Sunday, December 12, 2021
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Sunday, December 5, 2021
The 1987 Movie and Opinions About Abortion
The movie Dirty Dancing was released in 1987, and it continued to be viewed often on VCR during the following years.
The Gallup company has collected opinions about abortion since 1973, when the US Supreme Court issued its Roe v Wade ruling, which struck down all the states' abortion laws.
Here are the opinions of women and of men before and after 1987 (click on the graphs to enlarge them):
 |
| Women's opinions about abortion |
 |
| Men's opinions about abortion |
I will focus on women's opinions.
From 1973 to the present, about 20% of women have opposed abortion in all cases (the low, dotted line). The other 80% think that abortion should be legal at least some cases (the middle, green line) or in all cases (the upper, blue line).
In the years following 1987, the percentage of women who thought that abortion should be legal in all cases fell from 58% to about 43%, while the percent who thought it should be legal only in some cases rose steeply from about 23% to 33%.
In other words, support for abortion fell after the 1987 movie. Fewer women thought abortion should be legal in all cases. However, perhaps that happened because the movie caused women to think and discuss more about the issue and to become more nuanced in their opinions.
After about 1995, the 80% reverted largely to its pre-1987 ratio. By 1997, about 63% of women thought that abortion should be legal in all cases. That year, 1997, was the peak of support for abortion legality.
Since 1997, the always-legal opinion has gradually declined. Now in 2021, only about 45% of women think that abortion always should be legal (about 50% of men think so).
In recent years, the controversy has been more about abortions in late pregnancy. Rather than arguing about first-trimester abortions , people are arguing about third-trimester abortions. As the fetus looks more and more like a baby, women feel more and more that abortions should be legally restricted.
 |
| Ha, ha! I didn't get aborted. |
Saturday, November 27, 2021
How "Dirty Dancing" Sparked My Romance Career
Merry Farmer is an award-winning novelist .... She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized one day that she didn’t have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. She then went on to earn not one but two degrees in History so that she would always having something to write about.
Today she is a giant History nerd and a hopeless romantic waiting for her own love story to start. Her first book, The Loyal Heart, is a swashbuckling Medieval Historical Romance involving a love triangle that will keep you guessing. Both The Loyal Heart and its sequel, The Faithful Heart, are available wherever eBooks are sold. The third book in the trilogy, The Courageous Heart, will be available sometime this Fall. She has also begun a new Western Historical Romance series set in Montana in 1805. The first of that series, Our Little Secrets, is now available. The second, Fool for Love, will be released in early 2013.
Farmer's novels available on Amazon
=======
Excerpts from Farmer's essay How Dirty Dancing Sparked My Romance Career:
.... Dirty Dancing is one of the reasons I became a Romance writer.
Dirty Dancing came out in 1987. I was in 7th grade, and I was not allowed to see it. My mom, who was sweet and gentle and conservative and divorced under heartbreaking circumstances (my dad cheated and left us) didn’t want me going anywhere near this reportedly steamy film about an inappropriate relationship. I was a good girl too and I didn’t see it. … Until it came out on video. My mom may have been conservative, but she wasn’t dictatorial. We watched it together.
I remember the scandal of that love scene between Johnny and Baby in Johnny’s cabin. I can still hear my classmates talking about it. “Did you see that??? He kissed her neck!” “And oh my gosh, she touched his butt!” I can still remember the pre-adolescent fascination – delighted or disturbed depending on which classmate you asked – over the sheer sexiness of the whole scene! And I’m not gonna lie. Thirteen year old Merry’s socks were knocked off!
I must have watched that scene, the Sylvia and Mickey scene, and every dance scene in the movie about a million times … and we didn’t even own the tape! But believe you me, that was one of the first VHS tapes and then DVDs that I bought.
The funny thing is, by today’s standards that epic love scene – the first I ever remember seeing – is really tame. There’s hardly any skin, there’s no deep-throat snogging, and for the five seconds that you see them in bed there is no realistic forward and backward movement. Today’s thirteen year old girls probably watch it and say “Psht! Whatever!” (which is a whole other kind of problem).
