HOWLAND, Ohio – John Zabrucky, whose props have appeared in many major sci-fi films, and Gerald V. Casale of Devo will team up for a public discussion about the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State University.
The 90-minute discussion will take place at 7 p.m. May 4 at the Medici Museum of Art, 9350 E. Market St.
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at TrumbullCountyHistory.org. A VIP ticket, which includes a pre-show reception with the speakers and preferred seating, is available for $100. For information, call 330 394 4653.
Zabrucky and Casale are longtime friends who attended Kent State at the same time and were on campus during the shootings.
Zabrucky, a Warren native and founder of Modern Props Co. of California, recently donated hundreds of props he designed and created to the Trumbull County Historical Society, which is creating a museum to house the collection. An exhibition featuring some of the props is currently on display at the Medici museum. The props have been used in “Blade Runner,” “Ghostbusters,” “Men in Black,” “Batman Returns,” “Spider-Man 2” and many “Star Trek” films and series.
Proceeds from the lecture will benefit the sci-fi museum efforts.
As a member of Devo, Casale wrote or co-wrote many of the band’s best-known songs, including “Whip It,” “Girl U Want,” “Mongoloid,” “Freedom of Choice,” “That’s Good” and “Beautiful World.” He also directed most of the offbeat rock band’s video works and designed the group’s costumes and stage shows.
In addition to discussing the infamous shootings at the Kent State campus, Zabrucky and Casale will also discuss their careers and their long friendship.
Both men were in front of the National Guard when the shooting started May 4, 1970. Casale was so close, he believes the only reason he didn’t get shot is that the guardsmen could look him in the eyes through their gas masks and fired over his head.
Zabrucky’s first confrontation with the National Guard came two days earlier, when a guardsman objected to a photo he staged in front of one of their vehicles – a photo that proved to be prophetic. He took a swing at Zabrucky with the butt of his rifle, destroying his camera.
Their address at the Medici will be on the 55th anniversary of the Kent State shootings and a week before Devo plays its first northeastern Ohio concert in 17 years. The band will play at TempleLive in Cleveland on May 11.
Zabrucky and Casale will share stories of their experiences of the shootings and their intersecting careers.
Zabrucky helped Devo get its record deal and was art director on the “Whip It” video, and the first props Zabrucky built were made while he was living in Casale’s dining room. Many of these stories will be told publicly for the first time.
Pictured above: Gerald V. Casale (photo by Jeff Winner).