366 Days at the Drive-In: Day 285

The Date: July 11

The Movie: The Pee Wee Herman Show (1981)

What Is It?: The HBO special that started an international legend by dragging Paul Ruben’s low-budget Sunset Strip show into living rooms across the U.S.A. There’s Phil Hartman as salty Cap’n Carl and Lynne Marie Stewart as the Most Beautiful Woman in Puppetland and John Paragon as a boxed genie who just can’t wait to try out his new hands (Caucasian) and an awesome medley of hits from Sly and the Family Stone. The atmosphere is Howdy Doody kiddie time but the humor is for the grown ups. A righteous combo.

Why Today?: Today is 7/11 and Pee Wee is the luckiest boy in the world.

366 Days at the Drive-In: Day 202

The Date: April 19

The Movie: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

What Is It?: Dark exploration of loner/rebel’s ruthless quest to recover what was taken from him. No biker is safe. There is no place in the Alamo he won’t trespass, even its basement. He has no time for romance. He’ll hitchhike with a convict or rest in the mouth of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. His story is epic. His name is Pee Wee.

Why Today?: Today is Bicycle Day!