But in all honesty, that’s still one of the hottest love scenes on film as far as I’m concerned. The heat and chemistry between those two is amazing. .... As they dance you can see them both smoldering on the inside. Every look sizzles. And she touches his butt! Oh my gosh, does she! Never have two people on screen so obviously wanted to rip each other’s clothes off and do naughty things so blatantly.
THAT is what Romance is all about. Sure, I like the graphic love scenes, both reading and writing them. But what really toasts my crackers is the build-up, the slow burn, the dirty dancing. When you can capture a thousand emotions and a hundred thousand years of human wanting in a single touch, you know you’re in the presence of greatness. ..... It’s about finding your soul-mate. ...
Of course, that begs the question, Did Johnny Castle and Baby Houseman get married and live happily ever after?
Of course thirteen year old Merry was certain they did. No question. Then I got older and wiser and started to think about it more. Would they? I mean, they come from completely opposite worlds. Could Johnny handle the pressure and perfection of an upper-class life (and let me tell you, he doesn’t look that Jewish to me). Would Baby be content to compromise her dreams to fit Johnny’s into her life? She wants to join the Peace Corp. I would assume Johnny wants to do something with dance. Is there a middle ground to those two things?
Jaded late-twenties Merry began to think things wouldn’t turn out so great. ...
But what does late-thirties Merry think about Johnny & Baby’s chances?
You know, I think they just might be able to make it. I do! Baby may be super young (eighteen seems like a child to me now), but Johnny wasn’t all that old either. Both of them were bound to go through a lot of changes before they settled on what they really wanted to do with the rest of their lives. I think there is a strong chance that Baby’s dad might just concede that his daughter is a good judge of character and do something to help Johnny get enough of a job doing what he wants to support Baby.
Granted, it was 1963 and they would have gotten married or broken off entirely. But I think there is a strong chance Johnny would have put his dreams on hold to support Baby’s. They would have gone into the Peace Corp together for a while. It would have been good for Johnny to see more of the world and to have a chance to help people even less unfortunate than him. The thing is, you can’t stay in the Peace Corp indefinitely. At some point you have to leave and get another job. That’s when they would have gone back to real life … and opened a dance studio.
See what I mean? All those years ago Dirty Dancing got me thinking like a Romance writer. We’ve definitely got to have a Happily Ever After, but how we get it and where it goes is what the story is all about.
So there you have it. My love of Dirty Dancing will go on and on as long as I can imagine Romance. I’m sure I’m not the only one out there either.
 |
| Merry Farmer |
Farmer's novels available on Amazon
=======
Excerpts from Farmer's essay How Dirty Dancing Sparked My Romance Career:
.... Dirty Dancing is one of the reasons I became a Romance writer.
Dirty Dancing came out in 1987. I was in 7th grade, and I was not allowed to see it. My mom, who was sweet and gentle and conservative and divorced under heartbreaking circumstances (my dad cheated and left us) didn’t want me going anywhere near this reportedly steamy film about an inappropriate relationship. I was a good girl too and I didn’t see it. … Until it came out on video. My mom may have been conservative, but she wasn’t dictatorial. We watched it together.
I remember the scandal of that love scene between Johnny and Baby in Johnny’s cabin. I can still hear my classmates talking about it. “Did you see that??? He kissed her neck!” “And oh my gosh, she touched his butt!” I can still remember the pre-adolescent fascination – delighted or disturbed depending on which classmate you asked – over the sheer sexiness of the whole scene! And I’m not gonna lie. Thirteen year old Merry’s socks were knocked off!
I must have watched that scene, the Sylvia and Mickey scene, and every dance scene in the movie about a million times … and we didn’t even own the tape! But believe you me, that was one of the first VHS tapes and then DVDs that I bought.
The funny thing is, by today’s standards that epic love scene – the first I ever remember seeing – is really tame. There’s hardly any skin, there’s no deep-throat snogging, and for the five seconds that you see them in bed there is no realistic forward and backward movement. Today’s thirteen year old girls probably watch it and say “Psht! Whatever!” (which is a whole other kind of problem).
But in all honesty, that’s still one of the hottest love scenes on film as far as I’m concerned. The heat and chemistry between those two is amazing. .... As they dance you can see them both smoldering on the inside. Every look sizzles. And she touches his butt! Oh my gosh, does she! Never have two people on screen so obviously wanted to rip each other’s clothes off and do naughty things so blatantly.
