HBO Intro 1983

[@TerminalJ]

My god it almost brings me to tears with the nostalgia.

[@JazzHandzLMT]

I was singing this at work today...

[@alisaforesthillscb3brigade816]

Same here

[@alisaforesthillscb3brigade816]

Remember fraggle rock

[@bobolito]

They still use the same melody to this day. It’s just shorter and different instruments. But same music.

[@morningstar6506]

Just a fortunate as y'all, having HBO as a kid. So much that was outside of being age appropriate, even the action and comic movies, with everything I "wasn't" supposed to see....plus movies I definitely wasn't supposed to see. Add in the doc's they had (still remember the first "Real Sex" episode coming on when I was 11) helped open a kids eyes, lol! So many memories I want this played at my funeral

[@cellulardecay9520]

I'm 43 years old and this still gives me the chills. Memories of eating popcorn at my cousin's house and watching movies when I was 5 years old. Those were the days.

[@ZMAN_420]

Those were the days, only 1 HBO channel, whatever is on is on, no cell phones, an 80s kid! 👍🏻🇺🇲

[@CraigMcfly1985]

Facts even, when you have a vcr and recording this intro and the movie in da 80's and 90's.

[@CraigMcfly1985]

​@@ZMAN_420agree.

[@JB-bo6yf]

Same here😇👍💖

[@davidsumner7604]

Movies felt more special when you couldn't simply type their name into a search bar and be instantly watching whatever you thought of.

[@rustylozanolpc4227]

One of the most memorable intros in history. HBO, they were the only ones... wow, what a beautiful ad.

[@B_Chasnika]

The funny thing about it is, no matter if the movie sucked, we watched it because of the intro

[@soundsgreatentertainment4203]

They actually just played this this morning, that's what brought me here

[@CraigMcfly1985]

​@@B_Chasnikayep😂😂😂

[@CongaLineMonkey]

Please come back, 1980s. I'm sorry I took you for granted.

[@erichoffman2243]

EXACTLY!! Well-said!!

[@djm.326]

I could not have said it better myself.

[@Stella42942]

I'm in tears, my little girl was 4 years old and she would dance to this HBO intro every single time she would hear it, one day she was very ill with a fever and she tried to get up when she heard the music but she looked at me and her daddy and said "I can't dance" and layed back down then fell asleep, I smiled but it broke my heart that she still tried to dance 💔 Just watching and listening to this video took me back to that beautiful and wonderful moment in time...💜🎶

[@dannybillstyle]

I hope she recovered and danced many more times

[@jdcapps21]

Kids get sick all the time

[@Variety1985]

❤

[@marierose379]

Just turned 60 and i remember being 19 and my husband and I "yes got married young" saved enough money to get HBO we would look at the TV guide to see what was on for that week and I would rush home to make dinner and we would sit down in front of the TV to watch HBO ... I would wish our evenings would never end but they did. I miss him so much and miss those days... bring me back to the 80s when I was in love and my life was so simple and life was kind.

[@toreagreene1148]

Back when HBO was lit.The good ol days.

[@ignagrebe4538]

uhh, HBO is still lit

[@evog35viii]

@@ignagrebe4538 it was more lit back then.

[@Epicmikey9]

@@evog35viii better than netflix for sure. Netflix productions is for lower class or simple people. Most of it's own content is rated as a garbage.

[@paperchasindude6578]

@@Epicmikey9 so true thonmy god 13 reasons why was so uh...

[@denisemelanson9717]

So was mtv that actually showed music videos. Everything was new and shiny

[@nine_tails137]

As the Nostalgia Critic said: "HBO! You gotta bring this back!!!!"

[@morticianxl]

Yup! I agreed when he said you can put this at the beginning of the worst movie, and it will make the movie better

[@tylerbonezjonez]

HBO MAX

[@shadowmousegaming6813]

Even if the movie your playing is god damn Jack And Jill... It will be a little bit better with that intro.

[@puzzleshield4924]

@@shadowmousegaming6813 yes.

[@michaelguernsey9685]

I Agree. The 1980's Knew How To Draw People To Watch A Movie On HBO With This Intro.

[@Blacksword404]

When you saw this come on you knew some good shit was coming.

[@gerardmcmillan8591]

In deed!

[@Pteromandias]

Yep! The first thing I saw after that intro was Superman II.

[@ants8527]

lol yep😂

[@robakaze10]

Yes, and if I remember correctly it was every Saturday night prime time movie premiere for the month. Those were the days!

[@rustylozanolpc4227]

Lol!!

[@insensitivejokester422]

Still gives me goosebumps every time I hear the tune

[@dannybillstyle]

Such a banger!!

