Most recent posts
Back to the Future was rejected 44 times before becoming the #1 film of 1985. Here's the wild true story behind Marty, Doc and the DeLorean.
The Electric Company’s secret weapon for getting kids to read in the 1970s (hint: it was very funny)
The Electric Company ran on PBS from 1971-77 with Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno & Bill Cosby -- and actually worked as a reading tool for millions of kids.
Vintage food processor ads and history from the '70s & '80s -- how Cuisinart went from trade show curiosity to the most coveted appliance in the American kitchen.
Dynamite magazine had 1970s & 1980s celebrities GenX kids loved: See 60 classic covers here!
Dynamite magazine was published from 1974-1992, and delivered a little bit of pop culture to kids' mailboxes all across the US. Here's a look back!
Mr Potato Head used to require a real potato — here’s how the famous toy has changed since 1952
Mr Potato Head started with real vegetables and push-pins in 1952 -- and became the first toy ever advertised on TV. Here's the full story behind the famous spud.
Chocolate mayonnaise cake: The classic recipe is sensational (1985)
What is the secret of this rich, moist, delicious cake? Here's a hint: It's known as chocolate mayonnaise cake. Get this surprisingly tasty recipe from 1985!
These vintage trash compactors from the 1970s & 80s could perform amazing feats
Trash compactors were a genuine 1970s kitchen status symbol -- and they almost became a necessity. Here's why they rose, peaked and quietly faded out.
Fun & portable fruit snacks took over lunchboxes in the 1980s — and Gen X kids were the test market
Fruit snacks exploded in the 1980s, with brands like Fruit Roll-Ups, Sunkist Fun Fruits and Del Monte all competing for kids' lunchboxes. Here's how it happened.
Jigsaw puzzles: The fun & addictive fad that took over American living rooms — more than once (1908)
Jigsaw puzzles swept America not once but twice -- first in 1908, then again in the Great Depression. Here's the wild history behind the hobby.
Soap-on-a-rope: The old-fashioned gift that made a real splash in the 1970s
Let’s consider for a moment the soap-on-a-rope phenomenon — a peculiar fusion of the useful and the whimsical that once occupied a prominent place in
Rocky and Bullwinkle: How a moose & squirrel became TV’s sneakiest, funniest satirists
Rocky and Bullwinkle debuted in 1959 as a kids' cartoon – and spent five seasons smuggling Cold War satire past network censors. Here's the full story.
80s shoes for women: See 284+ classic styles, bold trends & everyday staples of the era
80s shoes for women ranged from tailored office pumps to Reebok Freestyles -- see the full range of styles, colors and trends from a footwear-obsessed decade.
Old-fashioned magic cookie bars: 7 ways to make deliciously decadent 7-layer bars
Whether you call them 7-layer bars, magic cookie bars or something else, It's just layer after layer of delectable ingredients, spread on top of the other right in the baking pan. No mixing!
The Hoppity Hop was just an inflated ball with a handle -- and it sold 300,000 units in months. Here's the history behind one of the '60s biggest toy crazes.
Macintosh computer: How Apple’s $2,495 gamble in 1984 revolutionized personal computing forever
The Macintosh computer launched in 1984 with a mouse, a graphical interface and a famously skeptical press. Here's how it almost failed -- and what saved it.
International long-distance calls cost $75 in 1927 and $12 in the '60s -- which was considered a bargain. Here's the history of how we got connected.
40 vintage cake mixes you can’t get anymore — and the wild flavors we lost along the way
Burnt sugar, chocolate malt, pink lemonade, black walnut -- vintage cake mixes once offered flavors you'd never find on shelves today. Here's how it all happened.
Full House ran 8 seasons, launched the Olsen twins and nearly got canceled in week one. Here's the real story behind TV's favorite San Francisco family.
Sprite lemon-lime soda: From small-town test markets to worldwide bestseller (1960s)
Sprite launched in 1961 as Coca-Cola's long-shot bet against 7-Up. Here's how the lemon-lime soda went from Ohio test markets to a global top-three bestseller.
Why the vintage wall paneling in these 1950s & 1960s homes still works
This gigantic collection of vintage wall paneling from mid-century (and beyond) makes for a surprisingly delightful scroll down nostalgia lane!
Mad magazine: How a wicked 1952 comic book taught America to mock everything
Mad magazine launched as a 10-cent comic in 1952 and grew into America's most influential humor mag. Here's the wild story behind Alfred E. Neuman.
Wacky Packages: The outrageous 1970s sticker series kids couldn’t stop collecting
Wacky Packages were the sticker craze that outperformed baseball cards in 1973. Here's the full story behind the parody packs that kids couldn't get enough of.
Carol Burnett: How talent, charm, generosity & luck made her comedy career skyrocket (1960s-80s)
Her name is Carol Burnett, and her elongated, restless, expressive and oddly beautiful face is one of show business's favorite funny valentines.
Vintage Converse shoes: The powerhouse athletic brand behind decades of sports history (1960s-80s)
Vintage Converse shoes outfitted Olympians, NBA legends and baseball stars for decades. Here's the full history of America's original athletic shoe brand.
1980s electronics changed everything -- from the living room stereo to the Walkman in your pocket. See the gear America was shopping for in 1981.
Toys R Us catalog flashback: The must-have toys every 80s kid was begging for
The Toys R Us catalog was serious business for 80s kids. Flip through the 1986 Out of this World Toy Book and holiday catalogs from '87 and '88.
A multi-million-dollar family amusement park - Six Flags Over Texas - has brought millions of people to a former strip of pasture.
Hawaii Five-O ran for 12 seasons — here’s what made it unstoppable
Hawaii Five-O ran 12 seasons on CBS and made Jack Lord a TV icon. Here's the full history of one of America's greatest cop shows.
‘Happy Days’ brought the 50s back – plus see the opening credits & popular theme song
Happy Days starred Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham and Henry Winkler as Fonzie, and showed life in 1956 - or at least the 1956 some like to believe existed.
Old peanut butter brands have a longer, wilder history than you'd think. See the vintage ads and forgotten names behind America's favorite spread.
