Do you know who Cary Grant is? How about Wernher von Braun?

[Kraken]

That was supposed to be the joke. Guess it needed a smiley or something.

You didn't really need a smiley. I figured it was a joke but I couldn't figure out a way to indicate I knew it was a joke but was willing to be somewhat of a straight man.

Congrats, sir, you out-meta'd me.

[gbasden]

Don't be too harsh on young people. Them not knowing who Cary Grant or Von Braun are is the equivalent of us not knowing who Louis Bleriot or Mary Pickford are. We're judging them on how well they know our grandparents childhoods. Who was your great-grandmother's favorite actor?

The problem here is assuming that what was important to us 40 years ago should still be important today.

But I do know who Louis Bleriot is, and I've at least heard of Mary Pickford. OTOH, I'm somewhat of an aviation nerd, so that probably helps with Bleriot.

[jztemple2]

Don't be too harsh on young people. Them not knowing who Cary Grant or Von Braun are is the equivalent of us not knowing who Louis Bleriot or Mary Pickford are. We're judging them on how well they know our grandparents childhoods. Who was your great-grandmother's favorite actor?

I've been interested in aviation since I was a teenager so I was familiar with Louis Bleriot. And I actually have two biographies of Mary Pickford on my shelves . I had a cousin who was a big movie freak and growing up I'd spend some looking through his book collection.

Who was your great-grandmother's favorite actor?

Hmm, probably Edwin Booth or Lillian Russell. Of course great granny would never consider Russell an actor, as she was an actress. Shall we start discussing if people recognize those names?

[Blackhawk]

I recognize them, as in, "I've heard those names before." I have the advantage that I was raised apart from my own age group, and grew up as much in my father's era as my own. I was around him and my grandmother and chased their interests rather then being around peers. As a child who grew up in the 80s, I was probably better versed in the music of the 40s than I was of the 80s.

But then again, you can find plenty of young people who could tell you who Cary Grant and von Braun are. I just don't hold it against them if they can't.

[Zarathud]

That is going to be some slash/ fan fic.

[Unagi]

Yes, I knew both.
I am not shocked they didn’t know about a scientist , but the name Cary Grant, I would like to think should be on the radar still.

At least enough to know it was a movie actor.

People don’t learn about scientists unless they are into the science.

[Holman]

Is there any subject Americans as a whole are more ignorant about than history?

"All of them, Katie."

[Holman]

Don't be too harsh on young people. Them not knowing who Cary Grant or Von Braun are is the equivalent of us not knowing who Louis Bleriot or Mary Pickford are. We're judging them on how well they know our grandparents childhoods. Who was your great-grandmother's favorite actor?

The problem here is assuming that what was important to us 40 years ago should still be important today.

Agree here and elsewhere.

Von Braun was important to those of us growing up in the Cold War because he personified the birth of the ICBM age. Kids today who've never heard of him still definitely know that nuclear missiles are a thing. The reality of a nuclear-armed world has long-since eclipsed the personalities associated with its beginnings.

When our grandparents were young, "Ford" meant the inventor. (I have a great uncle who was literally named after Edsel Ford despite no family connection.) Now, even if you've heard of him in school, no one thinks of Henry Ford at all, and "Ford" means the brand.

[Jaymann]

I thought it meant Gerald.

[dbt1949]

What I have a problem with is the personalities of today. I knew them all 40-50 years ago.

[Daehawk]

What I have a problem with is the personalities of today. I knew them all 40-50 years ago.

I no longer know music artist of today or they stupidly named influencers. I see "So n so young person will be live this week" and Im like no idea and no care who that idiot is.

Im dismayed and peeved that mechanics and doctors are all younger than me now. I have always trusted people older than me.....these young folk worry me. Actually my mechanic may be my age or a bit older. Luckily. Too many people younger than me.

[The Meal]

I thought it meant Gerald.

Take it to R&P.

[jztemple2]

I thought it meant Gerald.

Take it to R&P.

Sadly, you lost me with R&P

[coopasonic]

It's probably been 15 years since I tried to watch some of the classics. I couldn't. The pacing, the language, the everything.

[Holman]

It's probably been 15 years since I tried to watch some of the classics. I couldn't. The pacing, the language, the everything.

You mean classic screwball comedies?

We watched The Philadelphia Story with my GenZ progeny some months back. They had criticisms of the period style, but they thought the rapidfire Hepburn-Grant and Hepburn-Stewart stuff was great.

It made an excellent gateway to Casablanca.

[The Meal]

I thought it meant Gerald.

Take it to R&P.

Sadly, you lost me with R&P

He brought up the political Ford. There's a forum for that, I suggested with tongue firmly in cheek (well tongue hanging out of my mouth, I suppose, considering my modification of the Subject).

[Jaymann]

So Garfield is fine for EBG, but bring up "Mr. Nice Guy" and it's off to Rape and Pillage with you.

[hentzau]

It's probably been 15 years since I tried to watch some of the classics. I couldn't. The pacing, the language, the everything.

And thats pretty much all I watch. TCM is my go to station.

[Kurth]

Yes on both. I’m 46.

[Kraken]

It's probably been 15 years since I tried to watch some of the classics. I couldn't. The pacing, the language, the everything.

And thats pretty much all I watch. TCM is my go to station.

+1. While I do enjoy new movies, too, I generally don't care for the frantic pacing, foul language, crude humor, sexual content, and graphic violence in movies from the '90s forward.

[dbt1949]

Plus TCM doesn't have commercials.

[Hrdina]

Seriously, those folks that haven't seen a Cary Grant movie really should give them a try. Gunga Din, Topper, Arsenic and Old Lace, Bringing Up Baby, North By Northwest, Charade...crap, the Philadelphia Story, and he was in a supporting role in that one, but still terrific.

Think I'm going to throw on North By Northwest.

Definitely that and To Catch a Thief, which my wife and I watched not too long ago.

I'll say To Catch a Thief. Grace Kelly looks especially scrumptious in that movie.

Oh heavens, do I now have to explain who Grace Kelly was?

TBH, before seeing a couple of her movies I only knew of her because I'm from the Philadelphia area, where we have the Kelly Drive (formerly the East River Drive).

[Hipolito]

When Muhammad Ali died a few years ago, I was stunned that a black friend of mine, in her 30s, had never heard of him.

[Holman]

TBH, before seeing a couple of her movies I only knew of her because I'm from the Philadelphia area, where we have the Kelly Drive (formerly the East River Drive).

And the uncool part is when we have to admit that the road is named for her brother.

[Kraken]

"The movie" being "It's a Wonderful Life."

[Hrdina]

TBH, before seeing a couple of her movies I only knew of her because I'm from the Philadelphia area, where we have the Kelly Drive (formerly the East River Drive).

And the uncool part is when we have to admit that the road is named for her brother.

Huh, while I didn't actually say it was named after her, we all know that's what I meant.

themoreyouknow.gif and all that

It was definitely a big deal in the local news when she was killed.

[Holman]

TBH, before seeing a couple of her movies I only knew of her because I'm from the Philadelphia area, where we have the Kelly Drive (formerly the East River Drive).

And the uncool part is when we have to admit that the road is named for her brother.

Huh, while I didn't actually say it was named after her, we all know that's what I meant.

themoreyouknow.gif and all that

It was definitely a big deal in the local news when she was killed.

(I thought it was named for her a couple of years ago until I looked it up.)