'Thriller' Dance - Scarier Than The Original!

Just in case you missed it last year, I thought I'd show you today an awesome re-enactment of Michael Jackson's 1980s Halloween anthem, 'Thriller':



Now, in case you were confused about what was going on, here's a short recap.

1)These are 1,500 prisoners from the Philippines.
2)Yes, the 'dude looks like a lady'.
3)Their normal everyday wear is stylish on exactly one day of the year - today.

It does raise a few questions, however:

1) What kind of torture does the Philippines criminal justice system engage in to make these guys do this? Can you imagine the sessions of beatings while they practice the choreography?

2)How do you get chosen to be one of the main dancers instead of one of the ordinary corpse masses, and is this considered a badge of honor or bit of fame within the prison?

3)Does the dude that looks like a lady have to beat them off with a stick all day??


And there are, of course, many other questions I don't have time to ponder this morning.

This whole thing kinda reminds me of the haunted house I went to a few years when I was in college. Here in New Orleans, up until the time of Hurricane Katrina, there was a great haunted house every Halloween put on by the sheriff's office in City Park. Since it was sponsored by the sheriff, the participants were none other than prisoners from Orleans Parish Prison.

Now, call me crazy, but those haunted house prisoners are actually scarier in real life than the characters that they portrayed that night, which made this the best haunted house anywhere. You kinda felt like the crazed guy with the chainsaw may ACTUALLY kill you - he has, afterall, done it before.

These dancing prisoners are in the same vein - the whole thing seems scarier than MoJo's original, and they don't even have makeup on!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Memories

Okay. I am cheating quite a bit today, as this video clip is surely from the late 70s instead of the 80s. But it was hard to resist, as I knew you guys would really love this one.

Check out the old style plastic masks - remember how much they made your eyelids hurt, and how the strings always popped 20 minutes into trick-or-treating?

Holly Hobby!
The Six-Million Dollar Man!

It just doesn't get any better than this. And can you imagine paying $2 for a Halloween getup?

Strawberry Shortcake ... Creepy!

Okay, she's not really that creepy, I just thought I needed to spice up this post with a bit of terror since its just a few days before Halloween. I should be writing more on gruesomeness and less about cute little cartoon characters!

I could not resist, though, when I got this childhood photo of a regular reader of this blog, Callista, in her Strawberry Shortcake costume. Her mom made this costume (remember when moms did that kind of stuff?). And no, Callista, we DON'T care that its blurry, its an old memory, afterall, and don't old memories start to get just a bit blurry as time goes by??

What I like almost as much as the costume in this photo are the paper halloween decorations in the window behind her. Remember those? You can hardly find them any more, and back then that was about all we had for decorating! There were no animatronics at Halloween, no illuminated stuff, no creepy sound machines and dry-ice fog, just those simple cardboard things, and in our case, 'handcrafted' pumpkins on construction paper taped into each window. Every once in a while a cool neighbor had an errant tombstone in the yard, but they were never made of plastic or fiberglass, like today, they were usually crafted of a piece of scrap plywood and hand-painted. Ahhh, those were the days!

Now, back to Strawberry Shortcake.

For parents who have little girls today, Strawberry Shortcake seems pretty run-of-the-mill for a character of the 21st century. Although not as popular as Dora the Explorer, Bratz dolls, or Hannah Montana, that lil Shortcake, with her new modernized look, has proven to have some staying power.

More of a teen at the time, I was a bit older than Callista, I think, so Strawberry Shortcake didn't interest me. But I do remember the mania that raged among girls a wee bit younger than I during the early 1980's. Although the character was invented in the late 70's, the heyday for her tv shows, toys and other merchandise was definitely the early to mid 80's. The world was on fire with Strawberry Shortcake back then! Its no wonder the current resurgence happened, with so many moms wanting to share this cherished character with their kids today. Here's a video of the vintage Shortcake:



Thanks to youtube user iz2short4u for this video.

Dirty Heads Neednt Haunt You

Who could grow up in the 60's, 70's or 80's without having Vincent Price as a major part of every Halloween season? Perhaps more than any other figure, Vincent Price, the most type-cast actor in Hollywood history, will forever be stuck in the American consciousness as the epitome of the Halloween spirit.

