22: Touchstone Pictures

22: Touchstone Pictures

Disney established Touchstone Pictures on February 15, 1984. This was a brand new subsidiary studio created for the purpose of releasing edgier material than Disney's typical family-friendly fare. Why did the company feel this was necessary? Did it work? What was the long-term impact? Disney expert Robert Burnett from the DockingBay77 Podcast joins me for an insightful look into this critical time in Disney's history as a movie studio. DockingBay77: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xbHEbPpkGQEjbwuOSIE6y Linktr.ee/DefDave

21: Scorpions

"Love At First Sting" hit American record stores on February 13, 1984. It would prove to be the Scorpions' biggest success, led by the classic Rock You Like A Hurricane. Real life rock drummer James Buckley makes his return to the show to help me talk about it. Linktr.ee/DefDave

20: Winter Olympics

On February 8, 1984, the XIV Winter Olympics got underway in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Did anyone boycott this one? Who were the breakout athletes? Which country won the medal count? How did the USA do? Did anyone make the Wheaties box? To help me talk about it, I ventured far north into the wintry lands of Minnesota and found Brad Sorensen, one of the hosts of Pop Culture Yearbook. PCY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hc7R9J7NnuoKnbrF31YcG Linktr.ee/DefDave

19: NASA's First Untethered Spacewalk

The Challenger Space Shuttle flew its fourth mission in February of 1984 and made history for marking the first untethered spacewalk. Astronaut Bruce McCandless demonstrated extraordinary courage with this remarkable achievement. What challenges did the crew face on this mission? What kind of military and NASA career did McCandless have? Who else joined him on the untethered spacewalk? To help me break down all the details of what was involved with this historical feat is NASA enthusiast Eric Dearth. Linktr.ee/DefDave

18: Robin/Nightwing (DC Comics)

When it comes to comic books, one of the biggest highlights of 1984 was The New Teen Titans from DC Comics. Marv Wolfman and George Pérez were leading the sales charts with their bold takes on teen characters. It is here that Dick Grayson, a mainstay as Robin since the 1940s, quit that identity forever. How was this move received by fans? Did it ultimately hurt or help the Batman comics? What led DC to such a stunning decision? Did the change prove permanent? To help me answer all these questions and more, the host of the 30something Movie Podcast, John Reid, joins me for this fascinating look at a beloved character. https://www.30podcast.com/ Linktr.ee/DefDave