A lighthearted and loving look back at the glory days of the Shady Dell, the historic haven for teenagers in York, PA, and the magnanimous couple that created it, John & Helen Ettline.
CLOSE YOUR EYES. TAKE A DEEP BREATH. OPEN YOUR HEART.
SHADY DEL KNIGHT, ADMINISTRATOR
High School Yearbook Photo
"More than a place, the Shady Dell was and will forever remain a state of mind." - Shady Del Knight
HELLO STRANGER ... IT SEEMS LIKE A MIGHTY LONG TIME!
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Eleven's a Perfect 10 - Stranger Things Have Happened But Don't Know When!
(CONTAINS SPOILERS)
Thirty-three years ago...
NOVEMBER 6, 1983,
in the town of Hawkins, Indiana,
12-year-old Will Byers
mysteriously vanished.
STRANGER THINGS
were about to happen!
Meet the main characters in this drama
and listen to the songs that formed the
soundtrack of their lives as these
fantastic events unfolded.
I'm Joyce Byers, Will's frantic mother on Stranger Things, the smash hit sci-fi/horror series on Netflix.
I've tried everything I can think of to find Will. I even resorted to chanting "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice."
Where there's a Will... there's a way.
This I swear to you. Whoever or whatever
took my son is axing for trouble. Chief
Hopper and I have buried the hatchet
and together we're gonna bury it
in that monster's skull!
"Undercover of the Night"
The Rolling Stones
(Nov. & Dec. 1983, highest chart pos.
#9 Hot 100,#11 UK,#5 Belgium,
#4 Netherlands)
I'm Chief Jim Hopper of the
Hawkins Police Department.
Mornings are for coffee and contemplation.
Then comes Miller time. That's right, folks.
I drink a lot, smoke a lot and sleep with
every woman in town. Yep... I'm your typical 80s hero... uniquely qualified to
battle a creature from a parallel universe.
"Union of the Snake"
Duran Duran
(Nov. & Dec. 1983, highest chart pos.
#1 Cash Box/#3 Hot 100/#3 UK )
START PLAYING VIDEO
AT 35 SEC. MARK!
I'm Mike Wheeler, one of Will's friends.
I have a secret friend hidden in my house -
a girl named Eleven - "El" for short. She's
gonna help us find Will. El's kinda quiet
and all she ever eats are Eggos, lots of 'em.
Her head is shaved and she doesn't really
look like a girl. Even so, I kinda like her,
but not in that mushy, gushy, gooey way.
"One Thing Leads To Another"
The Fixx
(Oct. & Nov. 1983, highest chart
pos. #4 Hot 100/#1 Canada)
I'm Nancy Wheeler, Mike's older sister
and Steve Harrington's girlfriend.
Although I'm dating Steve, who's in with
the "in" crowd, I am strangely attracted
to Jonathan, a quiet outsider.
I'm a good girl but, when the chips are down,
I'm badass as they come. Now grab the bear trap.
It's open season on monsters from other dimensions.
"Running With the Night"
Lionel Richie
(Dec. 1983 to Feb. 1984,
highest chart pos. #7 Hot 100,
#1 Canada Adult Contemporary)
START PLAYING VIDEO
AT 40 SEC. MARK!
I'm Jonathan Byers, Joyce's son
and Will's older brother.
I have a crush on Nancy Wheeler, but her heart
belongs to Mr. Popularity, Steve Harrington.
I don't know what she sees in him, but I wish
she was seein' me.
I just heard a song on
the radio and it reminded me of Nancy.
"Uptown Girl"
Billy Joel
(Oct. to Dec. 1983, highest chart pos.
#3 Hot 100/#1 UK, Scotland, Ireland)
I'm Steve Harrington, big man on campus
and Nancy Wheeler's boyfriend.
Nancy is out of my league and I know it.
She's a good girl, too good for a spoiled, Shallow Hal like me, but I'll do whatever it takes to keep her with me and away from that weirdo Byers dude. I just need to work on my rap a little.
"Tell Her About It"
Billy Joel
(Sept. to Nov. 1983, highest chart pos.
#1 Hot 100/#1 Adult Contemporary)
Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god!
I'm Dustin Henderson, another of Will's friends. El has awesome superpowers and, on top of that, she's crazy. If you make her mad she can squeeze your bladder with her mind, make you pee your pants and send you home crying to mommy.
This is yet another TV program I haven’t been following-- I didn’t realize I have been missing so many that you watch. Stranger Things looks like a fun and exciting show with interesting characters-- especially the girl Eleven who has super powers.
What a clever idea to post songs that were popular in the fall of 1983 as the events in this story unfolded! There are some terrific sounds here-- and I haven’t heard most of them in ages. I am a big fan of the Rolling Stones. I enjoyed watching that Undercover of the Night video for the first time in about twenty years. Union of the Snake is another favorite and I enjoyed seeing that live performance by Duran Duran for the first time. The Lionel Richie song and the two Billy Joel videos were also loads of fun. All of these songs were really good and bring back memories of the 80’s. Great post!
Thanks for taking a peek at the new post. Yessum, you and I watch many TV shows together, but it seems there are just as many that I have urged you to watch to no avail. Stranger Things is one of them.
Filmed around Atlanta, Georgia, Stranger Things is an excellent series loaded with references to the early 80s Steven Spielberg movies E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Poltergeist as well as TV shows of the period. Winona Ryder heads a marvelous cast that includes a group of exciting and talented child actors. Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven is one of the most precocious young actors I have ever seen.
Yessum, the songs in this post are ones that the kids in Stranger Things would have been listening to on the radio and watching on MTV and NBC's Friday Night Videos in the fall of 1983 when the events in the series were unfolding. For me it was refreshing to go back and listen to these hits of the period and watch those great music videos. Like you I hadn't watched most of them in many years.
The early to mid 80s remind me of the mid 60s because the music scene was exploding with exciting sounds in a variety of styles. For that reason I often call the 80s the last great decade for music (and other things).
Thank you again for reporting in, Kathryn. Enjoy your Sunday and have a fab week ahead!
Okay, Chief Jim Hopper is hot. I could handle being investigated by him... :) Great soundtrack here. Nice 80s flashback! I love The Fixx's One Thing Leads to Another. It's one of my favorite 80s songs for sure. Also enjoyed hearing Madonna's Holiday and the crazy Safety Dance!
I have never watched Stranger Things but will have to give it a view on Netflix. Is it a Netflix original or has it aired on another network?
Thank you very much for coming by to experience Stranger Things along with a heaping helping of retro rock and soul.
