Trashy's specifics in the original book

[César Hernández-Meraz]

Trashcan Man became a favorite of mine when I read the novel. I think others may feel the same way I do with him, thinking he deserved a better life.

I read the "uncut" edition, where the action happens during 1990. That book mentions Trashy lived in the "therapy" place from 10 to 13 years old.

It also mentions he listened to "Down to the nightclub" there, because the song was a hit back then. That would have been 1972.

So Trashy was anywhere from 10 to 13 in 1972. If we say "12", just to choose a number for this example, then he was born (assuming a January 1st birthdate, again, just for the example) in 1960.

That would make him 30 years old when Captain Trips happened in 1990 (or anywhere from 27 to 31).

What I would like to know (please help me if you have the info) is if any similar info about him is mentioned in the original book. I assume he sang his "bumpty, bumpty, bump" song in the original, as well (at least, I hope he did). In that case, is it mentioned when he first heard it?

If he heard it while on "therapy", and if he was there from 10 to 13 years old, then that would make him 10 years younger in the original, even younger than Nick Andros was.

By the way, in the 1990 version, Nick gives his birthdate (November 14, 1968), and states he is 22 years old. But during the summer, he had to still be 21, by the date he gives. So either he is 21 and already saying 22 months in advance, or he gave his birthdate wrong.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Trashcan Man became a favorite of mine when I read the novel. I think others may feel the same way I do with him, thinking he deserved a better life.

I read the "uncut" edition, where the action happens during 1990. That book mentions Trashy lived in the "therapy" place from 10 to 13 years old.

It also mentions he listened to "Down to the nightclub" there, because the song was a hit back then. That would have been 1972.

So Trashy was anywhere from 10 to 13 in 1972. If we say "12", just to choose a number for this example, then he was born (assuming a January 1st birthdate, again, just for the example) in 1960.

That would make him 30 years old when Captain Trips happened in 1990 (or anywhere from 27 to 31).

What I would like to know (please help me if you have the info) is if any similar info about him is mentioned in the original book. I assume he sang his "bumpty, bumpty, bump" song in the original, as well (at least, I hope he did). In that case, is it mentioned when he first heard it?

If he heard it while on "therapy", and if he was there from 10 to 13 years old, then that would make him 10 years younger in the original, even younger than Nick Andros was.

By the way, in the 1990 version, Nick gives his birthdate (November 14, 1968), and states he is 22 years old. But during the summer, he had to still be 21, by the date he gives. So either he is 21 and already saying 22 months in advance, or he gave his birthdate wrong.

...his "bumpty" dance wasn't given an origin that I recall.....

 

[César Hernández-Meraz]

So, his age was a mystery in the first book? Nothing to place him at least in approximation?

 

[GNTLGNT]

So, his age was a mystery in the first book? Nothing to place him at least in approximation?

...again, without direct recollection, following his "timeline" in the novel and the "lost years" in prison, I've always pictured him as late 20's to early 30's.....

 

[Walter Oobleck]

Weird...that "bumpty, bumpty, bump". Heh! Had to have been around 1972 when my little brother would set himself on the armrest of this big brown couch we had, second-hand at that...he was all of five years old I think. And he'd hold one hand slightly elevated and the other hand picked imaginary strings...like he was plucking one of those...bass fiddles? That what they're called? I don't know, but he'd go, "bumpity, bumpity, bumpity!" and his fingers, both hands, would be plucking imaginary strings. Nobody could figure out where he picked that up from. We musta asked him...what are you doing, Kevin? "Bumpity bumpity...boppity boppity...bumpity". He had to be sitting on the armrest of the couch...feet no where near the floor, grinning..."bumpity bumpity boppity boppity." I'm trying to think of the one...man...who I recall, vaguely, playing a bass fiddle like that...I think the guy had a bass fiddle voice, too.
Can't ask my bro...he's dead. Dead and gone. Don't even know if that is what it is...bass fiddle...plucked with the fingers. Did I just imagine all that...no? I know my brother did that...where it came from we've no clue. boppity bumpity

 

[Dana Jean]

