One of the Ostrower Family's most valued possessions is a VHS recording of the #StarWars world bcast premiere on CBS from March 1984.
No one owned home videos back then so this was a big BIG deal. It was the only way to rewatch a movie.
(warning: nerdy 🧵 ahead)
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No one owned home videos back then so this was a big BIG deal. It was the only way to rewatch a movie.
(warning: nerdy 🧵 ahead)
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We would watch the VHS nearly every weekend (commercials & all)
Over time we realized we had what amounted to a time capsule from the Reagan-era.
Here is an incredible TWA ad from early in the bcast w awk 80s gender politics.
Note the young #PaulaZahn pop on a the end.
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Over time we realized we had what amounted to a time capsule from the Reagan-era.
Here is an incredible TWA ad from early in the bcast w awk 80s gender politics.
Note the young #PaulaZahn pop on a the end.
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The broadcast had "special" cutaways to commercial. Here's #MagicJohnson showing R2D2 some love.
I loved this VHS so much I decided to digitize it in 2008.
And I've been meaning to share some of these amazing ads for years, so here we are...
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I loved this VHS so much I decided to digitize it in 2008.
And I've been meaning to share some of these amazing ads for years, so here we are...
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Here are the rest of the cutaways featuring Steven Spielberg, Debbie Reynolds, The Flintstones, and others...
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The broadcast was right in the middle of the lead up to the 1984 New Hampshire Democratic Primary.
Here's a succession of clips related to the race, starting with this poll update from the local Boston affiliate...
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Here's a succession of clips related to the race, starting with this poll update from the local Boston affiliate...
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Gary Hart's ads (whatever happened to that guy?) were just 1980s visual perfection.
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And this #AlkaSeltzer commercial is for all the workaholic politics pros out there (cc the entire @BernieSanders crew for this one 😬)
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.@pepsi clearly saw a big advertising opportunity with the #StarWars broadcast, hence this epic, Spielbergian broadside against @CocaCola
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This @TIME magazine ad is one of my all-time favorites
With appearances by Margaret Thatcher, Sally Ride, Castro, Mugabe, Eddie Murphy, & Pope John Paul
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With appearances by Margaret Thatcher, Sally Ride, Castro, Mugabe, Eddie Murphy, & Pope John Paul
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Here's #AndyGriffith gently ushering the olds into a new age of telecommunications.
You used to have to lease your phone from the telephone company??
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You used to have to lease your phone from the telephone company??
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I always wanted to play Congo Bongo.
#17/?
#17/?
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes was supposed to be a big blockbuster release, which.... it wasn't.
I've still never seen it.
Though maybe I should? rottentomatoes.com/m/greystoke_th…
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I've still never seen it.
Though maybe I should? rottentomatoes.com/m/greystoke_th…
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This #CBS mid-season replacement sitcom starring Suzanne Pleshette (?) as a "Lady Journalist" 😬 didn't um ... last long.
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This local Boston news update is "must-see".
✔️ 5 tons of marijuana seized off the coast of New Hampshire
✔️ Gary Hart gaining on Mondale
✔️ America troops leaving Beirut
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✔️ 5 tons of marijuana seized off the coast of New Hampshire
✔️ Gary Hart gaining on Mondale
✔️ America troops leaving Beirut
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Chewy Granola bars coming with a catchy as hell jingle.
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Apparently NutraSweet was just aspartame by another name.
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And, let's be clear, the 1984 Mercury Topaz was one ugly damn car.
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And then there was an impossible-to-ignore string of commercials during the broadcast about, and prominently featuring, women's legs.
Starting with this one:
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Starting with this one:
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and this one. Legs! The Rockettes!
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and this lotion ad. 👀
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and this Diet Pepsi ad. 👀
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and this Diet Pepsi ad. ... Noticing a theme?
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and this Lee Jeans ad ... featuring legs & butts.
I swear there are even more.
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I swear there are even more.
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There are even more clips, obviously. But I'll halt up there.
The coupe de grace here, however, was the amazing opening featurette hosted by @HamillHimself and featuring Walter Cronkite.
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The coupe de grace here, however, was the amazing opening featurette hosted by @HamillHimself and featuring Walter Cronkite.
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And, finally, the closing featurette. Also hosted by @HamillHimself
Thank you for coming on this journey with me (& @jonostrower too). This VHS tape was an essential part of our shared childhood and is now (hopefully) part of visual history.
40/40
Thank you for coming on this journey with me (& @jonostrower too). This VHS tape was an essential part of our shared childhood and is now (hopefully) part of visual history.
40/40
Cc @HamillHimself looking dapper in the tux
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