Just One More Bite of Nostalgia:

Summer Blockbusters Edition

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Got to thinking about summer blockbusters. Do they even make spectacular summer movies anymore? I mean, back in the day. But, I guess to some, Top Gun Maverick hit those notes. Well, it did for the producers. $$$$$$. What  is a summer blockbuster, you ask? Simple: it’s a movie that’s wildly popular, makes a ton of money, and is typically released in the summer. AKA Top Gun Maverick. LOL.

Psst, want to skip the walk down memory lane and just find a summer recipe? Scroll to the end. But you’ll miss all the fun!

The Magic of Summer Movies

Summer movies were the best when we were kids. They were our escape from the heat of our houses and outside forts. Those days when a fan was only moving stale sultry air, and the sprinkler wasn’t even cold anymore. Movies were our ticket to adventure and the only way to enjoy some sweet, sweet air conditioning. If we went to an evening show, we’d enter with the last rays of daylight and leave in darkness. Not only was I transported to another world, but coming back to the real one seemed mystical and a lot cooler.

One theater that held a special place in my heart was, The Chateau —ask any local, we all say the same thing not only were you not in Rochester once you entered you were in another century, a fairyland.

The anticipation began the moment we lined up outside the ticket booth. The aroma of freshly popped popcorn wafting through the doors, the sudden blast of cool air upon entering, and the tough decision between popcorn and candy [popcorn was a weekly treat at home, so candy often won]. Necco Wafers were my go-to, despite the bizarre flavors like clove, which had a weirdly captivating hold on me. I kind of have a thing for odd flavors. Not Goobers though. First gross name, second, raisins.

Bambi at The Chateau

The first movie I remember seeing at The Chateau was Bambi. I was five, and I was traumatized! I had no idea what I was in for and was reduced to a puddle of tears when Bambi’s mom met her untimely end. That scene also killed my taste for venison, which was a staple at our house provided by my hunting-loving Dad. Well, my mom’s version of Venison Swiss Steak didn’t help either.

My dad and one of his many deer. IF [if] I were to eat venison again, I might make the recipe at the end.

Billy Jack at Cinema 21

In May 1971, Billy Jack opened at Cinema 21 in the Northbrook Shopping Center. This theater was a beast—one massive screen. I researched, and it had five Voice of the Theatre speakers and a whopping 754 seats. I remember sporting my wide bell-bottoms and cropped shirt, feeling oh-so-radical as I set off to see this movie. This movie tackled some big issues and featured Tom Laughlin as an ex-Green Beret with a penchant for high-stepping karate kicks and evening the score in any way he could. Doing all that while preaching everyone should love their brother. Peace, Love and Billy Jack. That was 1971. It was a tad confusing. But to me what was most confusing was how that handsome guy in a cool hat had such an old girlfriend. The movie's song, "One Tin Soldier," became an anthem for everyone. My friends and I took it to heart, memorized all the words, and I put it in my 7th-grade spiral notebook. The one with the peace sign was erased in the front cover. We held our fists in the air and sang the chorus for months. We were rebelling, though we didn’t know what against. We just loved the song!

E.T. at The Lawler Theater

Fast forward to June 11, 1982, when E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial was released. This wasn’t at The Chateau or Cinema 21 but The Lawler Theater, right across the street from where I sit now. Though the theater lacked the charm of The Chateau or the screen size of Cinema 21, the movie was pure magic. Elliot [note his name starts with an E and ends with a T] befriends and learns to understand E.T., the adorable alien who’s just trying to phone home. Surely you’ve seen it, but I’ll say no more just in case.

It's a movie that deserves at least a dozen viewings in a lifetime. I’m on my third time with the grands, and I still cry every time. “Elliot… ouch.”

Nothing in this movie ever gets old.

Jaws at The Oakview Theater

And now, let’s talk about the blockbuster of all blockbusters—Jaws. According to Guinness World Records, Steven Spielberg's Jaws [1975] is considered the first true summer blockbuster. It was the first film to earn $100 million at the box office, and people literally lined up around the block to see it. Because nothing says "fun family outing" like a giant shark eating people. Man, I couldn’t wait.

Jaws was shown at The Oakview Theater, located on the south side of Apache Mall. I worked there for about a year, in 1974 or so.  I made a dollar an hour as a candy girl. I was living the life. Fifteen dollars coming in a week, and I didn’t even drive yet, so no gas to buy! I became an expert at swirling the butter stuff over the popcorn and filling sodas. We had all the best-boxed candies. More often than not, we’d open a box from the bottom, sneak a Milk Dud or two, and put it back. [Sorry, if you were shorted].

This is how I recall the theater except, it was summer 1975 when Jaws attacked. No snow.

The line for Jaws was insane, wrapping around the building. I remember being worried we wouldn’t get in. Finally, we did—let the heart palpitations begin. The music was, of course, by John Williams, and come to find out, initially dismissed by Spielberg. But it is now iconic and set the immediate tone. The first encounter with the shark was terrifying, and the movie just got better [and scarier] from there. I mean, that girl got eaten in the first few minutes. She had a name too—Chrissie. Dang…

Swim! Chrissie, swim!

Police Chief Martin Brody [Roy Scheider] quickly became my hero, clashing with the sleazy mayor who insisted on keeping the beaches open. Sure, let’s keep them open so more people can be shark bait just because your town exists on summer vacation dollars.

Ok, well, wait… Now that you put it that way, a few more lifeguards maybe? JK.

Though those life guards didn’t do that poor kid any good. His bloodied blow-up raft shows up, and the grieving mother blames it all on Brody. Brody agrees.

Then we meet Hooper and Quint, and the dark tale begins.

The most memorable line—"You're gonna need a bigger boat"—was both funny and terrifying. But horror of horrors Quinn gets eaten in the most graphic way. We were all getting to love that potato chip-munching, kick-ass, Spanish lady loving fisherman.

Look at him! The shark. Though not quite as enormous as the movie poster but just the same…

The shark itself was terrifyingly believable, and the climactic showdown had us all on the edge of our seats. Brody’s final victory was a moment of pure triumph, and we all screamed and pumped our fists when he blew that shark to smithereens.

So, there you have it. A trip down memory lane with some of the greatest summer blockbusters of all time, for me that is, and in the local theaters of old Rochester. They were all an emotional rollercoaster —tears for Bambi, rebellious spirit for Billy Jack, and the heartwarming magic of E.T. But the nail-biting terror of Jaws still keeps me out of the ocean no matter how damn hot it gets. I’ll catch a movie thank you.

Now, for those of you hoping for a recipe. These No-Recipe Recipes from NYT are my fave! I’m too lazy to type it out so I just took a pic. It’s summer folks, kick back. Throw this together for a blood thirsty Jaws summer screening. because “if you are looking for a shark you we’re not going find him on the land”. -Matt Hooper oceanographer

Use venison should you have any handy.