Chalfant films a battle between The Dynamic Rockers and RockSteady Crew at United Skates Of America (USA, in NYC) as part of his documentary film STYLE WARS. (time?)
April 22
In this week's (4/22-4/28) issue of NYC pulp magazine the "VILLAGE VOICE", Frosty Freeze becomes the first bboy to appear on their cover (vol.26, #17), in a solo photo taken by Martha Cooper. Its a part of an article by Sally Banes entitled, "Physical Graffiti: Breaking Is Hard to Do" (p.31-33), which also includes four more photos (p.31) of him with Ty Fly, Crazy Legs, Lil Crazy Legs, a young Kenny, & others in the background, and a fifth photo of just Frosty (p.32).
August 15
At 2:30pm on a Saturday, as part of the "Teen Day" portion of the free Lincoln Center Out-Of-Doors Festival (10th), RockSteady Crew battle The Dynamic Rockers at the Fountain Plaza (just outside Lincoln Center concert hall), in a rematch from their real battle when filming STYLE WARS. Henry Chalfant is in charge of making this happen. Also there is National Geographic photographer Martha Cooper. The event is covered by many news groups, which helped bring breakin to mainstream eyes worldwide.
May (Day?)
Afrika Bambaataa & SoulSonic Force release the song "PLANET ROCK" (on Tommy Boy).
June (Day?)
Former roller disco ROXY Roller Rink, reopens as a Hip Hop club, in NYC (on West 18th St).
August (Day?)
Henry Chalfant's & Tony Silver's docu-film STYLE WARS is finished. However, due to financial difficulties, it does not get released until 2 years later.
September
After Charles Ahearn's film WILD STYLE is finished, he debuts the finished film (in 16mm) at The Independent Film Market in New York. (times? venues?).
Fall (November? & Day?)
Charlie Ahearn screens his film WILD STYLE (in 16mm), at the Montreal International Film Festival. (times? venues?)..
March 18
At 8:30pm, the movie WILD STYLE (in 16mm) is screened on the first day of the New Directors/New Films series, in NYC (at the 57th Street Playhouse, 110 West 57th St, between 6th & 7th Ave). A second screening occurs on the second day of the occasion, March 19 at 3:30pm.
April 15
The movie FLASHDANCE comes out.
May (Day?)
The film WILD STYLE (in 16mm) is screened at the Cannes Film Festival. (times? venues?).
August
It’s the release of Billy Joel's new album that contains his song "UPTOWN GIRL", of which its music video features a couple of poppers.
October (Day?)
The movie WILD STYLE (in 35mm) has its theatrical world debut, in Japan (city? time? venues?). Daiei International Films is its Japanese distributor. The promotional Japanese campaign tour was organized with Seibu department stores, which included performances taking place in these stores.
November 23
The movie WILD STYLE (in 35mm) starts playing in limited theatrical release in a few major USA cities, including NYC at the Embassy 46th Street (Broadway & 46th St)...then continues playing in the Embassy III on Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, several times a day starting with 12pm till the last showing at 11:55pm.
December 4
The New York City Breakers appear at The Kennedy Center Honors.
December 27
The airing of the 12/4/83 Kennedy Center Honors that featured The New York City Breakers. (time? channel-network?)
January 18
After finally getting funding, the documentary STYLE WARS makes its world debut, originally airing (9pm, EST) on the PBS program "Independent Lens".
April 24
The film STYLE WARS is screened in the School Of Visual Arts's Amphitheater (209 E. 23rd St, NYC) at 4pm. May 4
The movie BREAKIN' comes out. June 8
The movie BEAT STREET comes out. August
The movie BODY ROCK debuts. September 28
The movie BODY ROCK comes out nationwide. December 19
The movie, BREAKIN' 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO, debuts in NYC...then nationwide on 12/21/84. (Month & Day??)
Premiere airing of the TV movie, THE PILOT.
(Month?)
The movie BREAKING AND ENTERING comes out.
March 22
The movie THE LAST DRAGON comes out. It features a few scenes of "popping", in NYC.
April (Day?)
The B-rated movie DELIVERY BOYS comes out. It features fictional breakers.
May 10
The movie RAPPIN' comes out. It features fictional rappers & breakers.
|