It was 40 years ago this week that the film had its New York City opening, which was part of a very, very staggered release pattern for a low-budget project that came to stand in the upper ranks of almost everyone’s list of essential music movies.
Produced for under $300,000 and shot in 23 days at various locations around Los Angeles, including Mount Carmel High School, the Mayan Theatre, the Roxy and Whisky A Go Go, “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” was ready for release by the spring of 1979.