[@audreymuzingo933]

We were too poor for basic cable, never mind HBO. I had a couple neighbor kid friends who had it though, and occasionally got to see movies at their houses. Just seeing this intro was almost as thrilling as the movies themselves.

[@raygxr8582]

Audrey Muzingo We would only get cable for summer months each year... do you remember being able to press down 2 channels at the same box and getting a premium channel you didn’t pay for??? (Old analog boxes)

[@bodhixxx1]

Ya i remember that we had 2 channels the neighbors a mile away had a Dish ( the ones that had grease zerks) and this intro was a mini movie to me plus I would actually take their old TV programs home with me and look through all the cool stuff that was on and imagine how great it would be able to watch it. lol it was creative being poor

[@denisemelanson9717]

The intro was actually really exciting.

[@Cerulean0987]

I've had a similar experience.

[@mg19cal]

Same here, relatives houses too. I always amped to go to my uncle's house because he had cable

[@ronnettnorfleet7086]

I feel like I'm 6 again.

[@ipswickweb1283]

So true! One of my earliest memories. Those flashes at the end were like magic to me.

[@ironhead108]

I was also 6 in 1983 and absolutely it makes me feel like I’m back if for just a moment.

[@Pteromandias]

@@ipswickweb1283 YES They were!

[@Tracy-Lee-Staton]

This will always be my favorite HBO intro. It takes me back to being a kid in the early 80s. Thank you for uploading 👍🏻

[@latonyawitcher8676]

For reallll!

[@73Shakes]

I was 10 then. Cable TV was just coming out. As a kid when I heard this from upstairs id coming running down and into the living room cause I knew something good was about to be on lol. Kinda brings a tear to your eye. Sometimes change isn't a good thing...……..

[@ants8527]

lol yep i was a 80s child age 10 in 1985 And HBO movies at that time were always good🤗🤗🤗

[@gingersherrod11]

I'm always longing for the good ole days," THE 80's "

[@alexspader]

Everything is changing too fast. I'm 30 years old and even early 2010s were different than now. It feels like we're living in some dystopia novel.

[@Philtho]

yeah, even the bad movies were good back then as a kid. that intro got you all hyped!

[@TheDisasterdale]

Ahhh, 1983. You can still hear the disco influence.

[@Mario_N64]

There were still some funky horns.

[@hiddenmesa]

Getting the HBO guide in the mail each month was so exciting.

[@tomy.1846]

I remember the one with Rocky III on the cover! Good times!

[@michaelminervini1908]

This intro was so exciting. You just knew a good movie was coming.

[@graybush3699]

One of the greatest openings EVER!!! I frickin love the 80's!!!

[@armywife2248]

In 1983, a 12 yr old me never thought a 49 year old me would be still appreciating this intro!!

[@WiIdbiII]

I was twelve in 83 too. This intro was so mystical to me.

[@mildredfreshour4787]

I was 10 lol

[@erichoffman2243]

Exactly!

[@HPM619]

1971 babies let’s go!!!

[@BAJPGeneticGenealogist]

Oh the nostalgia! I remember watching the making of this on HBO back then where they showed the models of the town and how they were panning the camera. This makes me miss my childhood. Being a kid in the 80s was awesome!

[@theflyxx]

You knew shit was gonna go down when you saw this particular intro and that a really good movie was gonna come on. I miss being 10 years old.

[@paisleyprince5280]

And just like that I'm 6 years old getting ready to watch fraggle rock. Ugh.

[@michellegriff13]

YES Fragle Rock! I'm gonna find a clip right now.

[@garymiller1121]

Yes!!!!! Fraggle Rock was amazing!!! I always liked Wimbley

[@gretchengarrett296]

This intro TERRIFIED me. But it was the price I had to pay for Fraggle Rock, so pay it I did.

[@dostagirl9551]

Yep. Fragile rock and Brain Games.

[@kirafranklyn2923]

Fraggle Rocckkkkkkk

[@theoriginalThud]

YESS!!! Back when watching a movie on HBO was an event! You knew something good was going to be on. Thanks for posting!

[@MikeMaxwell1961]

This was pure artistry. Amazing to this day. And the music was spectacular.

[@Jeremiah_Johnson139]

This opening used to give me chills, as a kid (still does), like the studio logo openings for Tri-Star Pictures and their galloping horse, the drums for the 20th Century Fox logo, the orchestral opening of Universal Studios, or, later, the classical guitar opening of Dreamworks SKG. Watching movies used to be an event! On any given Friday night, in my house, growing up, hearing the start of this HBO opening would be followed by a incessant and excited yell from the living room "IT'S STARTING! IT'S STARTING!" Fight to bring back sanity, tradition, morals and values, people. What we had wasn't perfect, but it was 1,000 fold better than what we have today!