Here is an 80s commercial for Polaroid VHS tapes where Price consoles us that 'dirty heads need not haunt you'. VHS heads, that is.

I still have several movies recorded on these very Polaroid tapes. Still can't part with the old VHS stuff, and we still love to shop at garage sales and thrift stores and get VHS movies virtually free. Hey, by the way, has anyone noticed that VHS players can be had for like $39 these days? There's definitely no such thing as inflation when it comes to the VHS industry!

Enjoy this little creepy commercial tribute to a faded technology that was actually considered cutting-edge in the 1980's.


Thanks to youtube user wned17 for this video.

Rainbow Brite!

Okay, someone has finally sent me a picture of a cool 80's inspired Halloween costume. And guess what? It's for sale if you still need something for Friday! I don't know whether its too late to overnight this to you, you'd have to discuss that with the seller, PhriendlyK8. But you've gotta appreciate this nostalgic tribute to an 80's kids' favorite, Rainbow Brite.

Kudos, PhriendlyK8!

Freddy Who??

I have a confession to make.

I don't know anything about Freddy Krueger or the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, since I have never seen one.

How can this be, that 80sMom knows nothing of such an iconic 1980's movie and figure?

Thing is, I'm not big on slasher movies, never have been. I love creepy stuff, especially when religion is involved (i.e. the best scary movie EVER, The Exorcist), but slasher stuff just does not work for me.

I took this opportunity today to try and educate myself about this American horror icon called Freddy. I have been surfing around and looking at videos (isn't that what you do at 6am sharp on Monday mornings??) There is something we all can learn about our favorite era, and I guess you could say I learned today that I still have no interest in ever watching one of these flicks, but that I DO have a great appreciation for the creep factor of this Freddy Krueger song:

The Human League

I have no reason to post this today, and nothing to say about it except that I was just simply in the mood to hear it. And I know that you were too.


thanks to youtube user murphicis for this video.

Your Halloween Photos

I'm still waiting for your old 80's or 1980's 'inspired' Halloween photos!

Come on and send them in, you're running out of time before Halloween! 

I know someone out there must have made a mean Rubik's Cube costume way back when, now its time to share it!

The Breakfast Club - 'Our' Movie!

Finally there is time for comments on your choice for the movie that most represents the 1980's, 'The Breakfast Club' (see poll results at the very bottom of the page).

Who didn't love this movie as a teen in the 1980's? Who didn't love all John Hughes movies? Who didn't love the spoiled Sushi-eating Molly Ringwald? Who didn't just want to squeeze the nerdy and stressed out Michael Anthony Hall?

The thing about this movie that I thought was so novel is that it dealt with teen pressures and worries about fitting in, group identity, parental expectations, and personal worth in a serious way that meaningfully reflected the concerns of teenagers during that decade. This was, perhaps, the first teen movie since Natalie Wood's 'Splendor in the Grass' that portrayed young people as having meaningful thoughts and ideas. Most film directed at this age group never did take us or our thoughts seriously, and I respected the idea that this one did. Most teen movies were about the stereotypical topics of music and parties, dating and first forays into sex, or childish antics. This was the first one that didn't treat us like morons.

I am sure these are the very reasons many of you taking the poll identified this film as your favorite. It was no surprise to me when I posted the poll who the winner would be!

Sad 70's Karaoke

Okay. All I want to say about my cruise is that I don't feel too proud of myself.

I ate too much and did a very sad family karaoke of 'Stairway To Heaven' that totally cleaned out the lounge. I really wanted to knock 'em dead with my awesome 'Dead or Alive' Bon Jovi rendition, but they didn't have that song choice.

I feel pretty sure these ships don't consider Generation X to be an important demographic onboard. We had to watch a big production one night of Beatles songs that basically made my 80's ears bleed with unhappiness. Now, a Boy George revue, that would have been something. But The Beatles? Uh-uh.

So, I had to be content to karaoke with Zeppelin. It was a marathon 7 minute performance that ended to the feeble applause of those too buffet-stuffed to get up and walk out.

How was your week?

The Love Boat

I am leaving.

Not for long, just for a few days, but it DOES mean that you will need to go without your 80's fix for 4 days. Or, just to tide yourself over, each day commit to looking back in my archives, to the beginning days of this blog, and read something that you missed. I'd like that a lot. You will keep my hits up and keep this site going in my absence, AND you won't suffer the 80's withdrawal DT's.

