I’ve written quite a bit about growing up during the 1980s. One of the key things about living through that era was the Cold War, which dominated much of American and Soviet life for the whole decade.
The only kind of arms race I will find acceptable from now on is the one where contestants must use only their arms (no hands!) to propel themselves forward and win.
What a great set of connections! I was all tee-d up to weigh in and then you hit me with the Internet and Rock and Roll and David Hasselhoff. My mind is spinning. Perhaps I’ll share my David Hasselhoff treasure in Notes.
But I do have a relevant 80’s Cold War memory. I was in Berkeley listening to a speaker talk about nuclear weapons proliferation. He talked about how many nukes the US and Russia had and the destructive power of each one. Then he pulled out a bag of marbles - one for each nuke. Then he pulled out a metal bucket. He put the bucket next to the mic and started pouring the marbles into the bucket. It was loud and went on FOREVER. Then we watched Dr. Strangelove.
My friends and I worried about it a bit. I think it was at its peak in like 1984, right around the time of Rocky IV and the back to back Olympics boycotts and all the Reagan rhetoric about evil empire this and drugs-are-bad that. It was pretty wild for a minute there, but Reagan's gamble ultimately paid off.
That's pretty serious! I was still a kid (turned 9 in 1984), so for me it was mostly about Transformers and GI Joes and stuff like that. I had some vague sense that we were all supposed to be living in a state of dread, but that didn't happen until middle school for me... and it wasn't (mainly) about nukes.
I swear whenever I see David's name I think of Jekyll and Hyde. Did you see that? If not, I recommend it. I'm a theatre nerd so that's where THAT interest comes from. I LOVE that musical but I think it scares some people because the story can actually be looked on as realistic to an extent. There are many mental illnesses that have a Jekyll and Hyde side to them. I could go on and on about that musical. Although, I tend to think he's a bit of an over actor, he did a good job in a VERY hard role. If you research others who have played that role, it's obvious that he studied their actions. That's a sign of a good actor in my opinion. Anyway, Great connections here!!! I said the pledge of Allegiance until middle school or so, we weren't required to say it after that. I tend NOT to think of that for some reason. I can say that my health was SO bad after Middle School that I didn't even KNOW about the Cold War. I didn't really understand what voting was, etc. at that time. I was just living day by day in Middle school and High School. You'd NEVER guess that someone who was well-known in the ER was also in the Church Choir and musicals. I think my NOT knowing helped. What are your thoughts!?
I haven't seen his Jeckyll and Hyde, but I'm actually not super surprised that Hasselhoff has that skill set. I think a lot about actors during the 80s as compared to today, and it's notable that virtually all of the big stars back then had to be able to perform live. Dancing and singing were notably present as compared to today, too. I wonder how different theater classes must be today as compared to back then, too, where I only got the smallest glimpses behind the stage, except the performances at my elementary school where I sang or acted (probably badly).
I can’t say that I’m 100% surprised that you haven’t seen Jekyll and Hyde. I have always been a HUGE musical nerd. Anything but the cheerleader type with multiple friends. I was more like the nerd that everyone messes with in high school. Musicals aren’t for everyone, they were just my home at that time. In high school, I was like the character Harry Potter going to Hogwarts in many ways. Like I said, I DO think that David overacts a bit but he did a wonderful job in that musical. Truly, some wouldn’t be able to notice his overacting either, especially if they didn’t grow up around such things. Still, some can’t handle that role. Gotta give him that much. Talented dude. I think alot of actors too because having grown up around actors, I consider them family. If met in person I’d even give those who I’m extremely inspired by a huge hug. Most of them anyway. It’s simply that I haven’t been paid for my experience but money doesn’t replace the heart. It never will. Probably why when I talked to Charles Strouse years ago, he was happy that I was just talking to him like a normal person. Although, I was rather young but still…poor guy was probably used to a bunch of fans bugging him for his autograph. People tend to forget that even those who are well-known are infact people. People who will be in my heart forever.
The only kind of arms race I will find acceptable from now on is the one where contestants must use only their arms (no hands!) to propel themselves forward and win.
Even worse, you make people will fully functioning hands navigate around the best ever hand-holds.
"Uh uh uh, this isn't a hands race, sweetie!"
