There’s so many things the Japanese have brought to the world’s cultural table.

Origami, bonsai and duster slippers for cats.

But has there been any more significant gift to the western world than 60’s television animination?

Sure – we had our Charlie Brown’s, our Yogi Bear’s and our Bugs Bunny’s – but could anything really stack up against Gigantor or Astro Boy?

Perhaps the wide-eyed Marine Boy, who (along with his pals in the P1 – Bolton, Piper and father Dr Mariner) was plied with the responsibility of  making the oceans of the world safe – was more your cuppa tea.

Or was Prince Planet – with his enduring pendant of power more your go.

No wait – I bet Space Ace or Kimba – the White Lion proved themselves your animated saviour on more than one rainy afternoon.

For die hard fans, surely The Eighth Man (about an android super-hero) was the definitive black and white – and as for Speed Racer . . .

Ya’ know even my friends in the Land of the Brave, Home of the Free tried to get in on the act – with the addition of Karate into the whole Batfink and Karate deal – but I’m sorry – no cigar – that simply doesn’t count.

Then there’s the whole  Samurai and Phantom Agents TV series – complete with star-knives, Ninja’s and their almost religious mantra – ‘only use a gun as a last resort’ – but that’s another post altogether. 

At the end of the day, when the history of the world is written and passed down on stone tablets from the mount for us all to deliberate – will it be sushi, Toyota’s or duster slippers for cats we truly thank the Japanese for . . .

I think not.

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“Rock ‘n roll’s been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died.”

Hardly the definitive piece of historic movie dialogue but  . . .  salient in it’s context none-the-less.

. . . Happy Days, Grease, Sha-na-na, Laverne and Shirley, Back to The Future Part 1 . . .  there’s little doubt that for the latter part of the 70’s, we were collectively captivated with the romance of the 1950’s.

Strangely enough though – it was a movie set in the 60’s which is uniformly acknowledged as the catalyst for the fervour which swept up most of English speaking world.

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American Graffiti – starring a young Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips, Suzanne Sommers Harrison Ford, Joe Spano and Charles Martin Smith – to name just a few – recreated the feel, landscape, and sounds of early 60s, in small-town America – an historical time period (of JFK’s Presidency and the New Frontier before the jarring assassination of late 1963).

Advertising posters and theatrical trailers for the film asked: “Where were you in ‘62? . . . yet strangely enough the film (by Star Wars director – George Lucas – is credited with birthing the 50’s TV and film phenonomen.

Admittedly there were over 300 pre-1962 cars used in the 1973 film and the soundtrack featured an absolute fistful of songs harking back to the likes of Bill Haley and Comets with Rock Around the Clock, Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry and the Buddy Holly classic – That’ll be The Day.

But perhaps a less tangible (but very real) reason behind the film’s success (which was produced in just 28 days) is the measurable feel for a seemingly more innocent time – when cool music, hot cars, tough guys and cute chicks were the order of the day.

Of course this wasn’t lost on film and television producers either – and with the 60’s a little too reviled (and recent) in people’s minds – then the 50’s backdrop proved the perfect formula.

And so the era was re-birthed – Hollywood style.

It goes without saying that many of the film’s stars went on to receiving regular pay cheques, appearing in hit TV sitcoms such as Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, One Day at a Time, Three’s Company and Hill Street Blues.

And although the film was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, it came away empty-handed.

In the words of Fats Domino – Ain’t That A Shame.

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If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Would is be one of the pretty boys like Pitt or a glamour like Lauren Bacall?

Would Humphrey Bogart get your nod of approval or would Drew Barrymore be your first choice?

Perhaps you’re more the Charles Bronson type – or maybe Ingrid Bergman?

From where I sit – the jury is still out – though Harrison Ford does have a huge amount of appeal.

Would love to hear who you’d have in mind.

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The Pop Doctor’s kids ‘Chillaxed’ over the weekend in front of the box and took in a movie where the kids were transported (a al Purple Rose of Cairo) through the fourth dimension and into the film itself.

“Awwarr – that would be sooooo cool dad”, became the universal catchcry, as we discussed the virtues of which movie they would choose to be enveloped.

“Hmmmmm – I’d want to – no wait – ohhh – I don’t know.” “How about Grease”, came the reply from MNG’s 12yo.

“No – said Miss 14, I reckon Charlies Angels would be cool”

Miss 16 – always one to contemplate every option before making any decision in life – is still holding court.

So if you could break through and enter the world of any movie – which would it be?

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Meet George Jetson! His son Elroy . . .

