From: 6175190@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM
Subject: Re: Black Stallion (was Horsey Dinner Theatres...)
Organization: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 20:51:52 GMT

>The director (Carroll Ballard (?), I think, my album is at home)
>used to make documentaries and TBS was his first big screen movie.  He has
>since done some other really beautiful ones, such as "Never Cry Wolf" and
>"Wind" (which I'd like to see since it actually has a female engineer in
>it, hooray!)

Well, whatever his background, he does a beautiful job!

>>Well, Jill, you obviously are a "little" younger than I am. But let me
>>assure you that long before the movie came out, the books were feeding horsey
>>dreams to many a young girl and, I suspect though maybe more secretly,
>>many a young boy too. I think we need more of these beautiful, reasonably
>>gentle, though exciting, stories to give our children some good dreams
>>for a change, IMHO! ;-)

>Well, I'm 26 if that makes me young.  When did the movie come out?  1980?
>1978?  I'd guess late 70s.

I hope I didn't offend by making that remark about being young. I'm 49.
My first memory of The Black Stallion books was a teacher reading to the
class in, I suppose, 3rd grade. It was our "quiet time", no one talked or
wiggled much less made trouble when Alec and "The Black" were onto an
adventure!

>The amusing thing is when I started reading the
>book when I was 10, my father told me he'd read them too.  He's 58 now, so
>he was reading them in the mid-1940s.  So, there's one "boy" reader!  I
>wouldn't doubt many boys read the books in the 40s, 50s, and 60s.  Adventure
>stories were popular back when people used to read.  Now, we have "GameBoy"
>and I see very very few boys riding in lessons.  There's a question, why
>do the lower levels of competition and pleasure ownership seem to
>be female dominated, yet the Grand Prix levels are even or even male-
>dominated?  What's the theory behind this?

Well, I do have a theory. And since you asked... I'll try to keep it brief
and not raise too many flames. I think "boys" don't feel comfortable working
with something that they can't dominate or at least don't think they can
dominate. Girls quite often (maybe even the majority) at a certain age
develop a love for the beauty of horses and the idea of having such a
wonderful creature as a "friend". Many (maybe most) grow away from the
ideas as boys and other activities take over their lives. But the ones
who are truly hooked never leave even if it means returning later in
life when circumstances change. With boys/men I think the ones who stay
or come back have worked out the idea that either "I can dominate anything
and "bend" it to my will!!!" :-( OR they've worked out that it is much
more rewarding to learn to work with a big powerful and beautiful creature
than to dominate it. (NOTE: this does not mean, necessarily, that this
follows in the rest of their lives but it would be nice to think so). ;-)

How's that for a theory! ;-)

>I'm still waiting to own mine.  As soon as I get this Master's degree...
>Leasing this summer told me I wanted to dedicate the time and I loved
>it enough..  Now, I need to job and the money..  (8

>                            Jill (& her cat, Meg)
>*  Jill Engel (Anne Meridiem)  * "If the world were a logical place, *
>* meridiem@lamar.colostate.edu *  men would ride side-saddle."       *
>*                              *                    --Rita Mae Brown *

Aw, but you have a plan!!! We are the lucky ones, we know what we love!

Best wishes,
Diane, Spring & Dancer

PS. I love your sign off!! ;-)