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February 8, 2007
Teen Dreams: From Robbie to Matt
The 1980s gave us more than bad hair and fashion
Recently my sister and I were torturing each other by bringing up the other’s most embarrassing teenage afflictions. She reminded me of the solid month I whined and pleaded when I was in the 7th grade for a pair of jellies shoes. When my mother finally gave in, it was the tail end of the trend but I finally had my own pair of clear PVC woven pattern shoes with a peek-a-boo toe and minuscule heel. I only wore them once or twice as they left my feet incredibly dirty and were downright painful in a late summer heat wave. Reminded of that fashion crime, I was forced to counter with her misguided adventure with Flock of Seagulls hair cut teamed with a series of super-sized button down shirts that reached her knees.
Just when things started to get ugly, our other sister simply said, “C. Thomas Howell.” We had no choice but to whisper it back simultaneously.
The year was 1983 and the movie was The Outsiders based on the book by S. E. Hinton. Who wasn’t in that movie? Matt Dillon (more on him later), Rob Lowe at his prettiest on the Greaser’s side and Leif Garret (what happened to you?!) was the ultimate Socs. But for me the movie was all about C. Thomas Howell. Specifically, the scene where he’s sitting on the monkey bars and swings down, still holding onto the bar overhead and his armpits are there for the whole world to see. I remember gasping in the theater at the sight of it because it was when I realized boys really were different. In Red Dawn, you know the 1984 movie that fed into all of our communist fears, C. Thomas declared that his hate for the invaders who killed his dad and took over half the country, kept him warm at night. That movie ended pretty badly for C. Thomas, but for me he’ll always be that glimpse of arm pit and the angry man-boy with a big gun taking pot shots at communist invaders.
Robbie Benson also made a huge impression on us when we watched his movies on KTLA Channel 5 and KCOP Channel 13 during long hot lazy summer days before we got cable. Robbie, technically, had his teenage heyday during the1970s when we didn’t have the attention span to appreciate his cinematic achievements, but that’s the beauty of TV movie marathons. Just because we were too busy making dirt pies when Robbie Benson was ruling the big screen didn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy him the second time around in our living room.
In One on One he played a puny basketball player way out of his league both on the court and in his tutor’s apartment until he triumphs in both places. And, if you can get past the too short shorts and too high socks, it’s a satisfying underdog who wins the girl and the game story. What Robbie did for basketball he did double for ice skating. Many little girls dream about being an ice skater at one time or another and Ice Castles prompted us to pull on our roller skates and do some clumsy spins on the sidewalk while imagining that Robbie was our hockey playing boyfriend. Plus, Ice Castles has that kick ass song, Through the Eyes of Love, that I’m sure has made an appearance at many a wedding reception as the first dance.
And where would this list be without the teen king among teen kings, Matt Dillon.
When it comes down to it, Matt Dillon reigns supreme, and has only gotten better with age. He was brilliant in Crash, even though he played a racist cop. And it’s in keep with the characters he played when he was younger—so pretty, so mean, so troubled. He was the bully in the classic My Bodyguard. In Little Darlings he did the dirty with Kristy McNichol. And his trio of roles in three S.E. Hinton movie adaptations, The Outsiders, Tex and Rumble Fish seals the deal. To this day when we mention his name to friends our age, their eyes will get that far away look. Sort of like they do when presented with a platter of fresh hot donuts. This goes for both men and women. Matt Dillon lust crosses all sorts of boundaries.
But Flock of Seagulls hair? That’s one teenage indiscretion no one can ever live down.
Posted by Margo at 6:00 AM | Comments (12)
Comments
Oh, Margo! A girl after my own heart! C. Thomas was my little darling during my formative years. As a matter of fact, somewhere in my mother's house, I believe there are still scrapbooks with all of his magazine articles printed out and tucked inside, as well as every teen mag poster of him printed between 1983 and 1986, when my obsession turned to Moonlighting. I saw all of his movies - including The Hitcher - until, somewhere after Soul Man, I realized he was kind of a bad actor, which his stint on 24 last season confirmed. Still, he holds that special place in my heart that only a first love can hold. :) Ah, the memories...
Posted by: Lani ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 8, 2007 6:57 AM
I have to confess, I had to look up C. Thomas on imdb. I did not have to look up Matt Dillon, though. Yum, yum, yum. He's like a fine wine getting better with age.