Yessum, Stranger Things is a Netflix original. Season 1 is available for streaming intact and season 2 is on the way sometime next year. If you enjoyed Steven Spielberg's E.T. movie then you will surely get a kick out of Stranger Things because there are many moments in each episode that pay homage to that sci-fi classic and other movies and TV shows of the early to mid 80s. The series is a lot of fun to watch. It boasts fine acting and high production value, just like watching a movie. My favorite character is Nancy, a good girl gone badass. Nancy could make a seamless transition to vampire slayer on From Dusk Till Dawn. :)
I'm glad you enjoyed this sneak peak at Stranger Things along with the recordings and videos that were popular when these fictional events took place. Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Michele, and have a wonderful week!
Don't watch TV and things as you know, friend Shady, but you got me mesmerized with this story ... and Madonna's "Holiday" is one of my all time favourites cuz now, age 60, I'm starting to take as many holidays/ vacations as possible as you might have noticed ... Love, cat. PS: Our local radio station is worth listening to as they take you down memory lane ... my memory lane anyway ... it is 100.7 cruz fm ... smiles ...
How are you today, dear feline friend? Thank you for coming down!
Yessum, I remember you telling me you don't watch television, but I am happy to know you enjoyed my promo for Stranger Things. It's a great series!
I'm also pleased to know you enjoyed a tune or two including "Holiday." You are very fortunate to have been able to vacation on that exotic South Pacific island.
I enjoy listen to radio stations or channels that take you on a stroll down memory lane and offer a good selection of minor hits and non-hits along with the familiar top tunes of the past.
smiles to you, dear friend cat. Thank you again for spending some time in the Shady today and have a wonderful week ahead!
Oh this was awesome, Shady! A tantalizing tale with a side of tasty tunes - almost takes the sting out of not being a Netflix subscriber. Stranger Things certainly sounds like a show I'd enjoy. Among other things, the music brought back memories of Space Invaders and Pac Man. Time Magazine named The Computer as their Man Of The Year in 1982, and not long after that came mobile phones and Microsoft word! Talk about one thing leading to another, huh? Lots of fun here, my friend - thank you!
How are you, dear friend? Thanks for coming over to get the scoop on Stranger Things, another of my favorite TV series. You really do need to start watching Netflix because it is chock full of great programming. (I'll even pay for your subscription! :)
Yessum, good play on words there, one thing leads to another. The world we have today is quite different from the one we knew in '83. I used to suffer from Pac Man fever. I played it every chance I got. Ms. Pac Man, too.
Rule of thumb: if you enjoyed Spielberg's E.T. then you will enjoy S.T. Many of the scenes and shot compositions are nearly identical to those found in the movie.
I'm glad you enjoyed this Nov./Dec. 1983 soundtrack. As you can tell from the selection, the music scene was bursting with great recordings and iconic videos at that time. I am very nostalgic for the early years of MTV.
Thank you again for joining the fun, dear friend Diedre, and have a safe and happy week!
I think I'm going to have to get Netflix and watch this show. Stranger Things looks like a great show!
I love the Billy Joel songs you picked. I have a guilty pleasure for Billy Joel; he's fun to listen to. The playlist tonight is fun in general. Thanks for the smile.
Yessum, most of the series I have been presenting on SDMM in recent weeks are available on Netflix. Mrs. Shady and I watch shows on Netflix every evening and there is a wealth of great stuff from which to choose.
Stranger Things will give a young person like you a glimpse of life in 1983 - dial telephones, walkie-talkies, record players, etc. You will also recognize scenes and shot compositions used in the movie E.T. Stranger Things is a wonderful show and I really think you will like it.
Those are my two favorite Billy Joel songs and videos. They were both played heavily at the MTV station where I worked in the 80s.
I'm happy to know you enjoyed the post, dear friend JM. Thanks again for joining the fun and have a great week!
Holy flashback Shady! I was transported to the year I turned 30. I was very traumatized by it because us children of the 60's were taught to never trust anyone over 30! That being said I survived and actually remember these tunes in my old age...thanks. However, I still don't have Netflix but I'm going to get it because I want to watch the Gilmore Girls reunion (please don't judge me!) So when I do I will have to check this show out. It does look like one I will like. Ahhh...Billy Joel...love him but the real burning question is how come Christy Brinkley looks exactly the same today as she did back then and BJ and Mick J and me don't..maybe Eleven knows because, let's face it, Stranger Things have happened. Have a really wonderful week. Since it was in the 20's this morning and the frost was all over the pumpkins I'm beginning to envy you Floridians!
Thanks for coming by, dear friend! Mrs. Shady and I just came in from gazing at the super moon - the biggest and brightest full moon since 1948. It's a monster and we are very lucky the sky is almost completely clear tonight. The temperature is pleasantly cool, too, so thanks for the frontal system! :)
I'm glad you got so much out of the post. I was age 33 in 83 and in the middle of my second swinging bachelorhood. I worked the late shift at the NBC-TV station and every week the crew and I watched Friday Night Videos together. These videos all played on that program, I'm sure, and memories abound.
I highly recommend Netflix and I highly recommend Stranger Things. It's the kind of series you can watch with the grandkiddos without worry or regret. In other words, it's good clean fun and a compelling story with a great cast. Millie Bobby Brown, the girl who plays Eleven, was only age 11 when season 1 was produced. She is an English actress born in Spain and needed to lose her accent for this role. Millie is talented, poised and loaded with star potential. Of course Winona Ryder is one of the biggest names in films these last 30 years and she does a fantastic job playing the distraught mother of the missing boy.
You're right. Christie Brinkley has aged very well compared to many of her contemporaries. In related news, I am back down to my original weight - 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and I won reelection to four more years as your host here at SDMM (thanks to the electoral college :)
Thank you very much for your visit and kind and generous comments, dear friend YaYa. Enjoy the week ahead and give my buddy Chubbs a hug for me!
Wow a GREAT post today. Loved Loved Loved this. Knew almost all of the songs but being a huge Lionel Richie Fan Oh My Goodness. I love that video ! And of course Chaka Khan is always just the best. Ah Mick come on just sing it ! I think you could have used Earth Wind and Fire's That's The Way Of The World also ! This show is on my list to watch. Just haven't gotten to it yet. I know it is wonderful.
Thank you very much for popping back over this evening, my dear Arizona friend!
Yessum, Stranger Things is one of the most buzzworthy TV series this year. Rotten Tomatoes gave it an approval rating of 95% which is practically off the charts. I urge you to see it.
