Phoebe Cates, Tom Cruise, Jackie Chan - 1987 Japanese Roadshow Cards

A lot of great things came out in the 1980s and movies were right there at the top.  Terminator, Predator, Back to the Future, Top Gun, Gremlins, Breakfast Club....the list is nearly endless.  The U.S. influence on movies and pop culture was borderless and the Japanese couldn't eat up enough of it.  If you wanted to find out what was happening in the U.S. film and tv industry, you had your subscription to the Roadshow magazine.  It was the bible for pop culture.  As a bonus, they would often print collector cards of the latest stars to insert in the magazine.  These are great opportunities to get some early cards of young actresses and actors.  I have about half a dozen or so of these and recently picked this one up....even before Phoebe Cates "reentered" the news as one of the idols of the Stranger Things kids.  Look at the lineup on these cards from 1987:

Phoebe Cates - She was a stunner in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and Gremlins (1984)
River Phoenix - His role in Stand By Me was unforgettable (1986)
Jennifer Connelly - A oft overlooked movie with David Bowie, Labyrinth (1986), earned her a spot on this card.
Tom Cruise - Top Gun (1986), need I say more.
David Mendenhall - Playing Sylvester Stallone's son in Over the Top (1986) was enough to garner his own card.
Lea Thompson - Red Dawn (1984), Back to the Future (1985), Space Camp (1986) - Boom!
Lucy Deakins - I have not see The Boy Who Could Fly (1986), but it was popular enough for Lucy to make the Roadshow card list.
Jackie Chan - He had already done 30 movies by the time this card was printed.  A true movie icon.

You'll likely see more of these Roadshow cards in the future on this blog as I walk down memory lane.  A fun little piece of card collecting history!