Features
History of The Satanic Panic
Before I get into the chronology of what got us from the 1960’s counter culture to the book, toy, and music bans of the 1980’s and 1990’s. I wanted to put into context why I CONTINUE READING…
Articles by Karen Flieger
Features
History of Nickelodeon Part 2: June 1984
In June of 1984, Nickelodeon saw its first major transition. Cy Schneider, the network’s original president retired. His successor would change Nickelodeon’s direction from parent approved to “kid” focused. Not “young people”-focused, not “child-focused” KID-focused. CONTINUE READING…
80s
History of Nickelodeon Part 1: Pinwheel 1983
Before Nickelodeon became the Nickelodeon 80’s kids know and love, it was called C3 or “The Pinwheel Channel”. It was part of an experiment from Warner Amex called Qube and was first tested in Columbus, CONTINUE READING…
A1
Toy Spotlight: Raspberry Tart and Rhubarb Monkey
One day when I got off the bus in kindergarten, my mom was waiting for me in the car with my brother strapped into his car seat. It was March of 1983 and we had CONTINUE READING…
Features
Event Spotlight: IBM Christmas Party
Sometime in December, my parents would get us dressed up and into the car and my dad would drive us all downtown to a big office building or hotel or banquet hall. I don’t remember CONTINUE READING…
Features
Media Spotlight: Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth (David Bowie & Bing Crosby)
1. Why did I choose to cover this recording? It’s now officially Christmastime, for starters. For another, this now classic version of the song is celebrating its forty-fifth anniversary this year. My mom told me CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy Spotlight: Aladdin Toys
1. Why did I choose this toy/these toys? This isn’t just one toy, it’s a whole bunch of toys in two formats: Barbie style fashion doll and (mostly) plush animals. Aladdin was my favorite of CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy Spotlight: Search for The White Ranger
1. Why did I choose this toy? I chose the White Ranger for two reasons: 1. It’s a story about looking for a popular toy for a child at Christmastime. 2. The recent tragic passing CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: California Ken
Over the summer, I wrote an article about the first Ken(s) I received, Roller Skating Ken. I also wrote about how those first Ken dolls CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: Mr. Sketch Scented Markers
If the 1980s had to be summed up with one specific sense, it would be scent. From Strawberry Shortcake dolls to Scratch and Sniff stickers and anything from Yankee Candle or Bath and Body Works, CONTINUE READING…
Features
Review of the Horror-Themed 90s Sitcom ‘Stark Raving Mad’
Stark Raving Mad was a modern “Odd Couple” sitcom from the end of the 1990s starring Neil Patrick Harris as a book editor named Henry McNeeley. Henry’s boss assigns him to horror novelist Ian Stark, CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of The Week: Cody the Coca Cola Plush Critter
The selection for this article is inspired by my one of the prizes from my entry in the TRN Summer Camp program earlier this summer: a metal lunch box filled with penny candy. The winners CONTINUE READING…
Features
Summer Reading Program: A season full of books
When Eric announced his idea for this series, I was very excited. Books have always been a big part of my life. My mom always read and the library was a frequent errand for us. CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: Roller Skating Ken (Mattel, 1981)
Growing up as a girl in the 1980’s, Barbie and her friends were a major portion of my childhood. Barbie was (and still is) present at birthday parties, on Christmas morning, every Saturday morning, after CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy and Event of the Week: Plush Dale and our Family Vacation to Walt Disney World
Why did I choose this toy and event? Originally, I chose this Dale plush for my Toys of the Week series to coincide with the Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers movie which premiered on Disney CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: Yappy (Yorkshire Terrier) by Ty
It’s a popular thing these days for pet owners to celebrate their “Gotcha Day”, the day they obtained their beloved pet by posting pictures of their pet online. Our Yorkies were not our first pets. CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: LOL Surprise B.B. Moonlight
This week, I’m taking a little bit of a different angle and going with a doll from a current toy line that reminded me of some things from when I was a young child combined CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: My Favorite Fairytale Collection Alice from Alice in Wonderland
Why did I choose this toy? Last Saturday was International Tea Day. Whenever I think of tea, I think of tea parties. When I think of tea parties, I think of Alice in Wonderland. Interesting fact CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: New Kids on the Block Hanging Loose Jordan Knight Doll
Why did I choose this toy? I chose this doll in honor of Jordan Knight’s birthday earlier this week. Also, New Kids on the Block just started their latest “Mixtape Tour” with special guests En CONTINUE READING…
Events
Event(s) of the Week Proms 1994 and 1995
Events of the Week: Junior and Senior Proms (May 1994 and May 1995) Why did I choose this event? My original intent was for this article to drop last week before the anniversary of my CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: Han Solo (Star Wars Collector Series)
Next week, pop culture will be celebrating the 45th anniversary of Star Wars. The franchise marked a major turning point in pop culture on multiple fronts from cinema to toy marketing. My mom used to CONTINUE READING…
A1
The Beach Boys 25th Anniversary Concert from Waikiki
A few weeks ago, in my article about my first (Le Clic) camera, I mentioned that the camera had been purchased for my fourth grade field trip to Rock Eagle. When I returned home from CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: Rainbow Brite
As I’ve mentioned in a few of my previous articles, many popular toy franchises of the 1980’s originated as greeting card characters. Rainbow Brite is no exception. However, instead of being a member of the CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: Le Clic Camera
I can hear the hobby and professional photographers gasping for breath. No worries. I know a camera isn’t technically a toy. LeClic cameras were so much more than a camera and because I used mine CONTINUE READING…
Features
Toy of the Week: Lamb Chop
When I picked Hubert the Harris Bank Lion earlier this month, I knew I wanted to end the month with a lamb or sheep related toy. My mom told me that I used to have CONTINUE READING…
