baron-pierreIV 1693 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 There are those Athens 2004 Ten Year threads. And something marking the passing of LA 1984's main color 'Look' designer, so I thought why NOT have a whole new thread especially as LA is on the verge of possibly embarking on a "Three-quel" (to aptly use Hollywood terms) of the largest 'live' show on the planet in a year or 2. I also came across this clip which reveals for the first time who played 'Sam the Eagle' at those memorable opening ceremonies 30 summers ago!! http://www.nbclosangeles.com/on-air/as-seen-on/LA-in-Bid-to-Host-2024-Summer-Olympics_Los-Angeles-268973991.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StefanMUC 690 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 LA was the first Summer Games I consciously followed, not yet 9 years old then. So I'm having fond memories of the opening ceremony, and getting infected with the whole idea of the Olympics (I also followed Sarajevo, but LA was on during school holidays and I could watch a bit more on TV, as much as 9 hr time difference allowed). 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alexjc 354 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 (edited) My first Olympic games of living memory (no Moscow for NZ)...The first of the Commercial Games and even if most of the Warsaw Pact (remember that saying? ) nations didn't show...LA was OH for AWESOME!!!! And the fact NZ won a pile of tin that has still to be bettered. Being fed a diet of Secondary "make up" events and the CWGs (when they were still relevant)...LA 1984 was a whole new level!...Seriously Wow! Being young it really was a spectacular event to behold. America and Reagan on top. I can still see the OC and CCs now, 30 years later. Our school went into Olympic Games mode and being an East/West building plan with the central hall building in the middle, we built a Berlin Wall across the central quad and had a Checkpoint Charlie to pass through. We had all kinds of serious and not so serious events. One of the teachers built a replication of the Colliseum arch with the cauldron on top, and it was lit at the start of the school day. We had a huge school dance at the end of it all. "Eat ya heart out Russia" Edited August 28, 2014 by Alexjc#TeamKey 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Athensfan 1081 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Too bad we missed the official 30 year anniversary on this one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mr.bernham 384 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 Too bad we missed the official 30 year anniversary on this one. Yeah, we were late by a month. LA still had the best moment in any ceremonies before or since... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mr.bernham 384 Posted August 27, 2014 Report Share Posted August 27, 2014 The ship (for those who do not know) was suspended by a silent chopper and the ship itself was actually very light a hollow. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
baron-pierreIV 1693 Posted August 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 (edited) The ship (for those who do not know) was suspended by a silent chopper and the ship itself was actually very light a hollow. No; it wasn't hollow. It didn't even have a shell. It was merely a framework and the lights were naked, if seen in the daylight. The chopper wasn't silent -- but it was painted all black and even its whirling lights were covered up. You have my book -- it's all stated in there. The chopper's sound was covered up by 2 LAPD "supposed escort" choppers. Edited August 28, 2014 by baron-pierreIV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul 619 Posted August 28, 2014 Report Share Posted August 28, 2014 Deborah Sussman dies at 83; LA designer known for bold use of color-LA Times Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mr.bernham 384 Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 No; it wasn't hollow. It didn't even have a shell. It was merely a framework and the lights were naked, if seen in the daylight. The chopper wasn't silent -- but it was painted all black and even its whirling lights were covered up. You have my book -- it's all stated in there. The chopper's sound was covered up by 2 LAPD "supposed escort" choppers. I don't need your book, I have the internet and a vast encyclopedia of all things made by Imagineers over at WDWMagic. Yes, Bob Gurr is was an Imagineer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul 619 Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) here's a few pics i've not seen around as much of LA84 look stuff... Edited August 29, 2014 by paul 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Athensfan 1081 Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 No; it wasn't hollow. It didn't even have a shell. It was merely a framework and the lights were naked, if seen in the daylight. The chopper wasn't silent -- but it was painted all black and even its whirling lights were covered up. You have my book -- it's all stated in there. The chopper's sound was covered up by 2 LAPD "supposed escort" choppers. Baron is right. Bernham is wrong. And to be honest, I didn't think the overall effect was that great. People loved it, but I thought the Welcome balloons from the OC made more impact. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul 619 Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 ...check the lower right pic...looks like a tribute to past hosts....with custom graphics for each one! wish i could see them all. i wonder who has more extensive records of all the trim? to bad the photographic record wasn't so great way back then. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul 619 Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 Baron is right. Bernham is wrong. And to be honest, I didn't think the overall effect was that great. People loved it, ...why was there a UFO at the Olympics anyway??? im surprise Michel Jackson wasn't there at some point or was he? ...just searche dfor MJ at the Olympics and this INSANE video came back! :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul 619 Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) Edited August 31, 2014 by paul 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Athensfan 1081 Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 Nostalgia! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mr.bernham 384 Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 Still one of the most unique and vibrant looks of all time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul 619 Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) OK.......never heard all this stuff but there's some great classics like John Williams Olympic Theme that came out of LA84 and lots of other crazy 80's style pop theme made for the games......I LOVE it! Bugler’s Dream / 1958 -Leo Arnaud Nothings Gonna Stop You (Team Sports Theme) -Loverboy Reach Out -Giorgio Moroder Courtship (Basketball Theme) -Bob James A Chance For Heaven (Swimmers Theme) -Christopher Cross Moodido /The Match (Boxing Theme) -Toto Olympic Fanfare and Theme -John Williams Grace (Gymnastics Theme) -Quincy Jones Power (Power Sports Theme) -Bill Conti Street Thunder (Marathon Theme) -Foreigner Junku (Field Theme) -Herbie Hankock The Olympian Lighting Of The Torch -Philip Glass THANK GOD LA HOSTED IN THE 80s! Edited August 31, 2014 by paul 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
