Articles
NBC Soap Operas: Memories and Facts
When I was growing up, my mom watched the soap operas on NBC. By the time I was in middle school, I started watching her shows too. Even though she was usually home, once we CONTINUE READING…
Articles by Karen Flieger
80s
’80s Barbie Playsets and Accessories From My Childhood
I’ve played with Barbie off and on since I received my first dolls for my fourth birthday. (They were Malibu Barbie and Skipper and Roller Skating Ken) This article isn’t about the dolls. It’s about CONTINUE READING…
90s
Top 5 Animaniacs Characters
The original run of Animaniacs premiered in September of 1993 during my junior year of high school and ended in 1998 while I was in college. I discovered it the way I usually find out CONTINUE READING…
Personal Memories
CD Shopping On New Year’s Day in the ’90s
Back in the late 1980’s through much of the 1990’s, compact discs were still a fairly new innovation in audio entertainment and were considered gift items. Stores that sold music would have big sales on CONTINUE READING…
Essay
Showbiz Pizza vs. Garfield and The California Raisins
In December of 1987, CBS promoted the premieres of two brand new Christmas specials back to back. Usually, a tried and true classic would air before a new special, so we figured these must be CONTINUE READING…
Essay
Mail Order Memories
One of my favorite scenes in A Christmas Story is when Ralphie finally receives his mail order “Little Orphan Annie” decoder pin. Later that night, he listens to his favorite radio show and transcribes the CONTINUE READING…
80s
6 Tech Toys From the ’80s
These days we have our Nintendo Switches, Playstations, X Boxes, smartphones, and tablets. (I’m actually typing this article on my Christmas present from last year.) Back in the ’80s, in addition to gaming consoles, there CONTINUE READING…
A The Retro Network
A Tribute to Big Bird
Late in 2019, just a few weeks after Sesame Street celebrated their 50th anniversary, they lost an original cast member: Carroll Spinney. Spinney operated and performed as two of the show’s most iconic characters, Oscar CONTINUE READING…
Essay
Reply to a Ethan Embry (Randall) Fan Letter
In November of 1991, I went to see a movie called All I Want for Christmas. The stars of the movie, Ethan Randall and Thora Birch who play siblings Ethan and Hallie O’Fallon. Ethan and CONTINUE READING…
Essay
My Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dishes
Thanksgiving is definitely the best holiday for food. The turkey is the traditional protein and there are several dishes that are considered staples. These are some of the sides my family has enjoyed sharing with CONTINUE READING…
Essay
Fisher-Price: My Ten Favorite Toys
On the rare occasion I watch television commercials these days, one of my favorite ad campaigns are the commercials for Fisher-Price toys featuring John Goodman, “Let’s Be Kids.” It gives me the happy cries every CONTINUE READING…
Essay
Skate Night Memories at Sparkles
When my brother and I were in elementary school, the PTA had a partnership with our local roller rink, Sparkles. Skate Night was usually held on either the last or second to last Thursday of CONTINUE READING…
Essay
Clowning Around: My Favorite Pop Culture Clowns
I was thinking about something that would be scary for Halloween. I’m not usually into really gory horror movies, but I’m starting to ease into them. One thing that I know a lot of people CONTINUE READING…
80s
Cable Television in the 1980’s
Most of my earliest memories of watching television are associated with my family’s move to Georgia in February 1983. I remember CONTINUE READING…
Essay
Sweet (and Savory) Home Chicago: Foods I Miss from the Chicago Area
Sometimes, when I listen to the food-themed episodes of The Retro Network Podcast, food items come to mind that are just out of reach for regional reasons and make me a little homesick for the CONTINUE READING…
