event
Caseen Gaines
-
Fri Feb 24
7 pm
Caseen Gaines at Quimby's Bookstore
Nostalgia can be a dangerous drug, but it’s only because of some members of Gen X now that there’s any sort of historical record about popular culture from the ’80s and ’90s. Saturday morning TV stars of yore lived in obscurity, and their shows’ production—from conception to cancellation—existed just in the memories of the people involved. Luckily there are people like Caseen Gaines around who, because they can, have documented shows they remembered and loved. Gaines’ book, Inside Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, might not have the blessing of its titular star, but the author’s rounded up just about everyone else who worked on a “secret word” or played a genie in a box. It’s a fascinating look inside a world that, while magical in a lot of peoples’ imaginations, was in fact a very real job for others.
Quimby's Bookstore 1854 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL
Nostalgia can be a dangerous drug, but it’s only because of some members of Gen X now that there’s any sort of historical record about popular culture from the ’80s and ’90s. Saturday morning TV stars of yore lived in obscurity, and their shows’ production—from conception to cancellation—existed just in the memories of the people involved. Luckily there are people like Caseen Gaines around who, because they can, have documented shows they remembered and loved. Gaines’ book, Inside Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, might not have the blessing of its titular star, but the author’s rounded up just about everyone else who worked on a “secret word” or played a genie in a box. It’s a fascinating look inside a world that, while magical in a lot of peoples’ imaginations, was in fact a very real job for others.
Updated 02/15/2012
