Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Back When

Thirty Years Ago I have wasted no time. Tom Laughlin, to synchronize perfectly with the spring reissue of The Trial of Billy Jack, has put the question, "Why are movie critics out of touch with the audiences?" He has answered it himself (see last weekend's newspapers) in some 2000 words; but, consistent with his belief in open forum, he has invited others to answer the same, in 300 words or less. He has put the question and invitation in the form of an essay contest-sweepstakes (details available at participating theaters and fine stores throughout the area), and the rewards are sufficient enticement for me to doff the airs and pretenses worn in the past. With any of the prizes -- whether $25,000 cash or 1975 Plymouth Trail Duster -- I can envision myself setting off on the road to a decenter life. What follows (copyrighted and postmarked, April 28, 1975) is my entry, my essay, or -- with a nod to Mr. Laughlin -- my artifact.

-- "DEAR BILLY," Duncan Shepherd, May 1, 1975

Twenty-Five Years Ago It had been a hard week with out-of-town newspapers asking me to reinvent the truth to suit their style and men downtown talkin' to me about my poetry readings as strip shows. I was adaptin' to street fights at the end of a workin' day in the world and doin' what I could to move past a bad case of the white middle-class blues. "Come on, brother, put down your knife and I'll put down the pipe and we'll do it right. Come on." It was just my life and it had moved back downtown with snortin' and dealin' and workin' women lined up three-deep in the doorways.

Sponsored
Sponsored

-- "ON MAYA ANGELOU," Sarai Austin, May 1, 1980

Twenty Years Ago In 1981 there were only five or so computer bulletin boards operating in San Diego County; today there are more than 70 such systems. Brock Meeks, editor of San Diego's own Computer News...says that initially the boards were established and used by "techno freaks," individuals in love with computers and electronics. But as more people bought computers, the boards became "kitten-for-sale boards." Over the past year, however, local computer users have discovered that setting up a bulletin board system can be a cheap (around $1400) method for sharing information.

-- CITY LIGHTS: "MODEM OPERANDI," Abe Opincar, May 2, 1985

Fifteen Years Ago San Diego has an overload of bums, not as bad as San Francisco or L.A., but more than the natural environment can hold. Bum residents talk to each other as they make their daily rounds: Horton Plaza to blood bank to a mission to liquor store to park to blood bank. They pass along encouragements to each other, "How's the day going? What's going on? I'm going to..."

-- "BUM, BUMMING, BUMMER," Patrick Daugherty, May 3, 1990

Ten Years Ago Manuet's is popular among Mexicali youth. While waiting for food or drinks, patrons blast music on their car CD players. On one April night, reggae seemed popular -- Jimmy Cliff's "Treat the Youth Right" and "One Love" by Judy Mowatt are heard. Other cars issue forth with Mexican pop artists Olé Olé, with "Te Dare Todo" (I'll Give You Everything) and "No Resistas" (Don't Resist). From inside a white Jetta with tinted black windows the Mighty Lemon Drops play "Happy Head," and a green Jeep Cherokee Wagoneer offers the Cure's "Never Enough."

-- CLUBS: "DRIVE-IN BOOZE AND THE SMELL OF BURNING TAFFETA," Victor Esquer, April 27, 1995

Five Years Ago Certain websites are like those historical cemeteries cordoned off in the middle of modern cities. Uncle Tupelo (www.gumbopages.com/uncle-tupelo.html) is devoted to the defunct band of the same name -- the standard bearer of what is variously called alternative country, insurgent country, and No Depression. For those who follow this rock trend, like me, it's hard to believe that its heave into the limelight happened. After the band broke up in 1994, it achieved a sort of retrospective success when each of the bands it splintered into, Son Volt and Wilco, released superb albums. -- SIGHTSEER: "PRETTY SUBVERSIVE CHARACTERS," Justin Wolff, April 27, 2000

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Gonzo Report: Eating dinner while little kids mock-mosh at Golden Island

“The tot absorbs the punk rock shot with the skill of experience”

