Lightning Over Braddock: A Rustbowl Fantasy

Tony Buba:
In this part of the film, Steve Pellegrino plays "Jumping Jack Flash" on the accordion... but you won't get to hear him play. I called about acquiring the rights to the song, but they wanted $15,000 for it. I told them, "I don't want Mick Jagger to come to Braddock to sing it. I have a friend who plays it on the accordion." They still wanted $15,000. $15,000 is three times the per capita income of a Braddock resident. I didn't think it would be a politically correct move to pay that kind of money for a song. In fact, it's crazy. This isn't the Hollywood feature we're making here. I know some of you are going to think this sounds real Catholic, but when I die and get to heaven, what if instead of St. Peter being at the gate, it's Sacco and Vanzetti, and they say to me, "You paid $15,000 for a song instead of spending that money for political organizing?" I wouldn't get in. So talk to the person sitting next to you and try to remember how the song goes, and then sing along with Steve. Remember: it's alright. In fact, it's a gas. It's alright. In fact, it's a gas, gas, gas.