'Where is 80sMom going?' you may ask. Well, here's a clue:



Yes, I will be cruising aboard a ship just like the Pacific Princess of one of my favorite shows from childhood, 'The Love Boat'. Who didn't love this program?

I can remember my parents thinking this show was too adult and a wee bit too 'dirty', what with all the single people sleeping with each other 'without being married'. Oh, if only they knew what the future held for tv. Shows like 'Temptation Island' would come to make programming like 'Fantasy Island' and 'Love Boat' seem approximately as threatening to children as the Teletubbies.

But I watched this 'dirty' stuff anyway. Who out there didn't have a huge crush on Gopher?

So, in honor of me and my hard work every morning toiling for your pleasure, please click on something at this site every day that I am gone. Just come back for the next 4 days and read my stupid Ralph Macchio poem again or something. Do it for me, and for yourself.

I wonder if our cruise will have any interesting stars like the show always had. I'm sure we won't get Gloria Vanderbilt on board, as cruises are more affordable and are becoming more of a Joe Six-Pack kinda thing these days. Will the spirit of Ethel Merman be on board? Will Jimmie Walker stalk his girlfriend on the ship (this was, incidentally, my favorite episode - go figure!)? Will Charro be there annoying us?

Pretty sure that Charro won't be there - her boobs are too little by today's standards to qualify for a hootchie-coochie position on board even today's Joe Six-Pack cruising vessels.

Ricky Gervais' 80s Band

For fans of the British tv show 'The Office', this is really funny stuff. I came across a video clip of a Depeche Mode-like video made by Ricky Gervais' band in the 1980's. The thing I can't get over is how totally cute Ricky was in the 80's. I love this clip!


Thanks to youtube user xuga for this video.

Movie Review - The King of Kong

For those of us who are trapped in the 80s, any opportunity to remember the past is an opportunity for celebration. And the movie 'King of Kong' provides this opportunity in spades.

This funny and nostalgic film traces the battle of one man to overtake the reigning world champion Donkey Kong player. This real-life documentary gives some insight into the world of competetive gamers, as well as a fun and funny history of gaming that you will all appreciate.

It is so much fun to watch the underdog attempt to beat the egotistical champion, Billy Mitchell, and make enourmous personal sacrifices to do so. It sounds like a cliche, but this movie will make you laugh and will also touch you with a big dose of nostalgia. You will love rooting for the underdog, and will love laughing at Billy, because you knew somebody EXACTLY like him in high school, I just know you did!

I highly suggest renting this film. I was really skeptical at first, but was hooked within minutes of popping in the DVD. It is available from Netflix, go and put it in your queue today!

Of Mojo, Mustard,and Reader Participation

See what this place inspires? After my 'Ode To Ralph Macchio' in yesterday's post, poets everywhere are coming out of the woodwork to show off their 80's creativity. Here, a poem by Phineas and Lou (http://thestumblydiva.blogspot.com):


Oh mustard,
I see that you have returned.
You remind me of when
I wore giant shoulder pads
poorly cut knits
and rayon with poka dots (solid pocket of course).


I loved Joey in the 8th grade,
New Kids on the Block (oh, oh, ohoho),
Michael Jackson was human,
and I wrote Ralph Macchio love letters
that I was
too shy to send.


Oh mustard, why have you returned.
To haunt me
with my past?
Alas, I forgive you.
I forgive me.


See? When you guys participate in this blog, we get to see a different point of view. Send in those odes! I have also yet to see any more Halloween costume pics from the 80's or that were 1980s inspired. Go ahead and send them in, and they will appear here!

Now, its time for something from way back when, when Mojo was, as Phineas and Lou likes to say it, 'human':


Thanks to youtube user proyect3000 for this video.

Ode To Ralph Macchio

Cute as can be, you were and you are,
But I really don't get why you were such a star,
Not with the adults but with wee folk like us,
I didn't get why 'Tiger Beat' made such a fuss.

You and Rick Schroeder, you were no John Stamos,
And it was a big excess that they made you so famous,
'Wax on, Wax off' was really good stuff,
But to your cute face in 'Teen Beat' I'd say 'That's Enough!'

