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Happy Birthday, Baby: Cars, Teens and American Graffiti
Steyn On-Line ^ | July 8, 2023 | Rick McGinnis

Posted on 07/09/2023 5:42:13 AM PDT by Twotone

On June 13th, 1945, a month after the defeat of Nazi Germany, the New York Times published an article titled "Teen-Agers are an American Invention." With peace in sight, the generation that was too young to fight in the war was being defined by the newspaper of record as being "not ready for the serious matters of adulthood." Still, this newly-minted demographic (whose emergence had been nearly a century in the making) was being invited to express itself with its own culture – "and the leisure and the unprecedented affluence of teenagers predispose them to accept the invitation."

Birthdays – and today is mine – often put us in a nostalgic mood. I'd be lying to you, though, if I gave the impression that this is a recent indulgence. Truth is that I've been obsessed with nostalgia since I was a boy, though I've only recently been able to pinpoint precisely why. If I could offer up one artifact to illustrate the why and when, it would be a record album – a double LP set – that was handed down to me by my brother-in-law when I was around ten years old.

My older sister's husband was over fifteen years my senior, and the years when they lived in the basement apartment of my mother's house just after they were married were a big influence on me, for a host of reasons, prime among which was Lou's record collection. My brother-in-law had the kind of expensive stereo gear that most young men spent wages on back then, and an impressive record collection that he frequently culled, passing his discards on to me to play on my considerably lower-fi record player (itself a hand-me-down from my sister).

(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...


TOPICS: History; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: nostalgia; ricksflicks; teenagers
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To: Twotone

American Graffiti and Star Wars I are two of my all-time favorite movies.


21 posted on 07/09/2023 7:32:46 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: Fiji Hill

If you like early Lucas you might check out THX 1138. For some reason it flies way under the radar but is excellent.


22 posted on 07/09/2023 7:42:03 AM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Yardstick

The license plate on John Milner’s 1932 Ford in American Graffiti read, “THX 138.”


23 posted on 07/09/2023 7:57:59 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: John Milner

“There were no 289s yet in 62. There were small block Fords. I think 260 might have been available.”

Thanks for the reminder on the 260. Wasn’t the 289 released in conjunction with the Mustang?

Great screen name for this thread!


24 posted on 07/09/2023 8:05:37 AM PDT by T-Bird45 (It feels like the seventies, and it shouldn't. )
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To: Twotone

Does anyone remember the 1960s California Volkswagon Bugs that the guys would put in Porsche engines?


25 posted on 07/09/2023 8:18:16 AM PDT by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
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To: Twotone

I noticed right away that the John Milner photo in the deuce coupe is reversed, with Milner and the steering wheel on the left side of the car.


26 posted on 07/09/2023 8:41:14 AM PDT by citizen (Put all LBQTwhatever programming on a new subscription service: PERV-TV)
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To: TalBlack
Wasn’t he 283 a ford engine?
No, the Ford small block was a 289.
27 posted on 07/09/2023 8:45:36 AM PDT by citizen (Put all LBQTwhatever programming on a new subscription service: PERV-TV)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Haven’t seen it, and probably will only see the flying clips. Flying at night with lights INSIDE the visor to show his face? Try doing that on a motorcycle at night.

Flying in the bright sun over snow covered mountains, with only a clear visor, so we can see his face? He in a jet going 400+ mph, not down a mountainside on skis going 50 mph.

And now Brad Pitt is an F1 driver, something that requires years of experience and marathon style physical endurance.

Call me boring, but I’m too old to play make believe, except when playing with my grandkids. To do that in front of a camera, and act serious? It just ain’t me.

And I really hate seeing a preacher put on an act! There’s a LOT of that going on.


28 posted on 07/09/2023 8:46:19 AM PDT by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

“”Well, my day is shot, LOL! :)””

For sure but I did pull myself away for a few minutes to oversee my grandson spray painting a bench and table in the front yard...but I’m back LISTENING!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!


29 posted on 07/09/2023 9:13:37 AM PDT by Thank You Rush
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To: Roadrunner383
You made me think of Big Daddy Don Garlits.   I wasn't not a car kind of guy but an Icon is an Icon.
30 posted on 07/09/2023 9:45:19 AM PDT by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken!)
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To: Rummyfan

Great movie was lucky to have lived it as a teenager miss all the old friends.


31 posted on 07/09/2023 10:06:50 AM PDT by Vaduz (....)
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To: John Milner

I caught your homage to Paul Le Mat’s character with your first post.


32 posted on 07/09/2023 10:07:48 AM PDT by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken!)
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To: T-Bird45

The first few Mustang V-8s were 260s. A girl in my high school class had a ‘65 ragtop with the 260


33 posted on 07/09/2023 10:49:07 AM PDT by Don W (When blacks riot, neighborhoods and cities burn. When whites riot, nations and continents burn)
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To: John Milner

I wonder if Bob Falfa is taken?


34 posted on 07/09/2023 11:42:45 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. )
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To: T-Bird45

I don’t think the 289 was intentionally linked to the Mustang. The original 64 1/2 models could come equipped with the 260. A lot of people link the HiPo 289 to the Mustang but it to was available in the Fairlane and Comets too. Also was the base engine that Carroll Shelby used in his Shelby Mustangs (GT350) in 65-67. Also was in a lot of the AC Cobras, but even the first ones of those had 260s.


35 posted on 07/09/2023 11:45:35 AM PDT by John Milner (Marching for Peace is like breathing for food.)
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To: Rummyfan

What?

No Wolfman Jack?
No Harrison Ford?

So disappointed!


36 posted on 07/09/2023 11:53:03 AM PDT by RedMonqey ("A republic, if you can keep it" Benjam Franklin.)
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To: desertsolitaire

Must have missed that one.


37 posted on 07/09/2023 12:20:59 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. )
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To: Vaquero

Its worth looking for and watching.
I dont know offhand where it might be streaming or if it’s free.


38 posted on 07/09/2023 3:06:31 PM PDT by desertsolitaire ( )
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