November 24, 1960: Columbia Pictures' biopic about Wernher von Braun, "I Am At the Stars," premieres at London's Leicester Square Theater. Banner-waving demonstrators rain anti-Nazi pamphlets on the attendees including embassy officials, film executives, and scientists. 1/4
Two protesters burst on stage from the wings carrying a 12-foot banner reading "Nazi von Braun’s V-2 rockets killed and maimed 9000 Londoners." The Observer's film critic writes, "This is a film which ought never to have been made for the purpose of public entertainment.” 2/4
In the audience are science fiction authors J.G. Ballard, John Wyndham and William Temple. A few days later, Ballard writes, "If the film had explored [von Braun's] curious drive [to explore space] it might have been an interesting psychological extravaganza." 3/4
"But instead it concentrates on the politico-moral aspects of his wartime V-2 work, which von Braun himself has never been concerned with...The film [is brought] dangerously close to becoming 'The Eva Braun Story.'" 4/4
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November 22, 1969: The New York Times reveals the existence of the Moon Museum. In a publicity stunt, six New York artists, including Andy Warhol, had their work smuggled to the Moon inside the Apollo 12 LM descent stage. 1/4
Contrary to accounts in later years, this was not part of NASA's art program; NASA had no knowledge of the project. In fact had it been taxpayer funded, Warhol's unsubtle drawing would likely have prompted outrage from members of Congress and editorial writers. 2/4
The Times story appears while the Apollo 12 astronauts are on their way home. The other artists on the tiny were Robert Rauschenberg, David Novros, John Chamberlain, Claes Oldenburg, and Forrest Myers, the person who engineered the stunt. 3/4