The Flux Capacitors Celebrates the Real Ghostbusters
Who ya gonna call?
Who doesn’t know the answer to this question? If you grew up in the 80s/90s decades, there is only one answer: GHOSTBUSTERS! Cue the music!
Ghostbusters (1984) introduced audiences to the supernatural and the quartet of science nerds ready to handle the ghost business. When a demonic awakening brings the dead to the streets of New York, the Ghostbusters hustle to wrangle the dead back to the spirit realm using high tech gadgets. Lead by Peter (]played by Bill Murray), he would capitalize on the genius power of Egon (played by Harold Ramis) and the positive energy of Ray (played by Dan Aykroyd). Winston (played by Ernie Hudson) maintained the cool stability of the quartet). The movie was more comedy action than horror as the quartet crept around libraries and dining rooms collecting the ghost. It is when they meet the ultimate big bad demon that these nerdy hustlers became the heroes the city needed.
Following the popularity of Ghostbusters (1984) movie, the animated series The Real Ghostbusters began in 1986 and ran for seven seasons. The show changed some details from the movies such as making Janine less a receptionist and more of a love interest to Egon. Or turning Slimer, the grotesque green tinged gluttonous ghost in the movie into a campy kitten-like pet in the show. The animated show expanded upon the ghostly adventures the quartet would encounter in New York city in a morning cartoon format. Essentially keeping the franchise going for years after the movie.
Forty years later, the love of that animated series will bring together several groups to help raise funds for a good cause. On a Saturday during the third heatwave to hit Southern California, fans flocked to the Dynasty Typewriter to participate in the sold out Giving Back with The Real Ghostbusters: A 40th Anniversary Celebration. The event was hosted by the 501 (c)(3) non-profit group, Saturday Morning Cartoons United. The event included a table reading with voice actors talent: Maurice LaMarche and Laura Summer, joined by Eric Bauza, Jonah Ray, Rob Schrab, Phil LaMarr, Laraine Newman, Jessica DiCicco, Aaron LaPlante, Brock Powell and Derek Mears as the Boogieman.
It was just pure nostalgia bliss all for a good cause. Seeing voice actors and their skills love is an absolute treat. Of course the event concluded with a return to the past with some episodes from the series. Most of the audiences had grown up with the series but there were also some young children who were watching these for the first time. The franchise will live on.
A portion of the proceeds benefited the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Before the table reading and episodes, the event began with the rocking tunes of the 80’s. Onstage were the Flux Capacitors. Keen eyes will note the bands name is from another famous 80’s movie (ahem, Back To The Future). The Flux Capacitors is a cover band that has no boundary in 80’s movie genre. Music flows between franchises and audience doesn’t care when they hear a great song.
In the cozy theater space, the band was a huge presence as they danced around to their covers of the decades. They absolutely embodied and projected the high energy associated with the band. Starting off with the iconic theme song, the band kept up the Ghostbuster spirit with songs from Tully’ the accountants party playlist from the first movie. It was eclectic set featuring songs such as “Walk Like Egyptian” by the Bangles and “The Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats. The bops and energy were a great beginning to the event.
Concerts and cartoons were a great to help the Starlight Children’s Foundation, a national nonprofit. The organization dedicates their energy to bring happiness to seriously ill children and their families through programs—including character-themed hospital gowns—provided free of charge to children’s hospitals nationwide.
Congratulations to the Flux Capacitors and Saturday Morning Cartoons United for working together to celebrate a beloved franchise with fans and to share that generous spirt to children in need.
““We’re incredibly grateful to the Saturday Morning Cartoons United team and the Ghostbusters community for coming together to help us transform the hospital experience for young patients, bringing moments of fun, happiness, and normalcy to an unfamiliar environment... The funds raised from this event will provide more programs like our Ghostbusters-themed Starlight Hospital Gowns to children’s hospitals nationwide, helping kids feel like Ghostbusters themselves as they take on the challenges of a hospital stay.””
For more information on the band and organizations:
Starlight Children's Foundation: https://www.starlight.org/
The Flux Capacitors: https://www.thefluxcapacitors.com/
Saturday Morning Cartoons United: https://www.cartoonsunited.com/
