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Seniors Still Rock Entertainment Industry

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By E. DOUGLAS BEACH Special to the Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 4, 2008

Congratulations to Tampa Tribune reporter Joyce McKenzie for her May 28 article, "With a Spring in Their Step," which focused on the Senior Spring Flint at All People's Life Center.

In the article, Hillsborough County Dept. of Aging Services project coordinator Agatha Yoakum described today's seniors as vibrant individuals who want to "live life to the fullest." That is certainly the case.

McKenzie wrote, "Today's seniors are unlike the old fogies of yesteryear." Indeed, older Americans and the general perception of them have changed for good reason.

There was much ado among media critics concerning actor Harrison Ford's return to the role of adventurous Indiana Jones at age 65. In "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," Ford makes no attempt to portray Jones as a "young" man. The character, like the actor, is in his 60s.

As baby boomers age into retirement, it is not surprising that they and other seniors now comprise 45 percent of America's moviegoers. Why should actors like Ford, Al Pacino (68) and Robert Redford (70) give up their film careers when they are still big draws for audiences of all ages? A Movie Picture Association of America study revealed that only 28 percent of the nation's 172 million movie viewers were between ages 12 and 24 in 2007.

In decades past, older actors frequently portrayed characters much younger than themselves. Now, however, we see most actors playing roles in their own age groups. This is probably one of the reasons older Americans are buying more movie tickets; they have characters with whom they can identify.

The same trend appears to be holding true in the music industry. On the seventh series finale of American Idol, guest stars included Graham Nash and ZZ-Top. The Eagles, Aerosmith and the Moody Blues were popular in the '70s and '80s, but they still regroup for tour performances to sellout crowds, much to the delight of aging rock fans.

Although physical appearances change as people grow older, apparently the "Heart of Rock and Roll" is still beating and the energetic spirits of seniors continue to appreciate entertainers and musicians who gave them pleasure in their youth.

If anyone has any doubts, they should check out the new "Young @ Heart" documentary that has just opened in theaters. Seniors from ages 71 to 93 formed a musical group in Massachusetts and their repertoire consists entirely of rock-era songs.

E. Douglas Beach, Ph.D., is secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

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