Dynamite magazine had 1970s & 1980s celebrities GenX kids loved: See 60 classic covers here!

Remember Dynamite magazine, with the '70s & '80s stars that kids loved

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Dynamite magazine’s tagline was “For the 1980s kid,” and for a solid decade there — plus a few years on either side of the eighties — they lived up to the slogan.

Published by Scholastic Press for 18 years (from March 1974 to March 1992) the magazine was a little bit of pop culture paradise delivered to the mailboxes of kids across the US. Here’s a look back!

The Waltons in Dynamite Magazine (April 1974)

Dynamite Magazine issue 2 - April 1974 - The Waltons

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Few thought 'The Waltons' could succeed (1973)

Herbie – The Love Bug (October 1974)

The Love Bug Returns: Herbie Tells All

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Herbie the Love Bug

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Escape to Witch Mountain: Disney's 1975 classic movie with two paranormal orphans & a flying Winnebago

Born Free’s Elsa the Lioness (Nov 1974)

Born Free - Nov 1974 Dynamite magazine


The main cast of “All in the Family”! (January 1975)

All about ‘All in the Family’, featuring the Bunker family!

Dynamite magazine with All in the Family

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How 'All in the Family' set TV records - plus the show intro & theme song (with lyrics)

John Denver (March 1975)

Singer/actor John Denver and Dynamite: Farrrr-out

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - John Denver


Little House on the Prairie TV show cast (May 1975)

Little House on the Prairie: A Big Story!

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Little House on the Prairie


Vintage Dynamite Issue #12 (June 1975)

Welcome to the Dynamite Monster Bash!

Dynamite magazine - June 1975 issue


Dynamite Visits TV’s Land of the Lost! (July 1975)

Land of the Lost

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Sid & Marty Krofft's 'Land of the Lost' TV show & their amazing amusement park (1975)

Tony Orlando and Dawn, with Telma Hopkins (Oct 1975)

Tony Orlando and Dawn - Telma Hopkins - Dynamite magazine cover Oct 1975

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Tom Hanks gives thanks for Bosom Buddies (1981)

Bruce Lee Lives! (Nov 1975)

Bruce Lee cover of Dynamite Magazine Nov 1975


Dynamite magazine: Invisible Man – David McCallum (December 1975)

Dynamite magazine December 1975 Invisible Man - David McCallum


Donny & Marie (December 1976)

Dynamite Dec 1976 - Donny and Marie


Vintage Dynamite: The Six Million Dollar Man (Feb 1976)

Lee Majors as Steve Austin

Dynamite Magazine - Six Million Dollar Man 1975

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The Six Million Dollar Man: Lee Majors was stronger, faster, better in this classic '70s TV show

Cher! (1976)

Superstar Cher spends the day with Dynamite!

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Cher

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Sonny & Cher's hit TV variety show: Music, comedy... and divorce (1976)

Henry Winkler of ‘Happy Days!’ (April 1976)

Face to Face with Fonzie!

Dynamite Magazine Happy Days Fonzie

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How 'Happy Days' brought the '50s back - plus the opening credits & theme song

Let’s Go To The Hop! (June 1976)

Special Dynamite Fifties Party Issue, with Elvis Presley

ALSO SEE
The Twist dance fad: Almost everyone was doing it, from Chubby Checker to Ann-Margret - but some wanted it banned

Dynamite magazine cover - Elvis


Space: 1999 Takes Off! (July 1976)

Space: 1999 Takes Off!


Lindsay Wagner (September 1976)

Catching Up With The Bionic Woman!

Dynamite Lindsay Wagner Bionic Woman


Laverne & Shirley (October 1976)

A Dynamite double feature! Laverne and Shirley and King Kong!

Dynamite magazine cover 1976 Laverne Shirley King Kong

ALSO SEE
Laverne & Shirley theme song & lyrics (1976-1983)

Happy Days (February 1977)

Fonzie and Pinky Face the Future! From the Happy Days TV show

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Happy Days


Captain & Tennille (March 1977)

A Dynamite duo — The Captain and Tennille

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Captain and Tennille


What’s Happening!! sitcom (June 1977)

What’s Happening is What’s Happening!!

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - What's Happening TV show

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What's Happening!! Go behind the scenes on the popular '70s TV sitcom & see opening credits

The Brady Bunch cast (August 1977)

The Return of the Brady Bunch!