Weird...that "bumpty, bumpty, bump". Heh! Had to have been around 1972 when my little brother would set himself on the armrest of this big brown couch we had, second-hand at that...he was all of five years old I think. And he'd hold one hand slightly elevated and the other hand picked imaginary strings...like he was plucking one of those...bass fiddles? That what they're called? I don't know, but he'd go, "bumpity, bumpity, bumpity!" and his fingers, both hands, would be plucking imaginary strings. Nobody could figure out where he picked that up from. We musta asked him...what are you doing, Kevin? "Bumpity bumpity...boppity boppity...bumpity". He had to be sitting on the armrest of the couch...feet no where near the floor, grinning..."bumpity bumpity boppity boppity." I'm trying to think of the one...man...who I recall, vaguely, playing a bass fiddle like that...I think the guy had a bass fiddle voice, too.
Can't ask my bro...he's dead. Dead and gone. Don't even know if that is what it is...bass fiddle...plucked with the fingers. Did I just imagine all that...no? I know my brother did that...where it came from we've no clue. boppity bumpity

I'm sorry you can't ask your brother.

 

[César Hernández-Meraz]

Perhaps he picked that move from a cartoon?

I hope he could be well and here (there) to answer you.

 

[kingricefan]

Weird...that "bumpty, bumpty, bump". Heh! Had to have been around 1972 when my little brother would set himself on the armrest of this big brown couch we had, second-hand at that...he was all of five years old I think. And he'd hold one hand slightly elevated and the other hand picked imaginary strings...like he was plucking one of those...bass fiddles? That what they're called? I don't know, but he'd go, "bumpity, bumpity, bumpity!" and his fingers, both hands, would be plucking imaginary strings. Nobody could figure out where he picked that up from. We musta asked him...what are you doing, Kevin? "Bumpity bumpity...boppity boppity...bumpity". He had to be sitting on the armrest of the couch...feet no where near the floor, grinning..."bumpity bumpity boppity boppity." I'm trying to think of the one...man...who I recall, vaguely, playing a bass fiddle like that...I think the guy had a bass fiddle voice, too.
Can't ask my bro...he's dead. Dead and gone. Don't even know if that is what it is...bass fiddle...plucked with the fingers. Did I just imagine all that...no? I know my brother did that...where it came from we've no clue. boppity bumpity

Did you guys watch The Lawrence Welk Show back then? I seem to remember someone on that show doing that every once in a while.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Did you guys watch The Lawrence Welk Show back then? I seem to remember someone on that show doing that every once in a while.

...yes, yes I did....and enjoyed the dance of a dozen corpses at the end of every show...,

 

[muskrat]

Wonnerful wonnerful wonnerful!

Weird...that "bumpty, bumpty, bump". Heh! Had to have been around 1972 when my little brother would set himself on the armrest of this big brown couch we had, second-hand at that...he was all of five years old I think. And he'd hold one hand slightly elevated and the other hand picked imaginary strings...like he was plucking one of those...bass fiddles? That what they're called? I don't know, but he'd go, "bumpity, bumpity, bumpity!" and his fingers, both hands, would be plucking imaginary strings. Nobody could figure out where he picked that up from. We musta asked him...what are you doing, Kevin? "Bumpity bumpity...boppity boppity...bumpity". He had to be sitting on the armrest of the couch...feet no where near the floor, grinning..."bumpity bumpity boppity boppity." I'm trying to think of the one...man...who I recall, vaguely, playing a bass fiddle like that...I think the guy had a bass fiddle voice, too.
Can't ask my bro...he's dead. Dead and gone. Don't even know if that is what it is...bass fiddle...plucked with the fingers. Did I just imagine all that...no? I know my brother did that...where it came from we've no clue. boppity bumpity

See, it's posts like this that make us love ya, Oomp.

Trashcan Man became a favorite of mine when I read the novel. I think others may feel the same way I do with him, thinking he deserved a better life.

I read the "uncut" edition, where the action happens during 1990. That book mentions Trashy lived in the "therapy" place from 10 to 13 years old.

It also mentions he listened to "Down to the nightclub" there, because the song was a hit back then. That would have been 1972.

So Trashy was anywhere from 10 to 13 in 1972. If we say "12", just to choose a number for this example, then he was born (assuming a January 1st birthdate, again, just for the example) in 1960.

That would make him 30 years old when Captain Trips happened in 1990 (or anywhere from 27 to 31).