When you look at this lineup of artists, recordings and videos, you can see that several pop and rock music giants were at their peak at this point in time, not the least of which were Mick and his Merry Mates. Other consistent hit makers represented here are Duran Duran, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Billy Joel, Chaka (and I could have added Michael Jackson). The reason why I didn't put a song like Earth Wind & Fire's "That's the Way of the World" in this post is because I only wanted to use records that were high on the chart in November of '83 when the fictional events in the series unfolded. That EW&F single was released eight years earlier in 1975 and would have been a golden oldie by then.
I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the post so much, dear friend Gayle. I appreciate your visit and comment and I wish you and thehamish and your kitties a wonderful week ahead!
It was the Death Stare that really got to me, Shady. I can take almost anything, but that. However, now you've piqued my curiosity about this show, so I'll have to see if Netflix can come through for me. In the meantime, I'm sorting through my ancient CDs for some of those "tunes."
I hope you didn't get Eleven's death stare confused with her smiley face. :) You should see that 12 year old actress, Millie Bobby Brown, in interviews. She speaks with a strong English accent that she needed to Americanize for her role in Stranger Things:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bREysjf7nA
Watch MBB in this video by Sigma ft. Birdy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bREysjf7nA
Finally watch Millie and two of her cast mates as they nail "Uptown Funk" at the 2016 Emmy Awards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpWnEWRedbs
I urge you to watch Stranger Things, dear friend C-Lee. Thanks again for joining me!
Lots of great 80's music you have there. Are these songs featured in this series you watch? So the concept of the show is searching for a missing child? I'm a little unclear what 11s purpose is. Does she help or hinder the search? Seems like she might be serving herself but dressing it up to look as if she is a friend.
Surprisingly there isn't much in the way of 80s period music in the soundtrack of Stranger Things, at least not like you would think there'd be. That's a plus because it keeps the show fresh rather than predictable. I don't want to be a spoiler in case you might watch the series so I will not reveal very much about Eleven other than to say she remains an enigma even as season 1 comes to an end. Bottom line, if you like the movie E.T. and other family friendly sci-fi movies and TV series of the 80s, then Stranger Things is for you.
Thanks for your visit and comment, good buddy Jeffrey, and enjoy the rest of your week!
I don't have Netflix so I am missing that show but I will be looking out for it when it appears on another channel. That bald kid is a boy or a girl?? What I love about this is how you explained each character with the song and it seems real. I love these songs. Back in 1983, I was 19 and got horribly drunk on Cognac on my 19th birthday. To this day, I can't even smell Cognac or brandy...stupid things we do when we were young
How are you today, dear friend? Thank you for coming down to witness the eerie goings on in Hawkins, Indiana, setting of the fine Netflix original series Stranger Things starring Winona Ryder. I sure wish you had a Netflix account because you are missing some great shows. This one is family friendly, no unpleasant surprises for parents watching with young children (unless seeing a school boy pee his pants is too intense).
Eleven is a girl and she is a force to be reckoned with. Other than that tidbit, I don't want to be a spoiler.
I'm pleased to know you enjoyed the 1983 tuneage.
Regarding your Cognac caper, hey, I hear ya, dear friend. I have no memory of my 21st birthday other than waking up in a strange apartment the next morning. Thank God I quit drinking in time. Having complete control over my faculties is the greatest high I ever experienced. You are fortunate because you installed a "negative anchor." Today, every time you smell Cognac or brandy, you are reminded of that unwanted outcome and it helps you avoid making the same mistake.
Thank you very much for coming to chat and for commenting on both posts, dear friend Birgit. I appreciate your ongoing friendship and support!
We STILL dont have Netflix but we will be getting it soon. We finally got a new DVR player that allows us to stream it. I loved all the songs chosen - i love me some 80's!! I cant wait to watch this show because so many friends and family wont stop talking about it. Thanks for the awesome explanation set to music. You're crazy talented Shadester!!
I am always happy to see you, dear friend, and so very grateful for your comments and compliments. Thank you!
Yessum, once you start digging into the labyrinth of available shows on Netflix you will wonder how you ever lived w/o it. I'm sure you will enjoy flashing back to the fall of 1983 as you follow Stranger Things, a sci-fi series that pays homage to Spielberg's E.T. and Poltergeist and other movies and TV shows of the period.
I'm thrilled to know you enjoyed my fall 1983 playlist, too. These recordings and videos were all favorites of mine back then and it was fun to hear and see them again after all these years.
Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Holli, and have a wonderful weekend!
Tom, I love the spin of Stranger Things characters and music. We were totally surprised at how much we enjoyed this new Netflix series, especially with the prime focus around kids. It was well written and exactly the fun kind of weird I like in my Sci-fi shows! Do you know when season two will be released? I can't wait to see more of it! :)
I'm happy to meet another friend who is already familiar with the fine series Stranger Things. I haven't met many people who watch the show even though it is a hit and has received plenty of buzz. I too was surprised that I liked S.T. as much as I did, having gotten used to more intense series like From Dusk Till Dawn, Freak Show, Hotel, Coven, Asylum, Murder House and Scream Queens. The quality of production and overall ambiance of Stranger Things brings back E.T.- the Extra-Terrestrial and other early 80s movies and TV series that I loved.
I have not seen an exact release date for season 2, but one article I read says it will most likely drop next summer. That's a long wait. Sometimes a show can lose its audience after a long hiatus. I hope it doesn't happen to Stranger Things.
Thanks again for coming by, dear friend Cathy, and enjoy your weekend!
Tom, with Stranger Things debating this past summer then I would expect to see it no sooner than next summer. I think its audience will hang in for another season! Of the series you mention, as you know we watched From Dusk till Dawn and we can't wait for its return. The others we haven't watched, but I will make note of yours to check out. I'm loving the whole sci-fi/horror TV shows! Thanks for giving me some new ones to look into, my friend!
Hi again, Cathy! I'm glad I didn't miss your follow-up comment here.
It is my pleasure to introduce you to shows that I watch and enjoy. It is an even greater pleasure, indeed a thrill, when we match and find that we like many of the same things. That goes for mewsic as well as mewvies and TV shows. :)
Another factor that might work against Stranger Things is the aging of the cast. Those cute kids will keep getting older season after season. I hope they can remain as endearing as they were in season 1.
If you decide to watch the various seasons of American Horror Story be prepared for very intense material, more intense than From Dusk Till Dawn. That is especially true of season 5, Hotel, which we are currently watching. It is extremely graphic. Nevertheless it is another great season and we are enjoying it tremendously. Lady Gaga is in it!