What a great set of connections! I was all tee-d up to weigh in and then you hit me with the Internet and Rock and Roll and David Hasselhoff. My mind is spinning. Perhaps I’ll share my David Hasselhoff treasure in Notes.
But I do have a relevant 80’s Cold War memory. I was in Berkeley listening to a speaker talk about nuclear weapons proliferation. He talked about how many nukes the US and Russia had and the destructive power of each one. Then he pulled out a bag of marbles - one for each nuke. Then he pulled out a metal bucket. He put the bucket next to the mic and started pouring the marbles into the bucket. It was loud and went on FOREVER. Then we watched Dr. Strangelove.
Ha! Wow, that's gonna leave a mark on your trauma center.
Nah, I remember because it was theatrical. And I remember the movie. I don't remember ever really worrying about death by nuclear war
My friends and I worried about it a bit. I think it was at its peak in like 1984, right around the time of Rocky IV and the back to back Olympics boycotts and all the Reagan rhetoric about evil empire this and drugs-are-bad that. It was pretty wild for a minute there, but Reagan's gamble ultimately paid off.
In 84 I was 19, freshman year. Pretty oblivious to everything except surviving. How old were you?
I turned 9 in 1984. The comparable period in my life was '94, when I felt like I finally had it all figured out.
Hmmm when did I have it all figured out? Oh, I remember - never!
19
I was convinced in high school 1981-1983 that the world would end by 1985. That's how seriously I took it. Ended with a whimper instead of bang.
That's pretty serious! I was still a kid (turned 9 in 1984), so for me it was mostly about Transformers and GI Joes and stuff like that. I had some vague sense that we were all supposed to be living in a state of dread, but that didn't happen until middle school for me... and it wasn't (mainly) about nukes.
I swear whenever I see David's name I think of Jekyll and Hyde. Did you see that? If not, I recommend it. I'm a theatre nerd so that's where THAT interest comes from. I LOVE that musical but I think it scares some people because the story can actually be looked on as realistic to an extent. There are many mental illnesses that have a Jekyll and Hyde side to them. I could go on and on about that musical. Although, I tend to think he's a bit of an over actor, he did a good job in a VERY hard role. If you research others who have played that role, it's obvious that he studied their actions. That's a sign of a good actor in my opinion. Anyway, Great connections here!!! I said the pledge of Allegiance until middle school or so, we weren't required to say it after that. I tend NOT to think of that for some reason. I can say that my health was SO bad after Middle School that I didn't even KNOW about the Cold War. I didn't really understand what voting was, etc. at that time. I was just living day by day in Middle school and High School. You'd NEVER guess that someone who was well-known in the ER was also in the Church Choir and musicals. I think my NOT knowing helped. What are your thoughts!?
I haven't seen his Jeckyll and Hyde, but I'm actually not super surprised that Hasselhoff has that skill set. I think a lot about actors during the 80s as compared to today, and it's notable that virtually all of the big stars back then had to be able to perform live. Dancing and singing were notably present as compared to today, too. I wonder how different theater classes must be today as compared to back then, too, where I only got the smallest glimpses behind the stage, except the performances at my elementary school where I sang or acted (probably badly).
I can’t say that I’m 100% surprised that you haven’t seen Jekyll and Hyde. I have always been a HUGE musical nerd. Anything but the cheerleader type with multiple friends. I was more like the nerd that everyone messes with in high school. Musicals aren’t for everyone, they were just my home at that time. In high school, I was like the character Harry Potter going to Hogwarts in many ways. Like I said, I DO think that David overacts a bit but he did a wonderful job in that musical. Truly, some wouldn’t be able to notice his overacting either, especially if they didn’t grow up around such things. Still, some can’t handle that role. Gotta give him that much. Talented dude. I think alot of actors too because having grown up around actors, I consider them family. If met in person I’d even give those who I’m extremely inspired by a huge hug. Most of them anyway. It’s simply that I haven’t been paid for my experience but money doesn’t replace the heart. It never will. Probably why when I talked to Charles Strouse years ago, he was happy that I was just talking to him like a normal person. Although, I was rather young but still…poor guy was probably used to a bunch of fans bugging him for his autograph. People tend to forget that even those who are well-known are infact people. People who will be in my heart forever.