You know you have them, the movies that you could quote from start to finish without missing a line. That was Annie for my sister Marilyn, and I. Who needed a DVD player for the car? Not us. Our parents were were entertained with a rendition of the entire movie from start to finish --- including very over sung musical numbers --- whenever we were on a long trip. Maybe that's why we didn't travel as much as our older siblings?
To say that we aren't influenced by the movies we watch and enjoy, would be grossly inaccurate. In fact there are several personal habits that I can attribute to specific actors/characters, if not scenes from films I saw growing up, and even watch today. Not to mention the plethora of references that pepper our conversations daily.
My sister and I came at the end of our parent's breeding stage ... in fact so far at the end, that my oldest brother's son was born a mere 4 months ahead of me. So where most of my friends were listening to the music and watching classics of the 60's and 70's courtesy of their parents, my sisters and I were brought up on the music and films of the 40's and 50's. Of course, we grew up in the best era of all -- the 80's and to say the works of that decade didn't play a leading role would dash all my pretty in pink hopes and dreams.
A few weeks ago a reference made me think of the movie "Sing" - a 1989 musical that was a favorite of my older sister, and by extension the rest of us. I decided to see if I could find a copy --- apparently it is out of print --- but thanks to eBay ... I found a video store cast-off VHS copy. I was so excited. Then I realized that I no longer own a VCR.
The experience made me wonder what other films I grew up on that are "out of print" or at risk of extinction? I love the movies my mother shared with us, and the stories of how things were "back then" when she could buy a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, candy and a movie ticket --- that included a news reel, 2 cartoons and a feature --- all for a mere quarter. I wondered if I would miss out on sharing those things with my own children if once copyrights fell into the public domain if without container charges to gain any sort of profit from, if they would even bother to convert them and upload them to our iClouds.
So I began a list. A list of the movies and shows that we loved. And I've begun a quest to acquire physical copies while I still can - in hopes to find a way to digitize them for my kids --- or at least show them what a "video tape" or "DVD" looked like!
Here is what I have so far. I'd love to hear your favorites below ... incase I forgot some!
Sing (1989)
Shag (1989)
The Goonies (1985)
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Can't Buy Me Love (1987)
The Princess Bride (1987)
Short Circuit (1986)
Short Circuit 2 (1988) --- "Hey Laser Lips! Your momma was a snoooow blower!!!"
Inspector Gadget (1983)
Strawberry Shortcake (1983)
Silver Spoons (1982)
Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
Knight Rider (1982)
Facts of Life (1979-1988)
Pollyanna (1960)
Family Ties (1982)
He-Man (1983)
She-Ra (1985)
The Secret Garden (1993)
Care Bears (1985)
Rainbow Brite (1985)
Punky Brewster (1984-1988)
Mr. Rogers (1968-2001)
I Love Lucy (1951)
Threes Company (1976)
Newsies (1992)
The Love Boat (1977)
Annie (1982)
The Sound of Music (1965)
The King and I (1956)
Holiday Inn (1942)
White Christmas (1954)
Easter Parade (1948)
Singing In The Rain (1952)
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
To say that we aren't influenced by the movies we watch and enjoy, would be grossly inaccurate. In fact there are several personal habits that I can attribute to specific actors/characters, if not scenes from films I saw growing up, and even watch today. Not to mention the plethora of references that pepper our conversations daily.
My sister and I came at the end of our parent's breeding stage ... in fact so far at the end, that my oldest brother's son was born a mere 4 months ahead of me. So where most of my friends were listening to the music and watching classics of the 60's and 70's courtesy of their parents, my sisters and I were brought up on the music and films of the 40's and 50's. Of course, we grew up in the best era of all -- the 80's and to say the works of that decade didn't play a leading role would dash all my pretty in pink hopes and dreams.
A few weeks ago a reference made me think of the movie "Sing" - a 1989 musical that was a favorite of my older sister, and by extension the rest of us. I decided to see if I could find a copy --- apparently it is out of print --- but thanks to eBay ... I found a video store cast-off VHS copy. I was so excited. Then I realized that I no longer own a VCR.
The experience made me wonder what other films I grew up on that are "out of print" or at risk of extinction? I love the movies my mother shared with us, and the stories of how things were "back then" when she could buy a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, candy and a movie ticket --- that included a news reel, 2 cartoons and a feature --- all for a mere quarter. I wondered if I would miss out on sharing those things with my own children if once copyrights fell into the public domain if without container charges to gain any sort of profit from, if they would even bother to convert them and upload them to our iClouds.
So I began a list. A list of the movies and shows that we loved. And I've begun a quest to acquire physical copies while I still can - in hopes to find a way to digitize them for my kids --- or at least show them what a "video tape" or "DVD" looked like!
Here is what I have so far. I'd love to hear your favorites below ... incase I forgot some!
Sing (1989)
Shag (1989)
The Goonies (1985)
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Can't Buy Me Love (1987)
The Princess Bride (1987)
Short Circuit (1986)
Short Circuit 2 (1988) --- "Hey Laser Lips! Your momma was a snoooow blower!!!"
Inspector Gadget (1983)
Strawberry Shortcake (1983)
Silver Spoons (1982)
Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
Knight Rider (1982)
Facts of Life (1979-1988)
Pollyanna (1960)
Family Ties (1982)
He-Man (1983)
She-Ra (1985)
The Secret Garden (1993)
Care Bears (1985)
Rainbow Brite (1985)
Punky Brewster (1984-1988)
Mr. Rogers (1968-2001)
I Love Lucy (1951)
Threes Company (1976)
Newsies (1992)
The Love Boat (1977)
Annie (1982)
The Sound of Music (1965)
The King and I (1956)
Holiday Inn (1942)
White Christmas (1954)
Easter Parade (1948)
Singing In The Rain (1952)
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band (1968)
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Gigi (1958)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
An American In Paris (1951)
Good News (1947)
On The Town (1949)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
How To Marry A Millionaire (1953)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
How To Marry A Millionaire (1953)
