Actor Resources

Introducing… Starke, Florida!

Most of the action takes place in a North Florida trailer park called “Armadillo Acres,” set in the town of Starke.  While the trailer park is fictional, the town of Starke is actually a cute little community along US Route 301.

US Route 301 (aka Highway 301) spans seven states and runs through the South Atlantic States from Glasgow, Delaware to Sarasota, Florida.  It passes right through the center of Starke and runs parallel to Interstate 95, which goes to Jacksonville.


The City of Jacksonville, which is to the east of Starke, has the largest population in the state of Florida and is the biggest city by area in the contiguous U.S., measuring about 875 sq. miles.

 Jacksonville is certainly the “big city,” with a metropolitan population of over 840,000 people!  Greater Jacksonville has about the same population as San Diego, which is over 1.3 million


Back on highway 301, to the north of Starke is an old gift shop that is expressive of Old Florida.  Once upon a time, the more northerly portions of the Sunshine State thrived during the first waves of development.  Here, the tropics meets hints of the Deep South and towns are smaller, quiet, and friendly.  These portions of Old Florida are now all but forgotten, bypassed by tourists on their way to Orlando and other southern Florida destinations.

Starke has a very small-town-feel with a population of about 5,400.  To give you a better idea of the size, Starke is about 1/155th the size of Jacksonville!  About 2/3rds of the population is white (non-ethnic), and the majority have graduated from high school but have not earned a college degree.  The median age is around 39.  Starke is the county seat for Bradford County.


This southern-influenced house in the Florida cracker style, an architectural style of woodframe homes from the 19th century, is characteristic of Old Florida.






Originally built in the 1940s, the Florida Twin movie theatre remains a popular place for some entertainment.  The cinema is part of the Call Street Historic District, which is comprised of
historically significant brick commercial buildings.




Also located in Starke is the infamous Florida State Prison with its electric chair, Old Sparky.  There is also a National Guard military base nearby and the Florida State Railroad runs through town, but the nearest train station is actually 12 miles away in Waldo!





Strawberries used to be the leading agricultural crop in Bradford County, but it has since been overshadowed by competition from Mexico, where they are cheaper.  However, it is still a tradition that’s kept alive and celebrated with the annual Strawberry Festival in April.

Another important festival held annually in Starke is BikeFest in October.  A festival for motorcycle enthusiasts, BikeFest is a weekend of bikes, food, games, and events, including a tattoo contest and music performances.




There don’t seem to be any actual trailer parks in Starke (or any strip clubs!), but here are some pictures of mobile home and trailer parks in Florida.

Glossary 

Agoraphobia- Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and often avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed. Most people who have agoraphobia develop it after having one or more panic attacks, causing them to fear another attack and avoid the place where it occurred.
People with agoraphobia often have a hard time feeling safe in any public place, especially where crowds gather. The fears can be so overwhelming that you may feel unable to leave your home.

Andrews Sisters

Andrews Sisters- One of America’s most popular female singing groups, the Andrews Sisters were a close harmony trio from the swing and boogie-woogie eras. Patty, the youngest sister, was a loud and energetic blond who headed the group with her confident mezzo-soprano vocals. The middle sister was soprano Maxene, a brunette, whose harmonic range gave the impression of four voices instead of three. Finally, completing the trio was the eldest, contralto-voiced LaVerne, a strong willed red head with a witty sense of humor and an eye for fashion. Their 1941 hit “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” can be considered an early example of rhythm and blues or jump blues.

Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qafnJ6mRbgk

Arachnophobia-Arachnophobia is the scientific name for the fear of spiders. It is the most common example of an animal-based phobia and many people experience it mildly. Scientists agree that there are 3 components to a phobia, 1) the experience of fear, 2) physiological responses (sweating, heart-rate etc.), 3) motor responses (immobilization or flight).

Ass-Jacket- When someone or something, is acting asinine.

Meredith Baxter Birney

Meredith Baxter Birney- David Birney became her second husband in 1974. Following their marriage and until their divorce in 1989, she was credited as Meredith Baxter-Birney, under which name she became widely known several years later on Family. In 1982, Baxter landed the role of Elyse Keaton, the former flower child matriarch of the Keaton family on the NBC sitcom Family Ties. In 1986, during her time on Family Ties, Baxter garnered critical acclaim for her dramatic performance as Kate Stark in the NBC television movie Kate's Secret, about a seemingly "perfect" suburban housewife and mother who is secretly suffering from bulimia nervosa. Regular actor and director for Lifetime movies.