Thirty Years Ago I have wasted no time. Tom Laughlin, to synchronize perfectly with the spring reissue of The Trial of Billy Jack, has put the question, "Why are movie critics out of touch with the audiences?" He has answered it himself (see last weekend's newspapers) in some 2000 words; but, consistent with his belief in open forum, he has invited others to answer the same, in 300 words or less. He has put the question and invitation in the form of an essay contest-sweepstakes (details available at participating theaters and fine stores throughout the area), and the rewards are sufficient enticement for me to doff the airs and pretenses worn in the past. With any of the prizes -- whether $25,000 cash or 1975 Plymouth Trail Duster -- I can envision myself setting off on the road to a decenter life. What follows (copyrighted and postmarked, April 28, 1975) is my entry, my essay, or -- with a nod to Mr. Laughlin -- my artifact.

-- "DEAR BILLY," Duncan Shepherd, May 1, 1975

Twenty-Five Years Ago It had been a hard week with out-of-town newspapers asking me to reinvent the truth to suit their style and men downtown talkin' to me about my poetry readings as strip shows. I was adaptin' to street fights at the end of a workin' day in the world and doin' what I could to move past a bad case of the white middle-class blues. "Come on, brother, put down your knife and I'll put down the pipe and we'll do it right. Come on." It was just my life and it had moved back downtown with snortin' and dealin' and workin' women lined up three-deep in the doorways.

Sponsored
Sponsored

-- "ON MAYA ANGELOU," Sarai Austin, May 1, 1980

Twenty Years Ago In 1981 there were only five or so computer bulletin boards operating in San Diego County; today there are more than 70 such systems. Brock Meeks, editor of San Diego's own Computer News...says that initially the boards were established and used by "techno freaks," individuals in love with computers and electronics. But as more people bought computers, the boards became "kitten-for-sale boards." Over the past year, however, local computer users have discovered that setting up a bulletin board system can be a cheap (around $1400) method for sharing information.

-- CITY LIGHTS: "MODEM OPERANDI," Abe Opincar, May 2, 1985

Fifteen Years Ago San Diego has an overload of bums, not as bad as San Francisco or L.A., but more than the natural environment can hold. Bum residents talk to each other as they make their daily rounds: Horton Plaza to blood bank to a mission to liquor store to park to blood bank. They pass along encouragements to each other, "How's the day going? What's going on? I'm going to..."

-- "BUM, BUMMING, BUMMER," Patrick Daugherty, May 3, 1990

Ten Years Ago Manuet's is popular among Mexicali youth. While waiting for food or drinks, patrons blast music on their car CD players. On one April night, reggae seemed popular -- Jimmy Cliff's "Treat the Youth Right" and "One Love" by Judy Mowatt are heard. Other cars issue forth with Mexican pop artists Olé Olé, with "Te Dare Todo" (I'll Give You Everything) and "No Resistas" (Don't Resist). From inside a white Jetta with tinted black windows the Mighty Lemon Drops play "Happy Head," and a green Jeep Cherokee Wagoneer offers the Cure's "Never Enough."

-- CLUBS: "DRIVE-IN BOOZE AND THE SMELL OF BURNING TAFFETA," Victor Esquer, April 27, 1995

Five Years Ago Certain websites are like those historical cemeteries cordoned off in the middle of modern cities. Uncle Tupelo (www.gumbopages.com/uncle-tupelo.html) is devoted to the defunct band of the same name -- the standard bearer of what is variously called alternative country, insurgent country, and No Depression. For those who follow this rock trend, like me, it's hard to believe that its heave into the limelight happened. After the band broke up in 1994, it achieved a sort of retrospective success when each of the bands it splintered into, Son Volt and Wilco, released superb albums. -- SIGHTSEER: "PRETTY SUBVERSIVE CHARACTERS," Justin Wolff, April 27, 2000

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Undocumented workers break for Trump in 2024

Illegals Vote for Felon
Next Article

In-n-Out alters iconic symbol to reflect “modern-day California”

Keep Palm and Carry On?
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader