Remember When You Got Cable For The First Time? HBO Movies And MTV!

Some movies I remember playing on a loop on HBO back in the early 80s were:

• Rocky
• Mommie Dearest
• Mask
• The Elephant Man
• American Graffiti
• Kramer vs. Kramer
• Salem’s Lot

These movies were watched over and over again by me and my brother Mike – we could recite (and still do to this day) most of the dialogue from Mommie Dearest which both amused and confused our parents. Other movies that were watched (mostly at slumber parties, quietly, without parental permission) were Porky’s and So Fine (the one about the jeans with the holes in the butt starring Ryan O’Neal.) Very risky/raunchy viewing back then.

I don’t remember exactly what year our cable was installed but I do know that THANK GOD we had it by August, 1 1981 as I was planted in front of the big glowing box to watch the launch of my beloved MTV. Honestly, as silly as it sounds I will never forget that day!

Movies on my television, 24/7! And MTV 24/7!  The future was upon us and I was in television heaven.

And what about slipping the cable guy a handful of cash to give you some free movie channels? Does that still happen today? I don’t think any of the dads in the early 80s were above palming a 20 dollar bill to the man in the jumpsuit – with a few quick wire connections you were hooked up to The Movie Channel and Cinemax too!

With today’s On Demand and Netflix features, we can watch movies on our television sets with the click of the remote – no searching through the “TV Guide” to see what time The Champ starring Ricky Schroder and Jon Voight would be on The Movie Channel (another one that was on continually back in the day . . .).

It’s easier today, but with all the endless technology we have, it doesn’t all seem quite as exciting, does it?

And boy . . . oh boy . . . I want my MTV.

Credits: The80s90s.com

Share this story on Facebook with your friends.