Clint Eastwood's surprise in April 1986
Clint Eastwood was a major star of the 1960s through the 1990s. He started in television and later starred in movies. After those dates, he is more of a director. Back in 1986 when Mix Tapes and Stuff takes place, Eastwood became a mayor of a little town in California.
Carmel by the Sea is a one mile square town founded in 1902. Since 1906 it was an artist’s town. According to their website, carmelcalifornia.com, by 1910 sixty percent of the houses were built by citizens who “devoted their lives to work connected to the aesthetic arts.” There are no traffic lights or parking meters.
Notable residents of Carmel were Ansel Adams, writers Meg Cabot, Beverly Cleary, comics Phyllis Diller and Craig Kilborn. Dennis the Menace artist Hank Ketcham owned a house there. In the acting world, Joan Fontaine, Dick Sargent and Betty White could be seen around town.
Many of the readers here know Clint Eastwood. He won two director Oscars for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby respectively. Before he hit it big, Eastwood served in the Army, worked a series of jobs, and met Burt Reynolds while auditioning for parts. His first success was in the television series, Rawhide. This led to a movie career. In 1967, he created Malpaso Productions.
It was a shock at the time that he became a mayor, because he was still a major Hollywood star. His latest movie at the time, Heartbreak Ridge was a big success. He was a big moneymaker for Hollywood and his movies were big sellers in the new home-rental market. He made the cover of Rolling Stone about that time. It surprising that he would want to reduce his Hollywood workload while he was so hot.
During his time as mayor, which was April 1986 to January 1988, Eastwood was an advocate for environmental protections, the public library, public restrooms, and tourist parking.
He didn't need to worry about the break from Hollywood. More big movies came and those Academy Awards.
Since that time, Eastwood has never been seen as a staunch supporter of either political party. Even though he has played macho tough-guy roles, he was never a supporter of war. Today he is a successful director most recently directing the hit, Sully with Tom Hanks in the lead.