#americangraffiti — Public Fediverse posts

The 50s can help you forget the 60s!

#AmericanGraffiti
#70sMoviesTaughtMe
#HashTagGames

Movie TV Tech Geeks #Movie #GeorgeLucas #StarWars #AmericanGraffiti All 6 George Lucas Movies, Ranked http://dlvr.it/TV7jpH

BACK TO SCHOOL

The other night I rewatched “American Graffiti.” It’s the 1973 movie that launched a lot of careers – George Lucas directed, Richard Dreyfuss was one of the leads, Harrison Ford had a supporting role.

The premise, for those of you who forgot or didn’t see it, is the final night in a northern California town for four teenage guys. Two of the four are headed off to college “in the East” the next morning. 

The movie takes place in 1962. My summer like that was 10 years later – hanging out with friends until it was time to go off to college. Excited about college, but pretty damn scared about facing the rest of my life.

You might know kids like that now. You might actually be their parents. So you might know the feeling of that transitional summer from watching a dependent high school kid becoming a somewhat independent adult.

The two boys in “American Graffiti” and me in 1972 believed you went to college to improve your chances of succeeding in the world. One boy, Curt, wants to meet President Kennedy and might even harbor hopes of being President himself. I was going to anchor the NBC Nightly News and cover the White House.

Do kids have those types of dreams any more?

My fellow 18-year-olds had an awful burden. We were made to believe that we needed to do better than our parents did. They had sacrificed for us – working ridiculous hours at jobs they weren’t always that crazy about so that we could have easier, more satisfying careers.

Everything in society gravitated toward that notion. If you weren’t going to college, you weren’t really trying. You had to go somewhere, even if it was the local junior college. 

In 1972, according to the research site Statista, only about 13% of the U.S. population had a college degree. That rate has almost tripled in the 54 years since, with the biggest jump coming starting with my generation. 

In recent years, that faith in higher education has been tested. 

For one thing, college is a lot more expensive than it was. A lot. I left college with what I thought was a mammoth $3,500 in debt. Today, way too many students owe tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

That rate of growth far exceeds the rate of inflation. And the jobs graduates get often don’t come close to paying off that debt.

All of that cheers those who believe only the nation’s elite deserve to attend college. 

Trump and his minions have worked really hard to put the college standard out of the reach of middle- and low-income students. The attacks on affirmative action and DEI programs, using the weapon of cutting off federal research funding, have scared many of the nation’s top universities into submission. 

The gutting of the Department of Education was aimed at diminishing the national educational standards that so many people have fought for over the years. They’ve pandered to evangelicals and decided that religion belongs in schools, not history, science, art or literature. 

What the right has championed is a retrenchment. They want workers, not dreamers or innovators. They don’t want them doing anything that pays much more than minimum wage. And they don’t want to raise that – the national minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour for 17 years. 

They want women out of the workplace and home making babies. That would, in their minds, end the dissident movement that challenges their oligarchy. They think people of color are best suited for menial agricultural or industrial work. 

And they sure as hell don’t want any more people coming here from other countries to fill the low-end jobs they’re willing to take and freeing others to pursue higher endeavors.

—-

The girls are “American Graffiti” are almost an afterthought. None of them talk about ambition or career fulfillment. It’s about getting boys to like them, looking good for them. 

That was changing when I started college. But it’s telling that the movie still reflects a pre-feminist perspective, even taking its 10-year age difference into account. 

There aren’t a whole lot of Black kids in this film. I remember seeing it with a friend who was Black and he could not relate to it at all. In retrospect, that’s not a surprise. The world was shut off to Black and Hispanic kids in 1962 and was just starting to crack open in the early ’70s. 

And what has technology done to the concept of getting a higher education? How many kids decide that artificial intelligence can write that term paper better than they can? Why not just become an influencer – that’s an actual career in 2026 – and skip the college part altogether?

Being a college graduate ranks only below being a father, husband and journalist – and is the reason I can be any of those. It accomplished what my parents wanted for me, and I’d like to think it made them proud to know that they got their son through to a better life.

We should want that for as many kids as we can bring along. We should be striving to find ways to get kids to take education seriously – and to enjoy the process of actually learning. Writing, reading, doing research, calculating.

That’s hard to do when the Secretary of Education used to run a wrestling company – and is trying to end her department.

Curt and Steve in “American Graffiti” were told repeatedly by grownups that there was a big beautiful world out there and going to college would open it for them.

Do kids of 2026 hear that same message? Or are they told that learning and education are no big deal – just get a job, get married and bet on baseball games?

It’s something we need to think about as the 2026 and 2028 elections draw closer.