Cathy, thank you again for making my birthday a very happy one just by setting aside time to come over and chat with me. I deeply appreciate this great friendship of ours! :)
“Words and photographs could never do those dancers justice because you had to be there - in a club with great music, like minded people and loads of atmosphere.” David Meikle of Glasgow, Scotland wrote those words in an article remembering the Twisted Wheel, the legendary northern soul club in Manchester, England. Yet, Mr. Meikle could just as easily have been describing the scene at my favorite "in" spot of the 1960s, the Shady Dell in York (Pennsylvania, not England).
THE SHADY DELL
YORK, PENNSYLVANIA
The Shady Dell: Part of York County's Colorful History
What began as a home based restaurant and bakery in 1945 evolved over the next two decades into the hottest teen nightspot in York county complete with indoor and outdoor dance floors. It went beyond that. Shady Dell owner John Ettline and his wife Helen put out the welcome mat offering hospitality, comfort, support, and encouragement to generations of young people. During its impressive 45-year life span the Dell became a home away from home for countless area youth from a variety of backgrounds.
At the height of its popularity in the early and mid 60s the Dell, located on the southern outskirts of the White Rose city, was as widely known as North York’s White Oak Park ("the Oaks"), Harrisburg's Raven club or any other youth-oriented venue in central Pennsylvania. The Dell attracted crowds from all over the region. It brought together under one roof kids from middle class families and kids from working class families - city kids, suburban kids, small town kids and farm kids.
The diverse cast of characters that constituted the Shady Dell family was a potentially volatile mix. Each of us had to find a way to fit in and get along (or risk being voted off the island). In the end, in spite of our differences, most of us learned to dance together without stepping on each other’s toes.
Shady Dell regulars were nicknamed Dell rats and we had at least two things in common: a love of the music that played on the Dell’s jukebox and a genuine respect for John and Helen Ettline who graciously made their home our home.
GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS
The Dell was a unique, magical coming of age experience - a proving ground - a secluded hideaway where adolescents could develop social skills, learn to handle responsibility and test the waters of adulthood free from the hassles of ubiquitous adult micromanagement.
SHOCKING TRUE CONFESSION: I WAS A TEENAGE DELL RAT! by Shady Del Knight
I became a Dell rat in 1965 at the age of fifteen. Disparaging rumors about the place had been circulating for years. If you were to believe the gossip the Dell was a snake pit where bad boys and bad girls went to do bad things. Some people, including my mother, referred to the Dell as a “den of iniquity.” Intrigued by the horror stories, I was determined to get there and see for myself what all the fuss was about.
In preparation for my grand entrance, I subjected myself to weeks of rigorous training at a Shady Dell boot camp of my own devise. I grew my hair longer and took up the smoking habit. I practiced in front of a mirror until I was convinced that my stance, walk, and dancing style were all cool.
To complete my extreme makeover, I went shopping for my 'uniform' which consisted of a tapered shirt from the Hub, slacks by H.I.S. and two wardrobe essentials: a pair of blue Jack Purcell sneakers and the all-important Baracuta jacket "Made in England." Wearing my 'Cuta' made me feel so terribly, terribly British, you know. Spot on for us bird watchin' blokes, right gov'na?
'JACKS'
AN ABSOLUTE MUST...FOR DANCIN' ON DELL DUST!
THE CLASSIC NATURAL COLOUR BARACUTA
STRICTLY CONTINENTAL, MATE!
Moment of Truth: Boy Meets Dell
Too young to drive, I made my first Dell visit happen by bumming a ride one night with my college-age cousin and two of his buddies. Clearly, none of the above was thrilled to be babysitting.
As we drove past York Hospital on South George and headed toward Violet Hill, what began as giddy anticipation was turning to apprehension. Fear of the unknown started creeping into my brain. What if the rumors turned out to be true? Would I soon be sharing a needle with a gang of rowdy bikers?
At Violet Hill, we made a dogleg turn to the right and began to climb the narrow, winding, bumpy Starcross Road. By this time my breathing had become labored and I felt queasy. It was as if, on a foolish dare, I had agreed to spend the night with Vincent Price in his House on Haunted Hill. Was it too late to leap from the car and bolt?
"I See the Lights... I See the Party Lights..."
We rounded a bend and I caught my first glimpse of her a short distance up the road. Perched on the hillside was a three-story brick house. Down to the left stood a barn. The festive glow of colored lights rose skyward from an area behind the house. As I would soon learn, the atmospheric illumination originated from strings of lanterns hanging above a patio rigged with remote speakers for outdoor dancing.
As we banked to make our final approach I detected the percussive beat of uptempo music emanating from the barn. We turned left into a gravel parking lot overflowing with vehicles. Here, in all of her rustic splendor, stood the infamous Shady Dell, my destination for the evening and my obsession for years to come!
I Found My Thrill on Violet Hill
My heart was thumping as we climbed the steps that led to the entrance and approached the admission booth. Following my cousin’s lead, I slid a quarter through the window and looked up to see a balding, bespectacled old man grinning back at me. Old? John Ettline would have been 59 at the time. I'm older than that now. Yikes!
“Good evening, gentlemen!” John delivered his cheerful salutation in a booming baritone. Immediately, my anxiety vanished. John’s warm welcome made me feel right at home. It made me feel like I belonged. I didn’t get it at the time but later came to realize that John’s presupposition that we were "gentlemen" was a clever and tactful way of admonishing us to behave accordingly.
Toto, I've a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore!
From the moment I entered the compound I was hooked. The Shady Dell was a private playground for teenagers - a candy land - a fun factory - a safe haven where kids could congregate and blow off steam without having to worry about parents and teachers giving them the evil eye. Instantly I became intoxicated - not by alcohol - but by a sense of total freedom. The place gave off a vibe that was completely new to me – an exhilarating blend of romance, adventure and danger!
Instead of placing a ton of restrictions on their young patrons, John and Helen granted them the independence they craved. The Ettlines were willing to take a step back and trust our judgment. It was okay for us to party as long as things didn’t get out of hand. Most of us eagerly embraced that arrangement. If and when we screwed up, the Ettlines gave us another chance. John and Helen cut you plenty of slack, but if you disrespected them or trashed their establishment both were capable of unleashing a fiery temper.
Of Rats and Men
Contrary to popular belief, the Dell did not harbor gangs of juvenile delinquents eager to conceal their wicked deeds from law enforcement. Sorry, Mom - there weren’t any guns, switchblades or brass knuckles - no gangs, career criminals or prostitutes - just a bunch of ordinary teenagers who loved to meet, mix and mingle, dance and have fun.
