When we all watched Network TV and before there was home video

I was born in 1967. I grew up in the 1970's and fell in love with movies. If you look at the 1970's decade you will see Hollywood was turning out great movies (that were made for a mature audience) year after year.

Now before Cable and Home Video came into the market place Movies were shown on Network TV about 1 -2 years after the theatrical engagements. There were a few exceptions however that's how things were.

When I was a kid there were the 3 Networks that all of us watched (kids and adults) This was before HBO. Here is what I remember watching in the 1970's

SUNDAY - DISNEY
MONDAY - Little House
TUESDAY - Happy Days ,Laverne and Shirley ,Three's Company
Wednesday - Bionic Woman
Thursday - The Walton's
Friday - The Brady Bunch, Room 222, Partridge Family , Love American Style
Saturday - All in the Family, Carol Burnett

Now remember this was before cable so chances are when you went to school the next day your classmates pretty much watched what you did.

However when you were under 12 you couldn't Waite until "The Wizard of Oz" was shown on TV. It was a yearly event. Everybody would watch it. IT was a special bonding experience that if your under 30 you will not understand!

Now one of my favorite movies of all time was "The Sound of Music". I saw it at the movies in 1972. I wanted to see it again & again. However it would not be until 4 years later when I got the chance. That is because in 1976 ABC played the "Sound Of Music" for the first time on TV. It was a huge event. I thought every year ABC would show the movie. Well They didn't.

"The Sound of Music" would not be shown again until 1979. This time on NBC. I still remember when it was Over I was a little sad because I wasn't sure when I could see it again. I knew it could be a very long time.

Well what happened a week later just floored me. Our music teacher had actually brought the movie to school. This was the greatest feeling I ever had outside of Christmas. He showed us the movie over the course of a week. This is when I feel in love and wanted a VCR. I knew if I had that thing I could watch " The Sound of Music" anytime I wanted and, that was a trip. That was in 1979. I tried for 3 years to get my parents to buy one. They never did. My parents said "We don't need that thing".

Well in 1980 we got HBO. I thought maybe just maybe they might play "The Sound of Music" one day. They never did. "The Sound of Music" next air date was in early 1982, 3 years after I last saw the movie.

Well a short time later in 1982 I bought a VCR. I was the first on my block to do so. I had to buy a used one for $300 but it was worth every penny. VHS Tapes sold for $20. My VCR only recorded up to 4 hours.

By the fall of 1982 video stores were popping up every where. Someone showed me how to make a copies off of another vcr. So I rented "The Sound of Music" and a RENT A BETA VCR.

I was very happy after almost 4 years of dreaming about being able to watch "The Sound of Music" anytime I wanted I now had in my hand an UN-CUT version of the movie and I could watch it anytime I wanted.

Then before I knew it everybody had a VCR. I was no longer special. The VCR started encroaching into everyday lives. Cable by 1982 started in as well. The audience had now fragmentedseeing a movie or a TV show the same time your friends did was now almost over.

Then before I knew it everybody had a VCR. I was no longer special. The VCR started encroaching into everyday lives. HBO and Cable by 1982 started in as well. The audience had now fragmented.

By the fall of 1983 Seeing movies only when Network TV showed them were over. Watching the same thing on TV that your friends did were almost over. I do miss those days of shared experiences! However I would not give up my DVD/VCR if my life depended on it.

Since 1982 I have always had on hand "The Sound of Music". When hurricane Katrina took my home the first thing I replaced was my DVD player and I bought a new DVD of "The Sound of Music". Now i may go a year or two between viewings but I love the fact to this day I can watch it anytime I a m home.