This Day in Pop Culture for June 8

1984: Who You Gonna Call?

The original movie about the famous ghost-chashers, Ghostbusters was released in theaters on this day in 1984. Written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, the filmed starred Bill Murray, Aykroyd, Ramis, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Annie Potts, and Ernie Hudson. Originally planned as a project for Aykroyd and fellow former Saturday Night Live actor, John Belushi, plans changed when Belushi passed away.

It is said that the film was the first comedy to incorporate a bunch of expensive special effects which made Columbia Pictures concerned about the film’s big budget and feared that the film would fail. Instead, it got good reviews from critics and earned over $280 million in tickets sales. In fact, it was the second-highest grossing film of 1984. It was also the #1 movie for seven weeks.

Ghostbusters is also remembered for its popular theme song by Ray Parker, Jr. The sequel Ghostbusters II followed in 1989.

In 2016, an all-female reboot of the movie was released that starred Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. It failed to win over audiences and lost anywhere from $25 million to $75 million.

In 2021, the original heroes appeared in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It starred Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon with extended cameo scenes that included Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts. The movie also starred Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace. It was huge hit. Riding on that high, the sequel to the sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire opened in theaters in 2024. It starred the same cast, but featured a lackluster story. For many, it was a disappointment.

Believe it or not, there is talk about, yet another sequel called United Ghostbusters. We’ll see. Maybe it’s time to let the phone go to voicemail. (Image: Columbia Pictures)

1964: Little Old Lady

Surfer music stars, Jan and Dean released “The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)”. it reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

1963: Flame Out

The American Heart Association began promoting anti-smoking campaign; the first agency to do so.

2022: Ms. Marvel

The miniseries Ms. Marvel debuted on Disney+. It served as a prequel to The Marvels movie, which later tanked in theaters.

1948: ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ is Published

On this day in 1948, the book, 1984 was published. The dystopian, science fiction novel by George Orwell was a warning of sorts about the consequences of a dictatorial society. In the book, natural feelings and emotions are forbidden, family values are destroyed and perhaps the most terrifying of all, chocolate is extremely hard to find! Phrases such as “Big brother is watching,” “doublethink” and “memory hole” have become part of our culture. In 2005, magazine included the book in their list of 100 Best English Language Novels.