Monday, June 30, 2008

Grad Nite - 1988

Well, we made it, the last Grad Nite post... Don't fear, I actually have tons MORE Grad Nite stuff, so all things equal, check back next June for a whole news series, plus some of the "best of" from this series.

Grand Nite '88 had a Winnie the Pooh theme, kind of Kiddie-like, but I suppose the Grads are just a bunch of big kids.





This is the LAST time I will tell you this; Hold Your Own Ticket!





"Gate Flyer" showing the show times for the evening of June 23, 1988.







The program, lots of fun photos.







Massive confession; see the group shot in the middle, the guy to the far right in the striped grey jacket and dark grey tie (and beard) is a dead ringer for me. No I wasn't there, I graduated 5 years earlier, BUT I had that exact jacket, tie, pants, hair style and attitude.











This brochure was for students to sign up for grad nite. Notice Michael Bolton was scheduled to appear. But according to the program above, he was replaced with "Men without Hats". Two questions; Who dropped who? And did we get a better deal with the "Safety Dance" crew?









Grad Nites are over, the fun has ended, now on with the Summer!

18 comments:

Major Pepperidge said...

You might possibly have the most thorough collection of Grad Night stuff anywhere!! It never occurred to me that there was so much, but of course it makes sense.

The Viewliner Limited said...

Very cool stuff Tim. And sundays stuff is awesome. Thanks again.

Dave said...

Men Without Hats, one of the ultimate 80's one-hit wonders! Years from now (and not that many since '88 is already 20 years back), those folks can tell their grandkids they did the "Safety Dance" at Disneyland!

Dave said...

The reverse of the ticket should have said "You can dance if you want to, you can leave your friends behind"...

Anonymous said...

I was at this grad night '88 and remember Expose and Men Without Hats well. I also remembered being in a horrible fight with my then girfriend.

Expose was really really popular at the time, and seemed very nervous on stage....but were serviceable as a dance band.

Men Without Hats played on the Tom Sawyer Island raft. I remember that I was into the band before I knew they were going to be there (I was going anyway).

They opened with the "boom boom boom" opening to the Pop goes the World album and followed it with "In the 21st century" (which wasn't released at the time). I also remember them playing the Human League's "Seconds" and "On Tuesday" and "Moonbeam"... Everyone was sleepy. Nobody was into them... Which was sad because they were really a good live band. I remember there was a costumed snowman playing the drums. We left the concert area early due to the fight...and waited for the bus.....

We dated for three more years before she destroyed my heart.... Oh, good times!

Andrew "Drew Portnoy" Bulkeley said...

Oh wow, anonymous -- totally. I think my brother and I were the only other people there who liked MWH and it was the same with us -- we liked them but didn't know they'd be playing. My brother forced me to watch a little bit of expose even though I was against it.

Anonymous said...

Could have swore Julian Lennon played at our 1988 Grad Nite - we were there in late May. He was on the Tom Sawyer raft.

William Noetling said...

This was my year and I think I still have quite a bit of that ephemera. Thanks for the call-backs!

Unknown said...

I still have my Winnie the Pooh Doll and it still plays the music

Unknown said...

@mona davis

Anonymous said...

This was my grad nite. Michael Bolton did appear at mine. He had members of Journey in his band that night.

Anonymous said...

I went McLane HS Class of 88(I admit that to very few)..I remember seeing Men without Hats over by the Riverboat Ride..dossed waiting in line for Pirates...Andrew

Anonymous said...

My great aunt graduated in '88 from Hollywood High and attended to this very Grad Night. She still has the brochure and everything, but I was more curious and stumbled across this! This is awesome!

RM said...

I remember Micheal Bolton playing on the river

Andrew said...

I was at grad nite as well. I made sure to watch amen Without Hats. They were and are still awesome. I had a blast that night. I remember the fight. Those were the best years of my life.

Anonymous said...

I was there this very day…graduated June 23, 1988, El Rancho HS. Went with my boyfriend at the time, married him…and still happily married to him! Lots of fun… but did end up getting tired and sleepy 🥱

Jason (Serra HS) said...

I vividly remember coming out of the Haunted House and Boom! there's Men Without Hats just kicking up their set. Great show, such a better choice than Michael Bolton. I remember almost nothing else from that night. Wearing a suit for the first time ever while also at Disneyland overnight was odd.

Anonymous said...

The night my high school went, it was Michael Bolton, nit MWH. He was very new and had just come out with his version of "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." I still have my giant Winnie the Pooh!