Blast From the Past: I Dream of Jeannie
Posted by La Dolce Diva on Dec 9, 2008 | 7 commentsTuning into Prime Time television these days can be an eye-opener. For those of us who remember when they couldn’t even say the word &%#@!…well they can say it now. And do, a lot. There is also lots of skin, inappropriate behavior and dress on both ends of the age range, ridiculous lifestyles and general unbelievability trying to be sold as the norm. I don’t buy it. You don’t have to either.
A couple of years ago, I gave my 9 year old niece the DVD set of TV’s Gidget with Sally Fields. Have you seen it? It is fab! My sisters and I spent many a summer day watching reruns of it in the 70’s. With names like Gidget, best friend LaRue and boyfriend Moon Doggy, how could it be anything but innocent fun. And guess what, my niece and her friend LOVED it. I watched all the episodes again with them myself without worrying about any awkward moments cropping up or any deep messages. Two years later, she still watches it.
Last year I gave her DVD’s of Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Green Acres and The Flying Nun. You will be amazed at how these old gems hold up. Are they a bit cheesy? Yes. So what. My niece is always asking stories about our childhood, this is a way to share, bond and laugh together. There really was a more innocent time and it wasn’t just in the 1950’s.
These DVD’s and ones like them would be a great gifts for most young girls. There are just as many great ones for boys, like Alias, Smith & Jones, My Favorite Martian and Get Smart.
The inspiration to tell you about these TV show DVD’s came from my niece, herself. I have been making her Halloween costumes for most of her 11 years. This past Halloween, she said she already had a costume. Oh, okay — I thought. I really look forward to working with her ideas and trying to bring them to life, so I was a bit disappointed. She, in fact, has said her favorite thing about Halloween was Aunt Jenny making her costume.
Jeannie: Now.…and Then!
Imagine my delight when she said she was going to be Jeannie! HA! She had found the costume I made for a college Halloween party, 20 years ago. I went to a fashion school, so stakes were pretty high. In fact, at one time, F.I.T.‘s Halloween party was THE party to go to in NYC.
So, it ends up that I did make her Halloween costume, just a bit early.
Jennifer, this is an awesome post. I have been struggling with the little bit of TV we let our kids watch around here. The shows are bad enough, but the commercials are just awful. You have inspired me to get some of these old shows en masse!
Girl, you look good in that costume. Looks like the Indie Beauty industry’s gain is the fashion industry’s big loss!
Will I sound old if I say “Those were the days!”? I loved I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, etc. BTW, fab costume!
Oh…my!! This sure does bring back some memories! I am a huge fan of the old shows. Green Acres, Gilligan’s Island, I Dream of Jeanie, Happy Days and the list goes on! Thanks for blasting the past in your post and showing off your fashion talent. I know who I am calling next year to help with my Halloween costume! You are definitely a woman with many talents!
I LOVE I dream of Jeannie! It was always a favorite of mine growing up. I’m the mom that screens Sponge bob from my kids shows. She mostly watches Tom and Jerry! DM, You are so right about the commercials. They are worse than many of the shows. DVDs might be the ticket! Oh and Jennifer, nice abs!!
Hey, thanks everyone for the posts. When my niece was trying on the costume for me to see, she had the pants below her waist and was having a hard time zipping them up. I had to explain to her that they went ABOVE her belly button because TV Big Wigs wouldn’t let Jeannie show her belly button on TV. You should have seen her face…totally confused. HA!
Fun post, Jennifer! Brings back fond memories of years past. Jeannie’s outfit was actually pretty revealing for the times, even if she couldn’t show her belly button! So funny about your neice’s trouble with the pants. I had forgotten about the belly button dilemma. I really love all those old shows. And, you are so right…no uncomfortable moments with the kiddos when watching these cheesy, yet fun shows.
…and what about The Flying Nun, so funny and fun.. the nuns that taught me were never like that!!!! I think they traveled on brooms. Oh, I know I will get punished for saying that.
Lana