The year was 1970, and the month was April. Educators in Minneapolis Public Schools went on strike.
The film was restored by WCCO to provide context for the recent educators strike in the very same district.
Matt Liddy, the Production Manager at WCCO, was intrigued when he learned that 13 minutes of video had been revived from film in 1970.
When he saw a reporter interviewing kids while teachers picketed outside the school, his inquisitiveness turned into a revelation. And there was one particular young boy who answered a question that left Liddy flabbergasted.
“I immediately just went out to the newsroom and started showing people and saying, ‘I’m not gonna tell you who I think this is, but who do you think this is?’ And every single person [said] ‘Prince,’” Liddy said.
We lacked the necessary equipment to hear the video. We enlisted the help of a professional to extract the audio. After being asked about the teachers’ strike, we heard the boy talk.
“I think they should get a better education too cause, um, and I think they should get some more money cause they work, they be working extra hours for us and all that stuff.” the boy, who appeared to be around 10 years old, said with a smiling face as his pals encircled him.
It looked a lot like a kid version of Prince Nelson, the Minneapolis kid who would go on to become a global cultural icon. However, there was one snag. The reporter never inquired about the child’s identity.
“We did not get him saying ‘I’m Prince Nelson,’” Liddy said.
The investigation began as a result of this. Another young boy spoke just before the boy who appeared to be Prince was interviewed. He said his name without being asked in a charismatic manner. Ronnie Kitchen was his name.
Terrance Jackson, a childhood friend and former neighbor who was also in Prince’s first band, said “We go far back as kindergarten at John Hay Elementary in north Minneapolis.”
“Oh my God, that’s Kitchen,” Jackson exclaimed as the video began, immediately recognizing Ronnie Kitchen as a teenager. “That is Prince! Standing right there with the hat on, right? That’s Skipper! Oh my God!”
He was giddy with laughter. Then Prince began to speak. Jackson grew quiet, only saying “wow” a few times softly. By the end of the video, he was wiping tears from his eyes and laughing again.
He burst out laughing. Prince then began to speak. Jackson became more quiet, saying “wow” only a few times softly. He was wiping away tears from his eyes and having a good laugh again by the time the video ended.