THAT is what Romance is all about. Sure, I like the graphic love scenes, both reading and writing them. But what really toasts my crackers is the build-up, the slow burn, the dirty dancing. When you can capture a thousand emotions and a hundred thousand years of human wanting in a single touch, you know you’re in the presence of greatness. ..... It’s about finding your soul-mate. ...
Of course, that begs the question, Did Johnny Castle and Baby Houseman get married and live happily ever after?
Of course thirteen year old Merry was certain they did. No question. Then I got older and wiser and started to think about it more. Would they? I mean, they come from completely opposite worlds. Could Johnny handle the pressure and perfection of an upper-class life (and let me tell you, he doesn’t look that Jewish to me). Would Baby be content to compromise her dreams to fit Johnny’s into her life? She wants to join the Peace Corp. I would assume Johnny wants to do something with dance. Is there a middle ground to those two things?
Jaded late-twenties Merry began to think things wouldn’t turn out so great. ...
But what does late-thirties Merry think about Johnny & Baby’s chances?
You know, I think they just might be able to make it. I do! Baby may be super young (eighteen seems like a child to me now), but Johnny wasn’t all that old either. Both of them were bound to go through a lot of changes before they settled on what they really wanted to do with the rest of their lives. I think there is a strong chance that Baby’s dad might just concede that his daughter is a good judge of character and do something to help Johnny get enough of a job doing what he wants to support Baby.
Granted, it was 1963 and they would have gotten married or broken off entirely. But I think there is a strong chance Johnny would have put his dreams on hold to support Baby’s. They would have gone into the Peace Corp together for a while. It would have been good for Johnny to see more of the world and to have a chance to help people even less unfortunate than him. The thing is, you can’t stay in the Peace Corp indefinitely. At some point you have to leave and get another job. That’s when they would have gone back to real life … and opened a dance studio.
See what I mean? All those years ago Dirty Dancing got me thinking like a Romance writer. We’ve definitely got to have a Happily Ever After, but how we get it and where it goes is what the story is all about.
So there you have it. My love of Dirty Dancing will go on and on as long as I can imagine Romance. I’m sure I’m not the only one out there either.
The 1960 Movie "Exodus"
The movie Exodus was released in December 1960. Baby Houseman certainly watched this popular movie while it was playing in the New York movie theaters in December or January. At that time, Baby was 14 or 15 years old. The movie portrays the situation and events in the founding of Israel in 1948. Here is the movie trailer:
One of the movie's main characters is a Jewish girl named Karen Hansen Clement, played by the actress Jill Haworth. Karen is a Jewish girl from Denmark who had survived the Holocaust and emigrated to Israel in 1947. During the movie story, she is 14 and 15 years old -- the same age that Baby was when she watched the movie.
Through the movie story, Karen is infatuated with a young Jewish man, Dov Landau, played by the actor Sal Mineo. This character's age is not stated in the movie, but the actor Mineo was about 20 years old when the movie was filmed. In the following video (beginning at 0:56), we see Karen and Dov talking with each other while they are riding a ship sailing from Cyprus to Palestine. Karen is trying to persuade Dov to be more moderate and peaceful about how he intends to act in Palestine.
Karen is an idealistic liberal. Nevertheless, Karen finds herself attracted romantically to a man who is very different from herself. Her attraction is based largely on her idealistic desire to reform him, to convert him to her own idealistic liberalism. In other words, Karen is very similar to Baby.
The movie's subplot about the romance between beautiful Karen and handsome Dov was featured in the movie's publicity campaigns.
======
The actor Sal Mineo was somewhat similar to the actor Patrick Swayze. Mineo already had appeared in a series of movies, and he was adored by young female fans. His two most famous previous performances had been in 1) the 1955 movie Rebel Without a Cause, for which he had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and 2) the 1959 movie The Gene Krupa Story, where he played the lead role. He was featured often in magazines that targeted teenage girls -- the magazines that Lisa Houseman brought home.
