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.
1970s Playskool toys like Dressy Bessy, Tyke Bike & Alphie didn’t happen by accident — here’s the story behind the brand that taught a generation through play.
Adam-12 leaned on real LAPD codes, ride-alongs and an actual police dispatcher to make this 1968 cop show feel like the real deal.
Hide-a-bed sofas turned a regular couch into a guest room overnight. See vintage styles and ads from the 1940s through the 1970s.
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!
Explore the heartwarming legacy of the Benji movie, a 1974 dog film that turned a shelter pup into a Hollywood star and charmed a generation.
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.
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.
Before email, people wrote letters — and Hallmark made sure they had stylish paper to do it with. A look back at the vintage Hallmark stationery sets.
Juneteenth is a celebration of Black freedom, marking the day enslaved people in Texas at long last learned of their emancipation. But if you aren’t very aware of this Federal holiday, you’re not alone. Find out more here!
The ’70s Chevy Nova went from muscle car holdover to police fleet favorite — here’s the full story of this decade’s most dependable compact.
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.
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
Buddy Holly packed more into 30 months than most artists manage in a career. Here’s the story of how a kid from Lubbock changed rock and roll forever.
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.
Electric typewriter history from Edison to IBM’s Selectric — how a humming office machine with a golf ball print head came to dominate American workplaces.
Household tips from the ’70s, straight from Bert Bacharach’s legendary “Now See Here” column — dozens of tricks for cleaning, repairs and everyday life.
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.
Little House on the Prairie ran on NBC for nine seasons starting in 1974 — and now it’s back on Netflix. Here’s the full story.
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.
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.
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.
Bad News Bears, about a drunken ex-pitcher who transforms a bedraggled group of kids into a winning little-league baseball team, won raves for showing kids as real people.
This gigantic collection of vintage wall paneling from mid-century (and beyond) makes for a surprisingly delightful scroll down nostalgia lane!
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 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.
Card tables started out as elegant colonial furniture and ended up in nearly every American home. Here’s how they got from one to the other.
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 outfitted Olympians, NBA legends and baseball stars for decades. Here’s the full history of America’s original athletic shoe brand.
Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down — and they’ve been proving it since 1971. Here’s the full history of this classic Hasbro toy.
Drive-in movie theaters were everywhere in the 1950s and ’60s — but how did they rise, and what finally brought them down? Here’s the full story.
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 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 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.
For years, curious kids have loved experimenting with vintage chemistry sets and science kits like these with countless things to explore!
Check out the classic Ford Pinto, a coupe hatchback auto that was super popular, that Ford said proved a small economy car didn’t have to be ugly. (They didn’t have to explode, either, and we cover that, too.)
Wonder Woman hit TV in 1975 at exactly the right moment — here’s the story behind the show that made Lynda Carter a household name.
In the spirit of reminiscing, we’ve collected 50 photos of some of the most memorable mall stores from the heyday of shopping centers in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
These are the vintage alarm clocks – ranging from the mod to the digital – that used to wake people up during the workweek. Take a look!
Old-fashioned Granny squares are easy to do and multiply so fast, you can turn out an afghan fast. And since you crochet a square at a time, you can carry them anywhere.
Actual carpeting – and even shag rugs – in the food prep area? Yep, it was a thing, as these vintage kitchen carpet photos will prove!
James Garner rose from Oklahoma to become a beloved TV and film star, known for Maverick, The Rockford Files and a career built on authenticity.
Dungeons & Dragons changed how a generation played — and socialized. See vintage ads, photos and original articles from the game’s heyday.
Foster Grants sunglasses built one of the most iconic ad campaigns of the ’60s & ’70s, starring Mia Farrow, Raquel Welch & more.
James Brown went from shining shoes in Augusta to selling out arenas nationwide. See the vintage photos & press clippings that tell his real story.
Explore the legacy of Police Woman, a groundbreaking show that introduced audiences to Sgt. “Pepper” Anderson and inspired a generation of female-led dramas.
Golf ball history goes from hand-stuffed feathers to rubber cores to space-age solids — and the story is wilder than you’d expect.
Retro Easter candy has a surprisingly short history. See vintage ads for Brach’s, M&M’s, Cadbury & more from the 1970s–’90s!
Whether new or classic, millions still love vintage Corelle dishes from the Corning company (also behind Pyrex & Corningware). See some of the dish patterns available during the ’70s & ’80s!
As you prepare for your Easter celebration, check out these vintage Easter egg decorating ideas! There are probably a few you remember… and maybe one or two you haven’t seen!
VW bus nostalgia is real — here’s the history behind the iconic van that won over families, road-trippers and everyone in between.
Explore 1970s restaurants: fast food boom, sit-down spots with flair and photos showing how America dined in the ’70s.
Jeep Cherokee grew from a 1960s trail-ready wagon into a defining 1980s SUV. See vintage models and classic ads from its early decades.
Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” died at 86. His career spanned generations with chart-topping hits and enduring influence.
Look back at The Rockford Files, the classic James Garner detective series that reshaped TV crime drama — plus what to know about the newly announced reboot.
Explore the history of vintage beaded curtains — from early room dividers to their 1960s surge — and see why this flexible decor trend never fully went away.
Tang orange drink mix was advertised as a ‘new breakfast drink discovery’ when it was introduced in the ’50s, and went on to become a part of pop culture history – especially once NASA and Mrs Brady got in on the action.
With these vintage Disneyland tickets, visitors could enjoy their choice of dozens of Disneyland rides and attractions in Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland and Adventureland.
