The Great American Fourth Of July and Other Disasters (1982) Jean Shepherd movie

Jean Shepherd the famous writer of The Christmas Story, as an older Ralph, recalls his memory of a particular Fourth of July from his highschool years in Hollman, Indiana. Ralph plays the sousaphone in the highschool band to the instructions of the batontwirling drum master Wilbur Duckworth. Ralph is grudgingly set up on a blind date, only to find himself in the company of the gorgeous Miss Junior Corn Blossom, who rejects his advances. On the Fourth of July Duckworth causes a power outage by twirling his baton onto an electrical line during a parade; the town drunk Ludlow Kissel sets off an enormous firework that explodes under his own porch; and Ralph s father entertains the neighbors with his annual dramatic display of fireworks. Ballad of Ludlow Kissel is sung by Leigh Brown. Produced by Olivia Tappan.