Fights were few and far between. There was tacit agreement that it was our duty to preserve and protect the unique setting that the Ettlines had created for us. It required us to police ourselves to prevent incidents that would generate negative publicity or hassles with the law. Scuffles were settled quickly, often through John’s bold intervention. The first lesson a guy learned at the Dell was as follows. Don’t let the gray hair fool you. Nobody messes with John. He’s the boss!
A Special Welcome to All Incoming Freshmen!
I was punched in the face three times during my first year of matriculation on the campus of the Shady Dell School of Hard Knocks. Apparently a few of the guys were determined to teach me a lesson. Yet, getting socked in the kisser did not dampen my enthusiasm or scare me away from the place. In fact they had the opposite effect. They whet my appetite for more! As a Dell newbie desperate to break free of mom’s apron strings and earn respect and acceptance, I wasn’t about to let a bloody nose deter me. For the first time in my life I felt like a man instead of a boy and I loved it. Like Secret Agent Man I was living a life of danger. I was addicted to the rush!
Determined to create an image that would allow me to blend in, appeal to the ladies and avoid becoming a frequent target of the tribe's dominant males, I did a lot of posing, posturing and pretending. I decided that it would be advantageous for me to look tough even though I wasn't. Whenever I strolled into the dance hall, I made sure that my hair was messed up, my shirt tail was hanging out, a lit cigarette was dangling from my lips and my game face was on.
One afternoon before anybody else arrived, my best friend and I rolled around on the dance floor of the barn so that we could properly break-in our new Baracuta jackets by getting them coated with Dell dust. This drove my mother crazy. She kept asking me how I got my jacket so badly soiled. She was even more perplexed when I forbade her to get it cleaned. How could I explain to her that I didn’t want to risk weakening my status with the other guys by wearing a clean jacket?
In my mom’s day the ideal guy wore a white sport coat and a pink carnation. His hair was neatly cropped, oiled down and slicked back off his forehead. That look would have spelled social suicide at the Dell in the mid 60s. My goal was to look like I had just been in a fight at reform school, and if I got my uniform dirty or bloodied in combat, it was a GOOD thing.
Helen & John Ettline
Shady Dell Owners
Helen and John: Not Your Typical Mom and Pop
Even by mid 60s standards, John Ettline seemed part of a vanishing breed of men. John never called me by my first name. He always chose to address me as “Mr. Knight." John maintained that friendly formality through all the years I knew him. I’m very glad he did. John always made me feel important when he added the title “Mr.” to my name. Making insecure teenagers feel good about themselves was John’s greatest gift. He always treated young people with dignity and respect and that made them want to return it.
Along with his outstanding people skills, John possessed a photographic memory. He could always match a face with a name. He seemed to know a lot about anything or anybody that you happened to be discussing. John Ettline had a million stories to tell - all of them interesting.
Although old enough to be our grandparents, there was no generation gap between the Ettlines and their teenage guests. They seemed to remember better than other grown-ups what it was like to be young. John and Helen stayed in touch and in tune with the youth culture. Never was that more in evidence than one day at the York Fair in September, 1968. I was sitting in the grandstand awaiting the start of the James Brown concert. I turned around to search the crowd for familiar faces and there, a few rows behind me, sat Helen and John. In a year when racial tension was running high in York and elsewhere, it was remarkable to see a white couple in their 60s at a James Brown concert, chanting along with the rest of us, “Say It Loud: I’m Black and I’m Proud!”
John and Helen were cool. Young people felt at ease talking with them. Unlike many adults, John and Helen listened to us. They cared without preaching or judging. The Ettlines treated their teen visitors like extended family. They believed in the potential of every young person, including troubled youth from broken homes. They spoke to us about the value of an education and honest hard work. They sponsored athletic programs and honored America’s armed forces. They shaped young lives by instilling a sense of pride and self esteem. John and Helen went out of their way to make all of their kids feel like somebody - even those whose families were telling them they were nobody.
The Dell Jukebox: ALL KILLER AND NO FILLER!
Upon arriving on the Dell scene I soon realized that the jukebox in the dance hall was loaded with the greatest, most danceable records to be found anywhere. There were quite a few songs that I had never heard before and would never hear anywhere else. The music mix that played nightly at the Dell was consistently better than what I was hearing on the radio. In the mid 60s the Dell's musical menu was an exciting blend of Motown, Chi-town, New York and Philly soul, Memphis, southern R&B, blue-eyed soul, Brit beat, sunshine pop, garage, psych and folk-rock plus a few do-wop favorites held over from the 50s.
Shady Dell regulars, the gang I now refer to as the Rodentia Intelligentsia, prided themselves on having radar for cool. Year in and year out they discovered and popularized songs that radio stations across the country overlooked. Records that lingered near the bottom of the national chart often became cherished classics at the Dell. Forgotten flips were elevated to mega-hit status by Dell rats unfettered by the limitations of radio play lists.
Certain songs resonated with the Dell crowd to such an extent that they stayed on the jukebox for years. The best example of this phenomenon is the record ranked #1 on my survey of the 200 Greatest Hits Of The Shady Dell. It remained one of the most popular jukebox selections a dozen years after its initial release in the 50s. That very special song, the greatest and longest lasting Shady Dell hit of all time, was "Close Your Eyes" by the Five Keys.
THE FIVE KEYS
"Close Your Eyes" Ranked #1
Del-Chords & Magnificent Men
Another mighty evergreen at the Shady Dell was "Everybody’s Gotta Lose Someday," an intense, power-packed r&b/soul ballad by the Del-Chords, a racially mixed group from York. Released in 1964, the record was still being played heavily two years later, jamming the floor with slow dancers several times a night. Dave Bupp and Buddy King, lead vocalists from the Del-Chords, eventually merged with band members of Harrisburg’s Endells to form a blue-eyed soul group called the Magnificent Men. The “Mag Men,” as we called them, were white guys who had a passion for black music and the vocal talent and musicianship to authentically perform it. Their inspiring ballad "Peace of Mind" was the first in an impressive string of Dell hits for our hometown heroes.
Magnificent Men
HEAVY HITTERS AT THE DELL!
The Emperors of Harrisburg
Records by the Emperors, another home-grown act, were also enormously popular with Dell dancers. A black group from the state capital, the Emperors were exponents of the “Harrisburg sound,” a blend of r&b, soul, garage and Latin influences. "Karate," the Emperors’ best known recording, was the first of eight raw, funky, organ-driven numbers to achieve hit status at the Dell in 1966 and 1967.
THE EMPERORS
DELL ROYALTY - THEY RULED!
