Mickey Yarber, aka The Retro Rambler

Old Comic Book Ads: Halloween Edition

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.

Fascinating Facts About Gilligan’s Island

Mickey Yarber

In September of 1964, the S.S. Minnow first set out on its fateful three hour tour, as Gilligan’s Island premiered on American television sets. Not many could have predicted the impact that the sitcom would have on

Round Table: Some of Our Favorite Albums

Mickey Yarber

The Retro Network is presenting another Round Table, where members come together to discuss a common theme. This Round Table features some of our favorite albums. Check out the alumni’s favorite albums, then use the

Street Sharks: The 90s Cartoon That Bit Back

Mickey Yarber

The world of half-human, half-animal mutants got a little meaner with the release of 1995’s Street Sharks. These bad boys didn’t need any ninja training or rat sensais—they were buff, scary, and had a mouth full

Arcade All-Stars: Lethal Enforcers

Mickey Yarber

The streets were filled with thugs, dealers, armed robbers, and other scum (even ninjas), and only two hard-nosed lawmen had the guts and the skills to take out the trash. They were Lethal Enforcers, stars of

Jiffy Pop: The Campfire Classic We Still Love

Mickey Yarber

Popcorn has been around since the first Thanksgiving celebrated by this country, a gift from the Native Americans that we embraced then and still do. A staple of movie theaters since the early 1900s, the

Camp Candy: The 90s Cartoon That Felt Like Summer Vacation

Mickey Yarber

Camp Candy was a summer sleepover camp owned and operated by John Candy. Like most camps, it offered activities like boating, swimming, and fishing; but unlike most camps, this one had a variety of crazy

Lawn Darts: The Most Dangerous Toy of All Time

Mickey Yarber

Starting in the 1970s, people began to cast a suspicious eye on the safety standards used in making toys. Parents and lawmakers began voicing their concerns and this led to new legal standards for what

Tamagotchi: The Tiny Pet That Took Over the 90s

Mickey Yarber

Few phrases strike more fear in the hearts of parents than, “Can I have a puppy/kitty/bunny/parakeet/lizard?” (for the record, those are separate pet options, not one horrible, genetically-engineered super pet). And with good reason. Mom

Why Cop Rock Was One of the Biggest Flops in TV History

Mickey Yarber

Cop Rock swung for the fences with a bold mix of police drama and full‑blown musical numbers—an ambitious experiment that famously flopped. Still, its wild creativity makes it one of TV’s most unforgettable early‑’90s curiosities.

From Santa Anna to Chiclets: The Wild History of Adams Gum

Mickey Yarber

It’s hard to fathom childhood without chewing gum. Nostalgia just seeps out of the stuff. Whether you recall the comic tales of Bazooka Joe, the stick of stale pink stuff in a pack of baseball

New Coke: The Soda That Tried to Rewrite the ’80s

Mickey Yarber

Perhaps one of the darkest days in soft drink history occurred on April 23, 1985, when a true American icon was altered beyond all recognition. Yes, this is the day that Coca-cola announced to the

The Crispy Crusted History of Totino’s Pizza

Mickey Yarber

When Rose and Jim Totino opened their first pizzeria in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1951, they probably never imagined that they’d be serving up 300 million Totino’s Party Pizzas each year. As the legend goes, Rose

Yahtzee: From Yacht Parties to Living Rooms Everywhere

Mickey Yarber

A bejillion years from now, when archaeologists are digging up the suburban dens of our buried civilization, amid all the broken down ColecoVisions and My Buddy dolls, a Yahtzee box will be reverently dusted off and carted away.