Tag: 1980s

Lost and Found: Streetwalkin’

One of the more prevalent cult movie genres in the 1980s featured prostitutes navigating the dangerous streets of whatever big city in which they plied their trade (almost always New York or Los Angeles). Let’s name it the Streetwalkin’ genre, after the 1985 film that, in my humble opinion, best personifies this style: Streetwalkin’. A … Continue reading Lost and Found: Streetwalkin’ →

The Art of the Ad: The Computer Revolution

Computer ads from the 1960s through the early 1980s are bursting with optimism for a future made easier—and better—through technology. Now that we’ve all assimilated, plugged in 24/7, the jury is out on whether that’s “better” or not. Now we just shrug with every iOS update, allow our data to be harvested, and rot our … Continue reading The Art of the Ad: The Computer Revolution →

Bad Girls We Love: Eve from See No Evil, Hear No Evil

The third of four cinematic collaborations between comedy legends Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) was a cable television staple in the early to mid-1990s. That’s where I saw it, over and over again, probably on my beloved WPIX-11. The film’s plot sounds like the setup for a joke: … Continue reading Bad Girls We Love: Eve from See No Evil, Hear No Evil →

Is This Thing On?

Ever feel a bit like Susie Diamond the first time she takes the stage with the Fabulous Baker Boys? You know, when she forgets to flip the switch on the microphone and no one in the audience hears her—until she turns on the mic just as she answers Frank Baker in frustration, “What fucking switch?!” … Continue reading Is This Thing On? →

Lost and Found: The Vice Academy Movies

I’ve mentioned my gloriously misspent early ‘90s youth watching B-movies and cult horror plenty of times. Many of those movies I viewed for the first time thanks to USA Up All Night and the hostess with the mostess, Rhonda Shear. Before I go on, look, you’re aware of my feelings for Rhonda. They’re well documented. … Continue reading Lost and Found: The Vice Academy Movies →

From the Vault: Video Killed the Rental Store

This post originally appeared at my old blog in 2016 and appears here in slightly sofferent form. Did you appreciate the video rental store while you had it? Probably not. Instead, you simply spent nearly every Friday and Saturday night wandering around inside its walls, looking for VHS treasures to rent. You'd browse intently, as … Continue reading From the Vault: Video Killed the Rental Store →