Markaes4 t1_j2aollq wrote on December 30, 2022 at 9:28 PM

Simple. Flash Gordon bombed in the theater, then HBO picked up the rights and played it (and Beastmaster) 24/7 nonstop from 1980-1984. (That's how it seemed to me at least). This was right during the formative years for a lot of nerdy GenXers like me and we watched it over and over and over until it became burned in our consciousnesses. 'Flash Ahaaaaah!" is like a subconscious trigger word to bring me back to those carefree days of sitting on shag carpeting in front of the console TV.

mockity t1_j2axv40 wrote on December 30, 2022 at 10:30 PM

Hello, fellow Gen X Flash Gordon fan!!

Markaes4 t1_j2d5s7h wrote on December 31, 2022 at 10:42 AM

Hello, we lived through good times!

Derfargin t1_j2dzodf wrote on December 31, 2022 at 3:42 PM

Gasp!!! You just described my childhood.

Markaes4 t1_j2apb9o wrote on December 30, 2022 at 9:33 PM

But in all seriousness, I do think that did have a lot to do with it. Kind of like how TBS created the Christmas Story cult. It was a bomb and in the 80s almost no one had ever heard of it until the mid to late 90s when it was on TV constantly. Then everyone was suddenly like "oh that was my favorite christmas movie always".

nosmelc t1_j2bgcfv wrote on December 31, 2022 at 12:39 AM

I seem to remember a Christmas Story getting big before the mid-90's.

Markaes4 t1_j2ctode wrote on December 31, 2022 at 7:57 AM

I know it was on HBO, showtime, VHS in the 80s but I don't think it had any kind of mass following until TBS/TNT got exclusive TV rights in the early 90s, starting showing it every christmas day and the annual all-day marathon in late 90s. That's when I remember it just blowing up with ralphie shirts, christmas ornaments and leg lamps everywhere.

edit: https://theretronetwork.com/a-brief-history-of-the-24-hours-of-a-christmas-story-marathon/