Joel Sternfeld
California, (#4), 1977
I could tell you about suburban California in the late 1970s, but Joel Sternfeld has already done it, silently and totally.
Archive Page 94
Kids on Bikes Contemplating Farrah, 1977
Published October 24, 2013 '70s Decor/Design/Fashion , '70s Movies/TV , Photography , Suburban Living 4 CommentsThe Real Mustaches of New Jersey, 1980
Published October 24, 2013 '70s Decor/Design/Fashion , '80s Decor/Design/Fashion , Shopping Malls 3 Comments
The photographer is Joel Sternfeld. I found the shot at The High Line Blog.
If I had the facial hair, the muscles, the jeans, and the balls, I’d be one of these gentlemen for Halloween.
It’s true. I do have a sweet ass. Thanks for noticing, Google!
Stephen King and Tom Savini on the set of Creepshow, 1981
Published October 23, 2013 '80s Movies/TV , Horror Movies/TV , Tom Savini Leave a Comment
(Via Cinematic Wasteland)
Tom Savini on Livewire, 1982
Published October 23, 2013 Children's/Teen Programming , Horror Movies/TV , Tom Savini Leave a CommentNickelodeon’s Livewire was a talk show for kids that ran from 1980 to 1985. I haven’t seen it before, and unfortunately I can’t find an episode list online (not even on IMDb). But I’ve been going through the clips available on YouTube, and I’m impressed.
Savini is charming and giddy as he talks about “splatter films” being “on the way out” and demonstrates some of his special makeup effects. Creepshow was about to hit theaters, and he names “fluffy,” the nickname for the crate monster, his masterpiece. He also says that, among the films he’s been involved with, the controversial Maniac (1980) is his least favorite, and generally tries to separate himself from the ultra-violent genre he pioneered. (Read a 1980 interview with Savini here.)
Even if you’re not a horror fan, listen to the intelligent, searching questions the kids ask him, and ask yourself if it would be possible to produce a talk show for teens and preteens today in which kids are trusted to ask maverick adult guests articulate questions on live TV. (The Ramones, R.E.M., and The Psychedelic Furs all performed on the show and answered audience questions.) Not to mention the fact that every movie Savini had done to this point was rated R or unrated (now NC-17).
The level of respect kids got during this time—a level of respect we demanded—will not be seen again.
Imperial Toys: The Fall Guy Rub-A-Doos (1982)
Published October 22, 2013 '80s Movies/TV , Imperial Toy Corporation , Knockoff Toys , Presto Magix/Dry Transfers 1 Comment
That’s got to be the worst likeness of Lee Majors I’ve ever seen. And why is an astronaut on fire on the top of the package?
TV Guide Ad: `Elvira Meets The Fall Guy’ (1984)
Published October 22, 2013 '80s Movies/TV , Ads , TV Guide 9 Comments
It’s not false advertising, believe it or not. Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) played herself in a Fall Guy episode called “October the 31st,” which premiered on Halloween, 1984. From what I remember, she and Colt are doing a Halloween special in a haunted mansion owned by a demented old man played by John Carradine. Will they survive the night?
Speaking of Carradine, I just watched him ham it up in another winner called Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (1966). Think you know the best way to knock down a vampire? Think again.
(Image via Nostalgic Collections/eBay)
Micronauts: Antron, Membros, and Repto (Mego, 1979)
Published October 21, 2013 Ken Kelly , Mego , Micronauts 10 Comments
Halloween, 1983: Tron
Published October 18, 2013 '80s Movies/TV , Halloween , Halloween Costumes , Tron 2 Comments
The place is Charlotte, North Carolina. The kid with impeccable taste is Bryan Bowden, who very kindly gave me the background on the photo:
I had never seen the movie Tron, but I had all of those promotional read-along books that kids could get at Burger King or McDonald’s (I forget which). So my knowledge of the movie was based off of the abridged, kid-afied version of Tron. I just loved the idea of being a computer person who threw a frisbee weapon and rode cool laser motorcycles.
[…] ROTJ costumes cost money, and my mom never spent money on costumes because she was smart. Tron was my second choice. I found the mask first. It was at a dollar store and was just a simple shiny blue “robot” mask. I told my mom I wanted to be Tron. She had no idea what that was but used the pictures from the books to sew together a costume. The costume is a sleeveless vest she made and some Dallas Cowboys pants with reflective tape down the side. For good measure, she wrote “Tron” on the chest with the reflective tape, and put more reflective tape on the back in an angular pattern. She wanted me to be super reflective because 5-year-olds used to go trick or treating at night.
I was obsessed with sci-fi, robots, space, NASA, computers, etc. My family encouraged it, but they did not understand technology so we didn’t have a computer till the late ’80s and it was a used Apple IIe.
All of this tech love didn’t manifest itself in my future career. Currently, I’m a teacher and a comedian. I teach comedy at The Second City Training Center to ages 11 – adult. High School did an amazing job in killing my love of science. However, my demand for tech stuff in our luddite household encouraged my brother to explore and interact with newer technology. He’s now an engineer for HP (Hewlett Packard, not Lovecraft).
Ben Cooper did release a Tron costume in 1981, but I’ve never seen it outside of the box. It doesn’t matter. This one is better.
Thanks again, Bryan.
Groovy Wall Graphics, Circa 1976
Published October 17, 2013 '70s Decor/Design/Fashion , Found Photos , What Our Rooms Looked Like 4 Comments
I never thought paper clips could look this cool. I don’t know where he’s going with his tiny suitcase and his pack of smokes, but I bet he slept in a van and had a killer time.
2 Warps to Neptune 