The Pet Rock concept traces the 1975 fad that made millions — and now includes its 2026 comeback sparked by Taylor Swift’s Opalite video.
If you were alive in the 1970s & 1980s, you know that vintage 7-Eleven stores were the corner grocery — as well as a place for kids to hang out. Here are dozens of old photos so you can take a look back!
Everyone knows the pastel little Valentine’s Day sweets that say Hug Me, Cutie and more. Where did those candy heart sayings come from? Look back here!
Find out about The Muppet Show, an all-family comedy-musical-variety TV series from the ’70s & ’80s, and see the opening credits and theme song lyrics here!
George Takei looks back on playing Sulu, the rise of Star Trek fandom and how the series influenced his life long after the Enterprise left TV screens.
Grains sprouting in jars and dense homemade bread were signs that organic food was gaining ground in 1970 — see how it all started.
Barbra Streisand’s rising star in the early 1960s changed what Broadway stardom looked like — see how her career took off before the icon era began.
Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific shampoo & conditioner are extra rich, extra thick — so it leaves your hair shiny clean and fresh. Slightly spicy. Slightly flowery. And ready for compliments.
Take a look back at old-school packaged cookies like Hydrox, Chips Ahoy, Almost Home, Lorna Doone and more — some still around, others long gone.
Do you remember Shrinky Dinks? They were DIY crafts that could be made by coloring on a plastic sheet, cutting out the various shapes, and then shrinking them down using heat.
Here are three vintage articles about Fleetwood Mac, telling the band’s story — often in their own words — from 1969 to 1977.
The official photos with Santa – once called ‘sitting on Santa’s lap’ – has been around for generations. Here’s a look back at this Christmas ritual!
There’s a reason that advertising has evolved over the decades – and these bad vintage Christmas ads from years ago show you exactly why!
Crisp, freshly-baked spicy cookies, made from these classic gingersnap recipes, are sure to entice the whole family.
In the 1974 Rankin-Bass holiday spectacle, The Year Without a Santa Claus, the unforgettable Heat Miser & Snow Miser captured imaginations with their signature musical showdown. See it here!
See vintage Christmas decorations 1960s and 70s families used to light up the holidays — from homemade trees to bright outdoor candles and festive centerpieces.
Vintage Christmas TV specials were as much a part of the holiday as gifts and Christmas trees. Millions of people – especially kids – looked forward to them year after year. Look at more than 100 of these classics.
This exceptional Bacardi rum cake is a pudding cake baked in a ring pan, and flavored with Bacardi dark dry rum. You may be surprised at how easy it is to get an elegant cake – perfect for the holidays!
A shrimp Christmas tree appetizer is a scene-stealer and a real buffet beauty, certain to cast a special charm over any holiday party – yet so easy to do! Here’s how.
See the vintage wooden Christmas ornament kits families painted in 1974 — a simple, creative way to make holiday decorating more personal and fun.
Get seven sassy snack mix how-tos from yesteryear, including the granddaddy of them all: the original Chex mix recipe!
Frosty, the famous snowguy turned into a jolly, happy soul, starred in the vintage animated Christmas special, Frosty the Snowman, narrated by Jimmy Durante.
Try this tasty and easy recipe from the early 1960s for old-fashioned rolled sugar cookie cutouts, accompanied below by step-by-step photos!
Did you know that Silly Putty was originally marketed to adults? Read on for more interesting tidbits about this fun and magical stuff!
Here are some crafty fabric Christmas ornaments you can make yourself. There are five different designs using an inexpensive patchwork design.
Vintage Formula 409 household cleaner hit supermarket shelves in the ’60s, and was one of the most popular household cleaning products during the 1970s and 1980s. See why people loved the stuff here!
Chevy Chevelle cars from the ’60s and ’70s brought big power and bold style to the mid-size market. See how these classics defined American driving fun.
Though many have tried, no cook has ever been able to improve upon the taste of traditional pumpkin pie. Carnation’s famous pumpkin pie recipe is a Thanksgiving classic – and we have the ’50s recipe right here.
To many Americans living south of the Mason-Dixon line, sweet potatoes must be made with marshmallows! Here are 6 ways to make old-fashioned marshmallow sweet potatoes for a Thanksgiving side dish!
Traditional Thanksgiving dinner food served at the original First Thanksgiving feast in 1621 provides a tasty menu for holiday tables today. Get some great recipes here!
Before Flipper was a hit TV show, Luke Halpin appeared as Sandy Ricks in two movies, Flipper and Flipper’s New Adventure!
These pinecone cheese ball recipes are the ultimate decorative old-school appetizer spread! Find out how to make them here.
Bruce Lee became a global sensation with his kung fu films — then died days before his big Hollywood debut. Here’s how he got there.
These cheap vintage Halloween masks & costumes proved that when you spent a couple bucks to get ready for trick-or-treating, you got what you paid for. But the kids? They loved it.
Halloween greeting cards made especially for children became popular in the 1970s – most far more sweet than scary. Look back at these vintage Halloween cards for kids from the ’70s and ’80s!
What is a pumpkin roll? It’s a lightly-spiced pumpkin cake, jelly roll-style — filled with sweet, fluffy cream cheese. Try this retro version from the 70s!
When it comes to ready-to-wear 70s costumes, you basically have two style choices: Hippie or Disco Styles. We’ve picked some of our favorites modern-day takes on the era so you can dress up and get on down!
Smokey Bear, the friendly brown bear that said, ‘Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires,’ was a powerful force in stopping forest fires. Here’s his story.
Pepsi-Cola history began in a North Carolina drugstore in 1893 and grew through decades of quirky slogans and everyday moments across America.
