 | |
| Terry Barkley | |
| Notability: | Main character |
| Type: | Musician |
| Gender: | Female |
| Location: | New York City, New York Venice Beach, California |
| Known relatives: | Roger Barkley Lillian Barkley |
| Status: | Alive |
| First: | Roller Boogie |
| Actor: | Linda Blair |
Terry Barkley is a fictional professional flautist as well as amateur roller skater and the main female lead character in the 1979 musical drama film Roller Boogie. She was played by actress Linda Blair in the film.
Biography[]
Terry Barkley.
Terry Barkley was a teenager in the late 1970s. She was a musical genius and an expert flautist from New York. Terry befriended a girl named Lana whom she drove to Venice Beach, California. She met a boy roller-skating on the boardwalk named Bobby James who took a liking to her, but she turned away from his flirtations. Terry later met up with Bobby again at a roller-skating rink called Jammer's. Having had a change of tune, she decided to give him a chance and offered him money to teach her how to roller skate. Terry met up with Bobby again the following day and the two became more attracted to each other. After making out on the beach, Bobby made an untoward comment, which earned him a slap in the face.
Terry later a blow up with her mother Lillian. She told her that she wanted to pivot her career away from becoming classical flautist to entering a roller disco contest. Following the explosive exchange, Terry decided to leave home and returned to the waiting arms of Bobby James. She apologized for slapping him and wanted to resume learning how to skate. Bobby agreed, but insisted that everything had to be done on his terms. The two began practicing at length and choreographed a couples routine together.
Terry Barkley & Bobby James at the contest.
Terry and Bobby soon learned that Delaney - the owner of Jammer's was being muscled out of business by a mobster named Thatcher. Terry tried to get her lawyer father, Roger, to help, but this strategy failed.
Terry was performing at a concert at a lavish outdoor event when some of Thatcher's goons disrupted the party, causing several guests to fall into the swimming pool. Roger Barkley was livid to discover this and admonished Terry for her recent behavior.
Soon after, evidence manifested implicating Thatcher in his actions at the skating rink and the party. Terry and her friends engaged in a wild chase through the canal zone of Venice Beach in an effort to get the incriminating audio cassette to the police. They get to the cops in time, and Thatcher's schemes come to an end.
Terry Barkley and Bobby James perform their couples routine at the Boogie Contest and win the event. Though this is the final outing for either of them as their own dreams are pulling them in different directions. The two shared a sad goodbye and Terry headed back to New York City.
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Terry Barkley was created by director Mark L. Lester and screenwriter Barry Schneider.
- Actress Linda Blair is also known for playing the roles of Regan MacNeil in the Exorcist film series and Carol Henderson in Chained Heat.