End of an Era
Once addicted to the Dell, I pretty much lived there until the fall of 1967 when I left York to attend an institution of higher learning. Over the next four years I visited my Dell family whenever possible during holidays, spring breaks, and summer vacations. My stint as a Dell rat officially ended in 1971 when I found a job in another city and moved away from York for good.
My final visit to the Dell came in March of 1984 when my career took me out of state. My last piece of business before leaving was to drop in at the Dell and say a final goodbye. I entered the house to find John sitting on a stool at the lunch counter reading the newspaper. “Well, hello stranger!” John bellowed, rising to his feet and extending his hand. “Long time no see, Mr. Knight!" After shaking hands with John and exchanging a few pleasantries, I inquired about Helen. I was stunned to learn that she had passed away a few weeks earlier. I never got the news! John and I stood alone in Helen’s snack bar, reminiscing about the good old days and lamenting how much things had changed since the Dell’s golden era.
After a brief chat with John I excused myself and walked down the sidewalk to check out the barn. The old dance hall was dimly lit and nearly vacant. The only customers were two boys with shoulder length hair standing by the jukebox with a couple of girls. No music was playing. The place was dead or, more accurately, in the final lonely stages of life. If it had been twenty years earlier, the joint would have been jumpin’. The four young people eyed me suspiciously. Is this guy a narc? I put myself in their combat boots and realized that the sight of a stranger in his mid thirties was probably making this new generation of Dell rats uncomfortable. I promptly exited the barn and returned to the house to bid farewell to John.
That night marked the last time I ever saw John or entered the Shady Dell. I made one final pilgrimage in 1988 when I returned to Pennsylvania to visit my parents. I drove up to the Dell one afternoon with every intention of going inside. I’m sure I would have encountered a smiling John Ettline and that he would have immediately remembered my name. Yet, I never got out of the car. I chose not to enter because I didn’t want to further contaminate my memories by seeing how much older John looked and how much more dilapidated the Dell had become. All I could do was sit there in the parking lot gazing at the barn, the house, the bench and the steps to the admission booth where the whole journey started. My mind flooded with a thousand memories of the people, the place, and the time of my life.
John Ettline closed the Dell in the fall of 1991. He died at the beginning of 1993. John’s family auctioned off the restaurant equipment, signage and other Dell paraphernalia in the spring of that year.
(Mike Argento's 1993 article in the York Daily Record was used as a reference source for portions of this cover story.)
This is yet another TV program I haven’t been following-- I didn’t realize I have been missing so many that you watch. Stranger Things looks like a fun and exciting show with interesting characters-- especially the girl Eleven who has super powers.
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever idea to post songs that were popular in the fall of 1983 as the events in this story unfolded! There are some terrific sounds here-- and I haven’t heard most of them in ages. I am a big fan of the Rolling Stones. I enjoyed watching that Undercover of the Night video for the first time in about twenty years. Union of the Snake is another favorite and I enjoyed seeing that live performance by Duran Duran for the first time. The Lionel Richie song and the two Billy Joel videos were also loads of fun. All of these songs were really good and bring back memories of the 80’s. Great post!
Hi, Kathryn!
DeleteThanks for taking a peek at the new post. Yessum, you and I watch many TV shows together, but it seems there are just as many that I have urged you to watch to no avail. Stranger Things is one of them.
Filmed around Atlanta, Georgia, Stranger Things is an excellent series loaded with references to the early 80s Steven Spielberg movies E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Poltergeist as well as TV shows of the period. Winona Ryder heads a marvelous cast that includes a group of exciting and talented child actors. Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven is one of the most precocious young actors I have ever seen.
Yessum, the songs in this post are ones that the kids in Stranger Things would have been listening to on the radio and watching on MTV and NBC's Friday Night Videos in the fall of 1983 when the events in the series were unfolding. For me it was refreshing to go back and listen to these hits of the period and watch those great music videos. Like you I hadn't watched most of them in many years.
The early to mid 80s remind me of the mid 60s because the music scene was exploding with exciting sounds in a variety of styles. For that reason I often call the 80s the last great decade for music (and other things).
Thank you again for reporting in, Kathryn. Enjoy your Sunday and have a fab week ahead!
Excellent choices for each character! Such an awesome show. Looking forward to season two.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for swinging over on a Sunday, good buddy!
I'm jazzed to know that I already found a friend who watches Stranger Things. I figured you would be a fan.
Ditto - I am looking forward to season 2 and hope they soon announce the start date. I'm glad you also appreciated the tuneage of the time.
Thanks again for coming, good buddy Alex, and enjoy your week!
Okay, Chief Jim Hopper is hot. I could handle being investigated by him... :)
ReplyDeleteGreat soundtrack here. Nice 80s flashback! I love The Fixx's One Thing Leads to Another. It's one of my favorite 80s songs for sure. Also enjoyed hearing Madonna's Holiday and the crazy Safety Dance!
I have never watched Stranger Things but will have to give it a view on Netflix. Is it a Netflix original or has it aired on another network?
Thanks for the fun 80s tunes. Nice Sunday break!
Take care and enjoy your day Shady...
Michele at Angels Bark
Hi, 1-L!
DeleteThank you very much for coming by to experience Stranger Things along with a heaping helping of retro rock and soul.
Yessum, Stranger Things is a Netflix original. Season 1 is available for streaming intact and season 2 is on the way sometime next year. If you enjoyed Steven Spielberg's E.T. movie then you will surely get a kick out of Stranger Things because there are many moments in each episode that pay homage to that sci-fi classic and other movies and TV shows of the early to mid 80s. The series is a lot of fun to watch. It boasts fine acting and high production value, just like watching a movie. My favorite character is Nancy, a good girl gone badass. Nancy could make a seamless transition to vampire slayer on From Dusk Till Dawn. :)
I'm glad you enjoyed this sneak peak at Stranger Things along with the recordings and videos that were popular when these fictional events took place. Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Michele, and have a wonderful week!
Don't watch TV and things as you know, friend Shady, but you got me mesmerized with this story ... and Madonna's "Holiday" is one of my all time favourites cuz now, age 60, I'm starting to take as many holidays/ vacations as possible as you might have noticed ... Love, cat. PS: Our local radio station is worth listening to as they take you down memory lane ... my memory lane anyway ... it is 100.7 cruz fm ... smiles ...
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteHow are you today, dear feline friend? Thank you for coming down!
Yessum, I remember you telling me you don't watch television, but I am happy to know you enjoyed my promo for Stranger Things. It's a great series!
I'm also pleased to know you enjoyed a tune or two including "Holiday." You are very fortunate to have been able to vacation on that exotic South Pacific island.
