SMSU Planetarium
The Southwest Minnesota State University Planetarium will host “Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon” laser light show in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the The Dark Side of the Moon album release.
The show will be presented on Friday, Feb. 24 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m. and Monday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the SMSU Planetarium located in the Science and Math Building, Room 178.
Admission is $5, tickets are only sold at the door. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to ensure a good seat! Once the show begins the doors close and no entry is permitted.
The SMSU Planetarium recently acquired new lasers thanks to support from the SMSU Foundation and SMSU alumnus Mike Springman, Class of 1973. The state-of-the-art technology will make for an amazing laser light show.
About the release of Pink Floyd’s album The Dark Side of the Moon:
On February 27, 1973, EMI Records held a press conference for the debut presentation of Pink Floyd’s new album The Dark Side of the Moon at the London Planetarium. There was already a buzz in the music industry that the album was something very special and invites for London’s press and media were at a premium there being only so many seats in the planetarium. The group, who were renowned for shunning publicity, were expected to make an appearance given the excitement surrounding the release, which only added to their guests’ anticipation. It was felt the Planetarium as a backdrop for the 42-minute playback was a suitable venue for Britain’s number one ‘psychedelic space rock’ band – a title they disliked and hoped the new record would put an end to that misnomer. Although the Planetarium dome could only show an array of stars, constellations, and images of the cosmos while the music played, it probably wouldn’t help to dispel the myth, which didn’t go unnoticed by the members of Pink Floyd. The invitation had a photograph of the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo on the front, which many believed was the album cover, and led to further speculation as to what the enigmatic band was up to. It was all a deceit.
As the audience faithfully arrived at 3 p.m., they were met not by the band but by four life-sized cardboard cutouts as Pink Floyd’s defiance and protest of EMI. One member did turn up – Richard Wright, the keyboardist – who had not received the message of a boycott. He retreated when he realized he was alone. The event was an unmitigated success, and the album went on to sell over 50 million copies to date.
Fifty years later, in recognition of Pink Floyd’s iconic album, celebrate and enjoy the music set to mesmerizing laser light show effects with fog. There is no better way to celebrate this timeless classic than in a comfortable planetarium seat immersed in stunning visual effects that only lasers can provide!
For questions, contact Dr. Ken Murphy, planetarium director, at ken.murphy@smsu.edu or 507-537-6173. [PLEASE FOLLOW, LIKE & SHARE facebook.com/smsuplanetarium].
