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.
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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.
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.
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!
Bonanza almost didn’t survive its first season. Here’s how the show went from near-cancellation to the No. 1 Western on TV — and what ended it for good.
Jerry Mathers was Beaver Cleaver. Tony Dow was Wally. Here’s what really happened after the cameras stopped rolling in 1963.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Who’s behind those Foster Grants? See the popular vintage sunglasses of the stars in the 1960s & 70s
Foster Grants sunglasses built one of the most iconic ad campaigns of the ’60s & ’70s, starring Mia Farrow, Raquel Welch & more.
Explore the legacy of Police Woman, a groundbreaking show that introduced audiences to Sgt. “Pepper” Anderson and inspired a generation of female-led dramas.
Young James Dean was just a regular Indiana kid before Hollywood changed everything. See rare childhood & teen photos plus a look back at his legendary career.
Spaceballs, Mel Brooks’ 1987 sci-fi spoof, took aim at Star Wars & Hollywood itself. See the original poster, stills & a period review.
Somewhere in Time (1980) blended time travel and sweeping romance at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.
John Stamos rose from 1980s soap star to Full House icon and touring musician. Here’s how his career shaped modern TV nostalgia.
The Outsiders starred several young actors on their way to fame: Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, C Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise.
Jim Nabors’ popular character on The Andy Griffith Show, joined the Marines and got his own spin-off TV series in 1964 – Gomer Pyle: USMC.
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.
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!
There’s a lot of magic and humor practiced in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Written and directed by John Hughes, this energetic and offbeat comedy captures the best feelings about being young.
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.
Max Headroom was a unique sci-fi satire TV show starring the inimitable Matt Frewer as the computer-generated star. Despite its short run, it made a max impact on pop culture.
The fans voted, the mailbags were full, and these were the hottest teen stars of the 80s — straight from Teen Beat’s first Teen Star Awards in 1984.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks mixed wartime England with magic, music and animation in a film that flew into theaters in 1971 with Angela Lansbury at the helm.
Dick York on Bewitched made Darrin Stephens a TV icon. See the story behind his run from 1964 to 1969, plus a look at vintage photos from the set.
Here, take a look back at the Xanadu movie – an ’80s musical that has become best known as a campy cult classic.
How The Misfits became the last film for both Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe — capturing final performances shaped by real-life turmoil and change.
Maverick reshaped the 1950s TV Western with humor, poker and self-aware scripts. See how the series stood apart from the pack.
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!
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.
Frosty, the famous snowguy turned into a jolly, happy soul, starred in the vintage animated Christmas special, Frosty the Snowman, narrated by Jimmy Durante.
Before Flipper was a hit TV show, Luke Halpin appeared as Sandy Ricks in two movies, Flipper and Flipper’s New Adventure!
Separate beds in the 1950s weren’t just for movies — real couples, doctors, and censors all had opinions on how married people should sleep.
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 silent movie stunts from the 1920s were real, dangerous, and wildly risky — long before special effects made things safe and easy.
See how horror movies evolved from silent shadows to spine-chilling scares in the 60s, through eerie posters and promos from the past.
Charlie Brown? Check. Grinch? Yep. You can also see how Johnny Depp, Elvira, Martin Lawrence & Tom Hanks got into the holiday spirit years ago on these vintage Halloween TV specials.
Scooby Doo fans, here’s how a goofy cartoon dog and his mystery-solving gang turned a 1969 TV debut into decades of iconic pop culture moments.
Jackie Gleason — born Herbert Walton Gleason Jr. on February 26, 1916, in Brooklyn — became one of America’s most recognizable personalities by mixing bold
Find out about The Sting, a 1973 film set in the ’30s – the story of two conmen out to trick a mob boss – that won 7 Academy Awards.
Young actor River Phoenix was on the rise until the unthinkable happened By the late 1980s, River Phoenix had become one of the most talked-about
After a teen gets a record score on a video game called The Last Starfighter, an intergalactic visitor tells him the game was just a test – and asks him to come help fight a space battle.
Discover how Free to Be… You and Me brought big stars, bold ideas and timeless songs together to inspire a generation of kids in the 1970s.
Revisit WKRP in Cincinnati, the classic sitcom about a misfit radio crew, with cast photos, fun facts and a look back at its unforgettable TV moments.
In the sixties, up-and-coming actresses were the starlets who helped sell vintage versions of Coppertone suntan lotion – and the popular look of tan, tan skin.
Battlestar Galactica launched in 1978 with bold ideas and big effects but lasted just one season. See how it made TV history before it was even canceled.
Explore rare 1920s views of old Hollywood from the sky and behind the scenes, showing how early studios kept the cameras rolling day and night.
Saturday Night Fever flashback: How John Travolta turned disco into unforgettable movie magic (1977)
John Travolta’s charismatic moves in Saturday Night Fever didn’t just light up the dance floor — they ignited a cultural craze. Let’s revisit the phenomenon!
From neatly organized tool racks to clever storage solutions, these 1950s (and early 60s) home workshops maximize space and productivity.
One of the most expensive films at the time, the Superman movie, starring Christopher Reeve, was a slick, extremely classy, altogether first-rate production.
From Carrie Fisher to Gene Kelly, explore a gallery of celebrity baby pictures and scenes from childhood that are sure to evoke a collective “Aww!”
Spooky sitcom stars Fred Gwynne & Yvonne De Carlo talked about their lives & what it was like to film the vintage 1960s Munsters TV show in these classic cast interviews!
See Fred Astaire in a clip from 1946’s ‘Blue Skies,’ performing ‘Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – a song associated with him like no other – and find out more about the film itself.
If you don’t know your dingledangler from your Kluck from your zoozer, you’ll want to know this Flapper slang from the 1920s!