I enjoy listen to radio stations or channels that take you on a stroll down memory lane and offer a good selection of minor hits and non-hits along with the familiar top tunes of the past.
smiles to you, dear friend cat. Thank you again for spending some time in the Shady today and have a wonderful week ahead!
Oh this was awesome, Shady! A tantalizing tale with a side of tasty tunes - almost takes the sting out of not being a Netflix subscriber. Stranger Things certainly sounds like a show I'd enjoy.
ReplyDeleteAmong other things, the music brought back memories of Space Invaders and Pac Man. Time Magazine named The Computer as their Man Of The Year in 1982, and not long after that came mobile phones and Microsoft word! Talk about one thing leading to another, huh?
Lots of fun here, my friend - thank you!
Hi, Diedre!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? Thanks for coming over to get the scoop on Stranger Things, another of my favorite TV series. You really do need to start watching Netflix because it is chock full of great programming. (I'll even pay for your subscription! :)
Yessum, good play on words there, one thing leads to another. The world we have today is quite different from the one we knew in '83. I used to suffer from Pac Man fever. I played it every chance I got. Ms. Pac Man, too.
Rule of thumb: if you enjoyed Spielberg's E.T. then you will enjoy S.T. Many of the scenes and shot compositions are nearly identical to those found in the movie.
I'm glad you enjoyed this Nov./Dec. 1983 soundtrack. As you can tell from the selection, the music scene was bursting with great recordings and iconic videos at that time. I am very nostalgic for the early years of MTV.
Thank you again for joining the fun, dear friend Diedre, and have a safe and happy week!
Hi Shady!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to have to get Netflix and watch this show. Stranger Things looks like a great show!
I love the Billy Joel songs you picked. I have a guilty pleasure for Billy Joel; he's fun to listen to. The playlist tonight is fun in general. Thanks for the smile.
Have a great week ahead, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThank you very much for coming by, dear friend!
Yessum, most of the series I have been presenting on SDMM in recent weeks are available on Netflix. Mrs. Shady and I watch shows on Netflix every evening and there is a wealth of great stuff from which to choose.
Stranger Things will give a young person like you a glimpse of life in 1983 - dial telephones, walkie-talkies, record players, etc. You will also recognize scenes and shot compositions used in the movie E.T. Stranger Things is a wonderful show and I really think you will like it.
Those are my two favorite Billy Joel songs and videos. They were both played heavily at the MTV station where I worked in the 80s.
I'm happy to know you enjoyed the post, dear friend JM. Thanks again for joining the fun and have a great week!
Holy flashback Shady! I was transported to the year I turned 30. I was very traumatized by it because us children of the 60's were taught to never trust anyone over 30! That being said I survived and actually remember these tunes in my old age...thanks. However, I still don't have Netflix but I'm going to get it because I want to watch the Gilmore Girls reunion (please don't judge me!) So when I do I will have to check this show out. It does look like one I will like. Ahhh...Billy Joel...love him but the real burning question is how come Christy Brinkley looks exactly the same today as she did back then and BJ and Mick J and me don't..maybe Eleven knows because, let's face it, Stranger Things have happened. Have a really wonderful week. Since it was in the 20's this morning and the frost was all over the pumpkins I'm beginning to envy you Floridians!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThanks for coming by, dear friend! Mrs. Shady and I just came in from gazing at the super moon - the biggest and brightest full moon since 1948. It's a monster and we are very lucky the sky is almost completely clear tonight. The temperature is pleasantly cool, too, so thanks for the frontal system! :)
I'm glad you got so much out of the post. I was age 33 in 83 and in the middle of my second swinging bachelorhood. I worked the late shift at the NBC-TV station and every week the crew and I watched Friday Night Videos together. These videos all played on that program, I'm sure, and memories abound.
I highly recommend Netflix and I highly recommend Stranger Things. It's the kind of series you can watch with the grandkiddos without worry or regret. In other words, it's good clean fun and a compelling story with a great cast. Millie Bobby Brown, the girl who plays Eleven, was only age 11 when season 1 was produced. She is an English actress born in Spain and needed to lose her accent for this role. Millie is talented, poised and loaded with star potential. Of course Winona Ryder is one of the biggest names in films these last 30 years and she does a fantastic job playing the distraught mother of the missing boy.
You're right. Christie Brinkley has aged very well compared to many of her contemporaries. In related news, I am back down to my original weight - 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and I won reelection to four more years as your host here at SDMM (thanks to the electoral college :)
Thank you very much for your visit and kind and generous comments, dear friend YaYa. Enjoy the week ahead and give my buddy Chubbs a hug for me!
Wow a GREAT post today. Loved Loved Loved this.
ReplyDeleteKnew almost all of the songs but being a huge Lionel Richie Fan Oh My Goodness. I love that video ! And of course Chaka Khan is always just the best. Ah Mick come on just sing it !
I think you could have used Earth Wind and Fire's That's The Way Of The World also !
This show is on my list to watch. Just haven't gotten to it yet. I know it is wonderful.
Have a great week.
cheers, parsnip
Hi, Gayle!
DeleteThank you very much for popping back over this evening, my dear Arizona friend!
Yessum, Stranger Things is one of the most buzzworthy TV series this year. Rotten Tomatoes gave it an approval rating of 95% which is practically off the charts. I urge you to see it.
When you look at this lineup of artists, recordings and videos, you can see that several pop and rock music giants were at their peak at this point in time, not the least of which were Mick and his Merry Mates. Other consistent hit makers represented here are Duran Duran, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Billy Joel, Chaka (and I could have added Michael Jackson). The reason why I didn't put a song like Earth Wind & Fire's "That's the Way of the World" in this post is because I only wanted to use records that were high on the chart in November of '83 when the fictional events in the series unfolded. That EW&F single was released eight years earlier in 1975 and would have been a golden oldie by then.
I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the post so much, dear friend Gayle. I appreciate your visit and comment and I wish you and thehamish and your kitties a wonderful week ahead!
Oh I understand the time line. But it could fit.
DeletePlease try to sneak a photo of Toto (maybe a mascot ?) on to your blog.
Check your latest post, Gayle. I provided a link for you to a post that has several pictures of Toto.
DeleteIt was the Death Stare that really got to me, Shady. I can take almost anything, but that. However, now you've piqued my curiosity about this show, so I'll have to see if Netflix can come through for me. In the meantime, I'm sorting through my ancient CDs for some of those "tunes."
ReplyDeleteHi, Cheryl Lee!
DeleteWelcome back to SDMM, dear friend!
