8-Tracks on The Big (and little) Screen

MEN In BLACK (1997)
In the great comedy sci-fi flick Men In Black, there's a great scene toward the end where Tommy Lee Jones turns his black Ford M.I.B. sedan into an alien-powered rocket ride and goes through the Lincoln Tunnel by driving upside-down on the ceiling of the tunnel. Right after the car enters the tunnel and flips, Tommy Lee reaches down and shoves an ELVIS cart into his in-dash 8-track player! A great scene, and excellent P.R. for 8-track tapes in general.

STRANGE DAYS (1995). Big budget Hollywood cyber/virtual-reality thriller set on New Year's Eve 1999 co-starring that little strumpet Juliette Lewis). About 45 minutes in, there's a scene where the main character Lenny bursts into the DJ booth of the bitchin' cool industrial nightclub. The legless, wheelchair-bound DJ clearly has two 8-track tapes stacked between his his computers. You can see them in two different shots. The 8 track that's on the table inside the DJ booth is none other than the 1st Soft Machine album. You can also tell it's an original ATCO release (with the distinctive overlapping colored-ball pattern) from the late '60s, too.

THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE. (1995) While riding in the family station wagon with brother Greg, Marcia pops in an 8-track of Davy Jones, specifically the post-Monkees Bell records release, which DOES NOT include the song "Girl" (from his appearance on the original TV show), although that's the song that's heard in the film during that scene....."Girl" was actually recorded during the same sessions, but only released on a single.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE 3000 MOVIE (1996) . There is a mention of 8-tracks in the movie.

THE YOUNG ONES (TV Show c. 1982). There are 8-tracks visible on the desk of the Cyclops pirate radio DJ in the episode, "Time."

THE SIMPSONS (TV cartoon) [1994]. On the Simpsons, the kids school bus breaks down and Homer is tasked with driving the neighborhood kids to school. 1st sighting is Homer's "Transworld" 8-track deck in the dash of his car. On the floorboard, Homer has the 8-track "The Best of Bread." This has probably prompted thousands, including myself, to add said cart to their own collections. (Peter Golkin)

BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD (TV cartoon) [1995]. The Beavis & Butthead episode where our heroes clean VanDrieson's house and can't figure out what VD's massive stockpile of 8-tracks *are*? "Hey, this videotape is broken, it won't fit in the VCR". Of course VD's concern for his prized collection is used to show exactly how out-of-it the touchy-feely teacher is. I vaguely recall a shot of a garage door opening and a mountain of destroyed tracks cascading out, but it's been a while.

GET SHORTY (1995). When Gene Hackman is bringing John Travolta to the office for the first time, there's a PANASONIC player and a stack of tracks on a table under of the some of those old movie posters.

COURAGE UNDER FIRE (1996). In one of the office rooms there's a stereo system in the back that has an 8-track player. Didn't see any tapes though.

A GOOFY MOVIE (1995). This Disney flick features an 8-track tape snarl inside Goofy's AMC Pacer.

BACKDRAFT (1994). Lots of 8 Tracks in that movie. Quote: "I cant believe you actually have a working 8 Track!" Billy Baldwin. Brandon Dobbs pointed out an interesting tidbit: the tape in the deck is Iron Butterfly's "In A Gadda Da Vida," but that's not the album that you actually hear.

REVENGE OF THE NERDS III: THE NEXT GENERATION (made-for-TV 1992). At the beginning of the made-for-TV movie, you see the two new geek heroes start their car up, one of them putting in an unlabeled 8-track.(Source: Alan Smithee)

FRIENDS (TV Show - 1998). Building supervisor in Friends' apartment building has a Weltron 2001 "Space Helmet" player in his apartment. ("Quitting the Gym" episode).

REALITY BITES (1994). The "totally hip" kids in "Reality Bites" really "had it going on" when they made a portable 8-track player a fixture of their house. They show it several times but I can't tell what brand it is or what tape is sticking out of it, they don't even USE the darn thing! (Source: Alan Smithee)

AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (1997). In one scene you can spot a Weltron AM/FM/8 track. (Source: Yoflow@aol.com and Joe Kunkel)

DHARMA AND GREG [TV SERIES] (1997). The pilot episode had a reference to Dharma's dad's 8-track collection from the 60s. He was supposed to be some kind of hippie-on-the-run and he mentions he had an album by the "Strawberry Alarm Clock " and it would never be reissued in another format. Funny stuff, right? (Source: Peter Golkin)

Darhma's father is going on the run and when he pulls out an old suitcase he keeps for just such an occasion...out falls a stack of 8-tracks. (Source: Craig M. Houck)

THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW [TV SERIES] (Undated, 1997) -- Rosie mentions that she's had an 8-track player installed in her car "for fun." No mention of what she listens to, but she seems to have saved a lot of stuff from her youth (Long Island in the 70s). (Source: Peter Golkin)

GOOD MORNING AMERICA [TV SHOW] (March 25, 1998) -- In discussing the re-release of the motion picture "Grease," host Lisa McRee mentions that she had the soundtrack on both vinyl and 8-track. Co-host Kevin Newman then makes fun of the warbling sound that one would associate with a poorly maintained cart. (Source: Peter Golkin)

ARMAGEDDON: (1998) In this sci-fi action/thriller, Bruce Willis is telling the government what some members of his team want when and if they get back, one character named Max has a request to bring back the 8-track tape format, and Willis kind of mumbles "Don't know if that can be done."
(Source: man358@jaguarsystems.com)

FRASIER (1996?) (TV Show): Frasier's Dad's girlfriend returns an Elvis 8-Track to him (Frasier's Dad that is). (Source: Craig M. Houck)

FLASHBACK (1990): There's an important scene near the end when Keifer Sutherland and Dennis Hopper have to evade the cops. They use the hippie commune bus to get past the cops, and escape through a hole in the floor. To aid their escape, the lady driver puts on an 8-track of Dennis Hopper's character's 1960's activists speech. You can see other carts lying about in the front of the bus too.
(Source: Dom Brown)

"HEY LADIES" Beastie Boys MTV Video (1997): It's a 70's themed video, which starts with them getting into their car and sticking in a Foghat tape. (Source: Aaron R Schnuth)

THE ORKLY KID (1985). In the short film "The Orkley Kid" starring Crispen Glover, The final scene shows a uptight Larry walking out of a small town diner in a blonde wig get in to his car, pop in a unmarked Olivia Newton-John 8-track and speeds away while the song "Please Don't Keep Me Waiting" plays through the closing credits. Like all of Crispen's work this one must be seen.

DEXTER'S LABORATORY (1998) (TV cartoon series). Episode "Game Over". Dexter's father came home with an outdated, 8-bit, computer game cartridge that he had purchased from some gypsies for ten cents and gave it to Dexter and Didi. The boy genius wasn't too thrilled. Before leaving the room, dad mentioned that he was going to give their mother a "nifty" 8-track tape. I thought it was kinda cute. We never did found out if mom liked her 8-track as much as Dexter liked his new game cartridge. (Source: Bryan Welsh)

PINKY AND THE BRAIN (1998) (TV cartoon series). One episode had a device/transporter that had an 8 track included in the design. (SOURCE: Tjjjc2@aol.com)

MARTIN (1995) (TV Series). During a party scene, one of the party goers is trying to hustle a new idea: "Trailer Park" rap. At one point he says, "Here's my demo. It's old school: 8-track!" and hands an 8-track tape to the producer.

MY BROTHER AND ME (1998) (Nickelodeon Cable Series). I was watching Nickelodeon with my daughter, and this show featured a big pile of 8-tracks that the kids parents were putting in a garage sale. I would've missed it, but my daughter yelled out, 'DAD! 8-TRACKS!!!'. Sharp kid! (SOURCE: winnardjNO@SPAMionet.net)

TWO ANGRY BEAVERS (1998) (Nickelodeon Cable Series). On of the beaver brothers had an 8-track fight with his brother. He had 4 8-track players and used them to shoot 8-track carts at his brother. Then his brother shot back with VCR tapes. Quite a battle. And every tape shot had tape trailing from the opening. (SOURCE: Tom Fornof)

MANHUNTER (1986). In Michael Mann's 1986 movie "Manhunter," the serial killer, Francis Dollarhyde, shoves a copy of Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" into an 8-track player toward the end of the movie. Although the song gets horribly butchered, I got a rush the first time I saw that scene in the movie! (SOURCE: Alvin Klein)

STAR TREK - FIRST CONTACT (1996).An 8-track is played when the spaceship is launched from earth (Source: Bruce-Kool@NOSPAMwebtv.net

BARQ's ROOTBEER COMMERCIAL (1999). In the "Barq's has Bite" commercial, the main character has a stack of 8 tracks on his table (Source: Bruce-Kool@NOSPAMwebtv.net

TIDE LAUNDRY SOAP COMMERCIAL (1999) - One Tide commercial this year has a man who won't throw anything out, and in the last shot he's seen holding an Aquatron player and dancing, much to his wife's disgust.