Flan

Flan- Flan is a baked custard quite similar to crème caramel. It is typically made with eggs, cream or milk, gelatin and vanilla. Often, the custard is synonymous with crème caramel because it includes a layer of burnt or caramelized sugar on the bottom. Little ramekins of flan are then inverted, so the crunchy sugar is on the top. This custard is quite popular in Latin American countries, but its origin is French. Often, flan served in Latin countries or restaurants does not have the caramel sugar layer, but instead is simply plain, more resembling Italian cream.
Pronunciation NOTE: Traditional pronunciation is Flahn (rhymes with on) but in this show, the humor pronunciation seems to follow the pronunciation of the sign Stand by your flan (rhymes with Ran) to recall the phrase “Stand by your man” 

Hysterical pregnancy- False pregnancy, clinically termed pseudocyesis, is the belief that you are expecting a baby when you are not really carrying a child. People with pseudocyesis have many, if not all, symptoms of pregnancy -- with the exception of an actual fetus. This unusual condition accounts for one to six out of every 22,000 live births. In rare cases, even men can have a false pregnancy. Some men experience a related phenomenon known as couvade, or sympathetic pregnancy. They will develop many of the same symptoms as their pregnant partners, including weight gain, nausea, and backache.

Ice Capades- The Ice Capades was a traveling entertainment show featuring theatrical performances involving ice skating. Shows often featured former Olympic and US National Champion figure skaters who had retired from amateur competition. Started in 1940, Ice Capades grew rapidly and prospered for fifty years. A decline in popularity ensued, and the show went out of business around 1995. There have been several attempts to revive the show and its name. In the fall of 2000, Ice Capades was resurrected by Garden Entertainment in its original format with a large cast of skaters. The new show was conceived, directed and choreographed by the former German pair skating champion Almut Lehmann Peyper. The show was not a financial success and closed in November 2000, canceling the remaining tour dates.

Carol King

Carole King- Highly successful singer and songwriter, Carole King’s career spans through the 1960s into the present. Hits include “I Feel the Earth Move” and “(You Make Me Fell Like) A Natural Women”. A tribute to her life and career, the jukebox musical Beautiful: the Carole King Musical, made its Broadway debut in 2014.

Wolfman Jack

Wolfman Jack- Charismatic disc jockey famous in the 1960 and 70s for his exuberant on-air style, including characteristic howls. He became a cult figure with his mysterious nocturnal persona, and after 1969, his “exotic” appearance was seen in several film and television appearances. He notably appeared as himself in the critically acclaimed film American Graffiti (1973).

Lazarus- is the subject of a prominent miracle attributed to Jesus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus restores him to life four days after his death. 

"MacGyver" Richard Dean
Anderson with iconic Mullet 

Mullet-It is a common misconception that the mullet originated in the US in the early 1980s, although that is widely regarded as the origin of the ‘Modern Mullet’. In reality the phenomenon has been with us for millennia, but the precise birthplace is unknown perhaps even predating man’s ability to draw and write. There is however much evidence of its existence in many ancient civilizations, from the Aztecs to the Vikings. In the US in the 1960s and 70s the mullet slowly grew in popularity, but it wasn't until the 1980s that the mullet became mainstream. The origin of this 1980s mullet craze came from the southern US states, spreading rapidly through the rest of the US and across into Europe and South America. During this time in the 1980s and early 1990s the mullet was the staple haircut for footballers, pop stars, and TV stars. Unlike today where if you have a mullet your chances of landing a decent job are slim, it was actually seen as a good thing to have a mullet when applying for jobs.

Michelle Kwan

Michelle Kwan- is an American figure skater. She is a two-time (1998 and 2002) Olympic medalist, a five-time (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003) World champion and a nine-time (1996, 1998–2005) U.S. champion (the all-time record, as tied with Maribel Vinson-Owen).She competed at a high level for over a decade and is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history

Lifetime network- Lifetime is an American cable and satellite television channel  launched February 1, 1984 that is part of A+E Networks, which is jointly owned by the Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company. The channel features programming that is geared toward women or features women in lead roles.

Judith Light 

Judith Light- Actress and producer, she made her professional stage and Broadway debut in the early 1970s before her breakthrough role in the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live from 1977 to 1983. She also had a role on the sitcom Who’s the Boss? during the 1980s and, more recently, recurring roles on Law & Order: SVU and Ugly Betty.

Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent- is an American rock musician from Detroit, Michigan. Nugent initially gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes before embarking on a solo career. His hits, mostly coming in the 1970s, such as "Stranglehold", "Cat Scratch Fever", "Wango Tango", and "Great White Buffalo" Nugent is also known for his strong conservative political views and his advocacy of hunting and gun ownership rights. He is a board member of the National Rifle Associatiion and a strong supporter of the Republican Party. 

Old Sparky- (called Ol' Smokey in the script) Nickname of the electric chair located in Florida State Prinson outside of Starke, Florida. It was the sole means of execution in Florida from 1924 until 2000, when the Florida State Legislature, under pressure from the U.S. Supreme Court, signed lethal injection into law. Although no one has been executed in this manner since 1999, prisoners awaiting execution on Florida's death row may still be electrocuted at their request. It was notorious for frequent malfunctions in the 1990s,  Reportedly, six-inch flames shot out of Tafero's head and 12-inch flames shot out of Medina's head, raising the question whether use of the electric chair was cruel and unusual punishment.
 Old Smokey was the nickname of the electric chairs used in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Sally Jessy Raphael

Sally Jessy Raphael-  an American talk show host known for her talk show program Sally (1983-2002), which she hosted for two decades, and for the bright red, over-sized eyeglasses she wears in all public appearances.Raphael became known to television viewers for her oversized red-framed glasses, a trademark that began entirely by accident. In 1983, she began having trouble seeing the Teleprompter clearly, and she went to buy some reading glasses at a nearby store. All they had was a pair with red frames, and being in a hurry, she bought them. While her bosses disliked them, the audience seemed to think they looked good, so she kept wearing that style from then on. In 1989, Raphael won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show.

Joan Rivers

Joan Rivers-was an American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and television host noted for her often controversial comedic persona and catch phrase “Can we talk?” She was alternately self-deprecating or sharply acerbic, especially toward celebrities and politicians. Rivers came to prominence in 1965 as a guest on The Tonight Show. In 1986, with her own rival program, The Late Show with Joan Rivers, Rivers became the first woman to host a late night network television talk show. She subsequently hosted The Joan Rivers Show (1989–1993), winning a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host. Rivers marketed a line of jewelry and apparel on the QVC shopping channel

Solid Gold- Solid Gold is an American syndicated music television series, similar to American Bandstand, which debuted on September 13, 1980 and ran until July 23, 1988. Solid Gold featured musical performances and various other elements such as music videos. What set Solid Gold apart was a group of dancers in revealing costumes who at various points in the program performed various (and sometimes borderline risqué) dances to the top ten hits of the week. Many other specials aired in which the dancers would dance to older pop hits as well.
Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_khbZcn5t0

Suzanne Somers

Suzanne Somers- is an American actress, author, singer and businesswoman, known for her television roles as Chrissy Snow on Three's Company and as Carol Lambert on Step by Step. In 1977, she got the role of the ditzy blonde, Chrissy Snow, on the ABC sitcom Three's Company. During the 1980s, Somers became a Las Vegas entertainer. She was the spokeswoman for the Thighmaster, a piece of exercise equipment that is squeezed between one's thighs. During this period of her career, she also performed for US servicemen overseas. In September 1991, Somers returned to series TV in the sitcom Step By Step which lasted until 1997.

Barry White

Barry White- Singer-songwriter known for his smooth bass-baritone voice, romantic image, and the often sexually explicit lyrics of his songs. The 3-time Grammy winner’s greatest soul, funk, and romantic hits came in the 1970s, including his 2 biggest hits: “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” and “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe”. White remains one of the most popular and best-selling artists of all time.

Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0I6mhZ5wMw

TiVo- is a digital video recorder (DVR) developed and marketed by TiVo Inc. and introduced in 1999. TiVo provides an on-screen guide of scheduled broadcast programming television programs, whose features include "Season Pass" schedules which record every new episode of a series, and "WishList" searches which allow the user to find and record shows that match their interests by title, actor, director, category, or keyword. TiVo also provides a range of features when the TiVo DVR is connected to a home network, including film and television show downloads, advanced search, personal photo viewing, music offerings, and online scheduling.

Clara Peller

“Where’s the beef?”- Originally a slogan from a fast food commercial, the saying has become a catchphrase for questioning the substance of an idea, event, or product.