Wednesday, July 1, 2009

From the Homefront . . .

From 1991-1993, a singular show aired on ABC, called Homefront. Set in 1945, just after the end of WWII, it was a snapshot of a time when women still painted their nails red and men still wore hats. The episodes centered around a few families and their struggles and triumphs: they lost jobs and had babies, competed in dance competitions, played minor league baseball, dealt with polio and racism and the rise of labor unions . . . and the trend of women wearing pants. It was a primetime soap, but there was nothing sudsy about it; just real people in a simpler time, living their lives in an America that was still full of hope and promise, and just on the cusp of change forever. Perhaps the best way to sum up the series was the theme song, "Accentuate the Positive", by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. The series cemented my love of the '40's; I was the only 13-year-old I knew who used to roll her hair to go to school. Unfortunately, it has never been released on DVD, but if you are lucky enough to find it somewhere (copies of the series do exist for the enterprising spirit), I highly recommend it. Powerful, cheerful, positive, and human . . . why don't they make TV like this anymore?
What about you, dear readers? Do you remember Homefront? What's the best show you remember watching, that you haven't seen in years?

3 comments:

Kimba said...

I remember that show & loved it! I also really liked "China Beach" set during the Vietnam War.

Ginger said...

Another excellent show! We don't get good period shows anymore . . . :(

Anonymous said...

I loved both of those shows!!!