baron-pierreIV 1693 Posted August 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) Looking at LA's jungle-gym design elements, I'm so glad there was no earthquake at the time. I doubt if any of those structures would've held up in even a 4.5 quake. Edited September 1, 2014 by baron-pierreIV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul 619 Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 Barton and Phelps Associates work at UCLA Campus and Olympic village Discotheque at UCLA Olympic Village Disco Lights / Refreshment Center / Tennis Center...all at UCLA Los Angeles, California1984 The Look: BPA provided planning and design coordination for all Olympics installations on the UCLA campus including the Gymnastics and Tennis venues and the Olympic Village. The overall effect we were after was to briefly transform the university campus into an exuberant ceremonial site in something like the manner of Delphi or Olympia in their heydays. Temporary Landscapes: In order to orient and facilitate movement of athletes and spectators and provide for tight athlete security with minimal permanent change, our master plan temporarily moved trees, added gateways, colonnades, steps, walkways and banners and simplified the sequence of outdoor spaces in the center of the campus. Hanging Out: The Olympic Village Main Street, hovering on scaffolding above the track stadium, provided athletes with food service, shopping, bank, and post office facilities. The centerpiece was a neoclassically-inspired discotheque enclosed by rows of free-form columns and an other-worldly frieze that we designed with artist, Peter Shire. Tents, Banners, and Sonotubes: For spectators, the plan provided exterior and interior decorative programs, demountable structures for ticketing, food service, souvenir, and first aid facilities as well as landscaping, and signage. Design AwardsAmerican Institute of Architects: Institute Honor forCollaborative Design, 1985Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee:Design Commendation, 1984 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Athensfan 1081 Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Looking at LA's jungle-gym design elements, I'm so glad there was no earthquake at the time. I doubt if any of those structures would've held up in even a 4.5 quake. I think they would've been just fine. Scaffolding is flexible, so it would move with the quake, plus all the pieces are interlocking. It's not like making a tower of toothpicks. Just because it looks lightweight doesn't mean it's rickety. I work with scaffolding quite a bit. It's held to a very high safety standard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lord David 225 Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 ...why was there a UFO at the Olympics anyway??? im surprise Michel Jackson wasn't there at some point or was he? ...just searche dfor MJ at the Olympics and this INSANE video came back! :lol: The UFO was a nod to Hollywood culture and Michael Jackson not being there was due to him being a spokesperson for Pepsi, rather than Coke, the Olympic sponsor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul 619 Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 The UFO was a nod to Hollywood culture and Michael Jackson not being there was due to him being a spokesperson for Pepsi, rather than Coke, the Olympic sponsor. Oh yes I see.....I just watched the UFO and it was music sort of like that movie Close Encounters.....it was probably around that time. I guess that was an international phenomenon at the time.....very corny. MJ was probably so bummed about missing out on the opportunity to be the universal center of attention....he was probably home bummed on some sort of drip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
baron-pierreIV 1693 Posted September 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 (edited) The UFO was a nod to Hollywood culture Well, not really, It was a show-stopping stunt that had never been done before; and that was David Wolper's mantra -- present something which had never been shown before and to justify charging $50 / $100 and $200 tickets (quite expensive at that time) for a show that wasn't going to be as substantial as the Opening. So there had to be a little more than Lionel Richie and fireworks. That it happened to take place in Hollywood, was merely coincidental. Edited September 1, 2014 by baron-pierreIV Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Athensfan 1081 Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Well, not really, It was a show-stopping stunt that had never been done before; and that was David Wolper's mantra -- present something which had never been shown before and to justify charging $50 / $100 and $200 tickets (quite expensive at that time) for a show that wasn't going to be as substantial as the Opening. So there had to be a little more than Lionel Richie and fireworks. That it happened to take place in Hollywood, was merely coincidental. In this case, I think you're incorrect. Keep in mind, Star Wars, Alien, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and ET had all come out in the years leading up to the '84 Olympics. Hollywood and the international market were obsessed with blockbuster outer space movies. Sure the spaceship was unique for the Olympics, but it also tied in to Hollywood culture perfectly. It made sense that LA Games would feature that kind of moment and it wouldn't have made much sense in any other city. I still didn't think it was THAT great, but it was a ely and fitting scene for the entertainment capital of the world. Typo: ....it was a timely and fitting scene.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paul 619 Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 ...pure corn...but I guess it was the closing ceremony so why not be goofy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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