The courts might have to settle a merger of Heileman and Pabst, in 1985

Stroh was suing in 1985 to stop Heileman’s planned merger with Pabst of Milwaukee, and Pabst wanted the Supreme Court to settle the dispute.  Stroh and other beermakers thought Heileman was becoming too big through acquisitions.  About a decade later, Stroh eventually bought Heileman, and closed down the La Crosse brewery in 1999 when it got out of the beer business.

“The Dukes of Hazzard” was ending a six-year run on CBS.  It was replaced by one of several detective shows that debuted on the big networks in 1985.  The most popular detective program to emerge from the Class of ’85 was “Moonlighting,” starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis.

The La Crosse Tribune asked local celebrities who they would choose to portray them in a movie.  Mayor Patrick Zielke chose Clint Eastwood, while Assemblyman John Medinger picked Yul Brynner for his lookalike.  State Senator Brian Rude wanted to be played by Alan Alda.  As for WIZM Radio’s Dick Record, Mickey Rooney was Dick’s second choice…only because Richard Burton had passed away.  Celebrity lookalikes in 1985, 32 years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.