I've been in love with classic Hollywood movies since I was a little girl. There is a movie theater on State Street in Murray called the Avalon, and when I was little, they showed classic movies. I saw "The Music Man," "Wuthering Heights," "Enchantment," "Calamity Jane," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" - the list goes on and on. My parents took us there as regularly as they could, and as an adult, I now have my very own Netflix subscription and have kept the love alive. I've seen all the movies Fred and Ginger made together and some he made with other partners (I hate to say it, but Ginger wasn't his best partner, she was just his most famous) and I've loved every minute of it. Well, my husband grew up listening to a Doris Day album his mother had, and you know how kids rebel against things their mothers like - he hated Doris Day. I decided to take matters into my own hands and do a little reeducation. The other night, I put on "Calamity Jane" for my family, and they all loved it, from my husband down to my five-year-old son. That movie shows Doris at her most versatile, from dancing to singing to acting. I really think it's her best film ever.
When we were through watching the show, my eleven-year-old surprised me. "Mom," he said, "I think we should do this every week. We should watch a classic movie together and you can teach us all about it."
insert choir of angels and Tristi looking heavenward in gratitude
Everyone in the family agreed, and so now, we have instituted Pinkston Family Movie Night. We'll do a classic movie one week and a more contemporary film another week, and I'll get to impart my somewhat vast knowledge on the subject with my family. I'm lovin' this. Movies aren't just limited to Hannah Montana or whatever teenage rock star happens to be hot at the moment - I'm having the chance to teach my children about all eras of movie history, and I can help steer them toward the films that will be the most enjoyable for them at the same time.
Tonight we watched "Singin' in the Rain," and it was another hit. I have to thank certain movies for introducing these films to my children - "Robots" made them curious about "Singin' in the Rain," and "Wall-E" opened the door to "Hello, Dolly." Offerings coming up soon will include "Royal Wedding" (Fred Astaire and Jane Powell) and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (again, Jane Powell, but this time, with Howard Keel, who, incidentally, also starred in "Calamity Jane.")I can hardly wait for next week!
17 comments:
I LOVED the Avalon theatre! My dad used to take us there too and some of my best memories were there.
And how cool of a tradition is that? Can I come to classic movie night because it sounds awesome!
What a fun idea! I love old movies, especially old musicals. They just don't make them like that any more. I've seen Hello Dolly so many times, I know all the parts by heart!
Our family likes old movies, too!
I LOVED Calamity Jane. I remember watching it in grade school! They had set up a big screen and we got to watch it in the cafeteria. I haven't seen it since. I've done this before -- we watched Hello Dolly after Wall-e came out. I just can't find some of the best ones and we don't have a netflix subscription. Hmmmm.
I love this! I am a classic movie buff, too. I am a sucker for Cary Grant and Fred Astaire and Katharine Hepburn and Van Johnson and Jimmy Stewart and....
I might try this with my family. We just need to find an hour! Thanks, Tristi!
I love classic movies. My kids grew up with them, and now they are sharing them with their kids. It's great to have your grandson want to watch Old Yeller with you! (Though I have to fast forward through the sad scene. You know the one.)
How fun. I love the classics too. I should have my kids watch them. I'm not sure if they are quite the age of watching it all, but I guess I don't know unless I try.
Sadly, we have yet to turn our 12-year old onto the classics. We're trying, but she's not cooperating. :-(
Howard Keel and Gene Kelley are two of my absolute favorites! I love the movies "Calamity Jane" and "Singing in the Rain." And "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," LOVE IT! Oh wow, what a trip down memory lane. Thanks, Tristi.
What a great family tradition to start. I Love the old classics. When I watch the old musicals with my kids they often say, "Hey, I know that song!" Apparantly I sing those old tunes around the house a lot more than I realize. Howard Keel is one of my favorites and my oldest daughter has declared Calamity Jane her favorite movie of all time.
What a fabulous idea! I grew up watching those movies too and can't wait to share them with my daughters.
Score one for Mom! That's really cool. And I always loved Howard Keel in anything he did. I don't think he gets enough attention for his versatility.
One not so much for the kids, yet perhaps, but one of my much loved faves--People will Talk. Jeanne Crain and Cary Grant. Some of the best dialogue in any movie to date!
I love this tradition!! We have movie day where everyone gets to pick a movie and we all have to watch everyone else's movie. We eat a healthy breakfast, do the dishes and spend the rest of the day in our jammies eating popcorn, veggies and dip, cake or cookies and watching movies.
And the kids love it and they have found some new favorite movies that do not involve animation or rock stars.
can I come I'll bring the popcorn. I can't wait until you introduce them to Alfred Hitchcock.
Great idea! Those classic movies are a part of the American culture, and so it's good for the younger generation to see ... and enjoy ... them!
Luckily, my three year old daughter LOVES classic movies (an unclassic ones like Fairy Potter, which I can't bring myself to tell her is really Harry Potter). And we were recently given 3 months worth of Netflix as a Christmas gift. I had no idea what I was missing! The Shop Around the Corner, How To Steal a Million... they're all RIGHT THERE. Totally worthy of hand-fluttering.
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Calamity Jane is one of my favorite movies of all time!!! I'm just starting to introduce MJ to some of my favorites - Anne of Green Gables all the way to Oklahoma. I'm so excited to watch them all with her!
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