You Are What You Were. Celebrate Retro Pop Culture At Retroland.
For any kid that ever played a game of neighborhood baseball, this is a film sure to tug at a few of those nostalgic heartstrings. Released in 1993, The Sandlot travels back to the summer of 1962, to tell the tale of a group of young friends who shared more than a passing fondness for the great American pastime.
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Bill Murray found success as one of the iconic “Not Ready For Prime Time Players” on Saturday Night Live in the 70s. And like his cohorts, Chevy Chase and John Belushi, his next career step was films. His first starring role was as out-of-control camp counselor Tripper Harrison in the comedy Meatballs. Released in 1979 and directed by Ivan Reitman, (who had just finished producing Animal House) Meatballs wasn’t exactly a children's film. It was a bit too risqué for that, garnering a PG rating - but it was still managed to be seen by a heck of a lot of kids who still fondly remember the summer-themed film to this day.
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Ask someone what their favorite baseball movie is and they could give any number of responses. Switch the sport to golf, however, and the most likely response will be Caddyshack. Thanks to the unforgettable performances from the likes of Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight and Chevy Chase, Caddyshack has taken on a cult status over the years as one of the most beloved and funniest sports comedies ever produced.
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Truancy is no laughing matter, unless it is presented through the eyes of director John Hughes, whose coming-of-age films in the 80s and 90s are some of the most beloved from the era. This time around, we were introduced to a high school student, too intelligent and devious for his own good, who decided to skip school with his friends and embark on a rather adventurous day in the 1986 comedy, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The film would become one of Hughes' most successful endeavors, and make Ferris a hero to millions.
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On July 11, 1987, a prime-time special entitled Good Morning, Miss Bliss aired on NBC. Soon after, it became a series on the Disney Channel, starring The Parent Trap's Hayley Mills as the teacher, Miss Bliss. Among her students were a young Zack, Screech, and Lisa. Their principal was Mr. Belding, who could switch from best pal to stern disciplinarian at a moment's notice. The show moved to NBC in 1989, soon to become the network's first live-action hit since Land of the Lost in 1977. Playing with the big boys now, the show got rid of its title character as well as its title. Now known as Saved by the Bell, the new show featured Zack (the "preppie" stud), Screech (the nerd) and Lisa (aspiring dress designer), as well as their new friends Slater (the handsome jock), Kelly (the boys' object of desire) and Jessie (the intelligent girl).
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Between 1922 and 1948, comedic film director Hal Roach created a total of 220 film shorts under the name Our Gang. Featuring over 41 different child actors over the years, the beloved shorts chronicled the adventures of a group of children who lived in a poverty-stricken neighborhood together. In the early 50s, thanks to the enormous popularity of the series, MGM took 80 of the shorts and packaged them for television as The Little Rascals. And, in the decades that followed, millions of former kids sat mesmerized by the hilarious antics and colorful characters. A staple of syndicated television for many years, they still hold a fond place in our hearts.
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In 1988, a television show debuted that quickly won the heart of every baby boomer out there. The Wonder Years followed the daily life of a young boy named Kevin Arnold, who was coming of age during the turbulence of the late 60s. While Kevin struggled with his own adolescence, the nation had it's own challenges - the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the liberation of women - and millions tuned in each week to follow the trials and tribulations of this all-American suburban family.
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They came, they saw, they kicked its…well, you know the story. Ghostbusters has become part of the pop culture Hall of Fame, spawning a film sequel, two cartoon series and a host of lines that are still quoted today- "Don't cross the streams," "Are you the keymaster?," "Back off man, I'm a scientist," "He slimed me!" and many more.
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David and Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams teamed up in 1980 to direct the spoof to end, or rather, start all spoofs. Airplane! took the disaster movie genre and wrung every hilarious contrivance from it, distilled the essence and presented audiences with pure comedy gold. With jokes and sight gags fired at a machine-gun pace, there is nary a minute of this film that isn't funny, even after years of multiple viewings. Let's take a look back.
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A family-based sitcom is dangerous territory. If the kids are annoying, if the writing falls flat, if the family doesn’t seem real – all can lead to a quick demise. But every once in a while a show like Growing Pains comes along and proves that when everything clicks, the rewards can be substantial. This 80s series, which would go on to become one of the longest-running and most watched of the decade, seemed to have it all – clever humor that could elicit an unexpected guffaw, a cast of likable characters of all ages, and a family that never seemed too “Hollywood.” Growing Pains captured the trials and tribulations of raising a family, while never easing up on the laughs.
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