The LC Eileen
Posted by: The LC Eileen at February 8, 2007 11:05 AM
Ohhh C.Thomas! I had a fold-out poster of him in my locker one year. He was nearly life-sized and waiting for me every time I had to swap my books. I was the envy of the seventh grade, let me tell you.
*sigh*
Oh and giant button down shirts...remember with the incredibly long tails? and you alway swore these with STIRRUP pants?!
hahahaha
Posted by: laurenjharwood at February 8, 2007 11:34 AM
I was never a big Matt fan, but I did like C. Thomas.
I must confess however my 80s crushing was all about Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer and yes, PRETTY IN PINK had both and made me so very happy.
Posted by: Barb at February 8, 2007 11:35 AM
Oh My Yes!!
Posted by: Jo at February 8, 2007 12:08 PM
Hey ya'll. I'm new to the blog, but couldn't just lurk on this topic.
Oh wow! What memories.
I'm from Tulsa, OK. They filmed the Outsiders and Tex here when I was in High School. Friends of mine are in the "movie concession stand" scene in the Outsiders. Don't forget that Patrick Swayze was also in that movie!
Matt Dillon - what a cutie. Gets WAY better with age.
And S.E. Hinton - teen author at the time - grew up here also. WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL! books. I have my tattered paperback copies on my Keeper shelf. Won't be long and my DD will be old enough to read them and enjoy. I"ll pull out my DVD of the Outsiders and we'll watch together.
Thanks for the stroll down memory lane.
Posted by: Marcia in OK at February 8, 2007 12:52 PM
Tommy Howell was on 24 and I missed it?! Is he still hot?
He was my fave too. And Rob Lowe has stayed yummy for all these years...
Posted by: Shelley at February 8, 2007 9:53 PM
All my best friend Carrie has to say is two words, "Duran Duran". Oh yeah, I was and still am a Duranie. I was totally in love with Simon LeBon. I also had a thing for Jon Cryer, anyone else remember "Morgan Stewart's Coming Home"? I saw every Brat Pack movie. My fave Brat packer was Judd Nelson, especially in the "Breakfast Club".
Marcia-hey neighbor!! I'm in OKC.
Berni
Posted by: Berni at February 8, 2007 11:36 PM
Hey Bernie! Small world.
Jud Nelson. Good one also. Love his movie From the Hip. But, it was after the Brat Pack stage.
Posted by: Marcia in OK at February 9, 2007 11:16 AM
I had, and still do, have me a thing for John Cusak. I watched his movies so many times, I wore out my tape, and had to get them on DVD. Also loved Patrick Swayzee in Dirty Dancing. My parents wouldn't buy the movie for me, so I would beg to babysit my cousin because my aunt had a copy of the movie and I could watch it at her house.
Posted by: Hope at February 9, 2007 2:41 PM
I never saw the movie "The Outsiders", but I remember bawling my eyes out over the book when I was in 7th grade. "That Was Then, This Is Now" caught me by the throat as well.... S.E. Hinton is an awesome writer!
I was always partial to the cutie who played Jake on "Sixteen Candles" opposite Molly Ringwald. Have no idea what his name is, but I thought he was pretty hot (and I was in my twenties by then, so just stop already!).
Fashion? Hmmmm. I remember I HAD to have a pair of rainbow suspenders, just like Mork's on "Mork and Mindy". Just loved them! And of course let's not forget the Farrah-Do--all of the girls had the big wings of layered hair so we could look just like Farrah Fawcett...
I think Donny Osmond was pretty big when I was younger. "Puppy Love" was the hit album of that particular year for all of us pre-teens! And Shaun Cassidy. (Can we say "Da-Do-Run-Run"?!!) Peter Frampton made many hearts go pit-a-pat too. I remember having a big crush on the Monkees....
Posted by: Sheri at February 9, 2007 7:41 PM
Sheri, I had a huge, serious, secret crush on Donny in the 70's. Really, when he sang Puppy Love I thought it was just for me...
And Barb - I'm totally with you on Andrew McCarthy. Pretty in Pink is one of my all time favorite movies :-)
Posted by: Michelle C at February 10, 2007 9:56 AM
