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Lisa Frank: The Rainbow Queen of the School Aisle

“Lisa Frank turned ordinary school days into neon magic, filling backpacks with rainbows, unicorns, and the pure joy of childhood color.

Inside the Cosmic Chaos of Galaxy High School

Galaxy High School took the classic high school story and launched it into space, creating one of the most imaginative and unforgettable cartoons of the eighties.

The Rise and Reign of the Pudding Pie

“Hostess Pudding Pies were the foil‑wrapped treasures of the eighties and nineties, turning everyday snack runs into creamy, chocolate‑filled moments of pure childhood joy.

Polly Pocket: The Mini Marvel of the Toy Aisle

Polly Pocket let kids carry entire worlds in their hands, tiny pastel places where imagination thrived and childhood felt wonderfully portable.

When Spider-Man Married Mary Jane

In 1987, Spider‑Man took his biggest leap of faith as Peter Parker and Mary Jane’s wedding turned a comic milestone into a cultural moment.

Head of the Class: The Smartest Sitcom of the Eighties

Head of the Class reminded us that growing up smart was still growing up, with a classroom full of gifted kids learning life’s real lessons together.

TRN Roundtable: Back to School

These stories remind us that going back to school in the eighties and nineties was more than a yearly routine. It was a season filled with small rituals, bright memories, and the kind of excitement that only childhood could create.

Breaking Stereotypes: The Enduring Power of The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club showed us the truth about being teenagers—five kids, one Saturday, and a story that made an entire generation feel understood.

Return to the Planet of the Apes: The Animated Adventure You Forgot

Return to the Planet of the Apes reimagined the franchise with bold artwork and futuristic flair, creating a colorful animated world that pushed the saga far beyond anything seen in the films.

Planet of the Apes Candy: A Sugary Slice of 1970s Pop Culture

Planet of the Apes candy from Phoenix Candy turned movie fandom into a sweet treat, wrapping simple chocolates and gum in bold, collectible packaging that became a quirky gem of 1970s pop culture.

The Original Marvel Cinematic Universe

For kids growing up over the last 20 years, Marvel superheroes have always been big screen icons, beloved by children and adults alike for their extravagant silver screen adventures. But those of us who grew

5 Best Comic Book Events of the 90’s

It’s a known fact that comic books in the 1990’s were celebrated more for the artists drawing them, than any groundbreaking storytelling within. Though it was an era where a foil-embossed or hologram sticker cover

10 Best Vintage Masters of the Universe Action Figures

Vintage Masters of the Universe figures weren’t just toys. They were bold, colorful heroes that turned bedroom floors into battlefields and gave an entire generation its first taste of epic, imagination‑powered adventure.

80s Cars and Truck Movies and Television

Top 50 Cars and Trucks from ’80s Movies or TV Shows

When you bring up Cars in the ’80s, some might first think of the band of that name or possibly the song by Gary Numan. We’re not talking about Ric Ocasek and those Cars or any

The Birth of MTV’s Video Music Awards

When MTV launched the Video Music Awards (VMAs) on September 14, 1984, it wasn’t just creating an awards show, it was igniting a cultural revolution, though no one knew it then. Held at Radio City

Planet of the Apes by Mego: The Toy Line That Ruled the Living Room

Mego’s Planet of the Apes figures and playsets brought the franchise home, turning bedrooms into ape cities with eight‑inch heroes, villains, and iconic cardboard fortresses that defined 1970s toy adventure.

When Apes Hit the Spinner Rack: The Comic Book History of Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes comics expanded the films into a larger universe, from Gold Key’s pulpy adventures to Marvel’s gritty black‑and‑white epics that kept the saga thriving in print.

The Planet of the Apes TV Series: A Lost Gem of 1970s Sci Fi

The Planet of the Apes TV series tried to bring the franchise’s world to prime time, creating a weekly adventure that expanded the saga even as its short run turned it into a cult favorite.

Planet of the Apes: How a Sci Fi Film Started a Pop Culture Empire

Planet of the Apes evolved from a daring sci fi gamble into a drive in favorite and cable TV staple, shaping generations with its wild ideas and unforgettable imagery.

The Retro Network Goes Ape With A Full Week of Planet of the Apes Nostalgia

The Retro Network Goes Ape all week with a full celebration of Planet of the Apes, revisiting the movies, shows, comics, toys, candy, and animated adventures fans love.

Thundarr the Barbarian and the Wild Future Kids Never Forgot

There are certain Saturday morning cartoons that feel like they were dreamed up by a kid who mixed every cool idea they ever had into one big bowl. Thundarr the Barbarian was exactly that kind

Remote Control: The MTV Game Show That Broke All the Rules

Before reality TV took over and music videos faded into the background, MTV’s first original non-musical show, Remote Control, blasted onto screens in 1987 with a recliner, a remote, and a whole lot of irreverence.

Woodstock ’94: 2 More Days of Peace, Music, and Mud

In August 1994, 25 years after the original Woodstock defined a generation, a new wave of music lovers descended on a muddy field in Saugerties, New York, for a revival that was part tribute, part

Batmania: Revisiting 1989’s Batman

It might be hard today to fully grasp just how big a cultural moment it was when Tim Burton’s Batman opened in theaters thirty years ago this month. You couldn’t go out of the house without

Wrestling at the Arcade: 1991’s WWF Wrestlefest

Every spring, I look forward to WWE’s Wrestlemania with all of its pomp and circumstance. Unfortunately this year, with recent CDC guidelines that restrict public gatherings to under 50 people, it looks like for the

From Telethon to Television Staple: The Story of The 700 Club

The 700 Club grew from a small fundraising broadcast into a long‑running television institution that shaped CBN, launched The Family Channel, and remained a cable fixture for decades.

Why Saved by the Bell Still Defines the 90s

Saved by the Bell captured the bright, carefree spirit of the early 90s, turning Bayside High into a place where friendships, humor, and larger‑than‑life teen adventures made Saturday mornings feel electric.

Lay’s WOW Chips: The Story Behind a 90s Food Phenomenon

WOW chips once felt like a fat‑free miracle, a 90s sensation that sparked real excitement before fading into one of the decade’s strangest and most memorable misfires.

Caught Up in the Crossfire: A 90s Classic Revisited

Crossfire turned living rooms into battlegrounds, delivering fast‑shot chaos, steel‑ball mayhem, and one of the most unforgettable toy commercials of the 90s.

The Wild History of Piper’s Pit

Piper’s Pit transformed wrestling interviews into unpredictable battlegrounds, turning Roddy Piper’s sharp wit and chaos into moments that reshaped storytelling and defined an era of sports entertainment.

Super ’70s

Awesome ’80s

Nostalgic ’90s