I’ll bet you didn’t know that I love all things American Graffiti.
Yes friends, it is Graffiti Summer, a time when we celebrate the cool classic things about our community. I love the music, the chrome, the art, the history, the stories, the legends and the fact that Modesto is the only city in the GALAXY that is the Home of American Graffiti, Home of George Lucas, Home of Star Wars and so much more. And I don’t even own a classic car! Wow. This is cool.
I was walking through Star Wars land at Disneyland this March, and I was proud that this all came from the mind of a kid who grew up in Ramona Avenue, went to Downey, cruised our streets and went on to create some of the greatest movies ever made. Yes, it makes me smile and yes, I tell my friends that aren’t from here all about it. Heck, even Jeopardy celebrates Modesto’s heritage. Answer: What is American Graffiti?
The best part is, that these Graffiti stories are based on people who lived here and places we know. These are legends, these are the people that inspired George and it is people that make our community what it is today. That’s why I created the Historic Cruise Route to tell our story, and created the Legends of the Cruise Walk of Fame, where this month we will induct Mackenzie Phillips, star of American Graffiti alongside our own local cruise legends. That’s why we are working so hard to build the Graffiti USA Museum so that we have a place to share our story with the rest of the world and welcome visitors from all parts of the globe, and interstellarly once we master wormholes.
Having a good story and an interesting history will help attract new businesses and attract creative people. We need to attract the brightest and best and the creative cities win. My friend Middagh Goodwin has created GraffitiCon where pop culture meets subculture, where Graffiti collides with Star Wars and comic books. Local author Ken White has written a play about the Maddox Brothers and Rose that will be read at the end of next month. This was the advent of Rockabilly music. Our community business savvy and the performing arts lead the Gallo Brothers to create the largest winery in the world and our local stage performers to be TV and film superstars.
It all starts somewhere and you could be the next story.
I am grateful to my family and friends for making this place home. I am thankful for the local businesses that believe in ModestoView as a way to spread good news and idead across our community and ultimately, bringing them more business. I am proud to be a father to the most amazing kids, and for me, every day is Father’s Day. I am truly honored that the Legends of the Cruise felt me worthy to be added to the Graffiti Walk of Fame.
This is where we really count on you. We need to amplify the positive messages so I am counting on you to promote the good, use your socials for the positive and look for teamwork and solutions. This is the inspiration of Graffiti Summer to celebrate the good and let’s amplify the positive things about our town. Take time to explore, learn and enjoy and you will feel better.
I hope to see you out and about this month and thank you so much for reading.
Let’s rock and roll this summer!
Chris Murphy
Founder and Publisher, ModestoView
chrism@modestoview.com<mailto:chrism@modestoview.com>
