Flux Capacitor Turns 60? November 5 Marks 60th Anniversary For ‘BTTF’ Fans
The concept of the flux capacitor from Back to the Future just reached a major milestone of its own!
Most fans and critics of the Robert Zemeckis-directed Back to the Future trilogy paid a lot of attention to October 21, since that was the day that Doc Brown and Marty McFly traveled to in the future, according to The Telegraph.
However, another important date that became part of the BTTF culture was November 5, 1955 — the day that Marty McFly traveled to in the past at the beginning of the trilogy’s first film.
That particular day in history held a special place in Doc Brown’s heart, because it was the day that he first thought of the flux capacitor being the key to time travel.
Today in Hill Valley history: Doc Brown slipped off his toilet while hanging a clock & envisioned the Flux Capacitor pic.twitter.com/mNsiygEW89
— Back to the Future™ (@BacktotheFuture) November 5, 2015
Quite a few Back to the Future fans would likely be able to recite Doc’s monologue about developing the flux capacitor after experiencing a near-fatal accident in the bathroom by memory.
“Here’s a red-letter date in the history of science: November 5, 1955. Yes, of course… That was the day I invented time travel. I remember it vividly. I was standing on the edge of my toilet hanging a clock, the porcelain was wet, I slipped, hit my head on the edge of the sink. And when I came to I had a revelation, a picture, a picture in my head, a picture of this. This is what makes time travel possible. The flux capacitor.”
While Marty McFly is videotaping Doc’s explanation (and still trying to get over the shock himself), Doc Brown further explains that it took him 30 years and his family’s entire fortune “to realize the vision of that day.”
If it was not for that near-death experience/unexpected epiphany on November 5, 1955, Doc Brown would probably have never thought of the flux capacitor in the first place. Without the flux capacitor, there would be no time travel. Without time travel, there would be no Back to the Future.
As everyone knows, time travel is something that only exists in science fiction books and movies.
However, based on the overwhelming fandom that has emerged in recent months, it is apparently clear that using their imagination is good enough for most people.
Quite a few people have paid tribute to the flux capacitor in one way or another on Twitter in recent weeks.
It’s also the 60th anniversary of the day Dr. Emmett Brown bumped his head and created the flux capacitor. #BTTF pic.twitter.com/tXACkC7f1j
— Jeff Harris (@nemalki) November 5, 2015
Now if a girl ever says “woah is that a flux capacitor on your wrist?” I’ll know she’s the one pic.twitter.com/qjQQk3FhH9
— Brayden Neubauer (@Braydenominator) October 27, 2015
#ICYMI Ford had some fun with #BackToTheFutureDay, and offered a Flux Capacitor. https://t.co/NE2A3YZgXa pic.twitter.com/CKjlOWogne
— ChapmanAutoEHT (@ChapmanAutoEHT) October 26, 2015
“How much energy was used to charge the flux capacitor ” was a question on my math test this morning and I waS SO MAD
— Lily (@alilyvintage) October 26, 2015
In the 30 years that have passed since the flux capacitor made its debut on the big screen, it has become somewhat of an icon all by itself, along with such fan favorites as the DeLorean, hover board, Pepsi Perfect, and self-tying sneakers.
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd have both played many other roles on TV and the big-screen throughout their respective acting careers.
However, to Back to the Future fans, they will always be Marty McFly and Emmett “Doc” Brown. In addition, chances are that if you see a DeLorean with an “OUTATIME” license plate, you will more than likely check to see if there is a flux capacitor “fluxing” inside of it.
[Image Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images]
