Home Movie Day to allow a glimpse into history

Home movies always seem to be one of those things that get better with age. If viewed too soon, the holiday recording or graduation video can seem corny and, frankly, rather embarrassing. But footage of years past - of youthful parents wearing vintage clothes and happy smiles - can be a real treasure.

Unfortunately, few people still have the projectors to view these old film reels, and many of the reels have spent decades boxed up in dusty attics in an unknown state of disrepair. Often this means that people do not get an opportunity to view these mementos of the past.

You can finally do something about that this Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Knight Library from noon until 4 p.m.

The library is hosting its second bi-annual Home Movie Day, where people can bring their film reel movies to volunteers who will give storage advice, make any necessary repairs and project them on site.

Home Movie Day is an international event, with many cities hosting events around the globe. Eugene and Portland alternate each year, with Eugene's last Home Movie Day being one of the most successful in the nation, according to University librarian Elizabeth Peterson, who is organizing the event.

Owners of home movies, or just those interested in seeing a glimpse of history, can visit the Media Services wing on the ground floor of the library.

Volunteers will be looking at 8mm, Super 8mm and 16mm films. While the focus is on home movies, Peterson said that the library will also be showing some of the films out of its own collection, such as training videos shot by legendary Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman, as well as a few "quirky surprises."

"Home movies allow us to revisit the past through film," PeterProxy-Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=0

n said. "We are the pioneer diaries that people 100 years from now will want to watch."

Find more information about the event at www.homemovieday.com.

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