I was born smack in the middle of the 1960’s and graduated high school in 1984. If you’re trying to do the math, that makes me kinda old-ish.
Usually I act younger than my actual age, though recently I must admit that I’ve been acting like a crotchety old man. Kind of like the guy who yells at kids to get off the lawn, only I would drop a few F bombs. And call a couple of them douchebags. I might possibly ,probably, totally would even take the Lord’s name in vain.
For those of you who weren’t around, the 80’s was the shit. Some of the funniest movies ever made were created in the 1980’s. That was the decade of John Hughes and his movies set in Shermer, IL. It was also the heyday of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.
We had the Star Wars movies, Indiana Jones flicks, the original Die Hard, The Princess Bride, Back to the Future and how about a little something called Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Oh, and Top Gun.
There were so many great comedic actors who hit their peak during this decade, that I think we take some of their performances for granted when we compare their movies to the flicks today’s technology produced.
The 80’s produced some of the all time classic comedies. Caddyshack, Airplane, Meatballs, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Back To School, Fletch and Beetlejuice all hit the big screen in that most epic of decades. The Breakfast Club was pretty bitchin too.
I didn’t date much in the early 80’s, mainly because I hadn’t yet discovered self-esteem. I completely lacked self-confidence in almost every single thing and it kind of sucked ass. Another possible reason for the lack of dating was my hair and my glasses. As you can see from the picture above, they were both pretty lame. Yeah. That’s me. Best Dressed in the class of 1984. For the record, that’s an argyle vest I was wearing.
The 1980’s was a bitchin decade for music as well as films. I remember getting in my terracvotta orange Ford Fiesta and driving up to Magic Mountain to see Oingo Boingo play in the outdoor theater. We would ride Revolution and Colossus all day long, then rock out to Boingo all night.
I also used to occasionally hit Medieval Times in Buena Park on Friday or Saturday nights for the dance party hosted by Richard Blade, Dusty Street, Freddy Snakeskin, Jed The Fish or some other KROQ personality. We would go and hang out, but I rarely had the balls to ask anyone to dance. Plus I dance like shit and doing the White Man is not the way to impress a girl.
Sunday nights was Dr. Dimento on KMET, but the rest of the week it was all the ROQ of the 80’s. I have a buncha cool memories of cruising down Pacific Coast Highway from Seal Beach into Huntington, crankin’ some Thomas Dolby, The B-52’s, REM, The Smiths or some other rad band.
Two of my all time favorite sports moments took place in the 80’s–the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medal in hockey and the Miracle on Manchester. The second game took place just as I was really getting into hockey.
The Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Grant Fuhr led Edmonton Oilers came into L.A.’s Fabulous Forum for a playoff game. Edmonton was up 5-0 going into the third period, but the Kings managed to tie the game in regulation and win in OT. I bet the Oilers felt like they got smacked in the sack with a slap shot after that one.
The Berlin Wall came down in the 80’s and Argentina got the crap kicked out of them by the U.K. over a few small islands. It was the dawn of the computer age and my junior year featured actual computers in the school. Of course, they required those huge floppy disks and the only language was MS DOS, but they were computers and they were damn cool.
The 1980’s was also the Golden Era of television. One of the greatest police shows ever, Hills Street Blues, was born then, as was the douchiest coolest secret agent, Angus Macgyver. Yeah. That’s his first name. Pretty lame, huh?
It also gave us some of the greatest sitcoms ever, in shows like The Cosby Show, Cheers, Benson, Silver Spoons, Charles In Charge, Small Wonder, Perfect Strangers, Alf, Punky Brewster, Mr. Belvedere, Diff’rent Strokes and Night Court. OK. Only the first two were “greatest ever” worthy, but some of the other ones were pretty decent.
What other shit happened during the 80’s? John Lennon was whacked, video killed the radio star, The Simpsons made their debut (1987 on the Tracey Ullman Show), Ronald Reagan ran the show, Charles married Diana and we shot a chick into space. Not bad
The 80’s was pretty dope, but I know that I missed a lot, so I ask you. What did I forget? What else made the 1980’s absolutely epic?
I’ve been nominated for a 25 best Single Parent Blogger thingie and I would really like it of you would vote for me. You can CLICK HERE to vote once a day. Thanks. Spread the word and help the cause…
You forgot Garbage Pail Kids-trading cards, Atari (that was the 80’s, right?), National Lampoons Vacation…..everyone thinking they were cool trying to do the moon walk, and members only jackets (again, the 80’s??)… and the Challenger.
Too much greatness for one blog post!!
I’ve relived some of the things I loved about the 80’s with my children. We DO love Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and his TV shows. And the Muppets too!
T–there is only too much greatness here because YOU commented! Thanks…
Que–It truly was a rad decade.
There’s really just too much from the 80s to love! I still say it’s the best chronological decade in my life for music, movies and life in general.
Well, the ’80s were when Tom Cruise was cool (not for Top Gun) but I’m thinking Risky Business (Rebecca DeMornay made that movie though.) Prince may have been a symbol but didn’t sign his name that way and Purple Rain was one of the best albums ever. If a girl was named ‘Heather’ she must be hot, yet Cindy Crawford was still hotter. It was fun to be a couple of good ol’ boys, yet KITT was the coolest car on the planet.
I could go on.
TJ–how right you are. There were a ton of great things. I believe Mr. Whipple and the “Where’s the beef” chick were 80s as well.
I’m convinced you and my prince charming could be besties!
I am hooked on the 80’s station on Sirius, I miss John Hughes, big hair, awesome sports cars, and a simpler life. As much as I love social media, there are days that quiet is way better.
Xoxo
I just had an 80’s party Friday night. I danced the Footloose dance…even I loved the 80’s – even though I was a kid during them!
Jenn–that sounds rad!!!
Liz–you know we would.
dude, thanks for the monday afternoon trip back the the bitchin 80’s! it was THE decade and almost everything about it rocked. it’s time to get some 80’s flashback music going on iTunes and think back to livin in so cal, going to sunset beach and remembering all the sweet looking girls with the feathered hair!
thanks for triggering the memories jason!
ty
Ty–always a pleasure, my man. Gotta love the VC days.
To The Actress. I apologize. I assumed that was obvious. My bad…
You hit the mark with so many great 80’s memories, but there are a couple near and dear to me you didn’t add. Michael Jackson’s Thriller- my friends and I watched it over and over again trying to learn that dance. It was the haydsy of MJ, back before he started trying to look like Diana Ross. It was the age of the Panasonic duel cassette boombox that I put out by the pool, cranked Tears For Fears, put baby oil all over my skin and Sun-in in our hair to get those ‘natural highlights’. They changed Pepsinand it tasted… Read more »
Muse–Everything you mentioned was right on with the exception of MJ. He was a great singer, but a douche as a human being. Anyone who fucks with kids deserves to die a painful death and his wasn’t nearly painful enough for me. Sorry…
You know, the last time I watched that classic, epic movie you were in (Beowulf, the Mighty One) I remember thinking you were not a bad-looking kid. Cut yourself a little slack, it WAS the 80’s!
Darlene, I have not seen that cheesy video since we made it in 1984. How can I get myself a copy of this masterful reenactment of English Lit? Who doesn’t love the casting of a gerbil as he mighty monster Beowulf? We got the idea for the gerbil from the “killer bunny” from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Thanks for reminding me of that. Mrs. DeJong was a bitch, but that was a funny video…
(I say this with warmth and love and friendship)
Um…your first love, you idiot!!! : )