80s Archives : Page 7 of 26 : The Retro Network

Fall 1985 TV Preview: New Shows That Defined the Season

Kids are back in school, the season officially changed from Summer to Fall, or Autumn if you’re nasty and that can only mean one thing… A new TV season is right around the corner! Nowadays

The Rise and Fall of ShowBiz Pizza Place

Mickey Yarber

In the neon-lit world of 1980s family entertainment, few places captured the imagination of children quite like ShowBiz Pizza Place. With its animatronic band, arcade games, and cheesy slices of pizza, ShowBiz wasn’t just a

Fascinating Facts About Mr. Wizard

Mickey Yarber

Long before Bill Nye donned a bow tie or the MythBusters blew things up for science, there was Don Herbert, better known as Mr. Wizard, the calm, curious, and endlessly inventive host who brought science

Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats: The Cartoon Where Cool Was King

Mickey Yarber

While dogs always seem to get top billing at the movies, cats have consistently stolen the show on the small screen. Among the greats include Felix, Tom, and Sylvester, one name stands out as slightly

Fireball Island: Treasure Hunts, Lava Runs, and Legendary Escapes

Mickey Yarber

In the golden age of 1980s board games, few titles captured the imagination quite like Fireball Island. Released by Milton Bradley in 1986, this wasn’t just another game, it was a spectacle. With its three-dimensional

Visionaries: The Cartoon Where Magic and Machines Went to War

Mickey Yarber

When the many suns of the planet of Prysmos came into alignment, the results were catastrophic. The planet was thrust back into the Dark Ages, where magic equaled power. Because of the cataclysm, the planet

Teddy Ruxpin Was the Talking Toy That Became a Phenomenon

Mickey Yarber

At some point, anyone who had a stuffed animal wished that it could talk. Kids look upon these toys as friends and companions, so it’s only natural for them to wish they could come to

Remembering the Big 8 Conference

Mickey Yarber

Before the Big 12 and the modern era of college football realignment, there was the Big Eight…a powerhouse conference that defined Midwestern football for nearly nine decades. From its humble beginnings in 1907 to its

Simon: The Memory Game That Frustrated a Generation

Mickey Yarber

There was never enough Simon to go around. This was one of those toys that could languish alone in the corner of a kid’s room, in desperate need of a battery or a good dusting-off,

The Snorks and Their Colorful World Beneath the Waves

Mickey Yarber

In the golden age of Saturday morning cartoons, few shows captured the imagination quite like The Snorks. Premiering on NBC on September 15, 1984, this animated series from Hanna-Barbera invited kids to explore the colorful,

Fascinating Facts About Nick At Nite

Mickey Yarber

If you grew up in the late ’80s or ’90s, chances are your bedtime routine included brushing your teeth, grabbing a snack, and falling asleep to the soothing glow of Nick at Nite. With its

Benji, Zax and the Alien Prince: The Saturday Morning Podcast

Christopher Jay

Benji, Zax and the Alien Prince Okay, so here’s the story: Take a beloved children’s character, add a bumbling robot, an alien prince, put them on the run, and then scratch your head because that

The Easy‑Bake Oven Gave Us Tiny Cakes and Big Memories

Mickey Yarber

Mom didn’t always welcome your presence in the kitchen, and occasionally, she even had the gall to claim your old pots and pans symphonies, performed in wooden spoon G-minor, weren’t quite the delicious aural treat you remember

Jem and the Holograms: Rivalries, Rock Stars, and Outrageous Adventures

Mickey Yarber

Long before The Spice Girls, Jem and the Holograms had Girl Power and then some. Underwritten by Hasbro, who wanted an MTV-influenced doll line to rival Mattel’s Barbie, Jem came on the scene as part of

The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vault Was the Greatest Letdown in Live TV History

Mickey Yarber

In all of television history, few events have blended lore, media spectacle, and anticlimax quite like The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vault. On April 21, 1986, millions of Americans tuned in to watch what was

Pound Puppies: The Plush Pups That Ruled the 80s

Mickey Yarber

There are a variety of things a person can dream about while he or she is putting transmissions together, one after the other, day after day, on a Cincinnati car factory assembly line. If it

When the Trapper Keeper Was King

Mickey Yarber

In the neon glow of the 1980s, few school supplies carried as much cultural clout as the Trapper Keeper. More than just a binder, it was a symbol of organization, self-expression, and status…an accessory that