[@CraigMcfly1985]

Or a Warner Bros movie comes on this.

[@soundsgreatentertainment4203]

I so miss this and the Tri Star horse with that great music playing. This HBO intro actually played about a year ago. It came on right before a stand up comedian. I wonder if it was intentional, or someone snuck it in.

[@stunningandbrave7475]

Love the use of miniatures in this. Such wonderful craftsmanship for a 30 second shot... I miss pre-CGI heavy times.

[@cubdukat]

Point of Personal Privilege I remember how they used to play the clip of how they made this as a bumper between programs.

[@jefffluharty2116]

I remember watching the special where they showed how they made the miniature city

[@Gobble_de_Goop]

Yep! Practical effects win over CGI, ANY DAY!!

[@clorox1676]

The effect when the O starts to light in colours is so well done and it looks contemporary. I have no idea how they did it so nicely as I rememeber "light" effects and CGI overall being a bit crappy in the 80's. The font at the end gives its age away, but the moment it lights up looks much more modern than it is.

[@Therehabanddocumentationguru]

Such a cool intro. Back when it was magical and not taken for granted.

[@mart099]

This is a great intro for way back in 1983. Love the music and graphics. Made the audience feel pumped up. I’m from UK so first time I’ve seen this.

[@Mario_N64]

Watching it back then was just the best. You knew something good was going to start.

[@franknitti9288]

Saturday night in the 80s Popped popcorn... weekend you knew a good movie was coming on as a kid!!! Damn the 80,s was priceless

[@damin9913]

I miss when HBO was this amazing to watch! Take me back to the 80s!

[@EricE549]

i was born in ‘03 but seeing this now really makes me wish i was born in the 80s

[@michellegriff13]

😁😁😁😁 You and my son born in '04!

[@theblushingbookworm]

Yeah, the 80s were special times. I miss it❤

[@alanmorris7669]

This will always be my favorite HBO opening. Back then, I was in the 12th grade and my parents had just got cablevision. HBO and Cinemax were the only cable movie channels. It cost my parents $15 a month and first-time subscribers received a months supply of Jiffy Pop popcorn which was 30 stove-top popping pans in a box.

[@CraigMcfly1985]

My family and I didn't have cinemax until late 90's.

[@ComparativeReasoning]

It's been so long. Sought this out and found a slightly longer version elsewhere BUT THIS... this is the one I mainly saw. Broke tears over it. I wish they would use it here and there again.

[@Jeremiah_Johnson139]

80's kids... we had the best childhood! No internet, and we didn't care. We had better, more important things to do .

[@davet1081AA]

Always loved how they're banging that single piano key at 0:30 - goosebumps.

[@JL-sm6cg]

And when the POV shot goes over the horizon...(sniff).

[@Darkdjinn79]

God this takes me back

[@jermaineboatley8302]

Love this when I was a kid and love it now as a man!😇 brings back great times for me in the 80s and 90s enjoy ! The magic 😇😇

[@GODFULINKTV]

AMAZING.. I can't believe how nostalgic I get it feels magical turning back time when I first fell in love with movies as a kid...

[@Markis5150]

Memories of seeing Friday the 13th at my cousins house. I was 12 and Friday the 13th was must see back then. Cable tv was truly special in those days.

[@ethan_lol24]

When you remember your parents stealing cable.

[@cheknecht3092]

Actually it was the kids doing that

[@bucksatanII]

A black box was the best $20 my father ever spent

[@Tracy-Lee-Staton]

That’s how we got HBO 😂 my stepdad somehow rigged the cable and we had HBO. I don’t know exactly how he did it because I was only 8 in ‘83, but I remember how excited I would get at this intro before getting to watch an awesome movie. HBO really opened the doors to my already existing movie fascination. The 1st movie I remember watching as soon as we got HBO is Endless Love.

[@michellegriff13]

YES!

[@Anarchist86ed]

Lols. When I was a kid, our neighbors had cable, we were too poor, but I found out if I connected the cable wire to theirs where the wire was touching their line, I could somehow get what they were watching on my TV. There was some fuzz, but otherwise totally watchable. They NEVER found out, it went on for years until I moved away. I put a little glue on it and it was covered by a bush. Don't ask me how or why, but I watched everything they watched for free even HBO. I just had to have my TV on channel 4. Now I could care less about cable, I'm internet only and can watch anything I want whenever I want.