In the years following the release of the movie Exodus, such magazines reported about a romance between the actor Sal Mineo and the actress Jill Haworth. Although neither Mineo nor Haworth actually was Jewish, it's likely that Lisa and Baby Houseman fantasized about themselves being in such a beautiful "Jewish" romance.
========
Near the end of the movie, there is a scene where 15-year-old Karen essentially entices 20-year-old Dov to become sexual with her. The circumstances do not allow him to get sexual at that moment (he is on guard duty), but he indicates for the first time that he intends to marry her soon. Therefore, the movie audience gets the impression that Karen and Dov will become sexual with each other rather soon.
Here is that dialogue (I could not find a video clip), which begins with Karen arriving from the base to Dov's guard post.
At this point, Karen obediently heads back to the base, happy that she and Dov soon will become a romantic, sexual, married couple. However, on her way back to the base, she is seized by Arabs and soon will be murdered.
For the young females in the movie audience who have been identifying with Karen, the murder of Karen is profoundly tragic.
========
For sure, 15-year-old Baby herself was moved emotionally by this tragedy when she watched the movie, and she remained affected thus through the following years.
Karen's bold sexual enticement of Dov inspired Baby's bold sexual enticement of Johnny.
One of the movie's main characters is a Jewish girl named Karen Hansen Clement, played by the actress Jill Haworth. Karen is a Jewish girl from Denmark who had survived the Holocaust and emigrated to Israel in 1947. During the movie story, she is 14 and 15 years old -- the same age that Baby was when she watched the movie.
Through the movie story, Karen is infatuated with a young Jewish man, Dov Landau, played by the actor Sal Mineo. This character's age is not stated in the movie, but the actor Mineo was about 20 years old when the movie was filmed. In the following video (beginning at 0:56), we see Karen and Dov talking with each other while they are riding a ship sailing from Cyprus to Palestine. Karen is trying to persuade Dov to be more moderate and peaceful about how he intends to act in Palestine.
Karen is an idealistic liberal. Nevertheless, Karen finds herself attracted romantically to a man who is very different from herself. Her attraction is based largely on her idealistic desire to reform him, to convert him to her own idealistic liberalism. In other words, Karen is very similar to Baby.
The movie's subplot about the romance between beautiful Karen and handsome Dov was featured in the movie's publicity campaigns.
======
The actor Sal Mineo was somewhat similar to the actor Patrick Swayze. Mineo already had appeared in a series of movies, and he was adored by young female fans. His two most famous previous performances had been in 1) the 1955 movie Rebel Without a Cause, for which he had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and 2) the 1959 movie The Gene Krupa Story, where he played the lead role. He was featured often in magazines that targeted teenage girls -- the magazines that Lisa Houseman brought home.
In the years following the release of the movie Exodus, such magazines reported about a romance between the actor Sal Mineo and the actress Jill Haworth. Although neither Mineo nor Haworth actually was Jewish, it's likely that Lisa and Baby Houseman fantasized about themselves being in such a beautiful "Jewish" romance.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
========
Near the end of the movie, there is a scene where 15-year-old Karen essentially entices 20-year-old Dov to become sexual with her. The circumstances do not allow him to get sexual at that moment (he is on guard duty), but he indicates for the first time that he intends to marry her soon. Therefore, the movie audience gets the impression that Karen and Dov will become sexual with each other rather soon.
Here is that dialogue (I could not find a video clip), which begins with Karen arriving from the base to Dov's guard post.
DovHalt! Stay where you are.KarenIt's me, Dov.DovWatch out. What are you doing out here?[ .... ]KarenYou can come back [to the base] now.DovNo, I don't go back until somebody relieves me of this [guard] position. Stay down. There are Arabs out there.KarenAri said they won't attack until tomorrow night.DovI killed one about three hours ago. Down there.KarenDov, you have a beautiful name. Sometimes I whisper it to myself. I'm 15 years old now. I'm not little anymore.DovYou shouldn't have come here in the first place.KarenBut, Dov, you're always fighting, and you're always in a place where you might be killed. If anything should happen to you before I told you how much I love you, I just wouldn't want to live anymore. Please, love me. I'm not afraid. Honest, I'm not.DovWhen things are all over, I'm going to marry you. You'll be Mrs. Dov Landau. You're going to have respect. They will tip their hats when you go by, and I will smile. I'v told you to go back twice already. From now on, you do what I say.
