Oddball Films brings you Teen Dreams and Puberty Nightmares, a star-studded night of vintage films full of those awkward, horrible, and occasionally musical moments that afflict the youth of any era. Junior High School (1978), a hilariously awkward musicalamity featuring a 16 year-old Paula Abdul and a cast of gangly teens and preteens singing and dancing about the "Itty Bitty Titty Committee", wearing a cup in gym class and having a boy-girl party. It is one part toe-tapper, one part gut-cringer and all magic! Di$ney has the all the answers for the growing girl with the dreamily animated The Story of Menstruation (1945). For the guys, actor Ken Howard has all the Facts for Boys (1980) when he talks about wet dreams with three young men on an unsupervised camping trip (with a killer soundtrack). Real teens talk about their dalliances with substance abuse in the classroom primer aimed at preteens, Drugs: First Decision (1978). Watch out for fast moving boys and the emotional and genital sores they may leave in The Innocent Party (1959). A teenaged Michael Jackson sings "We don't have to change at all" in a musical number from Free to be You...And Me (1974). With teen trailers, vintage commercials, a dash of Degrassi Junior High and an aerobic workout with every girl's favorite doll and a 13 year-old Jennifer Love Hewitt in an excerpt from The B@rbie Workout (1993). This program with have you laughing, singing, cringing and thanking your lucky stars those days are behind you!
A Walt D*sney Production, The Story of Menstruation is an animated short film produced for American schools detailing the menstrual cycle. Rumored to be the first film with the word “vagina” in it’s screenplay, this vintage gem is both matter of fact and dreamily flowery. A large-headed girl takes you through the dos and don’ts of menses while helpful diagrams guide us all to better understanding.
Facts for Boys (Color, 1981)
Actor Ken Howard, in the middle of his stint as the White Shadow, decided to take three young boys, Li’l Billy Warner, Shane Hankins and Kade Lyons on an unsupervised camping trip to shoot the shit about wet dreams and unwanted pregnancies over wiener roasting and s’mores. With a dynamite soundtrack that includes hits by Rod Stewart, Blondie, The Eagles and Willie Nelson.
The Innocent Party (Color, 1959)
Two happy-go lucky boys get really lucky downtown at the movie theatre. The next week, one of the boys, Billy, and his steady girl, Betty, go too far in the car and he discovers a sore 'down there'. Betty looks absolutely miserable after the deed, and shame sets in like the bubonic plague. Billy gets worried and goes to see the doctor who explains the necessity of dragging Betty in for a physical as well. The Doc scares the hell out of Billy with graphic photos, and starts taking names. Naturally, it is some 'loose, downtown girls' who are responsible.