[@Tinyoak2]

You turned up the volume so you could hear it in the kitchen. It was the timer for how long you had to get the popcorn ready.

[@dannygalindo7843]

This was awesome, great memories of sleepover late night hbo Gives me a feel of et, and beetlejuice

[@targus1179]

WOW takes me back to the good old days i love that the intro would get me ready for the presentation and also cable was alot cheaper back then

[@stunningandbrave7475]

targus11 IKR, it was cheap enough to even afford the premium channels like HBO, Cinemax, etc and not be out $250+....

[@anthonymaldonado1597]

I used to love watching this that's how I knew a good horror movie was coming on miss the 90s

[@rikstang02]

Nostalgia hit so hard 👊 😢 with this intro that I felt an indescribable feeling in my chest

[@xavierathorne]

When TV changed forever. Great memories!

[@rustykuntz94]

The drama with this intro, they would only bring this out after a little while for the really big movie premieres at 8 or 9 at night

[@timothyroberts8347]

Nothing like being a teenager in the early 80s . My God where has time gone

[@tomy.1846]

Yep! Party on!

[@aetd106]

I'm Australian and never watched HBO and this still makes me nostalgic and I've no idea why

[@chegvra]

This and the initial days of MTV. What great time.

[@Nattens767]

I actually looked this up just to bring back that feeling I had as a kid when this came on. It meant a good series or movie, and man, the snacks and soda (provided we had behaved ourselves earlier in the day). I know I'm showing my age when I say this was back when nearly every cable channel had something good to watch weekly, especially HBO. Not so much these days but that's what box sets and streaming is good for.

[@edricdayne3571]

I lived in a poor country but I would occasionally see this HBO intro on borrowed VHS cassettes. As a kid I thought it was one of the production companies. I was so excited when in the early 90s we got cable and I was able to see this almost every night.

[@Nostalgic818]

I feel like a kid again looking at this. I love nostalgic moments like this.

[@G50-o5w]

This opening, even 40 years later, makes you feel like you're ready to run through a wall.

[@Mountainhippie68]

This was when HBO was at its best...

[@soulsphere1749]

When I heard this on my Dad’s HBO recording of “Wrath of Khan”, my young self couldn’t distinguish it from the rest of the movie. So this little intro is part of the movie soundtrack to me!

[@musiclove4597]

When your parents got the free HBO for 3 months.

[@axebomber2108]

Otherwise it was mostly Showtime.

[@gabrielbennett5162]

Somewhere I have a tape of "Harry and the Hendersons" (1987) that my folks recorded off of HBO in 1988 that has this intro on it...gets me in the feels every time.

[@michellegriff13]

I have goosebumps everywhere and haven't smiled with such excitement in years!!!!!!! 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@andythefork]

Same. They must have told the composer they wanted the musical equivalent of a perfect orgasm lol

[@michellegriff13]

@@andythefork RIGHT?! 😁😁😁😁😁

[@shea2221]

Agree - probably the best movie intro of all time

[@michaelgosen4924]

I don't why it was taken down it was such a awesome intro 😢

[@TheNostalgiaWorldOfTravis]

Without a doubt, this is the best HBO bumper of all time! This mainly because of the catchy music. Ferdinand J. Smith, you are definitely one of the best composers of all time! Thank you for creating this awesome music!

[@trollingisasport]

This always made me feel that I was about to watch something I shouldn't be watching.

[@emilyloosli]

This terrified me as a young girl. I was afraid to watch it again. But it’s not so bad now. Just incredibly nostalgic.

[@terryp2517]

I felt like I was in for a treat when I saw this intro. So memorable even all these years later

[@jess4metoo]

HBO ruined themselves when they added all these other channels. Having just one channel gave them an exclusivity, one outlet to their programming.

[@Mario_N64]

That's a good point.

[@KDawg92801]

They had to so it could fit every viewers needs. But I agree with you on this

[@alexandercarvajal3470]

When family watched tv together. Lights out!! Popcorn ready!! The movie is on!

[@diablita677]

I feel like im 6 also. I loved to just sit n watch the intro. It mesmerized me. Music n all. It didnt matter what was coming on, you knew it had to be good, even if u werent interested in it. The HBO intro was what always awesome.

[@sadeaton]

Saturday Night's rocked when this dropped in the living room.

[@3434abab]

legend is a few lives were lost creating this legendary intro. RIP u creative kind souls.

[@brock-8329]

Oh... what memories this stirs!! Missing those days for sure!

