Motion Pictures Hard To Believe - 50 Years !

is that the one in mansfield?

 

I was 14, but didn’t see it until several years later, maybe when it came on tv. Closest theater was 50 miles away, so we didn’t go to movies. Have watched it a couple of times since then on tv or vhs tape. Not a Ron Howard fan, but enjoyed the movie anyway.

 

Follansbee WV. It's a Tractor Supply now.

 

I turned 10 month’s January 30 1963

 

April 8, 1960.. I was a Spring bloomer...

 

what a shame.

 

The tag line “Where were you in ‘62?”…. I was twelve and hanging out with the older hot rod guys in my neighborhood whenever they’d let me. Seeing the movie in our local theater, the Loyola, near LAX, I got a renewed interest in old Fords and bought a ‘32 5w, full fendered, 350/4spd, running and driving for $1500! Hard to imagine. Where has the time gone?

 

Brenda & I went to the theater to see American Graffiti when it premiered here in Anderson and we really enjoyed the movie but the best part of the whole experience was when we left the theater and headed to our truck, the same one in my avatar, there were a bunch of people standing around it, we had the only hot rod in the parking lot, several of the people thought it was a prop for the movie.

A couple of those strangers have become friends and hot rodders. HRP

 

Wow! I remember buying the 25 anniversary VHS when I was a sophomore in high school and wore it out!!

It always amazes me how many people have never seen it!

 

Like the movie said you can't stay 17 forever....The 60's proved that....I remember my civics teacher in my senior year pointed to a map hanging on the wall and said you guys become very familiar with this country because half of you will go there... It was Vietnam....This was 1966...

 

hop in, i'll let you feel it, i mean you can touch it if you like, er... you can feel the upholstery.

and by upholstery, i mean my pants, they're made of pleather.

 

Sorry, tough to drive to the opening when you are 10 yo. But I did catch the final showing at Aurora Drive In their final week before they closed in 1982. The double feature...........Wait for it......... American Graffiti and Two-Lane Blacktop. Doesn't get any better. Still have a 5 foot Black and White hanging on my wall.

 

A friend got me a theatre lobby poster soon after the movie was released. I guess it’s time to frame it and hang it somewhere.

 

My buddies and I are under 45 and we will randomly throw out American Graffiti quotes when we are out.
Most people just look at us funny, some ask how people that young know that movie, car guys give us a knowing nod.

There's that bad ass Chevy again.

 

They're planning a big shindig here in Petaluma for the anniversary for American Graffiti.

 

As good as the movie was, I like the soundtrack even better.

 

I used to have a cassette tape of the sound track in HS. I vaguely remember the lettering of it showing in a theater as a kid. But I was probably 16/17 the first time I saw it in the late 70’s.
Was mentioned about Lucas, next time I heard of him he had Harrison Ford in another movie. Late 70’s when it came out.

 

I believe "Milner" Paul Le Mat is not in good health
Hope he is well enough to attend
Met him here in Aussie
Get well soon Paul

 

Here's some more wall art I got hanging around. Definitely one of my favorites. Here's some trivia when I got the license plates. The plate THX-138 is the shortened name of Lucas's first director Sci-Fi movie THX 1138. GLD-204 is the 55.

 

I did get to see Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids, a couple times in the 70's.

 

50 years ago I was 18! I had several cars then too. '39 DeLuxe coupe, '40 Ford Pickup, '56 Vicky, '61 Falcon w/312 Y block shoehorned in, '62 T bird, '42 Dodge Pickup, '61 Olds hardtop and a '65 Ranchero 289 and was driving my '40 Standard Tudor which was still Dad's at that time.

Dave

 

I almost didn’t get to see it in the theater when it came out originally. The title, American Graffiti, meant nothing to me and I hadn’t seen the ad art. My buddy, Craig, told me, “you gotta see this movie, man!” I thought he was nuts. He bugged me and bugged me. My GF didn’t want to go see it and in general, she was the only one I went to movies with. My HS buddies, Craig, John, and Keith came and dragged me out of the garage and we went. It was probably a Saturday. Thank God for good friends.
Somebody told me that they show it during Graffiti Week in Modesto each year but I’m not sure, I’ve never checked.

 

in '62, i was the same age as mackenzie phillips' character. AG sure got it right!

 

August of 73 I was 26 years old, Living in McGregor, Tx and had just been to the 73 Street Rod Nationals in Tulsa a few weeks before in my 48. My wife and I went to the show in Waco .
I was a High school sophomore then Jr in 1963 and driving and cruising in my 51 Merc coupe. I usually rode with my buddy in his car when we cruised the ave though as he had a pretty sweet 57 Ford and I would kick in for gas. Yakima Ave in Yakima Wa on Friday night with a sometimes trip to Sunnyside Wa on Saturday nights to cruise and hang out at Bob's drive in.

 

Amen. I was 20 but had two close first cousins (brothers) who graduated hs in '62 and '63, they set the standard for Cool for me, and this was their world, so cool to see behind the curtain. Lucas is a genius.

 

It used to be Graffiti Night. It was unofficial, but was the weekend after Modesto HS was out. Think it was Modesto High. Then the city/police started cracking down on the cruising that particular night. Ie you could get a ticket is they counted so many times the vehicle went back and forth.
Then the side streets got blocked off. Then signs came up. Then the City said “huh, we can make a buck off this “. I think (if memory serves) the first “official” GN was held some street off of J street. Kinda like a street filled up with era correct vehicles, all parked. (Yes I had my hood up…). I can’t recall if we were allowed to cruise that night or not, the “park and show” was during daylight hours, long before anyone would cruise.
Then, it really became official. We had to pay more of a registration fee. I forget what park the day was spent at. Kinda a big car show thing. We payed to register for a little round sticker on our headlight. The public paid to come look at the vehicles.
So now the cruise was on, head to McHenry. There was only one way available that wasn’t blocked off to get on the cruise. Remember the round sticker? Every vehicle was stopped and and if you didn’t have the sticker, you couldn’t cruise McHenry.
Now it’s even more commercial and I haven’t stayed past the shows when they have them. Never watched the cruises live since it all changed.
Anyways, I’m sure I fuzzed up/changed (inadvertently) some of the details but it’s what I recall how it started changing…mercy, 40? Years or so ago.
I think @connielu was around Modesto at that time.

PS, dang are my thumbs sore

 

Dang, now I have to look in the glove box of my ‘57 and see if the Graffiti Night dash plaques are still there. They were given out when we first had to pay and register, or maybe when it started off at the park? Can’t recall, but I should a few with the year on them.

 

16 when it came out! Ruined me for life! Turned me into a car crazy madman.

 

I was 16, it was kool. It didn't "move me" but I liked it, then Hollywood Knights came out. When asked to pick one I'm Knights more than AG I suppose. Go figure...

 

I am 37 and grew up with cars but didn't see AG until this past year. It was a fun look at days gone by, and I'm sure it had a different impact back then, but I was left wondering what all the fuss had been about. Different times, I guess. I also only watched Two Lane Blacktop last year and was left with a similar impression.