Valley Central High School - Viking Log Yearbook (Montgomery, NY)

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fRightl Since the 5O's, records have always been in - only styles of music have changed. Dave Mitchell checks out Record World's selection at the Orange Plaza. TVaudiences escape realit students favor comedies ntertainment in '79 was reading a book when you didn't have to, watching TV when your favorite show was on, going to the movies when the weekend finally came, and listening to the stereo when there was only you and your music, and nothing in the world to interrupt. TV GUIDE advertised the week's movies, and students had to choose between them. Mary McKnight said, I liked the movie Champions, about the figure skaters. The parents put every- thing into the kids, and the boy's par- ents lost at the end. But the girl be- came a champion and made it worth it. lt was really good. Although Paula Bastiao liked Cham- pions, too, she liked Women at West Point better. lt was about their basic training during the summer and their plebe year - their emotional and physical hardships. It was detailed. It was good. It was also true. A great deal of the year's TV programming, however, wasn't meant to show the reality of situations, but to allow the viewers to escape from reality. Sandy Campana said, I watch Hap- py Days, Three's Company, Mork and Mindy. They all have some humor in them. And with Eight ls Enough they put in more things about the family - but l guess it's not really realistic. Kerry Downer said, None of the shows are really realistic. Paula Bastiano said that she didn't necessarily want realism. You come to school all day and you work. Then you go home and work. You have to escape sometimes, she said. And for her, TV was an escape. Pat Stacey escaped into Saturday Night Live. He said, It's fun - it's a release. lt takes you from the real world and you can lose yourself. Some shows weren't designed just 26 STUDENT LIFE as escapes, they had more to them. lane Weiss said, Mork and Mindyis funny, but there's a serious side to it. Mork talks about problems we have now, and it's funny because he doesnit understand them because he's from a different planet. But he learns, and at the end of the show, the audience learns something too. some people didn't lose in TV. Instead, they lost in their music. Mike Cer- However, themselves themselves rity said, I listen to Bob Seeger. In music, I'm lookin' for somethin' that sounds good and has somethin' to say. ln half the disco songs all they do is go 'boogie-oogie-oogie ' and what does that mean? Seeger sings about real life situations that he probably been in. Not everyone wanted to escape from reality - some wanted to escape into it. tAbovej Paper Chase, a program that won an award for its attempt to upgrade television programming, lost in the rating war. Denise Nicholas portrays an affirmative action program student who is tutored by Iames Hart, played by james Stephens. if fAbovel Comedy shows are becoming more and more popular with television viewers. Louie fDanny DeVitoj hugs Alex Uudd Hirschj while Tony fTony Danzaj looks on in a scene from the new comedy hit, Taxi.

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uu- Q .qi-.M was-v an 9 ,df '19 'fi 'Q' A 4?2g,,fgf . we tAboVej A your after Elvis Presleys death. the instrument he introduced to popular American music: holds its sway in teen circles. Shannon Auron przuztitzes his guitar in the locker room between classes. fLeftj Disco fever runs high in the American youth culture. Mary Muller and Denise Billinghum practice a new step in Miss Schnees room after school. STUDENT LIFE 25

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tBelowj ABC, which sweeps the ratings each week, owes part of its success to this top- rated show, Mark and Mindy. Robin Williams, as Mork, visits Richie, Ron Howard, on the set of Happy Days, in the episode Mork Returns. YS 5 ... .Q pw ,si S ..,..w - V39 ,nfs Sis- N ' l A' 5 Y 1 9 KY ! ' Y ,V V -'As-AJ 's .. ' ' . fAhovej This years movie emphasis is on special effects. Christopher Reeve and Warner Brothers made us believe a man could fly. flueftj From u relatively unknown comedian. john Belushi has scored success in television fSatarday Night Livej, records fThe Blues Brothersj, and movies. fAnimal Housel. Featured as US. Senator Blutarsky. Belushis posters shout his popularity. STUDENT LIFE 27