SUDDEN IMPACT (1983). During the flashback scene when Sondra Locke's character is reliving being raped in the vicinity of the merry-go-round one of the attackers reaches down and turns up what is obviously a Realistic portable 8 track player. There isn't a good shot of the tape cartridge, but if you've ever seen one of these players, you'd recognize it in this scene. (SOURCE: Dan Jobin)

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (1999) TV Series. Buffy makes a reference to Giles' still listening to 8-tracks to demonstrate how "out of it" he is.

MEDIA PLAY TV COMMERCIAL (1999). While salesman is talking to customers about DVD's, shopper says "We're still trying to get Dad away from his 8-tracks!"

TOY STORY 2 (1999) - 8-track tapes are on a table at the yard sale in the scene where Woody is stolen by Al, the obsessive toy collector.

ELLEN (TV Series) 1999 - In one episode, Ellen goes into the basement to meet her father, and she's carrying a tape with her. "I wanted to return this 8-track I borrowed", she tells him. She adds, "I hope you still like Anne Murray" (or at least I think it was Anne Murray- coulda been John Denver.) Thanks to Denny Spangler.

CLAY PIGEONS (1998) - There is a scene toward the first of the film where Amanda is sitting on Clay's waterbed, begging him to come to bed with her. There is a small stack of 8-tracks in the headboard of the bed.

THE SIMPSONS (TV series) - HOMER SIMPSON has an 8-track in his car. Thanks to Eddy Swynar.

HIGH FIDELITY (2000) - Starring John Cusak as Rob, a lovelorn music fanatic/record shop owner. Two sightings in this one: (1) Rob has a nice Panasonic component deck in his home system, and (2) he also has a beautiful red Weltron 2001 with satellite speakers in the display case of his record store

MARRIED WITH CHILDREN (TV Series) c. 1998 - The episode where Al uses his father's hammer to build a room in his garage. Of course, the pregnant women take it over, and Al destroys it. Right when he is about to destroy it ala Sampson, you can see a BIG stack of carts right behind him. He then proceeds to tear down the shelf they are sitting on, and they go flying! Thanks to Daniel Gibson.

IN LIVING COLOR - (TV Series 1990-94 - One episode featured David Allen Grier as Loomis Simmons, a man who offers a service of getting women pregnant if thier husbands don't have time to do it themselves. He is doing a commercial for his "services" and in it he offers an 8-track promotional tape, mentioning the high quality of the tape. He then inserts it into a component deck on a table in front of him. Thanks to Joe EightTrakz@aol.com

FULL HOUSE (TV Series) c. 1991. In one episode, after Danny is finished cleaning out his attic and putting most of the stuff from it in a storage locker, he keeps his 8-track player, his "Shake your Bootie" 8-track tape, and his disco lights. A later scene shows Danny teaching Michelle how to disco dance, using the lights, and the tape. Jessie comes in and says "Now I know why disoc died!" Thanks to Will Dyess

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (1998) Set in modern day southern California the main character Jake (Johnathan Taylor Thomas) has been sabotaged by some of his high school classmates. They leave him in the desert in a Santa Claus costume with the hat and beard glued to his head. After attempting to make a phone call for help from a gas station in the middle of nowhwer, he sits down in despair. There is a bunch of junk visible in the background, and you can easily see a GE Portable 8 track player sitting on an ice chest. It looks like one of the Army green models with the big nylon carrying strap. Thanks to Dan Jobin

ALMOST FAMOUS (2000) The opening credits featured a office desk drawer full of concert paraphernalia...backstage passes...ticket stubs... and there they were 8-TRACKS!!!! I think I saw a Columbia TC8 box...a Led Zeppelin tape...and some others. Thanks to Kevin Nelson, curator of the 8-track Museum of Technology

AMERICAN BEAUTY (1999) - Kevin Spacey is admiring the high-tech audio/visual system of his neighbor's teenage son and pot dealer. The son admits he paid for it with all the money he made selling designer weed. Spacey, slightly stunned, says "wow... when I was in high school, I saved my money all summer just to buy an 8-track player."

AMERICAN PIMP (1999) - In the fine documentary "American Pimp", it looks like a stack of 8-tracks is sitting in the corner over the shoulder of "Bishop Don Magic Juan's" mother during the interview in her home. Thanks to Paul Evans.