Somewhere in that golden haze after Sesame Street, there was a little TV show called New Zoo Revue. Take a look back to that oh-so-retro kids’ show here!
Explore the Cocktail movie’s blend of ambition and flair as Tom Cruise takes on the role of a charismatic bartender in 1980s New York City.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) mixed big effects, familiar faces and lots of twists. Here’s why this sequel still sparks debate.
How The Waltons, a quiet Depression-era family drama, overcame doubts and tough competition to become one of the most beloved shows on 1970s TV.
How much does real story of The Sound of Music differ from the movie version of the von Trapp family? Take a look back at the hugely-successful musical based on their lives, and find out both fact and fiction.
Explore Escape to Witch Mountain (1975), Disney’s wild sci-fi adventure about psychic kids, greedy tycoons, and one unforgettable flying camper.
The original Gilligan’s Island pilot had three actors who were cut before the series began, a slightly different name, and a completely different theme song. Get the scoop here!
George Burns & Gracie Allen brought laughs from vaudeville to TV. See how their real-life love story made them one of comedy’s most unique duos.
The history of Levi’s jeans shows that the power of a really good idea – like super-durable clothing that people like to wear – can make for a business that stays strong for more than 160 years.
From “What you talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” to “Make it so,” these 80s TV catchphrases took over pop culture — and some are still around today.
When Green Acres hit TV screens in 1965, it flipped the usual sitcom formula on its head. Instead of small-town folks trying to make it
The ’70s TV classic ‘Match Game’ redefined the modern game show. It went against convention, appealed to a younger, hipper audience and ushered in a new era of television.
‘Family Ties’ has the most enviable time slot in network TV, following ‘The Cosby Show.’ But the four-year-old sitcom has managed to create its own following, and now clocks in at #2.
The Love Boat set sail in 1977 and became a TV favorite. Here’s how it mixed romance, comedy and guest stars to create a lasting pop culture hit.
Relive Shaun Cassidy’s rise to fame in the ’70s as a teen idol and TV star — before he built a lasting career beyond the spotlight.
The Courtship of Eddie’s Father was a TV sitcom about a widower and his son, Eddie that debuted in 1969. The memorable theme song was by Harry Nilsson.
Here’s a look at actor, dancer & singer Gene Kelly’s sweet house in Southern California, as it looked back in 1950, when he lived there with his wife and daughter.
Find out all about the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz, in this collection of vintage articles – including interviews with the cast, peeks behind the scenes, costume info, photos, videos and more!
In “Young Frankenstein” Mel Brooks did for the horror movie what he did earlier for the Western in ‘Blazing Saddles.’ The result is a very, very funny movie.
The Bob Newhart Show turned the world of comedy upside down with its straight-faced humor and wry wit – let’s take a look back!
Dick Van Dyke interviews and personal appearances can be hard to come by, but we found a few times the talented actor and comedian talked about his life and career.
While television hardly needed another cop series, ‘Starsky and Hutch’ was one of the better reasons to turn on a TV back in the ’70s. Here’s why.
To get in the proper holiday spirit, Americana-style, let’s revisit some of the most iconic moments from the timeless TV classic, “A Christmas Story” – plus find out where to watch the sequel!
Here’s a look back at the history of the multi-talented entertainer Gene Kelly, the award-winning star of the ’40s, ’50s & ’60s.
Old Halloween songs never die – they just reappear on the chart every decade or so! Such is the case with Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett’s million-seller, ‘Monster Mash.’ Here’s the story – and meet the singer!
From all these beautiful old-school Bigelow carpet styles, celebrities Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz chose their dream carpet to decorate their home.
The vintage home of Clancy Collins White and her celebrity parents Mary Ann Mobley & Gary Collins in Beverly Hills was steeped in southern charm – and you can see it right here.
Mr Whipple: Please don’t squeeze the Charmin! 20 years of legendary TV commercial toilet paper drama
Discover the story of Mr Whipple and his famous “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin” commercials, one of the most memorable ad campaigns of the 20th century.
Discover why the Taxi TV show remains a classic, with its unforgettable cast, sharp comedy, and heartwarming moments that still resonate today.
Relive the magic of Quantum Leap, the iconic time-travel series that took viewers on unforgettable adventures and made history in ’90s sci-fi television.
After launching their career in the ’60s, in the early ’70s, Sonny and Cher turned to television, and to everyone’s surprise, they were a huge hit – leading to adventures both good and bad.
Revisit the iconic Cheers TV show, where unforgettable characters and timeless stories made a Boston bar feel like home.
Celebrate The Dick Van Dyke Show with a look back at the sitcom’s timeless comedy, iconic moments and cultural impact.
The movie ‘Stand By Me’ evokes childhood memories, condensing them into a remarkably realistic weekend excursion by four boys on the verge of their teens.
Explore the life and career of the legendary Charlie Chaplin, through this collection of interviews and stories, pictures and vintage silent movie clips.
For those who have not seen it, ‘The A-Team’ is a straightforward pile-driver of a show, a blue-collar ‘Mission Impossible’ without the finesse. Here’s a TV show review from 1983!
Actor John Wayne reflected on his life and his long movie career in this interview upon the release of The Shootist, the Duke’s last feature film.
See how Andy Griffith’s iconic TV career started from humble beginnings. Explore his early career and photos from the past.
In the Brady Bunch family’s home-screen-home, the comedic power of the classic TV show came from combining a zany maid, two grown-ups, six kids, a dog and a cat.
On the original ’60s version of the ‘Lost in Space’ TV show, somewhere the universe, a family is marooned while on a voyage to colonize a new world.
What do you get when you mix equal parts Mel Brooks and James Bond? Get Smart – one of the most hilarious spoofs on spies and private eyes ever. (Also see the memorable opening credits!)