On August 14, 1999, Hairspray, American Graffiti, and Little Shop of Horrors (1986) were screened on MonsterVision and 100% Weird. Here's some art inspired by Ricki Lake, Ron Howard and Ellen Greene art to mark the anniversary!
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#MutantFam #Hairspray #AmericanGraffiti #LittleShopOfHorrors #HumanArt

On August 12, 1973, American Graffiti debuted in New York City. Here's an original drawing of Ron Howard!
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#AmericanGraffiti #RonHoward #Art

A Deep Dive into the Legacy of 'American Graffiti' (1973)

📰 Original title: 36 Amazing Photos From the Set of “American Graffiti” (1973)

🤖 IA: It's not clickbait ✅
👥 Users: It's not clickbait ✅

View full AI summary https://en.killbait.com/a-deep-dive-into-the-legacy-of-american-graffiti-1973.html?utm_source=mastodon_world&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=killbait.mastodon_world

#cinema #americangraffiti #1970s

A Deep Dive into the Legacy of 'American Graffiti' (1973)

📰 Original title: 36 Amazing Photos From the Set of “American Graffiti” (1973)

🤖 IA: It's not clickbait ✅
👥 Users: It's not clickbait ✅

View full AI summary https://en.killbait.com/a-deep-dive-into-the-legacy-of-american-graffiti-1973.html?utm_source=mastodon_social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=killbait.mastodon_social

#cinema #americangraffiti #1970s

Here’s a clip from one of the films that inspired this playlist: “American Graffiti” (1973) featuring Colorado-based band Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids covering Danny & The Juniors’ 1957 hit “At the Hop” (https://youtu.be/qogQ5-ltjP4?is=11mkdKiTgqwOxWvu)
#RetroView #AmericanGraffiti #classicrock

American Graffiti, il disastro è l’anticamera del successo

👇 https://wp.me/pey833-5GK

@cinema @spettacoli @[email protected]

#boomerissimo #americangraffiti #georgelucas #francisfordcoppola #harrisonford #UnoCinema

Marcia Lucas Dead: ‘Star Wars’ Oscar Winner & ‘American Graffiti’ Editor Was 80

Marcia Lucas, who won an Oscar for editing the original Star Wars and scored a nom for American…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Entertainment #AmericanGraffiti #georgelucas #MarciaLucas #novid #obituary #StarWars
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/673714/

[Source: Deadline]

Film editor Marcia Lucas died May 27 of cancer in Rancho Mirage, CA. She was 80. She won an Oscar for editing “Star Wars” (1977). Also directed “American Graffiti” (1973) and “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974).

She was married to George Lucas from 1969-1984.

TAGS: #MarciaLucas #Deadline #FilmEditor #Editor #StarWars #GeorgeLucas #AmericanGraffiti #Oscar #AcademyAward #AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore #Hollywood #Film #Movies #Cinema

URL: https://deadline.com/2026/05/marcia-lucas-dead-star-wars-editor-george-lucas-ex-wife-1236930815/

Marcia Lucas Dies: ‘Star Wars’ Oscar Winner Who Also Edited ‘American Graffiti’ Was 80
#News #Obituaries #AmericanGraffiti #GeorgeLucas #MarciaLucas #Novid #StarWars

https://deadline.com/2026/05/marcia-lucas-dead-star-wars-editor-george-lucas-ex-wife-1236930815/

American Graffiti, il disastro è l’anticamera del successo

@cinema @spettacoli @[email protected]

🛑George Lucas e Francis Ford Coppola a un passo dal baratro 👇

#boomerissimo #americangraffiti #georgelucas #francisfordcoppola #harrisonford #UnoCinema

https://boomerissimo.it/2024/09/18/american-graffiti-un-trionfo-quasi-un-disatro/

Harrison Ford looks back at making American Graffiti

#AmericanGraffiti #HarrisonFord #StarWars #FanthaTracks #harrisonford #youngindianajones #americangraffiti

On the set of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Harrison Ford remembers American Grafitti.

Read the whole story at the below link:

https://www.fanthatracks.com/interviews/harrison-ford-looks-back-at-making-american-graffiti/

#BehindTheScenes
#AmericanGraffiti (1973)
Group of teenagers in California's central valley spend one final night after their 1962 high school graduation cruising the strip with their buddies before they pursue their varying goals.