What I would like to know (please help me if you have the info) is if any similar info about him is mentioned in the original book. I assume he sang his "bumpty, bumpty, bump" song in the original, as well (at least, I hope he did). In that case, is it mentioned when he first heard it?

If he heard it while on "therapy", and if he was there from 10 to 13 years old, then that would make him 10 years younger in the original, even younger than Nick Andros was.

By the way, in the 1990 version, Nick gives his birthdate (November 14, 1968), and states he is 22 years old. But during the summer, he had to still be 21, by the date he gives. So either he is 21 and already saying 22 months in advance, or he gave his birthdate wrong.

Cez, buddy, yer just thinkin too much about it. I mean, I get what yer thinkin, but I bet King himself doesn't remember where the bumpity dance came from. My guess is that he was all jacked-up one night when Lawrence Welk was on, then...

 

[Dana Jean]

Did you guys watch The Lawrence Welk Show back then? I seem to remember someone on that show doing that every once in a while.

I watched the Lawrence Welk show every week with my mom and dad. My mom wouldn't dance with my dad, she was embarrassed or something, so I would dance with him. It was great fun. We also watched Mitch Miller and the bouncing ball on the lyrics and sang along.

Yep. We were that nerdy.

 

[muskrat]

I watched the Lawrence Welk show every week with my mom and dad. My mom wouldn't dance with my dad, she was embarrassed or something, so I would dance with him. It was great fun. We also watched Mitch Miller and the bouncing ball on the lyrics and sang along.

Yep. We were that nerdy.

Sing along with Mitch...or die!

 

[Doc Creed]

I watched the Lawrence Welk show every week with my mom and dad. My mom wouldn't dance with my dad, she was embarrassed or something, so I would dance with him. It was great fun. We also watched Mitch Miller and the bouncing ball on the lyrics and sang along.

Yep. We were that nerdy.

Gotta love Bobby and Sissy and the endless polkas, lol. More cowbell? Nahhh...maybe more accordion.

 

[César Hernández-Meraz]

I am kind of more interested in any indications of Trashy's age in the original than in where/when he listened to the song first, but since that is what can give us specific dates in the final version, I thought it might be the same case in the original, and that it could even change Trashy's age drastically.

 

[champ1966]

Surely if the original was based in 1980, and the revised in 1990, you can't correlate the two? There should be a 10 year discrepancy with each character.

 

[Bev Vincent]

The update introduced a number of anachronisms and time discontinuities into the novel. The amount someone got paid for babysitting, for example, wasn't updated to reflect the changing times. I don't think Trashy knows how old he is -- he went to state prison when he was 18 and doesn't know how long he was incarcerated. That's where he was when Captain Trips broke out.

 

[César Hernández-Meraz]

Surely if the original was based in 1980, and the revised in 1990, you can't correlate the two? There should be a 10 year discrepancy with each character.

Only if the book states he listened to that song while he was in therapy when he was 10-13. As others said, it was not mentioned, and he could have heard it anywhere else.

 

[César Hernández-Meraz]

The update introduced a number of anachronisms and time discontinuities into the novel. The amount someone got paid for babysitting, for example, wasn't updated to reflect the changing times. I don't think Trashy knows how old he is -- he went to state prison when he was 18 and doesn't know how long he was incarcerated. That's where he was when Captain Trips broke out.

I'm currently drawing a(nother) pic of Larry Underwood and this time update was troublesome in some aspects.

He is described to sound as a black singer. A manager is dying (and actually died, I suppose) to have him cover "Hang on, Sloopy" (I would really like to hear that, actually). He is described as having long hair.

All of that, in 1980, would make me think of the Rock 'n Roll 1960s.

But in 1990, I guess I could think of the 1960s, too, but I have other images in my head, both from the 1970s and 1980s. So I don't have as clear an image (sound?) of Larry in my mind as I would if things happened 10 years earlier.

 

[not_nadine]

Can't wait till your read the DT series, Cesar.

 

[champ1966]

As Muskie said, you're over thinking things. If most of the characters are pretty much the same ages in both books, and the books are set 10 years apart. Then you've got to put them down as separate levels of the tower. We know Captain Trips happened on more than one level of the tower.