The return of the Brady Bunch - Dynamite 1977


Actress/model/style icon Farrah Fawcett (September 1977)

Dynamite magazine - Farrah Fawcett 1977

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How to get Farrah Fawcett's famous long feathered hairstyle from the '70s

The Hardy Boys: A Dynamite detective story! (October 1977)

Shaun Cassidy & Parker Stevenson

Vintage Dynamite magazine covers - 1970s 1980s - Entertainment TV music (13)

ALSO SEE
About The Hardy Boys-Nancy Drew Mysteries TV series from the '70s - plus cast pictures & opening credits

Catching Up With Logan’s Run! (December 1977)

Catching Up With Logan's Run


Meet Kristy McNichol (February 1978)

Kristy McNichol on cover of Dynamite

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Little darling: Kristy McNichol, the young actress America adored in the '70s & '80s

Dynamite Magazine with cover of Shields & Yarnell (May 1978)

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Shields and Yarnell

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Shields & Yarnell: The clever mime team who hit their stride in the '70s

Actress/model Cheryl Ladd (June 1978)

Cheryl Ladd of “Charlie’s Angels

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Cheryl Ladd - Charlie's Angels


The best of Dynamite – 50th issue (July 1978)

Vintage 1978 Dynamite Magazine number 50


Lou Ferrigno – The Hulk (Dynamite Magazine 1978)

Lou Ferrigno - The Hulk (Dynamite Magazine 1978)
Lou Ferrigno – The Hulk (Dynamite Magazine 1978)

 


The Bee Gees VS. The Beatles (October 1978)

The Bee Gees VS. The Beatles! Who’s the greatest?

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Beatles and Bee Gees

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John Travolta lit up the dance floor with his disco moves in 'Saturday Night Fever' (1977)

The Secrets of Battlestar Galactica! (November 1978)

Battlestar Galactica

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Battlestar Galactica: Revisit the vintage TV series that ran from 1978 to 1979, plus see the show's opening credits

Mork & Mindy – January 1979

Robin Williams & Pam Dawber

January 1979 Dynamite cover - Mork and Mindy

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This old-fashioned baking powder biscuit recipe from the 1950s turns out delicious every time

Meet the guys from CHiPS (February 1979)

Ponch & Jon, aka Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox

ALSO SEE
Ponch & John hit the roads as motorcycle cops in LA on CHiPs (1977-1983)

Dynamite magazine cover with CHIPS TV show


Kristy McNichol & Leif Garrett (March 1979)

Kristy McNichol and Leif Garrett, from ‘Family’!

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Kristy McNichol and Leif Garrett


The Muppets (May 1979)

Kermit And Miss Piggy: A Muppet love story?

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Muppets - Kermit and Miss Piggy

ALSO SEE
The Muppet Show theme song, famous guest stars, and how the hit TV show started (1976-1981)

Gary Coleman (October 1979)

Gary Coleman: A talk with TV’s top teen

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Gary Coleman TV star

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Diff'rent Strokes: Find out about the popular TV show & hear that theme song (1978-1986)

The Dukes of Hazzard cast (November 1979)

The Duke boys and company

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Dukes of Hazzard TV show


Steve Martin (December 1979)

Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy!

MORE: Old HBO was revolutionary television – here’s what it was like! (1970s-1990s)

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Steve Martin


Buck Rogers: Then and Now! (February 1980)

Buck Rogers


Greg Evigan (April 1980)

B.J. and The Bear — A special talk with Greg Evigan

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Greg Evigan of BJ and the Bear TV


John Schneider (June 1980)

Meet John Schneider from Dukes of Hazzard

1980 Dynamite magazine cover John Schneider


Mark Hamill (September 1980)

The Empire Strikes Back – Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)

Vintage Dynamite magazine cover - Empire Strikes Back movie


Singer/actor Shaun Cassidy (October 1980)

Shaun Cassidy in ‘Breaking Away’

Dynamite Shaun Cassidy Breaking Away


‘That’s Incredible!’ cast (November 1980)

“We’re on the Cover of Dynamite! That’s incredible!”

Dynamite That's Incredible


Scott Baio (December 1980)

Dynamite spends a Happy Day with Scott Baio!

Dynamite Scott Baio


The Dukes of Hazzard (January 1981)

Meet Tom Wopat of ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’!

