MovieChat Forums > Licorice Pizza (2021) Discussion > I don't get the title?

I don't get the title?

posted 3 years ago by pepetoony (1744)
11 replies | jump to latest

There was nothing in this movie called 'Licorice Pizza' unless I somehow missed it.

[–] ecarle (14979) 3 years ago

An actual LA record store chain in the 70's and 80's was called "Licorice Pizza" -- because long playing record albums were black (looked like licorice) and big and round(like a pizza.)

An actual Licorice Pizza record store can be seen in mall scenes in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982.)

Of course we don't have records anymore. We barely have CDs.

[–] Vastuntitled (5695) 3 years ago

Relics of the past, and damn was it fun to sift through miles of vinyl. Licorice pizza and Tower Records, great places! At least we still have Amoeba!

[–] ecarle (14979) 3 years ago

I don't know from Amoeba, but yes, record stores were the best, you could roam for hours.

And when it was time for a "really big new album by a major artist" to hit -- The Beatles, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac...everyone would run down to the record store to buy it from a huge display at the front of the store. It was like "Opening Day" for a hot new album.

As late as 1986 in Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters," he stages a scene of he and Dianne Wiest browsing through a record store as they have some funny relationship conversation.

[–] pepetoony (1744) 3 years ago

Oh wow...glad I asked. Very interesting and I never would've figured that out on my own lol. Thanks!

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

But what vinyl records have to do with the movie?

[–] SteveG (1370) 3 years ago

Nothing really. Its a clever title and a very good movie but the title is merely an identifier of the time period. Its very specific and perhaps even regional. I get your point and in a way I agree, its not the best title or name for this film.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

Yeah. Even weirder is that vinyl records are actually more popular and sold better today than audio CDs! (Or any other physical media for pre-recorded music for that matter.)

So it's a very unfit "timestamp" to denote the 70s.

[–] yatzo376 (7717) 3 years ago

Wow, thanks for that info , I had no idea.
Sadly,our Tower records in Stamford Ct closed its doors in 2006.
I miss that store and all the other record shops I grew up with

[–] chilidoggg (14287) 2 years ago

IIRC, albums were cheaper at Licorice Pizza then they were at The Wherehouse, Music+, etc. I think LP locations were not inside shopping malls, like the others were.

[–] NotASpeckOfCereal (302) 2 years ago

Adding to all the responses you've already had: this film is in a large part about nostalgia of that period, and in that locale.

I was there, then, and when I heard PTA was coming out with this film, I instantly knew what it was. I didn't know why it was titled that yet, but wasn't surprised to learn that it was just a trigger thing from the era/locale.

To me, this film is (aside to it's story) is paying a homage to the times and places much in the same way Quentin Tarantino did with some of his films, especially (but not limited to) 'Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood'.

Some folks here are comparing Licorice Pizza to the big chains, such as Tower and Wherehouse records (remember the other chains of the period also, Peaches and Platterpus Records).

While Licorice Pizza was a chain, it was more local or west-coast than national. Compare it to Eucalyptus records.

While I eventually worked at a few of these named stores, I never worked at Licorice Pizza. I did however buy my first bunch of LPs there with my first paycheck.

[–] Bossdog677 (1553) 2 years ago

It's a reference to Pizza Gate like they are just shoving it in your face