I hope you didn't get Eleven's death stare confused with her smiley face. :) You should see that 12 year old actress, Millie Bobby Brown, in interviews. She speaks with a strong English accent that she needed to Americanize for her role in Stranger Things:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bREysjf7nA
Watch MBB in this video by Sigma ft. Birdy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bREysjf7nA
Finally watch Millie and two of her cast mates as they nail "Uptown Funk" at the 2016 Emmy Awards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpWnEWRedbs
I urge you to watch Stranger Things, dear friend C-Lee. Thanks again for joining me!
Lots of great 80's music you have there. Are these songs featured in this series you watch?
ReplyDeleteSo the concept of the show is searching for a missing child? I'm a little unclear what 11s purpose is. Does she help or hinder the search?
Seems like she might be serving herself but dressing it up to look as if she is a friend.
Hi, Jeffrey!
DeleteThanks for dropping in, good buddy!
Surprisingly there isn't much in the way of 80s period music in the soundtrack of Stranger Things, at least not like you would think there'd be. That's a plus because it keeps the show fresh rather than predictable. I don't want to be a spoiler in case you might watch the series so I will not reveal very much about Eleven other than to say she remains an enigma even as season 1 comes to an end. Bottom line, if you like the movie E.T. and other family friendly sci-fi movies and TV series of the 80s, then Stranger Things is for you.
Thanks for your visit and comment, good buddy Jeffrey, and enjoy the rest of your week!
I don't have Netflix so I am missing that show but I will be looking out for it when it appears on another channel. That bald kid is a boy or a girl?? What I love about this is how you explained each character with the song and it seems real. I love these songs. Back in 1983, I was 19 and got horribly drunk on Cognac on my 19th birthday. To this day, I can't even smell Cognac or brandy...stupid things we do when we were young
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteHow are you today, dear friend? Thank you for coming down to witness the eerie goings on in Hawkins, Indiana, setting of the fine Netflix original series Stranger Things starring Winona Ryder. I sure wish you had a Netflix account because you are missing some great shows. This one is family friendly, no unpleasant surprises for parents watching with young children (unless seeing a school boy pee his pants is too intense).
Eleven is a girl and she is a force to be reckoned with. Other than that tidbit, I don't want to be a spoiler.
I'm pleased to know you enjoyed the 1983 tuneage.
Regarding your Cognac caper, hey, I hear ya, dear friend. I have no memory of my 21st birthday other than waking up in a strange apartment the next morning. Thank God I quit drinking in time. Having complete control over my faculties is the greatest high I ever experienced. You are fortunate because you installed a "negative anchor." Today, every time you smell Cognac or brandy, you are reminded of that unwanted outcome and it helps you avoid making the same mistake.
Thank you very much for coming to chat and for commenting on both posts, dear friend Birgit. I appreciate your ongoing friendship and support!
Like Birgit, I also don't have Netflix. The closest I have is Amazon Prime. And even then, I utilize it to look for older TV shows I once loved. LOL
DeleteHi, Jeffrey!
DeleteThanks for popping back in again, good buddy!
Mrs. S and I don't watch regular cable any more. All of our viewing is confined to Netflix, Hulu and other channels offered with Apple.
Stranger Things will recall the happy days of your youth and I hope you get a chance to see it someday.
Thanks again for dropping by, good buddy Jeffrey!
We STILL dont have Netflix but we will be getting it soon. We finally got a new DVR player that allows us to stream it.
ReplyDeleteI loved all the songs chosen - i love me some 80's!! I cant wait to watch this show because so many friends and family wont stop talking about it. Thanks for the awesome explanation set to music. You're crazy talented Shadester!!
Hi, Holli!
DeleteI am always happy to see you, dear friend, and so very grateful for your comments and compliments. Thank you!
Yessum, once you start digging into the labyrinth of available shows on Netflix you will wonder how you ever lived w/o it. I'm sure you will enjoy flashing back to the fall of 1983 as you follow Stranger Things, a sci-fi series that pays homage to Spielberg's E.T. and Poltergeist and other movies and TV shows of the period.
I'm thrilled to know you enjoyed my fall 1983 playlist, too. These recordings and videos were all favorites of mine back then and it was fun to hear and see them again after all these years.
Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Holli, and have a wonderful weekend!
Tom, I love the spin of Stranger Things characters and music. We were totally surprised at how much we enjoyed this new Netflix series, especially with the prime focus around kids. It was well written and exactly the fun kind of weird I like in my Sci-fi shows! Do you know when season two will be released? I can't wait to see more of it! :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Cathy!
DeleteThank you very much for coming by!
I'm happy to meet another friend who is already familiar with the fine series Stranger Things. I haven't met many people who watch the show even though it is a hit and has received plenty of buzz. I too was surprised that I liked S.T. as much as I did, having gotten used to more intense series like From Dusk Till Dawn, Freak Show, Hotel, Coven, Asylum, Murder House and Scream Queens. The quality of production and overall ambiance of Stranger Things brings back E.T.- the Extra-Terrestrial and other early 80s movies and TV series that I loved.
I have not seen an exact release date for season 2, but one article I read says it will most likely drop next summer. That's a long wait. Sometimes a show can lose its audience after a long hiatus. I hope it doesn't happen to Stranger Things.
Thanks again for coming by, dear friend Cathy, and enjoy your weekend!
Tom, with Stranger Things debating this past summer then I would expect to see it no sooner than next summer. I think its audience will hang in for another season! Of the series you mention, as you know we watched From Dusk till Dawn and we can't wait for its return. The others we haven't watched, but I will make note of yours to check out. I'm loving the whole sci-fi/horror TV shows! Thanks for giving me some new ones to look into, my friend!
DeleteHi again, Cathy! I'm glad I didn't miss your follow-up comment here.
DeleteIt is my pleasure to introduce you to shows that I watch and enjoy. It is an even greater pleasure, indeed a thrill, when we match and find that we like many of the same things. That goes for mewsic as well as mewvies and TV shows. :)
Another factor that might work against Stranger Things is the aging of the cast. Those cute kids will keep getting older season after season. I hope they can remain as endearing as they were in season 1.
If you decide to watch the various seasons of American Horror Story be prepared for very intense material, more intense than From Dusk Till Dawn. That is especially true of season 5, Hotel, which we are currently watching. It is extremely graphic. Nevertheless it is another great season and we are enjoying it tremendously. Lady Gaga is in it!
Cathy, thank you again for making my birthday a very happy one just by setting aside time to come over and chat with me. I deeply appreciate this great friendship of ours! :)