Ralph Macchio, Ralph Macchio, you had you some fans,
But I think they were too young to have teenage glands,
Your face was so young and you were barely pubescent,
I didn't lust for you Ralph - I just have to confess it.

Presidential Debate Memories - Reagan Whomps Mondale

In this season of political debates, I like to go back and remember interesting ones of the past. These debates between McCain and Obama are just so darned BORING that it makes me wish for the kinds of heated or funny exchanges that we have seen in years past.

One of the most memorable moments came when Ronald Reagan whomped on Walter Mondale with a series of one-liners and witticisms that made many Americans fall in love with him. You can see why he got elected when you watch debate answers like this.

I wish the debates this year were so fun.


Thanks to youtube user lawford83 for this video.

What Does Vegemite Taste Like??

I thought maybe a reader from Australia could tell us what the heck Vegemite tastes like.

I have nothing insightful to say about this video at all, just wanted to share it with you tonight. Was just feeling down under-ish.

I've Been Tagged AGAIN!

HERE ARE THE RULES:

1. Link to the person who tagged you. (I've been tagged by our friend here at Trapped in The 80s Moms, Cora)

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.

4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

6. Let your tagger know when your entry is UP.

HERE ARE SOME NON-IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT ME:

1)Unlike Cora, I LOVE the sound of apples crunching. I love the feeling of biting into a green Granny Smith and I love hearing people bite into apples. It feels so crisp, clean, and natural.

2)I love the TV show 'Boston Legal'.

3)My most dreaded task around the house is UNLOADING the dish washer. I'd rather clean toilets than unload.

4)My non-80's secret music passion - Harry Connick Jr. I love almost everything he touches.

5)I used to work as an executive recruiter, hired by corporations to recruit people for IT jobs. I had to pretend to know all about computer stuff, when I am a technology dunce!

6)I have mild OCD and have since childhood.

Okay, I don't have 6 people to tag, I actually keep getting this same tag, and have already done it with everyone, but I wanted to answer for Cora anyway!

Remembering Black Monday, 1987

What has been going on on Wal Street over the past week reminds me of the 'crash' of Black Monday in 1987. Although I am not an expert by any means on such matters, I am of the mind that our country, as well as the global financial markets, will be better served if people don't react with emotion as regards their investments right now.

I like the end of this clip, where this guy explains how instead of freaking out, many investors should have seen 1987 as, in his words, a 'terrific buying opportunity'.

I hope over the coming days and weeks more investors come to view our situation similarly. I have my fingers crossed for us all.

Thanks to Youtube user phoenyxx360 for this clip from the Wall Street Journal Online.

What Is A New Romantic?

If I could choose one style and artistic trend of the 80's that I most connect with to this day, it would have to be that of the New Romantics. Most people in the U.S. most closely identify the New Romantic movement with the styling of bands such as Spandau Ballet, Adam Ant, and, of course, Duran Duran.

Here is one of D2's oldies but goodies, and its the one that most personifies their New Romantic image:




The New Romantic movement was a shortly-lived post-punk time in the early 80's wherein fashions harkened back to styles prevalent during the Romantic period in England (think Wordsworth and Lord Byron). In this subsection of early 80's New Wave culture, many British bands (this was predominantly a British phenomenon)donned frilly shirts, knee breeches, wigs (or real hair with the wild colors and 'presence' of Romantic era wigs), and makeup. It was a normal occurance for men of the period to don face powder and rouge on the lips and cheeks, presumably to give the impression of good health in an era plagued with ... well... plagues. So, the New Romantics, much in the same way that glam rockers became known for their bizarre face paint, became known for the use of cosmetics in an effort to conjur up the past as well as to put the spin of androgeny to the styling.

I love it. Will always love it. I also love reading books, watching movies, etc. from this era of history. As an English major, I read closely the complete works of Wordsworth, Byron, Shelley, and all those cool guys.

Even though my husband would look ridiculous in a frilly shirt, I swear, I will always fall for a guy that looks like the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Chess King - The Ugliest Damn Clothing Store Ever

Okay.

There is no way to describe the men's clothing store, Chess King, to someone who has not experienced it. It was, to put it mildly, an 'experience' to enter one of the stores that was present in virtually every mall in America during the 1980's.