At this point, Karen obediently heads back to the base, happy that she and Dov soon will become a romantic, sexual, married couple. However, on her way back to the base, she is seized by Arabs and soon will be murdered.
For the young females in the movie audience who have been identifying with Karen, the murder of Karen is profoundly tragic.
========
For sure, 15-year-old Baby herself was moved emotionally by this tragedy when she watched the movie, and she remained affected thus through the following years.
Karen's bold sexual enticement of Dov inspired Baby's bold sexual enticement of Johnny.
Monday, November 22, 2021
Sunday, November 21, 2021
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Monday, October 11, 2021
The Stage Musical's Tour in Great Britain
Birmingham Alexandra | 12-16 October | |
Hull New | 19-23 October | |
Newcastle Theatre Royal | 26-27 October | |
Carlisle Sands Centre | 28-30 October | |
Coventry Belgrade | 2-6 November | |
Edinburgh Festival | 9-13 November | |
Dartford Orchard | 16-30 November | |
Bradford Alhambra | 23-27 November |
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Sunday, August 22, 2021
Friday, August 20, 2021
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Saturday, August 7, 2021
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Monday, July 26, 2021
Afternoon Delight
I don't have a really good reason for posting these videos of the 1976 song "Afternoon Delight" in my blog about the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing. I just think this is one of the best songs ever, and I love the third video below, which appeared on YouTube a few days ago.
Friday, July 23, 2021
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Dirty Dancing and the Law of Attraction
Andrew Kap
Has the secret to manifesting your dream life been hiding in the movie ‘Dirty Dancing’?
We’ll find out in today’s video, and we’ll also dive into what you can do RIGHT NOW to better engage with the Universe and attract wonderful moments, circumstances, events, and results in all areas of your life, whether it’s manifesting more money, magnetizing better relationships, or improving your health.
This is the Law of Attraction like you’ve never heard it before, so sit back, relax, and enjoy. It’s time to take your manifesting power to the next level, and today’s video will help you do that.
Nine Things Men Crave in a Woman
EZ Dating Coach
My name is Mike Goldstein.
I am part of #TeamEZDating who wants to make dating and relationships EZ!
We are tired of men that disappear.
We are tired of game playing.
We dislike texting, but love building strong connections in person.
We hate internet pen pals.
We hate wasting time.
We love finding the most efficient way humanly possible to find and keep love.
We love men that work hard to keep women happy.
We love women that make the first move.
We love women that tell men exactly what they want.
We love simple strategies that actually work.
All of our theories regarding love revolve around data and science.
This allows us to outperform 95% of online daters and get into committed relationships after only meeting 6-8 people.
We are Team EZ Dating and we are going make dating and relationships EZ again!
I am part of #TeamEZDating who wants to make dating and relationships EZ!
We are tired of men that disappear.
We are tired of game playing.
We dislike texting, but love building strong connections in person.
We hate internet pen pals.
We hate wasting time.
We love finding the most efficient way humanly possible to find and keep love.
We love men that work hard to keep women happy.
We love women that make the first move.
We love women that tell men exactly what they want.
We love simple strategies that actually work.
All of our theories regarding love revolve around data and science.
This allows us to outperform 95% of online daters and get into committed relationships after only meeting 6-8 people.
We are Team EZ Dating and we are going make dating and relationships EZ again!
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Sage Lilleyman's Video Tutorials on 1960s Style
Hello and welcome darlings!
This is a vintage inspired channel where I share my sewing adventures, DIY projects, thrift finds, vintage hair tutorials and outfit look books!
If you find these things interesting, come join me on my vintage YouTube adventures!
Lots of love,
Sage x
======
My Style Evolution From Hippie to Vintage
======
1960s Hair Tutorial
======
1960s Mad Men Hair Tutorial
========
1960s Fitness Routine
Official Clips
Lionsgate presents: The Dollar Theater's official YouTube channel! Come for the ONE DOLLAR MOVIES, stay to enjoy clips of all your favorites. Subscribe and stay tuned... more ONE DOLLAR MOVIES coming soon!