Director #GeorgeLucas and crew on a night shoot.

https://www.europesays.com/ie/160034/ Hollywood Was Convinced George Lucas’ First Hit Movie Would Be A ’70s Box Office Bomb #AmericanGraffiti #CriticalResponse #Éire #Entertainment #film #FrancisFordCoppola #GaryKurtz #GeorgeLucas #HappyDays #IE #Ireland #Movies #UniversalPictures

🎵 🎶 🎵

Sitting in my car outside your house
'Member when you spilled Coke all over your blouse
T-shirts, cut-offs, and a pair of thongs
We've been having fun all summer long

All Summer Long (1964)
-- The Beach Boys

Watched American Graffiti again last night and have this gem stuck in my head this morning (not a bad thing) ...

#beachBoys #theBeachBoys #lyrics #rockLyrics #albumLyrics #musicLyrics #60sRock #60sMusic #classicRock #popRock #popMusic #surfRock #music #rockAndRoll #rockMusic #americanGraffiti #georgeLucas

First ever Chronoscope media plugin from NPR :: a scene from »American Graffiti« ::
#ChronoMedia link https://mprove.de/chrono?ll=38.23449,-122.63971&q=38.23292,-122.63806&z=16.75&t=46&s=1&i=1

#tickettowatch #AmericanGraffiti – full movie meanwhile linked at 💎 #chronoFilmstrip

Focus "Teen Movie" 24/34

American graffiti, la suite (1979)

★★★☆

Une suite que l’on n’attendait pas et qui parvient à faire mieux que l’original.

✍️ La suite ici :
https://www.senscritique.com/film/american_graffiti_la_suite/critique/315159587

#AmericanGraffitiLaSuite #AmericanGraffiti #BillNorton #CandyClark #BoHopkins #RonHoward #PaulLeMat #TeenMovie #Film #Cinema

Focus "Teen Movie" 23/34

American Graffiti (1973)

★★☆☆

Filmer l’insouciance de la jeunesse américaine (...) malgré de bonnes idées, on ne peut s’empêcher de trouver le temps long.

✍️ La suite ici :
https://www.senscritique.com/film/american_graffiti/critique/315090572

#AmericanGraffiti #GeorgeLucas #RichardDreyfuss #RonHoward #HarrisonFord #PaulLeMat #TeenMovie #Film #Cinema

"It's time to stick your head out of the sand and, uh, take a look at the big, beautiful world out there somewhere." -Richard Dreyfuss as Curt Henderson, American Graffiti (1973), Dir: George Lucas
#movies #moviequotes #cinema #1970s #americangraffiti

Prima di (o in alternativa a) vedere il suo ultimo film, questo è il primo. 2 anni in anticipo su Lupo Solitario di #AmericanGraffiti e 16 rispetto a #FatalAttraction che è quasi un suo reboot. Brivido nella notte, alle origini del #ClintEastwood regista - Badtaste https://www.badtaste.it/focus/brivido-nella-notte-alle-origini-del-clint-eastwood-regista #dj #cinema

American Graffiti, il disastro è l’anticamera del successo

🛑George Lucas e Francis Ford Coppola a un passo dal baratro 👇

https://boomerissimo.it/2024/09/18/american-graffiti-un-trionfo-quasi-un-disatro/

#boomerissimo #americangraffiti #georgelucas #francisfordcoppola #harrisonford #UnoCinema

Just a head’s up: I’ll have the annual RetroView playlist of Surf Rock on Thursday, July 25th
#SundayFunnies #AmericanGraffiti

@rsmon77 I can’t remember who wrote it but apparently there was a review that called him and some of the cast “unattractive kids”
#SundayFunnies #AmericanGraffiti

“American Graffiti” did inspire me to wear my saddle shoes with my dress today😂
#SundayFunnies #AmericanGraffiti

This week’s #SundayFunnies leading ladies are Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Cindy Williams and Suzanne Somers
#AmericanGraffiti #CandyClark #MackenziePhillips #CindyWilliams #SuzanneSomers

Our #SundayFunnies leading men are Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith and Harrison Ford
#AmericanGraffiti #RichardDreyfuss #RonHoward #PaulLeMat #CharlesMartinSmith #HarrisonFord

Here for “American Graffiti”
#SundayFunnies #AmericanGraffiti

Legendary #movies dealing with the #50s and #60s, cool style, cars and #rocknroll include

#TheWanderers https://youtu.be/f5b-qJb4LM0,
#AmericanGraffiti https://youtu.be/OZ9Gp6Qc8LQ, and
#LemonPopsicle https://youtu.be/0GJpPNhaT4s

Grease and Footloose are not counted, since they included strange music from later decades.

