Mickey Yarber, aka The Retro Rambler

The Failed Coke MagiCan Promotion of 1990

In the ’80s and ’90s, America had some of the best contests. We had Publisher’s Clearing House where you could win huge fake checks. We had McDonald’s Monopoly which took just as long and was

Wrestlers From the ’90s You’ve Probably Forgotten

Mickey Yarber

The ’90s were such a fascinating time in pro wrestling. While the second half of the decade saw a record rise in fans and revenue due to the Monday Night Wars and stars such as

The Story Behind Irwin Allen’s Land of the Giants

Mickey Yarber

Today, the name Irwin Allen is usually linked to the blockbuster disaster films of the 1970s like The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno. But a decade earlier, Allen was known for something very different.

Wolf Rock TV: The Lost Cartoon That Rocked Too Hard for Saturday Morning

Mickey Yarber

Wolf Rock TV flickered through the eighties like a neon fever dream, blending cartoons, music videos, and Wolfman Jack’s howl into one unforgettable burst of rock‑and‑roll Saturday morning magic.

Turbo Teen: The 80s Cartoon That Shifted Into Pure Insanity

Mickey Yarber

Not only was Brett Matthews a great sports car driver, but he was also a great sports car! Following an accident in which he crashed into a science lab where a top-secret transfer ray was

Dragon’s Lair: The Animated Quest That Brought the Arcade to TV

Mickey Yarber

Dirk the Daring was the star of this medieval-themed cartoon, and his nemesis was the fire-breathing dragon Cinge. In each episode, Cinge would find a new way to terrorize the kingdom of King Ethelred, usually

The California Raisins Show: The Grooviest Cartoon of the 80s

Mickey Yarber

Pop quiz: How many lovable characters originated from a mandate by a farmers’ collective to boost sales of a floundering agricultural product? Under these highly uncommon circumstances, the California Raisins were born. In 1986, the

Blackstar: The Intergalactic Quest of a Warrior Out of Time

Mickey Yarber

Astronaut John Blackstar was sucked through a black hole and awakened to find himself stranded on the planet Sagar. Since he had never heard of this planet, John figured he would never see earth again

Back to the Campfire: Revisiting Are You Afraid of the Dark

Mickey Yarber

Are You Afraid of the Dark? turned simple campfire tales into unforgettable ’90s chills, blending kid‑friendly scares with cozy nostalgia. The Midnight Society’s stories still glow in memory, proving that the best frights were always shared in the dark.

Eerie, Indiana: The Short‑Lived Series That Left a Big, Strange Legacy

Mickey Yarber

Eerie, Indiana took suburban life and twisted it into something wonderfully strange, giving kids a weekly dose of mystery, humor, and small‑town weirdness. It became a cult favorite by proving that the strangest place in America might be right next door.

Time Capsule: 1987 Toys ‘R’ Us Circular

Mickey Yarber

In this time capsule, we’re taking you back to 1987 with a 16-page sale paper from Toys ‘R’ Us. We’ll let you salivate over all of the incredible toys found inside that will surely invoke

How Monopoly Helped Free POWs in World War II

Mickey Yarber

Park Place, Boardwalk, and a hidden map with a secret escape route? For Allied POWs during World War II, Monopoly games came equipped with real-life “get out of jail free” cards. During World War II,

Time Capsule: 1990 Gamepro Handheld Holiday Guide

Mickey Yarber

Back in 1990, handheld gaming systems were the new hotness, and Gamepro provided a handy guide to all of the games that were currently available for both Gameboy and Lynx for the holidays. This way,

The Rural Purge at CBS

Mickey Yarber

In the early 1970s, Fred Silverman undertook a radical plan to remake CBS. What resulted was the programming bloodbath known as the rural purge.

Old Comic Book Ads: Halloween Edition

Mickey Yarber

Normally Gary is the host of this recurring feature, but I asked if I could step in and take a crack at it for an all spooky edition. He kindly obliged, so I pulled a

Fascinating Facts About Elvira

Mickey Yarber

If you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, then surely you’re familiar with the Mistress of the Dark, Elvira. Elvira got her start after winning an audition to replace former “Fright Night” host Larry

A Look Back at Kolchak: The Night Stalker

Mickey Yarber

Kolchak: The Night Stalker followed a relentless reporter chasing the supernatural through ’70s shadows, blending noir grit with monster‑of‑the‑week thrills. Darren McGavin’s dogged charm turned the series into a cult classic that still haunts retro TV fans.