The Terminator, 1984
By James Porter With which 1980s movie character do you best associate Arnold Schwarzenegger? Conan The Barbarian? Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer? Ben Richards? Kalidor? Julius Benedict? All indeed roles that he played in his 1980s movie career, but there is only one character that is truly synonymous with the man who is currently the Governor of California. That is, of course, the cyborg from the 1984 James Cameron classic, The...
Jumpsuits – In the 80s and Today
Jumpsuits in the 80s Talk of jumpsuits makes me go “oh yeah,” slowly and with eyes squinted, like I can’t quite remember them. It’s a lie. I totally remember them. I just don’t want to. My own 80s jumpsuit was white, zipped up the back, and had super-tapered ankles and batwing sleeves that started at the waist. When I spread my arms I looked like a human triangle. It was undeniably cringe-worthy; I see that now. But I loved that white...
River’s Edge, 1986
River’s Edge captures the world of mid-eighties kids as well as any John Hughes film, but the world these kids inhabit is entirely different. It’s the flipside, or better still, the underbelly of the John Hughes’ 80s. A group of high-school friends learns that one of their own has murdered his girlfriend. The murderer, Samson (known as John, played by Daniel Roebuck) shows them Jamie’s nude body, which he has left at the river’s edge....
Who’s That Actor?
Actors and Their 80s Beginnings Fortunately, the 80s were pre-internet and pre-digital, so little awkward proof remains (except for what gets dug up and posted on facebook). But if you were a budding celebrity, there’s plenty of celluloid documenting your rockin’ 80s look. In fact, some of today’s biggest names got their start in the 80s in some unlikely places: George Clooney: Before Dr. Ross, Clooney was learning The Facts of Life....
Square Pegs, 1982-1983
It lasted only one season, but what a season it was for CBS’s woefully underrated sitcom Square Pegs. Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Linker are completely believable as vulnerable, sweet Patty Greene and Lauren Hutchinson, freshmen at Weemawee High School. Tracy Nelson, who later played a nun on Father Dowling Mysteries, pulls out all the stops as Valley Girl Jennifer DiNuccio. Jami Gertz (later on Still Standing) perfectly nails...
