Last Chance To See The Ozark Music Doc Film In Sedalia?

This summer marked the 50th Anniversary of the Ozark Music Festival, held at the Missouri State Fairgrounds from July 19 to July 21, 1974. That's a big part of the inspiration for this year's Inaugural Mozark Fest, featuring a variety of free attractions like the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall, a classic car show, Midwest VW Fest, as well as ticketed concerts in the Missouri State Fair grandstand featuring headliners Molly Hatchet, Locash, and Starship featuring Mickey Thomas. It might also be the last time you can see Jeff Lujin's film "The Story of The Ozark Music Festival: 3 Days of Sodom and Gomorrah in Sedalia, Missouri."

I caught up with Lujin to chat with him about the film, which is a beautiful take on the festival that balances the problems and issues it brought to Sedalia while also celebrating an experience that, for many, was unforgettable in a positive way. You can hear parts of our chat Friday afternoon during my Friday Happy Hour Show on Mix 92.3 starting at 3:00 PM. Our complete conversation is at the bottom of this article.

One of the things I noticed about Lujin's post about the film's screenings at the Mozark Fest this weekend is a teaser quoting the Rolling Stones: " This could be the last time." I asked him if that was marketing or if he was moving on from the film after this.

Lujan told me it might be the last time he screens the film in Sedalia. One reason is the expense of screening it; he'd like to sell the movie, but it's becoming cost-prohibitive to screen it on his own. Additionally, Sedalia doesn't have screening facilities for the film. When he screened it at the Liberty Center, he had to bring in a screen and sound system, so it wasn't easy. Additionally, he's working on other jobs and projects, so his time is limited.

If you're interested in the great history of the Ozark Music Festival, I advise you to see the movie this weekend. Lujin did a great job of putting together an oral history of the festival from various points of view of the people who were there and married it perfectly with the limited film, pictures, and audio that captured the event. The movie's star is Jim Matthewson, the late Missouri State Senator who shared his experience candidly and with good humor and perspective.

It's screening in the Women's Building across the street from the Grandstand on the Fairgrounds at 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM, and 7:00 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during Mozark Fest. Lujin will also run a late-night screening after the concerts at 10:30 PM if there's an audience. Admission is $10.00, and tickets are only available at the door.

Here is my complete conversation with Jeff Lujin: