Eight Is Enough premiered on March 15, 1977, and ran for five seasons before wrapping up in August of 1981. Starring Dick Van Patten, the show focused on Tom Bradford and his eight children.
Culture & lifestyle
Vintage entertainment, crafts & pop culture from the past – it’s the retro life!
What was Victorian etiquette was like for men? There were rules for everything – so take a trip back to the 1880s and see what was what way back when.
The Chevrolet Vega was a small car made to compete with the foreign imports that were dominating the US automotive market. Here’s a look back at the Chevy car made only in the ’70s!
Blade Runner, the classic movie from 1982 starring Harrison Ford, imagined a dystopian world in 2019
The classic 1982 movie Blade Runner, about the genetic development of androids, imitates the style history’s great detective films, and is set in a bizarre vision of urban America in 2019.
See how the famously handsome football star Joe Namath used to pitch rocker-recliners and other easy chairs from La-Z-Boy… and the ads weren’t exactly subtle.
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” became an unexpected – and unforgettable – classic. It combines the story of a boy who wins a lifetime supply of chocolate and a colorful musical with intricate sets and wild visual effects.
Take a look back at the classic Buick car models available back in 1974 Buicks, including the Apollo, Century, Electra, LeSabre, Regal & Riviera.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show stars Mary in the role of Mary Richards, a small-town single girl who moves to the big city and lands a job as associate producer of a news program on a local TV station.
‘Let us always be willing to give them whatever credit is their due.’ 186,000 men of African descent fought for the Union in the Civil War. Here are some antique portraits showing just a few of these soldiers.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was innovative Saturday morning TV with a message for kids (1972-1985)
In the ’70s & ’80s, many parents didn’t mind Saturday mornings at home with the kids. One reason was “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids,” one of the best examples of how television had improved for children.
Leave it to the kids if you want an honest opinion of TV’s effect on family life (1955) by Jack Cluett – June 1955 When
The Addams Family TV series portrayed the everyday life of one kooky and spooky family. Although the show had a huge impact on pop culture, it only ran for two seasons – from 1964 to 1966. Meet the cast and hear the snappy theme here!
Take a look back at 20 of the Lincoln Continental classic cars that Ford produced back in the ’70s — including the Mark III, IV and V.
Charlie Sheen has written and directed over 200 Super-8 films in his 22 years, with pals like Sean and Chris Penn, Rob and Chad Lowe, and older brother Emilio Estevez in the lead roles.
In the popular ’80s sitcom Silver Spoons, a child-like millionaire meets the son he never knew – and that kid (Ricky Schroder) teaches his newfound dad how to be a grown-up.
MTV, a ’round-the-clock television channel for viewers who grew up on rock ‘n’ roll, started with a library of 400 80s music videos, and went on to delight millions of viewers.
In the mid-80s, Dallas actress Linda Gray & Ed Thrasher had an open, informal ranch house north of Los Angeles – complete with a dog, two horses, three cats, and five adopted peacocks.
Walkmans and other portable cassette tape players – ‘personal stereos’ – were hugely popular in the ’70s and ’80s, and packed more sociological punch than a load of hula hoops.
We asked some very blunt questions – and got 350,000 equally candid replies – and a good deal of hope for the American family. Here’s what people had to say.
Create your own distinctive beaded jewelry – bracelets, necklaces, belts, headbands – by weaving it on a basic box loom! Here’s how to do this retro bead craft.
‘The Greatest American Hero’ swooped in to save America with laughs – and a catchy theme song (1981)
On the ’80s TV show The Greatest American Hero, an average guy got a suit that gave him superpowers… but then he loses the instruction book. Believe it or not, the show was a hit.
With a few cardboard boxes and some aluminum foil, you can make robot costumes that will be the hit of the party. Some easy-to-make masks of aluminum foil will help to make each costume a little different.
Despite his military expertise, President Eisenhower didn’t know how to dial a phone. Even after being given the 50 millionth telephone, Ike was apparently still befuddled by the new tech.
Back in the ’70s, Broadway couldn’t miss with Annie – especially when starring actress Andrea McArdle, the spunky, talented 13-year-old who played the title role.
Actor James Dean, a young Hollywood idol, was killed on September 30, 1955, in a head-on car crash. Here’s how the story was reported, and then a look back from a year later.
Back in the ’70s, this ‘New Facts About Marijuana’ pamphlet alarmed parents nationwide, telling them ‘Never have so many turned on with drugs and dropped out of society.’
Garden delights! Here are some old-fashioned backyard flower carts made of metal (often wrought iron) and wood.
For nearly 30 years, Captain Kangaroo said good morning to kids across the country. Here, meet Bob Keeshan, the man behind the beloved character!
The 1958 Oldsmobile was offered in 22 different colors, 66 recommended two-tone combinations, and 55 upholstery selections. Find out more here!
The World Trade Center architect talks about how the towers were originally built, and see a collection of photos taken by visitors to NYC during the months and years before they fell.
Peek back into the musical past of vintage Wurlitzer organs as they were back in the ’60s, in all their woodtoned retro glory!
What were early motorcycles like? Check out 17 of the top models from 1909, plus see how popular they were at the huge Los Angeles motorcycle meet!
In the ’70s, pro golfer Jack Nicklaus and his wife helped advertise the new microwave ovens made by Magic Chef. Here’s a look.
Any car this luxurious should have its price examined! This new 1964 Chevrolet brings you more pure luxury per dollar than anybody ever brought you before.
Find out about the classic TV sitcom Rhoda, and meet the star, Valerie Harper, in two different vintage interviews!
It would be hard to find anyone between the ages of 30 and 50 who didn’t watch Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as a kid. And there’s a good reason for that.
Up in Wyoming, the Cheyenne’s Frontier Days festival featured bronco riding, a wild horse race, stage hold-up, hanging bee, cow-pony races, etc. and other rodeo events.
This vintage playhouse from the ’60s is a real house, with a Dutch front door and hearts and flowers dormers and a white picket fence.
Henry Ford fit a lot of ambition, drive, innovation and industry into his 84 years! Here’s a look back at his career, his beliefs, and how the famous industrialist changed the world.
Do you remember these groovy TV catchphrases of the ’70s? Are there any that you still find yourself saying every now and then?
Futuramic in more than style – the Oldsmobiles of ’40 let you push a button to roll down the windows, and made automatic seat adjustments.
Woodstock was supposed to be ‘3 days of peace and music’ – but as these stories from right after the concert describe, it didn’t exactly end up that way.
Despite a spectacularly expensive launch, the 1950s Ford Edsel automobile was one of the greatest business failures of all time. Take a look back at these vintage cars here!
Here’s a look at a few dozen type styles from the first part of the 20th century – including a few old-fashioned fonts that have stood the test of time.
See vintage Milton Bradley board games like Uncle Wiggily, Candy Land, Go to the Head of the Class, Chutes & Ladders, Stratego, Concentration and others!
Tommy Howell – aka C Thomas Howell – the ’80s teen heartthrob, was a veteran of five films at age 17 – E.T., Tank, The Outsiders, Grandview USA & Red Dawn.
The first of the Fantasy Role Playing games was Dungeons and Dragons. In it, players got to become – for a few hours – the characters they played… centaurs or wizards…
Take a look at the top 50 old-fashioned baby names for girls from 1900 for a few names that don’t even rank in the top 1000 today.
Introduced in 1982, the Dodge Rampage pickup truck (and its re-badged brother, the Plymouth Scamp) was a small, unibody similar to the Subaru BRAT. The line was discontinued in 1984.
Mickey Rooney in the movie, Young Tom Edison (from 1940) METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER has just completed the first of two most important pictures. Together they encompass the
For the ’50s housewife, laundry was huge: the love you had for your kitchen paled only in comparison to the adoration you felt for your washer and dryer.
I am at loss for the proper word to use to describe what television has done with Haley’s book Roots. “Enhance” will not do, nor is “heightened” sufficient. There is no word that is adequate.
Find out about Marvelous Men, Cosmopolitan’s 1974 bestselling guidebook for women, with dozens of tips on ‘how to know’ guys & ‘make them love you!’
Get a blast from the past with this 1978 article about the popular TV sitcom, “What’s Happening!!”, which soared past expectations and entertained millions.
With a cast headed by Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver and Dan Aykroyd, the original ‘Ghostbusters’ movie from 1984 had blockbuster written all over it.
If you loved the look, feel or power of classic Pontiacs from the sixties, you’ll want to revisit those memories by way of this collection of vintage Pontiac car ads from the 1960s.
In the Vintage Jeep V6, you could cruise the highways as if you had wings — why they called this ’60s model the Flying ‘Jeep’ Universal.
Why do women give up their maiden names – blushing brides who assume their husbands’ names on the wedding day?
Maude was a groundbreaking television series starring Bea Arthur that broke all the molds when it first aired in 1972.
Widely regarded as one of the most innovative television shows of all time, The Twilight Zone premiered in 1959, and would go on to dazzle, delight and frighten audiences for the next five seasons.
In the olden days, you needed a telephone operator to connect your call manually through a switchboard. Her job wasn’t as easy as you might think.
The popular and highly-acclaimed ‘Little House on the Prairie’ TV series was based on the beloved books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, about the pioneer days.
Houdini’s underwater box escape was one of his most famous tricks – he was was shackled, chained and nailed into a box before being thrown overboard.
Sometimes life is like a movie, like actor Matt Dillon’s life. Nothing much happened to him until age 14, when he was discovered at a New York junior high.
Disney’s magical Mary Poppins arrived in 1964. See classic movie clips, hear some of the songs, plus find out more about the film & its stars!
The swinging sports fastback – the ’65 Marlin! The big, bold, brand-new ear for swingers who love fast lines, deep luxury, and man-size room for man-size comfort.
In animated segments between Saturday morning cartoon shows, Schoolhouse Rock was on TV from 1973-1985. Here’s a Grammar Rock classic, Verb: That’s What’s Happenin’!
Check out the ’69 Chevy pickups like the Fleetside, CST (Custom Sport Truck) and long wheelbase Longhorn pickup made especially for king-size camper bodies.
Maybe she’s no little darling on the set, but then Kristy McNichol never intended to be America’s sweetheart. All she wants is to work hard — and play hard.
Was this the earliest recorded instance of Rickrolling? You sign up for a magazine… and, whether you wanted it or not, you’d get a Rick
Look under the old Universal Jeep, and you’ll see why it has pulling power surpassing anything its size, plus versatility no other vehicle matches.
See the classic ’68 Fords when they were new in this Ford Guide for car buyers – including vintage Thunderbird, Mustang, Galaxie 500, LTD, Ford XL full-sized, station wagons, Torino and more!
By the time A Game of Thrones was published, George R R Martin had written millions of words over thousands of hours. Here, see where his long career began.
The Flintstones TV cartoon sitcom ran for 6 seasons in the ’60s. Find out how the story began, plus see the opening credits & the catchy theme song lyrics!
With a couple dozen clothespins – the flat, springless, wooden ones – you’ve got the raw material to craft some really original clothespin trivets!
A Date with Jet Screamer was the second episode of The Jetsons, and portrayed the era’s affection for rock ‘n’ roll music, and introduced the earworm, Eep Opp Ork Ah Ah.
Legendary beauty Lillie Langtry was a statuesque blonde with blue eyes, a perfect complexion and a ravishing figure. She was acclaimed by the social set, and became the mistress of The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.
Made with crepe paper and a few simple craft supplies, these glorious crepe paper flowers are easy to make and inexpensive, and will flourish in any room at any time of year.
Cast an eye on a rare collector’s item: El Camino. Check out vintage ads for several Classic Chevrolet El Camino pickup trucks from the 1960s!
Looking for some DIY ’70s clothes? Here are some quickie, kicky young wearables to make out of this and that for next to nothing!
Here’s an interview with Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter from 1980, when she was just about to star in her own CBS special – and just before she started to model for Maybelline makeup.
The ’68 Cadillacs were huge, lavish and oh so comfortable to ride in. Take a look back at these classic cars — the 1968 Caddy, in 2-door, 4-door and vintage convertible styles!
Just look at it. The sleek lines. The smooth shape. Styling that is destined to become the standard of a new generation. But advanced styling isn’t the only reason the ’80s Oldmobiles are head of their time.
Take a look back at ABC television’s family-friendly Friday night offerings back in 1970, which included the hit sitcoms Brady Bunch, Nanny and the Professor & The Partridge Family… and total of 14 kids between the shows.
The early-70s TV sitcom ‘Nanny and the Professor’ starred Juliet Mills, Richard Long, and a very young Kim Richards – best known now for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Here’s one of the most unforgettable songs from Schoolhouse Rock: Conjunction Junction. One of the first in the “Grammar Rock” series, it made its debut on televisions nationwide in 1973.
See some vintage report cards from San Francisco’s Outer Mission district schools during the ’50s. One of his classmates? Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead.
These classic ’65 Chevrolet station wagons were said to handle just as well as sedans – a high bar considering how big some of these Chevy cars were!
In the early ’80s, arcade video games like Pac-Man, Asteroids, Space Invaders and Donkey Kong started to make millions of dollars – one quarter at a time.
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have seemingly boundless energy, and that energy is unharnessed in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ – a startling spectacle, starring Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones.
Sunday sightseeing around town and afternoon jaunts in the countryside are shiny new adventures when you’re driving a fun-loving ’56 Chevy!
The ’57 Chevy’s new, and shows it – from its daring new grille and stylish lower bonnet to the saucy slant of its rear fenders. It’s longer, too!
New York City has provided entertainment to millions over the years. See vintage seating charts from some of the city’s most famous theaters!
Although the story below was the topic of the 1994 made-for-TV movies Death of a Cheerleader/A Friend to Die For, this story has personal meaning, because I was another teen girl at the same school.
Never having to come up from underground? Cars routinely going 130 MPH? Completely automated cleaning? Solar power dominant? See these and many more predictions from 1906!
The 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado had impressive looks. Elegant interiors. And the incomparable handling of front-wheel drive.
The car of the future will be weather-proof, and that the sides, front, rear, and roof will probably be made of glass. The entire control of the machine will be simplified, and perhaps located in a set of push buttons.
Upon the news of Elvis Presley’s sudden and untimely death, the nation mourned – and the singer’s records charted again after fans across the country immediately started to buy lots of his albums.
