Who was the man who came to my elementary school in the early 80s and showed films of his family vacations to the whole school?
March 12, 2010 8:44 AM Subscribe
Who was the man who came to my elementary school in the early 80s and showed films of his family vacations to the whole school?
After reading this question, I was reminded of a gentleman who came to my elementary school in the early 80's.
This was in Virginia. The gentleman seemed to be in his 50's, but I'm not sure how accurate my sense of age was when I was that young.
He came to our school on at least two occasions, separated by a couple years. We would have an assembly with everyone in the school. He would set up a large movie projector and would show color home movies of the trips he took with his family. During the presentation, he would have a microphone and describe where they were at the time, what they were doing, etc.
Specific memories I have of the movies were:
1 - Scenes of the man and his kids sliding down creekbeds, like a waterslide, in what appeared to be a canyon area in the southwestern US.
2 - A scene where he had one of his kids filming another one of his kids who was in turn filming yet another kid who was filming the man himself. A distant shot showed all of the cameras/camerapersons involved.
Kind of vague details, I know. I've looked for it on the net several times in the past with no success. Anyone who might know who the guy was or even better where I might see these films again would certainly bring a smile to my day.
Thanks in advance!!!
After reading this question, I was reminded of a gentleman who came to my elementary school in the early 80's.
This was in Virginia. The gentleman seemed to be in his 50's, but I'm not sure how accurate my sense of age was when I was that young.
He came to our school on at least two occasions, separated by a couple years. We would have an assembly with everyone in the school. He would set up a large movie projector and would show color home movies of the trips he took with his family. During the presentation, he would have a microphone and describe where they were at the time, what they were doing, etc.
Specific memories I have of the movies were:
1 - Scenes of the man and his kids sliding down creekbeds, like a waterslide, in what appeared to be a canyon area in the southwestern US.
2 - A scene where he had one of his kids filming another one of his kids who was in turn filming yet another kid who was filming the man himself. A distant shot showed all of the cameras/camerapersons involved.
Kind of vague details, I know. I've looked for it on the net several times in the past with no success. Anyone who might know who the guy was or even better where I might see these films again would certainly bring a smile to my day.
Thanks in advance!!!
It sounds really weird that this guy would just be given an assembly, yet I think we had our own fair share of weird random assemblies in my school career.
Anyway, I've never been to VA so i don't know who that was. Have you considered contacting the school and seeing if they had any records of that sort of thing?
posted by djduckie at 8:48 AM on March 12, 2010
Anyway, I've never been to VA so i don't know who that was. Have you considered contacting the school and seeing if they had any records of that sort of thing?
posted by djduckie at 8:48 AM on March 12, 2010
I went to school in Pittsylvania county in VA and I remember this gentleman. Unfortunately that's about all I can remember. It was mid-to-late 1980s. Good luck!
posted by BeerFilter at 9:23 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by BeerFilter at 9:23 AM on March 12, 2010
Response by poster: "Have you considered contacting the school and seeing if they had any records of that sort of thing?"
My kid is actually now in kindergarten at the same school, but unfortunately there is no one left from my time there.
posted by MrToad at 9:33 AM on March 12, 2010
My kid is actually now in kindergarten at the same school, but unfortunately there is no one left from my time there.
posted by MrToad at 9:33 AM on March 12, 2010
My kid is actually now in kindergarten at the same school, but unfortunately there is no one left from my time there.
But they might have parents who were there, just like you.
posted by Vaike at 9:35 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
But they might have parents who were there, just like you.
posted by Vaike at 9:35 AM on March 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
I bet your old teacher or principal would love to chat with you about this man.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:38 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by Pollomacho at 9:38 AM on March 12, 2010
Could he have been a former student or donor who was being humored by the principal? We had random assemblies too. One was an older man who wibbled on and on and on about a painting he had donated to the school. We kids were all baffled, but apparently he just wanted to stand up and show off.
posted by vickyverky at 11:02 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by vickyverky at 11:02 AM on March 12, 2010
Response by poster: No, I'm most positive this guy traveled around doing this presentation. BeerFilter's comment more or less confirms the guy was at least regional.
I'm now wondering if it might have been Robbins Barstow. I found this movie on the Internet Archive. It's similar to what I remember, at least the actual filmed parts. The only thing is that the production quality of what I saw as a kid seemed better. For instance, the guy I'm thinking of used a tripod. Barstow's stuff looks to have been shot largely handheld. I haven't watched it through completely yet to see if it has any specific things in it that I remember.
posted by MrToad at 11:38 AM on March 12, 2010
I'm now wondering if it might have been Robbins Barstow. I found this movie on the Internet Archive. It's similar to what I remember, at least the actual filmed parts. The only thing is that the production quality of what I saw as a kid seemed better. For instance, the guy I'm thinking of used a tripod. Barstow's stuff looks to have been shot largely handheld. I haven't watched it through completely yet to see if it has any specific things in it that I remember.
posted by MrToad at 11:38 AM on March 12, 2010
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That sound like Slide Rock in Sedona, AZ. Not a complete answer, but maybe some more concrete terms to help in your search.
posted by carsonb at 8:47 AM on March 12, 2010