Video conferencing, fingerprint recognition and 3D movies seem pretty standard nowadays. But what about imagining these technological advances back in 1989? Well, that’s what the plot of Back to the Future II did when its characters traveled to 2015 — to today, October 21st, 2015. WAMC’s Jim Levulis tells us how one Berkshire destination plans to celebrate Future Day.Unlike Dr. Emmett Brown’s saying, you will need roads if you want to check out the events in this story, specifically the ones in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. On Saturday, the Norman Rockwell Museum is hosting a festival to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first movie in the trilogy.
“The first thing they’re going to notice when they drive is a trip back in time with a really nice display of classic, vintage cars,” said Jeremy Clowe, the museum’s media services manager. “We’ve got a number of local owners that are contributing vehicles from the 20s right on through the 80s. We’ll have a DeLorean. That is worth the price of admission alone.”
The museum’s media services manager Jeremy Clowe is a, uh, big fan of the trilogy.
“Yeah, I’m here in my full Marty getup today,” admitted Clowe as he sat down for an interview with WAMC.
And the red vest, denim jacket, white sneakers and sunglasses he donned on Future Day backed up his claim. The museum is encouraging visitors Saturday to dress up as their favorite characters from the trilogy. In all 50 cars are expected for the event.
“There’s a local towing company called R.W.’s that is helping us to get Griff’s flying BMW out here from Connecticut,” Clowe explained. “It doesn’t really fly, sorry to tell you. Another weird coincidence with this event…they have been in existence for 30 years, founded in October 1985. I literally got chills when they told me that.”
Local artists Robert Taylor and Dai Ban will talk about their experience working on the Back To The Future ride film for Universal Studios. A good portion of that film was produced in the Berkshires, with the help of Doug Trumbull of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner fame. A documentary featuring interviews with the films’ stars and fans that explores the impact of Back To The Future will be shown at 4:30. So how does this all connect to Norman Rockwell?
“I really feel like a trip to the Rockwell Museum is like a trip back in time,” Clowe said. “His work is from the 20th century and the 50s were his peak when he moved to Stockbridge. Visiting the studio is like stepping back into another time period, no flux capacitor needed.”
And how close does Clowe, or for today should I say McFly! think the second movie did in predicting what life is like today?
“Flat screen TVs were featured in the movie and they were not on the horizon,” Clowe said. “Self-tying laces…maybe we were a little ways off with that. Hoverboards…I’ve heard that there might be some technology. I saw a video of a guy taking it over a lake, but then the movie said that they don’t work over water so I’m not sure that that’s too accurate.”
The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington is showing the first film tonight at 7 while the North Adams Movieplex is showing the entire trilogy this evening.
“Great Scott!”
Click here for information of the Norman Rockwell Museum's event.
Hear WAMC's Joe Donahue's interview with Christopher Lloyd, who portrayed Dr. Emmett Brown, Doc.