Dynamite magazine Dukes of Hazzard

ALSO SEE
The Dukes of Hazzard theme song & lyrics (1979-1985)

The Greatest American Hero & Superman (1981)

Starring William Katt & Christopher Reeve

Dynamite Greatest American Hero Superman

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Christopher Reeve takes flight as Superman (1978)

Buck Rogers and Wilma: TV’s Fun Couple of the Future! (March 1981)

Buck Rogers and Wilma

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Lip Smackers from Bonne Bell: The super trendy vintage lip balm from the '70s & '80s

Dynamite magazine with Bugs Bunny (May 1981)

Dynamite magazine - Bugs Bunny - May 1981


TV Kids – Then and Now! (July 1981)

This issue featured “One Day at a Time” star Valerie Bertinelli on the cover

Dynamite magazine - One Day at a Time star Valerie Bertinelli


Special Collector’s Issue – All About Bummers! (August 1981)

Dynamite Special Collector's Issue - All About Bummers! (August 1981)


Amazing Randi Dynamite magazine cover (November 1981)

Master magician The Amazing Randi tells the truth about the fakes!

ALSO SEE: How do magicians do the sawing a person in half trick?

Amazing Randi Dynamite magazine cover Nov 1981


Happy Tenth Birthday, M*A*S*H! (December 1981)

Caricatures of the stars of MASH graced this Dynamite cover: Alan Alda (“Hawkeye”), Loretta Swit (“Hot Lips”), Jamie Farr (“Klinger”)

MASH TV show cast on cover on Dynamite Magazine - 1981


Rick Springfield (January 1982)

Meet Rick Springfield!

Dynamite magazine cover - Rick Springfield


Melissa Gilbert All Grown Up! (March 1982)

The Little House on the Prairie star on the cover of Dynamite magazine

Dynamite - Melissa Gilbert All Grown Up! (March 1982)


Matt Dillon: Tells How His Good Looks Get in His Way (January 1983)

Matt Dillon Tells How His Good Looks Get in His Way (January 1983)

ALSO SEE
Matt Dillon: An insider's talk with teen actor & 'The Outsiders' star (1983)

Square Pegs: The Hottest TV Hit Of The Year! (February 1983)

Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Linker on the cover of Dynamite magazine

Dynamite Magazine cover - Square Pegs TV show with Sarah Jessica Parker

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Square Pegs: The '80s TV series that starred Sarah Jessica Parker, from its much-buzzed beginning to its surprise demise

Ricky Schroeder of Silver Spoons (April 1983)

Silver Spoons TV show - Dynamite Magazine April 1983 (2)

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About Silver Spoons, the '80s sitcom that made Ricky Schroder a pre-teen idol - plus the TV show opening credits & theme song

Star Wars: C-3PO/Anthony Daniels (June 1983)

The ‘Return of the Jedi’ – A talk with the man inside C-3PO

Dynamite Star Wars robots

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In 1977, the movie Star Wars took off, and broke records all across the galaxy

Dynamite’s greatest hits! (July 1983)

Featuring C-3PO and R2-D2, David Hasselhoff as Knight Rider, and Dynamite’s Greatest Hits

Dynamite magazine covers - 1983

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10 totally trendy '80s Trapper Keeper notebooks & binders

David Hasselhoff (September 1983)

Knight Rider is Dynamite! An Exclusive interview with David Hasselhoff

Dynamite Knight Rider

DON’T MISS: The ultimate guide to all the ABC Afterschool Special episodes, from the 70s to the 90s


Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (November 1983)

Luke Skywalker And Princess Leia: What’s Next After Jedi?

Dynamite 1983 Star Wars Jedi


Michael J. Fox (March 1984)

Meet Michael J. Fox, star of ‘Family Ties‘!

Dynamite Michael J Fox

ALSO SEE
Family Ties: A hit TV show all on its own (1985)

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Comments on this story

5 Responses

    1. Just for you, I looked it up – and was surprised to find out that they were never on the cover of Dynamite! (Bananas magazine, yes – but not Dynamite.) But you can still get a Starsky & Hutch fix here. :-)

  1. Copies of “Dynamite” were distributed to us every month or so when I was in elementary school in the mid-1970s (I think we might have gotten an abridged version). Interest in them depended on who was on the cover; I recall that the Fonzie issue caused quite a stir. Although I don’t remember seeing that issue, putting “All in the Family” was an interesting choice for a kids’ magazine, as that was definitely not a kids’ show.

  2. I remember ordering these from a scholastic newsprint 4-page form ca. 1975-77 (preteen years). I had three issues: the Hardy Boys, Charlie Brown & Snoopy (w/ an aqua background…not listed in this article), and the special Fifties party issue. Memories!

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