1978 was a long time ago in a Galaxy very far away. I was five years old. I distantly remember that strange era that made up the seventies. They were awkward, and tense, and everything was pretty uncool. Our hair, our clothes (my mom made me a polyester suit I wore to school, it was itchy) and even our TV was a little nutty. Come on, a show about the California Highway Patrol. . . every week!
And then there was Jimmy Carter. Sure, I know what you're thinking: He's not in The Stand -- right? Wrong! He is in The Stand. Well, not by name, but it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to spot him. He's playing the role of President, so it sorta makes it easy to find Waldo here.
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At the movies, you could see:
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The Stand has been given several makeovers. First when King updated the work in 1990. Later it was given a nice new look with the mini-series, and most recently it has been updated with the comic books. But I want to go back -- way back to 1978 when the Stand was originally released. Of course, that is not exactly the year King was writing the Stand in. It is the year people began reading.
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On Star Trek if you want to time warp, you have to sling-shot around the sun. Here, you just have to scroll down! So come on, let's go back to 1978.
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1978. . .
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Norman Rockwell died that year and Charlie Chaplain's remains were stolen. Jimmy Carter was president, and inflation was on the rise big time! There was a coal strike that was not helping the situation. Carter did authorize the minting of the Susan B. Anthony dollar. That went over well. The Federal debt was only 776.6 billion. That's all! We almost could have written a check! A stamp cost 0.13 cents. This dreary sense of America is palpable in the Stand.
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Ford was advertising it's new car, stating "Tomorrow's idea from Ford is here!" Ford Fairmont Futura. $4,267. AVON was marketing TEMPO to black women.
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In 1978 there was no Internet, debit cards, kindle, DVD's, mini-van or AIDS. There were also no cellphones. In fact, if you needed to make a call on the run, you dived in to a phone booth. Remember those? Superman's favorite changing room! And most phones still required you spin a dial.
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Politics:
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Dianne Feinstein, now a senator from California, succeeded murdered George Moscone as mayor of San Francisco. Jerry Brown was governor of California -- the first time. The Los Angeles strangler was on the loose (later known as the Hillside Strangler).
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And then there was Jimmy Carter. Sure, I know what you're thinking: He's not in The Stand -- right? Wrong! He is in The Stand. Well, not by name, but it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to spot him. He's playing the role of President, so it sorta makes it easy to find Waldo here..
Carter was a peanut farmer and governor of the state of Georgia. He was known for his big smile (grin) and Christian virtues. This is from chapter 16, when the president decides to reign in the military.
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"You know who that was on the phone."
"It was really him, then?"
"The old Georgia Giant himself. I've been relieved. The clod-hopper releved me, Len. Of course, I knew it was coming. But it still hurts. Hurts like hell. It hurts coming fromt that grinning sack" p.116, paperback.
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That's chapter 22, page 166 in the revised. And in this version there is no "Georgia Giant" hint offered up, he is simply called "The President." Why? Because Jimmy wasn't in office when the Stand was rewritten. By the way, notice that just between thsoe two scenes, the revised edition gave 40 pages of extra build up.
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Religion:
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Of interest to me, that was the year of three Popes! In august, Pope Paul 6 died and was replaced by 65-year old John Paul 1. But he died on September 28, after only 34 days in office. John Paul 2 became pope on September 28, 1978.
.Religion was actually in a pretty crazy state that year. It was also the year of the Jones Town deaths. Followers of Jim Jones drank the kool-aid, giving their lives to Jones after the murder of a Congressman and reporters. It is interesting that The Stand is released amist such religious chaos. Flagg is a Jim Jones type, who's followers (like Jones') will all meet a tragic end. Nukes -- kool-aid, what's the real difference?
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The Stand is a deeply spiritual novel. From the dreams, to Mother Abigail to the devil himself -- it is the stroy of good verses evil. Of course, the 1978 hardcover sported a drawing of good and evil hacking it out. And what is Flagg in the end? Just another Jim Jones! Or, reverse it; what was Jim Jones? Posessed by Flagg.
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Movies:
At the movies, you could see: Jaws 2,
Animal House,
the Wiz,
Superman,
Halloween,
Grease,
Invasion of the Body Snatchers,
Heaven Can Wait,
and of course: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. Hey, that was a good movie! By the way, there is a remake of Killer Tomatoes coming out this year -- I think.
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Top it off with a viewing of Capicorn One, starring OJ Simpson. Capicorn One played on the nations doubt of government, suggesting even the space program was a hoax. A similar mistrust of government is expressed in The Stand -- but much better executed.
Top it off with a viewing of Capicorn One, starring OJ Simpson. Capicorn One played on the nations doubt of government, suggesting even the space program was a hoax. A similar mistrust of government is expressed in The Stand -- but much better executed.
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