A Brief History of Hollywood and American Culture
Part 1 - The Eighties
The Eighties
Oh, the eighties. What’s not to love? It was the decade of decadence—big hair bands, neon fashion trends, and the peak of cocaine use in America—a cultural confluence of art, expression and prosperity. The 80s were cool.
I was merely a whippersnapper, but it’s a blast to reminisce. What’s indisputable is the 80s ushered in some incredible culture. Enjoy this walk down memory lane, and if you’re too young to remember, prepare your appetite; here’s a slice of culture for you, kid.
1980
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back took the top spot at the box office grossing 203 million, and Kramer vs Kramer took home the Academy Award, A.K.A. The Oscar, for Best Picture.
The CD (Compact Disc) began showing up in stores. This sweet reflective invention would remain the coolest 120 millimeters of plastic for more than two decades, that is until the quirky mastermind Steve Jobs made a splash with his iPod. Many audiophiles claim CDs are still the best medium for music listening.
“Call Me” by Blondie was the number-one song of 1980.
The big question on everyone’s mind was—would the eighties usher in some of the best music and worst fashion of all time?
1981
I was born in 1981 and so was a new generation. Millennials may be the most lambasted generation of all time, which is why I claim to be a part of the Xennials, a micro-generation that’s a little harder to say but free from the stigmas.
Feel free to join “The Lucky Generation” if you were born from ‘77 to ‘83. But, back to ‘81.
Superman 2 was giving America a hero’s punch—joining Jaws, Star Wars and The Exorcist in the pantheon of films to gross more than 100 million at the box office.
The man in tights carried not only the weight of the world on his shoulders but also the title of the highest-grossing film in 1981, but the Oscar for Best Picture went to Ordinary People.
Before Bradley Cooper played Chris Kyle and Mark Wahlberg played Morgan Luttrell, Tom Selleck was Thomas Magnum, Navy Seal and Vietnam Veteran. The show rocked—mustaches and aviators were en vogue and bad guys were getting their asses handed to them.
Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th U.S. President. A little-known fact is Reagan had long before served as president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) for two terms, in which he successfully negotiated for actor royalties from producers.
By the 1980s, he was named a top 100 actor, who’d performed in more than 50 productions over his lifetime, but 1981 was inarguably his year.
The Top Song in 1981 was “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes.
Oh yeah! Something else big happened on August 1st of 1981. MTV was born.
1982
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial went interplanetary at the box office, grossing 314 million in 1700+ theaters. Steven Spielberg was building his throne and solidifying his title as king of the imagination, often saying, “I dream for a living.”
E.T. endures as one of America’s favorite films, but the Oscar that year went to Chariots of Fire.
If the little tan wrinkly guy just trying to make a call, not Spielberg—E.T., wasn’t enough, Raiders of the Lost Ark was introduced to moviegoers in ‘82 also. It came in second at the box office that year, grossing 212 million.
A little-known fact. Tom Selleck was chosen to play Indiana Jones before Harrison Ford. Spielberg and producer George Lucas wanted a fresh face for what they believed would be a mega-hit and possible franchise like Star Wars, but the studios got involved and prevented it.
Other major headlines in ‘82 included Ozzy Osbourne eating a bat live on stage and Michael Jackson releasing his 6th studio album, Thriller, which has sold more than 70 million copies and is considered the best-selling album of all time.
Toping the Billboards in 1982 was “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John
WARNING: this music video may be the worst ever created.
1983
The Oscar in ‘83 went to Terms of Endearment, and the highest-grossing film was Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, raking in a cool 247 million at 1764 theaters.
George Lucas continued to win big with his philosophical green guy and wookies.
In Other News
A new star is born. Tom Cruise in Risky Business grossed 63 million and put one of America’s favorite faces on the map.
And, Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda releases her first fitness video. What would she be known for: fitness, anti-war activism, or Coming Home? Either way, she sure knew how to rock the socks.
The Top Song in 1983 was "Every Breath You Take" by The Police
Take a listen to this song. It’s oddly stalker-esque.
1984
And the Oscar goes to … Amadeus … and ‘Who Ya Gonna Call’ becomes America’s favorite question.
Ghostbusters cleaned up at the box office taking in 220 million, but way down on the list of box office smashers was my pick for the year. Grossing 34 million, was James Cameron’s The Terminator.
This film put mega-star Arnold Schwarzenegger on the map and introduced us to Cameron, who’d take us to many new worlds in the coming years.
In Other News
Apple, helmed by tech wizard Steve Jobs, released the Macintosh personal computer in the United States.
Hezbollah car-bombs the U.S. Embassy annex in Beirut, killing 24 people.
The Sony Discman, a follow-up to the Walkman, is released. How cool was this clunky gadget?
The Top Song in 1984 was “When Doves Cry” by Prince.
1985
Out of Africa wins the Oscar, and Back to the Future rakes in 214 million, taking the top spot at the box office. Spielberg has to be building a vault for his money by this year; either way, Michael J. Fox killed it as Marty Mcfly.
Other Cultural News
Music stars gather to record ‘We Are The World.’
The NES, more widely known as Nintendo, was released.
Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” song tantalized America but was edged out by the careless whispers of George Michael. Check out Madonna’s music video. It’s still exceptional.
The Top Song in 1985 was “Careless Whisper” by Wham
1986
And the Oscar goes to … Platoon … but maybe should have gone to Top Gun which sent a heat-seeking missile into the box office, taking in 176 million.
Top Gun still holds up, ‘Breath Taking’ power ballads and all. It’s just cool, and not because I served in the Navy, but because Maverick and Iceman were perfect projections of American radicality, and everyone wanted to be them.
The Top Song in 1986 was “That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John and Stevie Wonder.
1987
‘87 was quite possibly the best year of the decade for films. The Last Emperor took the Oscar, and Beverly Hills Cop II - took the top spot at the box office. The Beverly Hills Cop movies were special, impossible not to laugh at. They poked fun at “US” about real issues in a truthful way. Bravo, Axle.
Some honorable mentions: Dirty Dancing, Full Metal Jacket, Predator, The Princess Bride.
The Top Song of 1987 was “Walk Like An Egyptian” by The Bangles
Maybe America was tired of the standard walk? I’m not sure how this song made it to the top spot in ‘87, but I was merely a sapling and probably dancing to Thriller.
1988
Cruise again! Are you jealous yet? Rain Man got the Oscar, and Jessica Rabbit smoked the box office, making Who Framed Roger Rabbit the box office heavyweight at 156 million.
A couple of my favorites from ‘88: Twins, Cocktail (Damn it Cruise!), Beetlejuice, and Die Hard … come on! Anything but the rabbit.
In music, Michael was cool and so was his mega-hit “Faith”. A few other great jams were: “Need You Tonight” by INXS, “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by the contraction-loving Guns N’ Roses, and “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard.
Topping the Billboards in 1988 was “Faith” by George Michael
1989
Morgan Freeman ran straight into an Oscar with Driving Miss Daisy—tired of the innuendos yet? And, my favorite Superhero, Batman, took the top spot at the box office, grappling in 251 million.
A few notables: Rain Man another 139 million in ‘89, Road House multiplied Swayzee’s stock, Dead Poet’s Society made us think and cry, Uncle Buck made us wet ourselves in laughter, and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, well, dude, it was interesting.
As far as music goes, American ears must have been blown out in the theaters with all the great films because “Look Away” topped the music charts.
Sorry, I digress. It’s been a decade.
The Top Song of 1989 was “Look Away” by Chicago
Well, that’s it for the 80s, my first and most formidable decade. What did you like or dislike culturally about the eighties? Drop a comment and let us know.