Surveying the Gen X landscape and the origins of geek
Geoffrey Patterson Sr. (first photo) opened his awesome shop in 1978. Geoffrey Jr., who is interviewed here, took over in 2004. The South Bay landmark is still going strong.
The guy wearing the hat in the second photo is wearing an X-Men t-shirt—the hat may also say X-Men. The movie posters hanging from the ceiling are Raid on Entebbe (1976) and High Risk (1981). Can’t make out the arcade cabs.
More comic book stores here.
(Photos via Geoffrey’s Comic Shop and eBay)
Toy companies weren’t the only ones trying to capitalize on the sci-fi fever of the late ’70s. Organized religion had taken a beating throughout the ’60s, with Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings, H.P. Lovecraft, and other eccentric narratives offering the rebellious young more compelling mythologies. UFOs were mysterious and poetic. Christianity was authoritarian and dogmatic. And then came Star Wars…
As I’ve said elsewhere, the “satanic panic” of the ’80s was more a backlash against the changing nature of youth than anything else. The real devil inside was imaginative, independent-minded kids who decided for themselves what they wanted to believe in.
(Images via eBay)
A can for each state. Stack up all the cans in a pyramid and you get a picture of Uncle Sam. See a cool six-part series on the set at BevReview, where I got the photos.
We could argue about what the best piece of Jaws tie-in merchandise was, but why bother?
(Image via eBay)
A different version of the “Patience My Ass” print is seen in these college dorm photos from 1972.
More Roach Studios here.
(Images via eBay)
I can’t find any info on the fanzine the Chairman (far right) is holding. The first San Diego Comic-Con was held in 1970. Photos from the 1973 SDCC are here.
(Image via SDSU’s Comic-Con History Project)
2 Warps to Neptune 