MTV's Tour of Rock Star's Homes (TV Series) -- The drummer for No Doubt has a space helmet 8-track player in his bed room, "And it even works" he said. Thanks to Tom noffour@home.com

JUST SHOOT ME (TV Series 2000) - In one episode, they had one of those eight track stereos that have the mirrors and the little disco ball on top. The women even pulled a bosa nova 8 track from the unit and threw it into a chair. I've seen pictures of that unit it would be quite the conversation piece. Thanks to Brian brianesq@hotmail.com

JOE DIRT (Film, 2001) - In the opening scenes of the movie, you see Joe driving to his job a janitor at the WXLA radio station this beat-up old Plymouth Superbird. If you look close, you can see an 8-track player under the dashboard w/ a Skynyrd cart sticking out. The soundtrack is playing the songs. The DVD release of "Joe Dirt" contains in it's extras a deleted scene showing exactly how the 8-track comes into play.....
1) Joe discovers the old 8-track in the Superbird but has no tapes.
2) He goes into what looks like either a thrift or pawn shop looking for some classic rock carts, "to impress the ladies." He finds only like racks of pop and disco carts.
3) He asks the clerk whether he has any Skynard. The clerk replies that he saw an 8-track "propping up the crapper in the outhouse down back."
4) You see Joe digging around the toilet to reveal a crap-covered cart. "Skynard, all right!!!"
The scene ends there. But needless to say, it tells the story of the 8-track in Joe's car and his quest for tunes!
Thanks to Madness [madness.elf@verizon.net]

HOME IMPROVEMENT (TV series, 1990s) - Tim Allen finds his old 8-track player and a box of tapes when he's cleaning out the garage one day, along with a strobe light. He sticks in Inna Gada-Da-Vida and listens to it. Later, to teach his kids a lesson on scaring people, he dresses up as a spaceman, plays the tape, and lights the strobe. He scares the boys when they walk outside the back door! Submitted by Steven Winner [winner@old-dominion.net]

KIDS IN THE HALL (TV series circa 1990-1993). Episode in which Jim Morrison appears to someone and hands him a copy of The Doors' "Morrison Hotel" 8-track. Jim then orders this guy to drive several miles until the tape has been played through once, have a drink, and get into a fight with the first person he meets. Submitted b matt6267@aol.com.

MAD TV (TV Series 1998) - Parody commercial for Spishak's "Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! '98", a product for those who need instant access to snappy alibis. Shown are three Panasonic "plunger" models dressed up with the Spishak logo. Plug in a cartridge, hit the button and an all-purpose excuse ("I have blood in my stool") is ready right when you need it. Submitted by Peter Mork

NOTRE BELL FAMILLE (TV Series 1991) -- (known in the US as "Step by Step"). In an episode, someone bought an old and odd car, and the only thing working good is the 8 track player. Everybody in the car is amazed listening t old stuff on it. submitted by Nicolas.

RED GREEN SHOW (TV Series) Episode of Uncle Red Holding an 8 Track. The episode was when Red builds a lawnmower out of push mowers, Duct Tape, and a K Car (Chrysler). After he is done building the contraption, he says he is going to mow the lawn while listening to his favorite 8 Track "The Green, Green Grass Of Home." It looks like Robert Goulet on the cover. submitted by Dan Witkoske.

FOOT LOCKER TV COMMERCIAL (2003). Foot Locker commercial with a red panasonic portable 8 track player in it.

UNDERCOVER BROTHER (2002) Scene in Undercover Brother when an 8-track is shot out of the player at a persuing motorcyclist. submitted by mrheavy_2000

Mad TV (TV Series, 2002) Commercial parody for Spishak's "Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! Excuses! '98", a product for those who need instant access to snappy alibis. Shown are three Panasonic "plunger" models dressed up with the Spishak logo. Plug in a cartridge, hit the button and an all-purpose excuse ("I have blood in my stool") is ready right when you need it. submitted by Peter Mork

ROSEANNE [TV SERIES] (Season: 1 Episode: 18, 1988) The episode's plot revolves around Becky wanting to go to a party of her friend's, but can't due to her sister's emergency appendectomy. In the beginning of the episode after the opening theme song and credits, while Becky and Roseanne are making triple fudge brownies, Dan Conner brings in an 8-track player with an 8-track in it and five 8-tracks in his hand. Becky basically calls her dad a lunatic stuck way back when, and then Roseanne explains that he's just a bit nostalgic. submitted by Ryan Jones

THE IT CROWD (UK sit-com 2007) There are several Weltron 8-track players spotted in different episodes. These players are never used nor mentioned; they just contribute to the overall geekiness of the main characters.

FILMS/TV SHOWS with "8-track Moments"

FILMS/TV SHOWS with
"8-track Moments"