It Ain't No Tiger Beat
byWhat happens when you go home for mother’s day and someone’s found a big box of your things from 20 years ago? You have a trip down memory lane, that’s what. The box in question held old summer camp photos, sticker books, and my old button collection. The best of all was my News Kids on the Block [wiki] memorabilia (posters, note pad, eraser, pencils and case) and a few other goodies.
The button collection: Amidst the hundreds of rusty metal badges, I came across half a dozen from various pavilions at Expo 86 [wiki] as well as PNE buttons dating from 1980 to 1995 – there’s even one celebrating the inflation of BC Place [wiki]. Some have political messages that I’m sure I didn’t understand at the time, and others were just plain funny, stating “Trust me, I’m a doctor”.
The other goodies: A photo of me and my first multi-speed bike, school photos from grade 3, 6, 9 and 12 and a book of stickers including scratch-n-sniffs which I’m sure it wasn’t safe to smell these 20 years later but I did anyway.
There was also a pile of Barbie Magazines [wiki], including the premier issue and a Rolling Stone from 1971 [wiki] with Peter Fonda on the cover, which was in newspaper form. The biggest “gem” would have to be the Big Bopper from February 1989 that John spent most of the time reading.
“Do it Yourself Kit for Corey Haim Collectors!”, “A Party for Alyssa (Milano)!”, “What if Kirk Cameron Were King?”, “Kiefer Sutherland Isn’t Really a Bad Guy!”, “Could Wil Wheaton be Your Boy Next Door?”, “Menudo Proves Their Potential Onstage!”, and “Does Johnny Depp regret leaving the world of rock ‘n’ roll for acting now that his former band, The Rock City Angels [wiki], has released their first album?!”. (Photos of all headlines/spreads are up on my Flickr, tag: bigboppermagazine).
I love how every headline has an EXCLAMATION point and the content is just priceless. Before you judge me too harshly please remember that I was less than 10 years old at the time, and that I did smarten up…kinda. I think we’ll be hanging on to this Big Bopper though, if even just to look at Ricky Schroeder in all his cuteness and wonder, what happened, to cut out the “Compute With Corey” do-it-yourself scrapbook graphic, or to complete the “Have You Got the Swing of Swayze” trivia quiz.
6 Comments — Comments Are Closed
That magazine is something you tuck away and give to your daughter (no pressure) when she graduates from high school, so she can tell you, ‘OMG Mom…you were sooooo lame back then.’
Cool stuff.
damn becky you are OLD 🙂
It was my magazine FYI. In grade 6 my 2 best friends used to fight over which one of them was going to marry Kirk Cameron, the next year it was Joey MacIntyre
I think it may have been a dual-purchase since it was with my NKOTB stuff. Mom probably bought it for both of us and you co-opted it to oggle Kirk. There was also a big feature on Debbie Gibson, so it was probably yours… I like how you bought her perfume “Electric Youth” and it went bad.
i am so envious you have all that. wow. great collection.
and that button matches my shirt!
OMG…what a total laugh it was reading this post. I think we’re probably around the same age since I also used to plaster my wall with Kirk Cameron pictures.
Oh, and I still have that little Expo ’86 booklet somewhere deep in some box, where you got stamps for all the different paviliions (countries). I think I stuck some pins in there too.
Johnny Depp, 21 Jump Street. I remember we were down at Stanley Park, and when the girls found out 21 Jump Street was filming there, it was a screaming frenzy.