The celluloid and cartoon world is filled with characters from the future.

Marvin The Martian, George Jetson, Luke Skywalker, James T.Kirk, Mork from Ork, Buck Rogers, The Great Kazoo – the list goes on and on and well, on . . .

Throw in your pseudo time travllers from hits such as Back to The Future or The Time Tunnel and there’s a feast of characters – from which I’m sure there’s one you could nominate as an all time fav.

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Stranded at the Drive-In . . .
“Branded a Fool . . .
“What will they say . . .
“Monday at School . . . “

Ahhhhh – the heartfelt tome of one John Travolta – who, as part of the Grease phenomenon, serenaded his beloved Sandy in a scene which featured one of the most recognizable icons of the twentieth century – the Drive-In Theatre – which now – sadly, is virtually extinct.

For those of us old enough to remember – the Drive-In was full of nostalgia and childhood memories.
 
Pyjama clad kids packed in the back of the car – mum and dad in the front trying to quell the excitement of a ‘big night’ out as the squeals of four, five and six year-olds reverberated around the cabin of the old EH.

Queuing for sometimes up to an hour as hundreds of other like-minded pilgrims made their way to the local movie mecca – some having to be turned away as the ‘field of dreams’ strained to house the masses.

The hooking up single cone blue and white metal speakers, the obligatory blasts of horns, flashes of headlights on the screen and of course parked somewhere down the back – the tell tale sign of fervently enthusiastic but sexually bumbling teens – complete with fogged windows.

 

Yes – the Drive-In was a doyen of discovery – where you could eat, drink and be merry in the comfort of your pride and joy – alas – those days are coming close to being folklore.

As recently as 25 years ago – there were over 300 Drive-Ins in Australia – today only 20 survive!

Sure – there are sanitized multi-cinema megaplexes – the advent of the VCR, DVD and home threatre systems – and a plausible argument for more constructive use of 12 hectares of land (particularly if you’re a developer) – but hey – isn’t it time that those of us weary of rampant commercialism make a stand and look to save the last of this dying breed?

We will probably never again see the proliferation of outdoor theatres contributing to a large percentage of box-office revenue, but ‘re-invented’ they could well entertain a new breed of patron and survive a commercial and cinematic flat-line – it’s all part of the bigger picture you know!

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“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations — to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

This is where it all began. The Original Star Trek Series running roughly from 1966 through 1969, for a total of three seasons and 78 episodes – but my how we’ve grown.

The show was only a minor hit and was threatened with cancellation after its second year, but a strong letter-writing campaign from fans convinced the network to keep the show.

But with even less spectacular ratings Star Trek was terminated with little hope of any future. 

Or so they thought!

Fortunately, after three years enough episodes were produced that the show could enter syndication, and it was in the after-school market during the early 1970’s that the show found its audience.

Fan conventions sprang up, merchandising blossomed, an animated series with the original cast was produced, and it became apparent that Star Trek was a force that would refuse to die.

Today, the franchise first conceived by Gene Roddenberry over 40 years ago has spawned four more television series, 10 theatrical movies, hundreds of books and magazines, and innumerable Internet fan sites.

So – open the pandora’s box  . . . who is your favourite Star Trek character?

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While in earnest discussion with a near and dear friend the subject of movies came to the fore.

From Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly he cited five movies he’s seriously learned life lessons from.

Not necessarily noted for their cinamatic brilliance – his choices floored me – most importantly because of the effect they’d had on him – all positive and all having gone to make him part of the man he is today.

It got me thinking?

Has there been any movies that you have learned life lessons from?

Would love to hear from you.

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Behind every guy with hair is a bald man screaming to be let out!

OK – perhaps not – but lets take a look at just a few of the ‘baldies’ that have captured our hearts and minds.

Afterall why spend between 7 and 15 days every year combing your hair when there’s such much more to do!

Can you imagine Michael Jordan or Yul Brynner with hair?

How about Star Trek’s Patrick Stewart?

Chris Judd, Vin Diesel, Sean Connery, Andre Agassi, Samuel L Jackson – the list goes on and on and . . . 

So who are our best loved ‘baldies’?

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Every hero needs a helper,  every serious guy needs a sidekick and every bad guy needs a henchman.

As life would have it – they are the unsung heroes - the second bananas essential to hundreds of movies and TV shows.

And they deserve our praise!

But who have been the best?

Lou Costello from Abbott and Costello? Perhaps Karate from Batfink and Karate? Maybe even Cato – Inspector Clauseau’s right hand man from the Pink Panther Series.

The names abound – only the votes need to be tallied.

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