MTV Celebrates 30 Years

Monday marks the 30th anniversary of MTV, the channel originally designed to play music videos 24 hours. The first broadcast started at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 1, 1981 with video of the Apollo 11 launch and the words "Ladies and gentlemen: rock and roll!" The kick-off was followed by the first music video titled "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. 

St. Andrews Patch asked people in the community to share their earliest memories of MTV. Here's what they had to say. 

Name: Christy Watson 

Occupation: Assistant Manager at Manifest

What's one of the first videos you remember watching on MTV?

Lucky Star by Madonna

What's your favorite video?

The Cure by Charlotte Sometimes

Do you remember watching Michael Jackson's "Thriller"? 

"Yes. It scared me. I was seven years old. The end of that video scared me to death." 

What was so great about MTV in its younger days? 

"It was just the fact that you could see all the videos. It was just a whole new creative outlet. And it was just the exposure to so many different kinds of music. 

Did you pick up any trends from MTV? 

"There was this girl who used to do the news and I remember I always wanted to dress like her. She dressed kind of bohemian, alternative in all black, but not gothic. And my brother had the MTV shirt with the guy on the moon." 

Name: Carnell Johnson

Age: 36

Occupation: business owner

What's one of the first videos you remember watching on MTV?

Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-A-Lot 

What's your favorite video?

The Way It Is by Bruce Hornsby 

What was so great about MTV in its younger days? 

"At one time they used to play videos all day. MTV was more diverse than BET. That's one of the things I did appreciate about MTV. And they had some live hosts. Then they came out with "Yo! MTV Raps" with Ed Love and Dr. Dre. That's what really skyrocketed MTV."

Name: Cliff Hoyles

Age: 40

Occupation: registered barber at New Image Salon

What's one of the first videos you remember watching on MTV?

Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice 

What's your favorite video?

It Takes Two by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock

What was so great about MTV in its younger days? 

"It was pretty much all we had at the time. After school, that's all you had. Go straight home and watch MTV -- if your mama would let you."

Did you pick up any trends from MTV? 

"The Cross Colours clothing line, the jumpers or overall with one strap hanging off the shoulder."