New York in the 80's

#1

New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 12:52pm

Okay, so... I'm writing this thing, and it's set in NYC in 1984. The problem is that I don't know much about the 80's- does anyone have any basic information? Google isn't helping much.

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Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "The Little Prince", 1943

#2

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 12:54pm

A "thing"? Goodness! Thanks for being so specific.

http://community.livejournal.com/little_details/

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"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#3

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 12:56pm

There is a book called Times Square Red Times Square Blue. Or something like that. Very descriptive, and it will give you some ideas.

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"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL

#4

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 12:57pm

Oh... I'm very sorry that I've upset you! I'm trying to write a book, I just felt so pretentious saying as much.Thank you for the link!

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Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "The Little Prince", 1943

#5

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 12:59pm

I just had my doubts about someone who claims to be a writer saying "thing."

Also, why isn't this on the OT board?

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"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#6

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:02pm

Maybe write something more within your points of reference? It may be that you're too young to be writing about the 1980s.

Either way, read Bright Lights, Big City for some insight.

#7

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:12pm

I was just getting ready to recommend Bright Lights, Big City. It is a great book. Also, American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis does a great job at describing corporate America and New York City life in the 80's.

Updated On: 5/25/08 at 01:12 PM

#8

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:18pm

Great job of describing EXTREME torture and mutilation too...

(Interesting book for sure, but only for the severely stout-hearted. The movie was Disney compared to the book...)

#9

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:43pm

the face of new york in the 1980's;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW1eXirdF1o

#10

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:18pm

'I just had my doubts about someone who claims to be a writer saying "thing." '

I'm a writer and I'm working on a number of things. Yes things ! A couple big things and developing some other stuff, too.

I love being so specific when I'm on a public message board.

#11

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:27pm

One of the basic rules of writing is to write about times, places and people you know. If you aren't familiar with the '80's, you shouldn't be writing about it.

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"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#12

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:30pm

Had Isaac Asimov ever been to space?!?!?!?! Had JK Rowling ever battled a three-headed dog?! OMG U SUCK AND ARE CRUSHING THE DREAMZ OF YOUTH.

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"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#13

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:35pm

Dollypop, you've just killed most films ever made, most plays ever written (including Shakespeare) , most novels ever written.

However, your advice is good within a certain context.

#14

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:38pm

I'm not calling myself a writer :) I'm just a student with an idea- I'm not aiming to sell my work or even really share it with anyone else.

Thank you, everyone!

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Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "The Little Prince", 1943

#15

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:39pm

Then what do you call it when someone writes a book? Is it just going to stay on your computer in digital form?

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"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

#16

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:05pm

Haha, yes, that was the general idea. Good guess!

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Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "The Little Prince", 1943

#17

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 6:59pm

The one thing that I specifically remember from the early 80s is that Times Square was a scary place to be. LOTS of strip places, lots of things that made me feel very uncomfortable for my personal safety. Sadly, that is one of the main reasons that I didn't see many shows in the 80s. (I was too young in the 60s & 70s but I did visit Times Square, but I don't remember a thing about it then.)

Overall, there are some areas of NYC that seem exactly the same now as they did in the 80s...specifically, the neighborhoods. My grandparents neighborhood remains almost exactly the same as it did in the 70s/80s.

#18

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 10:08pm

There were no surf shops. There were no Hello Kitty stores. There were no M+M stores.

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'Take me out tonight where's there's music and there's people and they're young and alive.'

#19

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 11:05pm

Pc1145N2- do you remember anything about the sort of people one saw, just generally around in the city?

Thank you ,Wexy!

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Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "The Little Prince", 1943

#20

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/25/08 at 11:39pm

The people that you'd see are the same type of people you'd see in most large cities. I'm from Chicago and it was the same type of person. Lots of immigrants and lots of foreign languages spoken.

#21

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/26/08 at 12:57am

There were many, many films shot in New York in the 80s, most of which included footage from Times Square, etc. You can also check out online visual banks like The Prelinger which will show you grainy footage for free.

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http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699

#22

re: New York in the 80's

Posted: 5/26/08 at 7:02pm

Thank you- both of you- very much!

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Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "The Little Prince", 1943