On this day April 13, 1984, the family comedy Kidco premiered in theaters. Directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, the film starred Scott Schwartz, best known for his role in A Christmas Story, alongside Clifton James and Charles Hallahan.
Kidco was loosely based on the real life story of a group of kids who started a small business selling fertilizer from horse manure and found themselves in a battle with the IRS. The film followed Dickie Cessna, played by Schwartz, as he and his sisters turn a backyard operation into a growing company, only to face the government over questions of taxation and legality.
With humor, heart, and a David versus Goliath message, Kidco was aimed at younger audiences and families. While it didn’t make a huge splash at the box office, it became a feel good underdog story that some viewers still remember from Saturday afternoon TV viewings.
Fun fact: The real Kidco business was started by four siblings in California, and the film was loosely inspired by their legal case.
Trivia question: What 1984 family comedy told the story of kids who started a fertilizer business and ended up in a legal fight with the IRS?