[@sophiaadams2056]

I am 43 and I have to watch this to remember the good day…. Love it

[@missvee6479]

YASSS! I LOVE THIS INTRO! ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL!! 💖🌹💖🌹💖🌹💖🌹💖🌹

[@shawnross3521]

May God bless you tube staffs keep doing a fantastic job ❤️ and lord keep them in your protection 🙏 praise the lord 🙏

[@stevepeters3398]

Absolutely 100% pure gold right here!!

[@tyrrax]

The early part in the city was all done by models. Back in the day of practical effects. Long ago I saw a sorta documentary talking about this intro and showed some scenes being filmed.

[@Duder-1]

This is forever sketched in my mind 🤣 Can't even count the times I've heard this growing up in the 80's

[@SuperDjr1984]

They used this intro for a long time cause I was born in 84 and remember seeing this at some point between 4 and 6

[@Mario_N64]

They used it all the way up to the mid 90s.

[@renzokukenleneyoyo522]

Feels like being sucker-punched with a sledgehammer of pure nostalgia!

[@newstarcadefan]

Way back then even through the 90s...seeing this meant Saturday nights was going to get really really great.

[@ice_fox]

I used to refer to the hbo logo in this as "The space probe" (I had just seen Star Trek IV in the theater at the tender age of 4)

[@johngranger4699]

This reminds me of my favorite part of my childhood. MOVIES!! My dad was the only guy on the Block with HBO and a VCR. We taped every classic you can think of because HBO had it all. We had a magnificent movie collection. On weekends me and my little brother would go to "The Vault" and pick our movies for the day and binge all weekend. Of course we watched certain movies over and over and over. I miss the 80's. Best decade ever.

[@agentknight5620]

I knew I'd find this on YT. For some reason I've been thinking back on this intro while out on patrol. I remember grabbing a huge bowl of ice cream with whipped cream piled high prepared for the movie, and then this intro. I can't believe I still know the notes by heart. lol Such a magical time on the cusp of such amazing technology. I miss my Commodore 64. I can do without the annoying cell phone.

[@randomamerican5065]

Usually people moan and groan when the logos of TV/movie company’s play before the movie. But I have not met one person that complains about this logo. It speaks for itself and it is AWESOME.

[@luis110613]

OMG! YES! Tears definitely everytime I see this logo intro. Reminds me of when I was 10 and ONLY allowed to watch HBO because it was the Premier of StarWars on HBO, well that and Fraggle Rock. I lol I record this intro at the beginning of every movie I record just for that heartwarming effect

[@chrismayer3919]

Then it continues with; “the following motion picture is rated PG by the motion picture rating association of America; viewer discretion is advised…” GOD HOW I MISS THE 80s! 😭

[@jamesbarno9541]

Wow I Miss This One

[@ktburger659]

20,000 Hertz podcast brought me here! They just did a deep dive on HBO intros

[@1hardnhungry]

I have always loved this intro! It's unique in every facet. It provided the viewer with programing identity like no other entertainment source ever has. Whether I was going to watch the Feature Presentation associated with this intro or not, I always stayed "glued to the tube" long enough to enjoy the intro. I certainly have missed it. HBO really did all of us a disservice by discontinuing this intro!

[@VanlifeSurvivalist]

Still kept up with the time. It was leaps beyond anything...

[@Khardamon]

So so good! Man the 80s were a great decade to grow up in. I remember back in the day being so excited if I was at a friends house that had HBO or any of the pay channels as we didn't have them at my house. This intro is burned into my brain! :)

[@ArmyGuyDan]

How I miss the 80s

[@RAYTHEONGAMING]

Ahhhh that 0:32 drop Such memories

[@phillipsharding3772]

It seems like yesterday, my brother and I would be at our grandparent's watching TV on American Cablevision (HBO channel 41). A lot of great memories and as someone already noted it brings tears to my eyes thinking about the good times I had at my grandparent's home. A simpler time when people respected each other and things were better in my opinion.

[@vonmatrices]

HONEY COME QUICK CROCODILE DUNDEE 2 IS COMING ON

[@238cmh]

I remember this so well. Had to download it. Brings back some fantastic memories.

[@touchofdumb]

Play this just before watching your next 80s flick...wooh!

[@vinmanoct1279]

When this came on the popcorn came out. We looked forward to Saturday nights.

[@chuckchristian8816]

I remember this when this came on tv years ago

[@michaelpowell3204]

If I ever have a late stage turn into pro wrestling, this is my walk-in music

[@datzsonise]

I turn 40 in April. I’m as old as this intro ☄️ I want this playing at my birthday party 💫✨💃🏼 It’s out of this world 🌎🔥🔥🔥🕺🏼