This place had some REALLY FUGLEE clothes. Unless it had mesh, nubby acrylic, leather or zippers, it was not carried in this shop.

I can actually recall a sweater carried there once that was comprised of a 'patchwork' of different acrylic sweaters, each patch bordered with a trim of leather piping. Then, the entire 'sweater' was covered in numerous nonsensically placed faux zippers. This piece of 'fashion' was not an anomaly there - this was a normal, and representative piece of Chess King Style.

The only people who shopped there were the types who you'd see hanging out in cheesy nightclubs late at night - you know the types, the ones who thought that their patchwork acrylic sweater and roach mustache would get some 'chicks' in the wee morning hours. They all wanted to be Billy Dee Williams. I guess they figured: hey, if Lando Calrissian can shop at Chess King, why can't I??

Even as a teen, who was quite susceptible to the allure of 1980s trends, my cheese-o-meter scored a perfect 10 every time I set foot in that place. My friends and I actually went in there to get laughs, hiding our giggles from the sales staff so as to not insult them or the nubby-black-and-turquoise-'leopardskin'-print-sweater-with-a-zipper-at-the-neck that they wore.

The kind of guys who shopped at Chess King were generally NOT the kind you'd expect to see huddled around a chess board, at any time or in any place.

SWATCH Watches - Again!

I just can't get enough of the SWATCH.

I know I blogged about this great iconic watch already, but you have to hear about it again! I will never tire of its colorful 1980s vibe.

Here is a Swatch commercial from the 80's that I don't remember, but its cool nonetheless. I like the part where they show the Swatch Guard. Most Swatch commercials don't feature this awesome accessory. Enjoy!


Thanks to Youtube user Mahinn for this video.

The Art Of Noise

There was no music cooler or more mysterious in the 1980's than that of The Art of Noise.

I don't know anything at all about them and purposefully did not look them up before writing this morning because I want it to remain a mystery. Their music was so different from anything else at the time, and still stands as an example of something truly unique.

This song 'Moments In Love' was something I used to really love. It had an almost meditative quality that some will find boring; I, honestly, found it spellbinding. I love the part in the video when the turtle 'talks' to the boy. What the heck does it all mean? Who really cares?

I still have the cassette tape of this song. Don't anyone tell me anything about 'The Art of Noise' - I don't wanna know. Let's just keep it like its been for 20 years - me:ignorant, them:awesome.


Thanks to Youtube user IKE66 for this video.

Create Your Own 80's Radio Station!

Yes, you can do this.

I just finally got on the bandwagon with Pandora Radio (www.pandora.com). This is a totally cool web based music radio station that you literally create yourself. You are able to choose songs or artists that you like, and a 'station' resembling a continuous playlist will play tunes from the artists you select as well as tunes that have similar characteristics. As each song plays, you can give it the tumbs up to keep it in rotation on your station or the thumbs down to ban it from the playlist. Presumably, as time goes on, your station will get better and better as the computer hones in on what music exactly suits your taste.

This is my first day using it, but it is super cool and is playing a bunch of stuff that I like. And what was my first station called? 'New Wave Radio' - of course!

The 1980's - The Dying Days of Halloween

It was the years before the fancy-schmanzy mass produced Jack Sparrow Wal-Mart costumes.

It was the years before every girl or woman was dressed as a slutty French maid or vamp.

It was the last years of those wax lips we always got as Halloween candy.

It was the 80's.

These honestly were the dying days of Halloween as it was intended, of kids going house to house collecting candies that were special and only found at Halloween: things like wax lips, and big lollipop rings, 'smoking' cigarettes (I say this with both nostalgia as well as incredulity), candy corn, real candied apples, little bags of kettle corn popcorn, Mary Janes, and those peanut butter things in the black and orange wrappers. It was an adventure to get home and look at the candy, unlike now, when all my kids get are one after the other of mini versions of ordinary, everyday candy bars. PHOOEY! Now what's so special about that??

The early 80's also signified the death of the homemade costume. Shortly there would be no more clowns or hobos or beauty queens. I actually go trick-or-treating with my kids and do not see a single home made costume aside from theirs (I am a purist still - oh, okay, I'm just a cheapo!).