“The Wolfman is everywhere.”
#MoviesOfMastodon
#AmericanGraffiti

Sunday evening at the movies: always liked this one. And the Buddy Holly.
#AmericanGraffiti
#TurnerClassicMovies
#MusicOfMastodon
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7uJtLGrH3RM

Buon compleanno a George Lucas, nato a Modesto in California il 14 maggio 1944.
https://www.lasinistraquotidiana.it/star-wars-la-saga-delle-guerre-stellari/

#14maggio #accaddeoggi #georgelucas #StarWars #AmericanGraffiti #THX1138 #cinema #movie #film #filmphotography #HappyBirthday #filmcommunity #unocinema #newhollywood

1973 Film Poll - Quarter-Final Round - Group 2 (of 4) Screenshots

#EnterTheDragon
#DontLookNow
#MagnumForce
#AmericanGraffiti

#Film #Movie #FilmCommunity #Cinema #CineMastodon #ClassicFilms #FilmPoll
#FilmTournament

RIP Suzanne Somers
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American Graffiti (1973) The Blonde in the White Thunderbird
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#Movie #SuzanneSomers #AmericanGraffiti #Ford #Thunderbird #carsofmastodon #movies #MovieScene

R.I.P. Suzanne Somers - She like so many others in that movie got a career jump start in George Lucas’ 1973 movie, ‘American Graffiti’ (she was the “blonde in the T-bird”). — Suzanne Somers Dead: Three’s Company, She’s the Sheriff Star Was 76 – The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/suzanne-somers-dead-threes-company-shes-the-sheriff-1235618944/ #AmericanGraffiti #SuzanneSomers #RIP

#AmericanGraffiti is back in theaters for 50th anniversary showings. It goes from three stars to four in the last thirty seconds.

Grateful teenagers wrote #GeorgeLucas to say, "It reminded me what being a teenager was all about." If it was made today, it'd be set in 2012. Only the cars and choice of bands would let you know it's a period piece. Cultural stagnation is a bad thing. #film #movies #moviestodon #cinemastodon

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069704/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Another lesson in checking eBay listings carefully before bidding. I won this auction which arrived today: American Graffiti on Laserdisc

No mention in the eBay description that it is in Dutch! Although if I'd looked closer at the cover before buying, I'd have seen that.

Luckily it's original English (US) soundtrack, just with Dutch subtitles.

Oh well, could be worse.

Anyway, that's tonight's viewing sorted out. #Laserdisc #AmericanGraffiti #THX138

50 yrs ago
#AmericanGraffiti
📣 #GeorgeLucas
✍🏻 Lucas #GloriaKatz #WillardHuyck
💰 #FrancisCoppola
🎥 Ron Eveslage, Jan D'Alquen w/Haskell Wexler
🎞 Verna Fields & Marcia Lucas

#RichardDreyfuss
#RonHoward
#PaulLeMat
#CharlesMartinSmith
#CandyClark
#MackenziePhillips
#CindyWilliams
#WolfmanJack
#HarrisonFord

#movies #1970s #popmusic
https://youtu.be/41i0JD6EYa0

Made in 1973 and set in 1962. If George Lucas made this movie in 2023, it would be set in 2012 and about teens texting each other wondering how to port their content from Myspace to Facebook. It's bizarre from the standpoint of 1973 that the early 1960s seemed like a quaint and exotic time with radically different attitudes. Even more bizarre, Happy Days was clearly based on American Graffiti but set in the 1950s. You have to read close to understand the movie isn't set in the 1950s but in a whole other decade. (And a deeper question: at age 56, why am I still awake at 10 pm on a Friday?)
_________
#AmericanGraffiti

"'Worldizing,' says Liz Greene, who writes about and teaches film sound, is 'a sound recorded or created in studio or elsewhere that is then treated so that it sounds as if it is heard in another acoustic location.'"

Sonic Triumph of 'American Graffiti'

https://daily.jstor.org/the-sonic-triumph-of-american-graffiti/ via JSTOR Daily
Photo: Universal
#AmericanGraffiti #AmericanGraffiti50 #Movies #Hollywood #SoundDesign

Just watched the 50 year old #AmericanGraffiti. This bro-fest had a cast that would not make Richard Dreyfuss vomit and Wolf Man Jack on the radio playing music100% performed by men. The only advantage 1962 had over 2023 is that kids could be running around town without getting killed by murderers with assault rifles. #Review #Movies

#AmericanGraffiti (1973) : 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe
The brash canary yellow '32 Ford Highboy was powered by a Chevy 327 V8 and sat a little tall in the rear for some seriously cool rake.
#FilmMastodon #MovieMotors #CarsOfCelluloid 🚘

"There are creative benefits to getting older.”
—#RonHoward

The Oscar-winning director and actor is 69 today.

#BornOnThisDay #HappyDays #AndyGriffith #ClassicTV #1970s #1970sTV #AmericanGraffiti #FilmMastodon