The 80s Weekly - Issue 27

Spring Break in the '80s, Def Leppard Hires an Orchestra and an Mega 80s Lootcrate Giveaway.

Jason Gross
March 19, 2023

Editor’s Note

It’s Spring Break week for my family and many of you (I hope) will also be enjoying a break soon. Most people choose the beach as their destination for Spring Break so I thought it would be fun to curate some beach themed content in this week’s issue. If you can’t make it to the beach, you can always check out my recent VHS find Ocean Waves in the list below and bring the beach to your screen! Haha!

Cheers to some much needed “RNR” and stay rad, everyone! - Jason

Life’s a Beach!

This is how Spring Break looked like in the 1980s

These pictures show what was acceptable in the 1980s at Spring Break. Mostly from Daytona beach and Fort Lauderdale, these show a party scene that seems alien, the kind of en masse binge-drinking you could have before the intervention of social media.

17 Facts To Keep 'Weekend At Bernie's' Alive

Some facts you may not know about the 1989 comedy 'Weekend At Bernie's'.

MTV's First 'Spring Break' VJ Remembers What Spring Break Was Like Before Camera Phones

Alan Hunter, who hosted the first edition 30 years ago, talks about bikini-related blunders, working while hung over, and the early, improvisational days of MTV.

VHS FINDS: Ocean Waves (1985)

From the Video Naturals series, check out the Ocean Waves video from 1985.

How to Plan an '80s Theme For Your Next Getaway

Here are some ideas for using the '80s in your getaway planning including what to pack in your suitcase and more.

Gnarly News

Blade Runner 2099: Jeremy Podeswa Directing Amazon Series Pilot

Jeremy Podeswa (Station 11, Game of Thrones) has been tapped to direct the pilot for Amazon's Blade Runner 2099 limited series.

Guns N’ Roses’ Slash Launches Horror Film Banner BerserkerGang

Saul Hudson, better known as Slash, the British-American lead guitarist of iconic rock group Guns N’ Roses, has launched a horror production outfit.

Willow: Disney+ & Lucasfilm Sequel Series Not Returning for Season 2

Reports are that the Lucasfilm & Disney+ sequel series starring Warwick Davis & Joanne Whalley will not be returning for a second season.

Atari Acquires Berzerk, Frenzy, & More Classic Titles

Atari revealed they have acquired a dozen new titles to their library, featuring classic retro games from their past.

‘Matlock’: Jason Ritter Joins Cast Of CBS Reboot Pilot

Jason Ritter is set as a lead opposite Kathy Bates in CBS’ drama pilot Matlock, a new take on the classic legal drama that starred Andy Griffith.

A Brief History of ‘Beetlejuice 2’ Never Happening

It’s finally being made — unless it’s not.

Madballs vs. Garbage Pail Kids: Time Again Slime Again #2 Preview

The Madball and the Garbage Pail Kids engage in a naval battle in this preview of Madballs vs. Garbage Pail Kids: Time Again Slime Again #2.

Nintendo expands Switch Online library with more Game Boy classics and Kirby

Kirby’s Dream Land 2 features among the NES, SNES and Game Boy titles

Rediscover '80s Pop Culture

'Dallas' star Charlene Tilton says she never felt 'beautiful' as a 1980s sex symbol

Charlene Tilton said, despite doing hundreds of magazine covers and being seen as a sex symbol during her "Dallas" fame, she always wanted to be a character actor.

Billy Crystal Celebrates 75th Birthday With 'When Harry Met Sally' Inspired Photo

Billy Crystal who recently turned 75 years old shared a photo, inspired by his famous role in 'When Harry Met Sally' to celebrate the day

How 'Police Academy 5' Limped Along Without Steve Guttenberg

'Police Academy 5' was released in March 1988 and marked the point when the franchise began to move toward extinction.

Collectibles

LEGO IDEAS Ducktales The Money Bin Project Achieves 10,000 Supporters

The latest LEGO IDEAS project creation to achieve 10,000 supporters is Ducktales The Money Bin Project Creation by sxavalentine.

Elvira "Red, Fright, and Boo" 8-Inch Clothed Action Figure

The 8-inch Elvira action figure is fully articulated and features tailored fabric clothing, plus plenty of accessories...alternate winking head, skull and snake candle holder, chalice, and figure stand.

The 10 Rarest Jem and the Holograms Toys and Their Worth in 2023

Out of all the properties that Hasbro has released, Jem and the Holograms is one of the most captivating.

Indiana Jones Returns to LEGO with Temple of the Golden Idol Set

Adventure awaits master builders as the world of Indiana Jones returns to LEGO with a nice assortment of sets right from the films.

Music/Podcasts

Def Leppard Goes Classical With 'Drastic Symphonies' Album

Def Leppard announced the classical-style album 'Drastic Symphonies' will releasae in May 2023.

Chopping Mall Score Coming To Vinyl From Waxwork Records Again

Waxwork Records has put up for order a new pressing of the score to 1986 cult classic Chopping Mall for shipping now!

Rental Return Season 3: Andy Serwin

Season 3 of Rental Return continues with an interview of Andy Serwin who worked for a "Mom and Pop" store called The Video Hut.

GIVEAWAY ZONE

Congrats to Dixie N. from Tomah, WI for winning the Trapper Keeper Giveaway from Issue 26! I’ve got more Trapper Keepers in the prize vault so be on the lookout for another opportunity to win one in the future.

For Issue 27, the giveaway is a MEGA 80s Lootcrate! First, the winner will get the Best of the ‘80s Lootcrate featuring a Ghostbusters Proton Pack string bag, miniature Back to the Future hoverboard, Big Trouble in Little China comic, TMNT magnets, and a Golden Girls coffee mug. But this is a MEGA Lootcrate! There was too much empty space inside the box so I filled it with a Transformers minifigure pack, Optimus Prime and Megatron Fidget Its, a Glow-in-the-dark Funko Slimer Pez, a Rubik’s Edge, The Goonies on DVD and Uncle Buck/Great Outdoors on DVD. Overall, about a $75 retail value packed into one box! (check out the picture for everything included.) To enter, click the button or image below to visit the Giveaway Zone on RD80s and enter via the Rafflecopter widget.

REMINDER: Subscribers are not automatically entered! You must click over and use the widget to earn your entries. That’s right, beginning with this issue you can earn bonus entries in the widget just by connecting with RD80s on social platforms. But being a subscriber is a required entry first!

BONUS GIVEAWAY

Win a Genesis 'BBC Broadcasts' Vinyl Set

CONTEST HOSTED BY ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK. One UCR reader can win a vinyl copy of Genesis' 'BBC Broadcasts' vinyl set in March 2023. Click and enter by March 26, 2023. Official rules on the UCR website.

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