What did this to Halloween? Part of it is that the first 'latchkey' generation of Gen X often didn't have moms around enough to have the time for costumes or real candy apples.

I contend, however, that the big event that seemed to change the nature of Halloween forever was the big Tylenol scare of 1982. After 7 people died from Tylenol laced with poison, what, moms across America asked, would prevent someone from doing the same to the Halloween candy?? This is just my stupid theory; if anyone has other explanations for the demise of the traditional Halloween, I'd love to hear it.

Nowadays, kids barely trick-or-treat at all. Instead, they go to organized functions at schools or churches. They go on hayrides or to organized parties. They go to 'trunk-or-treat' and get candies served out of the back of people's cars, so as not to do something HUGELY RISKY and intimate like ring a doorbell (I still like to go to the door with the kids, its fun to peek into people's foyers, hee-hee!).

They do everything BUT wreak havoc, get very bad tummyaches, and have one night to be able to face their greatest fears. This is a characteristic of modern America that I hate, the coddling of kids so extremely that they don't even have a chance to become brave by facing the demons inside (and, on this night, outside).

Now, to get to my point. What got me started on this is that a lovely reader named Cora was so kind as to send me the awesome photos you see above. The Ms. Pac Man outfit and the Smurfs costume just made me grin so big when I opened them in my email! They are awesome examples of what we don't see anymore at Halloween and are so reminiscent of the 1980's. Cora, by the way, has her own blog that you may enjoy: http://lovelettersbycora.blogspot.com

I wasn't actually trick-or-treating past 1982 or so. I guess you could say I had the pleasure to experience the the dying days of old fashioned Halloween in its last gasps before moving on to teenage pursuits. I don't believe I have any photos of my costumes back then, but I do invite you all to email me any photos you have of yourself in 80's inspired Halloween costumes (or, heck, in any handmade 'old style' costumes) and I promise to showcase them in my blog as I have done with Cora's. Send them anytime between now and Halloween to 4happycampers@bellsouth.net.

Let's Help The Kids!

Okay, I know this is the THIRD post for today, but I just can't get enough of yammering on and on today!

Actually, this one has nothing to do with our favorite era, it is instead an appeal to help a frequent viewer of this blog, wblmom, with a project. Its a project to help fund school programs. As a donor, you get to decide specifically which project your funds will go towards. The choices are all in the classroom, so know that your donation will help out only the specific teacher's request that you believe in. And apparently you can give as little as $5.

Consider helping out another 'trapped in the 80's' mom by checking out her blog entry of October 1st where she explains how to donate:

http://everythingdaze.blogspot.com

And good luck with this endeavor, wblmom!

Remember the 'Speak and Spell'?

I was a bit old for this toy, but since I had a younger brother, I knew what toys were popular for the young 'uns during the 1980's. And I SO vividly remember this commercial. Who could forget Bill Cosby with those giant 80's glasses doing that with his eyes, and than making off like a bandit in the night with the coveted 'Speak and Spell'??

I remember thinking this was a very cool and technologically advanced toy. Do they still sell it? I doubt it, now that stuff like 'Leap Pad' and a whole slew of computer toys for kids have taken off like wildfire. Honestly, though, wasn't the 'Speak and Spell' the forefather??

Thanks to youtube user Tap3w0rm for this video.

And The Winner Is...

Sorry guys, today this post is not about the 80's, but its about something equally important.

We have chosen a winner of the September 15th gemstone bracelet giveaway. Thanks so much for all of your responses and for checking out my shop. I don't like to focus too much on my jewelry on this blog, but now and again I just like to let you know what I'm up to outside of this blog, and to share a little love with a freebie ;-)

The Amazonite and Rose Quartz bracelet winner is:

Shannon of 2ofaKindPhotography.etsy.com!!

She will be contacted shortly and arrangements will be made to send her this piece of jewelry. I hope you like it, Shannon!

Since we are on the subject, you may want to check out my shop, as a new promotion has begun for the month of October. I am giving away a FREE Halloween themed bracelet (Carnelian and Hematite) with any purchase of $39 or more. Also, just since I love you guys, if you mention at checkout that you are a reader of my blog, I will go ahead and add in a free handcrafted ring to match!

Visit me by clicking www.meditations.etsy.com