Posted on 08/11/2018 3:39:55 PM PDT by Kid Shelleen
On this day in 1973, “American Graffiti,” a nostalgic coming-of-age tale set on the streets and steeped in the car-centric culture of suburban California, is released in theaters across the United States. The movie went on to become a sleeper hit. --SNIP-- The 1970s saw a boom in classic-car restoration, even as more and more Americans were driving Japanese imports. The era also saw an increasing number of “lowriders”–or classic cars or trucks with suspensions that had been modified so that they rode as low to the ground as possible
(Excerpt) Read more at history.com ...
wolfman jack....KXRB...AM.
The Ford 429 was an underperformer due to the power to weight ratio. The Camaro 350 was quicker off the line because it was lighter and that took it to the finish line quicker, too.
And this is exactly why Animal House remains a true movie classic. It was set in a time and place when America was at its greatest.
This point is lost on the present generation.
Back then, It was a good thing socially to be patriotic. It was common for us to be proud of our country. We loved our country, right or wrong because we knew we were the best there is in the world.
But the counter culture taught us differently. The leftists and their agenda to undermine our country, as Yuri Bezmenov claimed (youtube it), began in the 1960’s and in the 1970s. Before then, our educational system and college campus were not leftist snowflake safe spaces, but builders of character to prepare you for life and it’s tough realities. Today Marxist doctrine is promoted and ‘democratic socialism’ is on the rise. We better turn this around or it is over.
It is so easy to say “the communists did it”,,, and it looks so convenient to do so, but that really is the case. The Russians/Soviets did have an active program to undermine us, our culture, our patriotism and our country, short of nuclear war.
Apparently it worked.
Other than feacturing Richard Dreyfus, the very definition of a strutting pompous ass, it was a pretty good flick.
In a story about movie cars, I read the “55 Chevy is the same car used in Two Lane Blacktop.
The point is indeed lost. There was a thread the other day about Animal House. And how today’s progressives and millennials are offended and upset at the theme of that movie. I can’t remember why. What does it really matter? Liberals are always angry and upset. But it did strike me as funny that they did not like Animal House.
I recall someone saying that on one of the classic muscle cars and customs threads I posted.
Toad: “No you creamed him, from right off the line! The guy never had a chance!” Milner: “Shit Toad, the man had me, he was beating me!” Toad: “John, I don’t know what you are talking about. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! That guy, he might as well get a wheelchair and roll himself home! Man, you got, you got the bitchinist car in the valley! You’ll always be number one! You’re the greatest!” Milner: “Okay Toad...we’ll take ‘em all!”
It's all part of their training ... just search on "Critical Theory".
Where was I in ‘73? Standing in line to see American Graffiti, of course.
One of the more powerful moments in that movie, IMHO, is at the end credits where the Beach Boys song “All Summer Long” is played. It seemed to have a haunting tone to it and I wonder if that might have reinforced the idea that a few moist or even teary eyes were had by a few who went to see it then.
Considering that when the movie was set (in 1962), the sitting US President at the time was still alive, Vietnam was pretty much off the radar, university campuses were likely quite quiet still, the British rock music invasion had not taken place yet, the cars were different and a lot of other things about North American life had not changed that good deal compared to about a decade later. Any thoughts on this?
Animal House is my all time favorite movie. Today’s kids are offended at everything and I include my own. Nothing is funny to them. The 60 and 70s were a great time to grow up
The 318 was one of the top small block 8s. Nice engine, very durable.
I didn’t “cruise” like they did in the film. But I lived a similar vibe in the early seventies. Cars, girls, hanging out. I swear to God, it was the best time to be alive.
The ending where they tell us what happened to the four main characters is the most poignant part. One killed by a drunk driver, one MIA in Vietnam, one living in Canada (presumable a draft dodger), and the one (portrayed by Ron Howard) who had the most potential to go away and live an exciting life ended up selling insurance in the same town.
In 1973 I was driving my 69 Datsun 510 and riding my 69 BSA Lightning (when I wasn’t pushing it- sigh).
But I did put a stainless header on the Datsun. Sounded good and made it a faster snail LOL.
In 1973 I was 15 years old and working at Hardees, saving my money for when I got my drivers license. When I turned 16 and got my license I bought a 1969 Chevy Nova 350SS. I wish I still had that car.
Agreed, as that very much makes sense mentioning how they tell us what happened to the four main characters and then the Beach Boys song follows.
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