Central High School - Wakitan Yearbook (St Joseph, MO)

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Dne-in-a-Million Invasion of the Cabbage Patch Kids What did everyone get for Christmas? Certainly socks and underwear and perfume and ear- rings and books from grandma. But did anyone get what they really wanted? You know, that cute pudgy, little, snub-nosed thing. No, not a St. Bernard puppy and not a picture of Uncle Leroy. The most wanted Christmas presents were soft and life-like and no two were the same. Everyone wanted to adopt a Cabbage Patch Kid! The craze spread like wildfire. People pushed and shoved one another often causing serious injuries just to obtain these dolls. A pregnant woman was shoved to the ground in a dolI-hungry crowd in Bergen County, N.J.; another woman suffered a broken leg during a Wilkes-Barre, Pa. brawl, and in Florida shoppers knocked down a 75-year-old man who had been waiting his turn for hours. The chubby babies, which retailed for $20 to $30, came with birth certificates, adoption papers, and belly buttons. Coleco, the manufacturers, couldnlt work fast enough to keep up with the great demand. According to Donna Datre, a spokeswoman for the Toy Manufacturers of America, There has never been a product that has caused so much chaos. During have open arms, ready to hug. 2. The new theater provides four more box office hits for St. Joseph movie-goers. 1. Adorable. adoptable Cabbage Patch dolls . the Cabbage Patch panic, Colecols stock jumped 3V2 points. Creator of this madness was Xavier Roberts, an artist and craftsman from Georgia. He and several friends invested $5000 in 1978 to set up their adoption business at Babyland General Hospital in rural Cleveland, Ga. Buyers went wild over the llLittIe People, as they were called. In 1982, Roberts signed a licensing agreement with Coleco expecting to gross at least $50 million of the mass-produced babies through 1983. Although Roberts was rather appalled by the frenzy his offspring created, he wasnlt surprised. In an age of hyperactive toys, he felt there was a need for a doll that couldnlt wet, cry, or roller skate. So if you became a proud parent to one of these adorable children, consider yourself lucky and maybe one day your Cabbage Patch Kid will grow up to be just like you! 1,! Ti were poure these able others Tl was Busini Centre idolize it, Whi a wee What sliding sock'

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Completion in 1984 of the beautiful new Pony Express Bridge represented more than a safer access to our city. It symbolized progress. St. Joseph, a city laid out on rolling hills atong the Missouri River, not only acquired an artistic steel structure to replace the worn-out bridge, but other signs of growth as well. A modern, attrac- tive hotel was built downtown; the Missouri Theater, one of the most elegant buildings preserved from St. Joseph's past, was recently restored to its original beauty. The , vmmwvmwmmvam'ng ,m. memw... - 1.1.. Civic Arena, another addition to our cityts development, not only provid- ed the city with a much needed large facility, but has made St. Joseph inviting to many enter- tainers and sporting events. A new modern theater provided four more movies for citizens to view on the North Belt. Also, in 1983, money for a citytcounty jail complex was approved by voters. Yes, St. Joseph, whose history began on the American frontier in the 1800's, is on the move. ..Wc'W-a m 1. The megaphone: a long time spirit booster. 2. Larry Garcia observes a display recognizing the many Central graduates who returned as teachers. 3. The Sports Show at the Civic Arena attracts many people. 4. Construction ends as the new bridge opens for traffic. 5. The Sheraton Hotel begins to rise. 6. Ted Fisher buys a ticket at the new Plaza 4 Theatres. 1 1Wrmxaxrtzwm : Azrmttwvamst n W$ 1.1mm 1'- ...':; i1: ,1 I . a - mtg, 3'1: r: .1. Wisp! vmw;

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wet, WE CHM Um WEIWIEB The surf was up and the waves were high as exciting new movies poured into St. Joseph. Some of these shows let us soar to unbelieve- able heights of enjoyment, while others just got us wet. The movie that hit us the hardest was the unconquerable ttRisky Business. Tom Cruise provided Central Students with someone to idolize, admire, and envy. Lets face it, when your parents disappear for a week, the possibilities are endless. What better way to live it up than sliding around the house in your sock feet and favorite oxford, while Piazaa Theatres with a hilarious flick starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd, Trading aPIaces. No matter what your pleasure, there was always a movie to go see, such as Easy Money, The Big Chill, and who could forget Cujo, the next best thing to Benji? When a dog can bang his head into the side of a car and still survive, you have to respect his determination. That dog had Class! Speaking of which, so did the walls vibrate to the beat of Bob Segerts iiOld Time Flock and Roll? Talk about ttrisque business! The character of Joel gave us the inspiration to take a chance and live dangerously, even if it meant certain death of your parents' prize porsche. . As Joel so encouragingly put it, Sometimes you just have to say, what the With one smash hit under his belt, Tom Cruise continued to dazzle his viewers with another blockbus- ter, All the Flight Moves. However, Tom did not completely dominate the big screen. The summer started off the star of that particular movie, Rob Lowe. All the movies were not strictly fun and games. When ttScarface came to the screen, St. Joseph was introduced to the mafia world, but when referring to that killer Chris- tine, a different kind of terror strikes. A flat tire sure wouldn't have stopped this car. And what gas mileage! Sixteen-year-olds werenlt in such a hurry to get their licenses tiThe Day Afterit Stirs Nation As darkness fell upon the nation on November 20, televisions were tuned to ABC at 8:00 to view the widely publicized film 'The Day After. It was a basic depiction of the ultimate itwhat if : a nuclear bombing. The setting was in Lawrence, Kansas, less than 30 miles from St. Joseph. The seven million dollar nuclear horror show revealed virtually an entire popula- tion reduced to vaporized sil- houettes; people burned, many experienced loss of hair as they suffered from radiation sickness. Farmlands blackened as they were covered with ash and society crumbled. During production of these scenes involving enormous destruction through nuclear fires- torm, the actors wore trick wigs so that they appeared to be losing hair. Realistic-looking make-up was applied to simulate the burns and sores. The main goal of this two hour drama, starring Jason Robards, was to support effective nuclear deterrence. At the beginning and end of the film, words appearing on the screen implored world leaders and all viewers to prevent a nuclear holocaust. For some, this show proved to be both interesting and educational, but for others, The Day After hit a little too close to home. after viewing this piece of art. With the construction of the Plaza 4 theaters, there was access to an additional four movies. Hits like Terms of Endearment and Yentl were brought to the eyes of St. Joseph viewers. Though everyone does not agree on the rating of a movie, we all had our favorites. As long as we can afford the cost of these high-p'riced delicacies, we will continue to go out and see the stars. 7