Corinthian Leather in Heaven?

On Wednesday, I got an email from a friend that simply read, “I hope there’s fine Corinthian leather in heaven.” Having seen no news during the day, I was at a complete loss as to what this meant. Only later did I learn that Ricardo Montalban—Mr. Rourke—Khan—had died at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88.

It is virtually impossible to think about Montalban without hearing Tattoo, his diminutive sidekick on ABC’s Fantasy Island, shouting “Zee plane, zee plane.”

I suppose that every generation remembers iconic cultural standouts. What we wanted to be, how we played, and even the dialogue and common vernacular of our everyday lives was driven by what our favorite characters did and said. Just how many kids went on to be firemen after seeing their first episode of Emergency? And by today’s standards, it probably would bomb, but to an elementary school kid in 1974, the Fonz’s “Ehhhh,” was the height of cool.

I distinctly recall my parents sending me to bed at 9:00 PM on Friday nights, right before Hawaii Five-O”. I think I still hold a grudge over having to see Dan-O “book ‘em” in syndication rather than live.

Without a doubt, the television programs of our youth were much better in our memory that on the small screen. Don’t believe me? Then try sitting through an episode or two of the Dukes of Hazzard or the A-Team. Yeah, I pity the fool, too. But like that song you still remember playing on the car radio on your first real date, the television programs of our formative years are forever ingrained in us. Hill Street Blues, Black Sheep Squadron, Gunsmoke, The Rockford Files, The Andy Griffith Show, and M*A*S*H come to mind.

So Mr. Rourke is gone. Somehow I can’t help but wonder if that island and Tattoo are still out there. If you don’t remember Fantasy Island—it was bad art at best, and I’m sure most don’t—Mr. Rourke always found a way to fulfill the fantasies of his guests, although often not the way the guests expected. That Pacific Island might be a good escape for the winter blues—and I wonder how my fantasies would work out in Mr. Rourke’s world.