Interviewer: Do you believe in ghosts?

Zeddmore: If there's a steady paycheque in it, I'll believe in just about anything.

So began the career of Winston Zeddmore (played by Ernie Hudson), the fourth ghostbuster. Not necessarily an academic, he brought a more familiar, pragmatic presence to the set. He certainly came to believe, if he hadn't at first.

Ghostbusters came out in 1984. It was about three unemployed professors. The movie echoed the reality so many Americans had faced at one time or another since 1979.

Now, I wonder if we're in a similar time to when Ghostbusters came out. Unemployment is a constant threat for so many. We have to learn new ways to survive - essentially, to believe in things we might not have before. Maybe, in time, we will go from just believing in them to thinking they are true.

If history's worth considering, America did make it through the tough times that set the scene for Ghostbusters. In fact, by 1984, the recovery was already under way, although it had yet to reach many. By 1985, I'd say, it was full speed ahead. Will these times change similarly?

One way or another, Americans will make it. They'll have to get creative, and they will. Like Winston Zeddmore, we have to believe.

Here's Winston, looking embattled as he faces "his demons". May we all be inspired by his courage.

IMDb and Wikipedia were sources for this article.