Our journey back in time for this film flashback takes us to July 31, 1971 where we can enjoy films at the Princess Theatre, the Martin, or the Marbro Drive-In, and if the films aren't interesting we can check out the latest Apollo launch on television or go see some stock car racing in Smyrna.
I'm too young to remember the first moon landing, but by Apollo 15 I was synced in to what N.A.S.A. was doing. Some of my earliest memories are of men walking on the surface of the moon and sometimes even driving on it. There was no Daily News Journal Saturday paper in 1971 so the ads come from the Friday edition which also included the cool Space Center, Houston piece I'm including with this post. The lunar lander Falcon had indeed touched down on the moon on July 30th where it would stay until August 2nd. Once the Falcon rendezvoused with command module Endeavour it would be another 5 days until splashdown on August 7th. The Apollo missions mesmerized me as a child and fictional movies and television like the Planet of the Apes and The Six Million Dollar Man fed right into my obsession. There would only be 2 more missions to the moon and that disappoints me to this day.
July 26, 1971 launch date
July 30, 1971 touchdown
August 7, 1971 splashdown
On to the movies playing in Murfreesboro on July 31, 1971. John Wayne was captivating audiences in Big Jake which had played at the Martin for 2 weeks before coming over to the Princess. Big Jake's grandson has been kidnapped and held for ransom so Jake sets out to rescue him. Richard Boone plays the villain John Fain. Maureen O'Hara also stars in this western which is grittier than most of Wayne's other ones. It was the Seventies so the Peckinpah and Leone films westerns were a big influence.
The Marbro Drive-In has a couple of biker films that should satisfy anyone's need for violent drama along with any Jeremy Slate fans. Hell's Belles is actually pretty tame, but Jocelyn Lane (probably most known for the Elvis film Tickle Me) is stunning. The Jeremy Slate character Dan wins a motorcycle race and then spends the rest of the movie dealing with the consequences. There's a rock slide and a blazing gas station, but it probably won't distract you for long from "the debutante in a leather skirt!"
The Born Losers is the other biker film which sees the debut of cinema legend Billy Jack portrayed by Tom Laughlin who also directed the film. Bikers rape four women and attempt to intimidate them from testifying against them. Enter Billy Jack who serves as the protector of Vicky played by Elizabeth James. Jeremy Slate plays evil biker Danny Carmody. Critics hated the movie, but the film made over 2 million dollars in 1967 when it was first released.
The Martin Theatre isn't left out when it comes to motorcycles as Evel Knievel is showing there. This is the movie that stars George Hamilton as Evel. I think it gets kind of forgotten since there is so much footage of the real man out there along with Viva Knievel! where Evel foils a cocaine smuggling operation, but this movie undoubtedly helped build his fame. The film Evel Knievel is a straight biopic and George Hamilton does a good job. I saw this movie when it aired on television and enjoyed it.
George Hamilton as Evel
If you didn't feel like going to the movies or staying home to watch television you could go to the races on this Saturday night. Smyrna Raceway had 4 big races scheduled on this night and children under the age of 6 got in for free. The races were even broadcast live over the radio.
Smyrna Raceway
