Brown Family Home Movies – 1970 to 1978
Below you’ll find a link to a video that will transport you straight back to the 1970’s. Back then, if the head of the family was particularly innovative, they might gather the family together around the dining table and outline their plan to invest in a Super 8 movie camera to capture the family’s magic moments in glorious colour.
This was no mere ‘purchase’. It was a true ‘investment’. And the return on that investment would be realised when the family gathered around the flickering projector in the darkened lounge room to see what visual delights had been captured. Provided, of course, that the film didn’t get jammed, and freeze on a frame of granddad for a second or two, until we see the old man melt before our very eyes. A tragedy.
Sure, the colour was not really that glorious. And the quality left a lot to be desired, to the extent that there were moments when well-known family members became unrecognisable coloured blobs. And of course, there was no sound. But pay that no mind.
Such a family was the Brown family, consisting of Keith Brown, father and head cameraman, Joan Brown (nee O’Brien), Keith’s wife and Irene and Bill’s 7th child, and their four children Karen, Ian, Darryl and Vanessa. I can’t be 100% positive at this stage, but I believe the Browns may have been the only branch of the O’Brien family that leapt into the cinematic world of the 70’s. That said, I’d be happy to hear about any home movies other family members may have.
From 1970 to 1978, the Browns captured all manner of events, covering christenings, birthdays, religious occasions, holidays by the beach, adventures on the farm, and much more.
And now, through the marvels of digital transformation, this group of 24 separate scenes has been converted, augmented with a soundtrack, and uploaded as a movie that runs for just under an hour, so that the O’Brien Clan can sit back and enjoy some nostalgic moments from a half a century ago.
Of course, the primary focus is on the six members of the Brown family, but an additional 22 members of the extended O’Brien Clan appear in various scenes, as do many on Keith’s side of the family.
Watch as Vanessa hogs the camera, appearing in no less than 20 of the 24 scenes. Those of a generous disposition would say this was due to Vanessa’s arrival into the world coinciding with the exact time that Super 8 was becoming affordable, rather than being the result of baby Vanessa’s desire to become a film star. We may never know. 😉
One way or the other, as the youngest of Irene and Bill’s 48 grandkids, we see Vanessa grow from a newborn to an 8 year old, as she pokes her head into just about every shot.
And there’s rare footage of Bill O’Brien holding his youngest grandchild (yes, you guessed it) Vanessa…again!
The film also features Tilbuster, Jack and Celia’s farm just outside Armidale NSW. Three of the longer sequences show farm work and fun across the years, as we also see each of Jack and Celia’s 9 children. Of course, they’re just the side show as they nurse Vanessa, or help Vanessa walk, etc. She’s everywhere! 😲🤣
See Joan’s sister Gwen pull her famously hilarious comic face. Watch Joan and Keith’s daughter Karen as she displays her Easter gift in the style of a game show hostess. Enjoy seeing Darryl try to outdo Vanessa, as he pops up in 17 scenes, as does his Mum, Joan. And for those of us of a certain age, relive the heady mix of excitement and disappointment that can only be experienced during ‘pass the parcel’ at a young child’s birthday party.
It’s all there for your enjoyment.
Just underneath the video link below is a list of the 28 O’Briens who appear in the video, and in what scenes.
And below that, for those who are interested in such things, there’s a list of the music that’s been used in the video.
So go on! Jump aboard the digital DeLorean. Just click on the picture below, and you’ll be transported back to the magic of the 70’s.
The table below lists the 28 O’Briens who appear in the video, and in what scenes. The top row shows you the clip number, with rows 2 and 3 showing the start and finish time for each of the 24 clips in minutes and seconds. The last row of the table shows which scenes Tilbuster appears in.
Below is a list of the music used in the video in the order of play. The right hand columns shows the clip(s) each piece of music applies to, and the start and end times for the music.
Written by Rob Landsberry, last modified 24 January 2024