How did I end up creating this page? Google Alerts sent me to a reference on Up With People in a 5/30/2009 book review on Nixonland "Reports of Their Death..." by Crashing Vor. Since I haven't quite figured out how to post a comment to his review of Nixonland, this diary entry is a substitute for that.
It's been a delight to discover the comments on "Reports of Their Death..." about Nixon, the 60s and Up With People. Maybe someday the commentators will see the documentary, SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS. Right now it's playing at film festivals. Nixon loved Up With People. Check out the opening clips on the SMILE Blog. It's a hoot and full of surprises!
Up With People was formed to counter the counter-culture of the 1960s.
Here's a synopsis of the documentary film on Up With People:
"SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story explores the clean-cut, smile drenched singing phenomenon Up With People. Since 1965, this peppy youth group has sung to 20 million people worldwide, performed at four Superbowl halftime shows, and been parodied on The Simpsons and South Park. Talent was not required of its members, just a common enthusiastic vision to change the world one squeaky-clean song at a time. But its cheery façade concealed the more complicated reality of an organization founded on conservative American ideals and cult-like utopian ideology.
Up With People was born in response to the liberal counter-culture of the ‘60s by the ultra-conservative religious sect, Moral ReArmament. Over the years, they were embraced by world leaders from US Presidents Nixon, Reagan and George H.W. Bush to King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Noor of Jordon and Pope John Paul II. The organization’s access to global dignitaries and developing countries was noticed by corporate giants---like GM, Exxon, Halliburton and Searle---who gave millions of dollars to back the popular group.
Artistically cut with kitschy and never-before-seen archival footage, and the honest reflections of former members, this documentary reveals what can happen when ideology, money and groupthink converge to co-opt youthful idealism. A cautionary tale spanning decades, SMILE 'TIL IT HURTS: The Up With People Story is an entertaining, relevant, and evocative look behind the curtain of the American dream."
Some called it a cult. Others called it a reflection of American diplomacy during the Cold War. P.J. O'Rourke and Mark Crispin Miller give political commentary. Peter Yarrow provides insights on the music of Up With People and the counter culture. Even the young Glenn Close expresses the revolutionary idealism of youth at the time through rich archival footage. (Yes, the actress really did perform in Up With People and she grew up in a Moral Re-Armament family.)
Did you know they are back performing? Up With People closed its doors in 2000 due to near bankruptcy (with an annual budget exceeding $32 million) and jump-started the traveling cast again in 2005. Since 1965, Up With People has performed in 3,600 worldwide communities and stayed in over 450,000 host family homes. Tuition is now $14,250 for 6 months of educational travel.
Patrick Frawley of Schick Technicolor sponsored and paid for Up With People to perform on national television, as well as the first Up With People album. Laced with positive pro-American and wholesome commentary, you'll find John Wayne, Pat Boone and Walt Disney on the cover. Up With People performed at the World's Fair in NYC in 1964---the same time Walt Disney launched "It's a Small World". Small coincidence? :)
Nixon loved Up With People, as did Presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush Sr. President Ford (then a congressman) attended the first Up With People performance on Mackinac Island, MI where it all began. The shining youth were sent to "hot spots" around the world to help bring (sell?) a different vision of America to the world: happy, cooperative, multi-racial and multi-cultural cast that could work together in harmony. (Think: I'd like to teach the world to sing, In perfect harmony...!---didn't that sell a lot of Coca Cola?) And why not win "hearts and minds" through music and the example of youth this way? That was their mission way back then. It doesn't always appear as it seems, or maybe it does---depending on your view.
www.smiletilithurts.com
Fun facts on Up With People are being posted on Twitter Up With People Tweets and on the SMILE Blog.
You "meet 'em wherever you go", and especially in Tucson, AZ where 1000s show up for the annual reunions each July.