Awesome 80s Archives : The Retro Network

From Telethon to Television Staple: The Story of The 700 Club

The 700 Club grew from a small fundraising broadcast into a long‑running television institution that shaped CBN, launched The Family Channel, and remained a cable fixture for decades.

The Wild History of Piper’s Pit

Mickey Yarber

Piper’s Pit transformed wrestling interviews into unpredictable battlegrounds, turning Roddy Piper’s sharp wit and chaos into moments that reshaped storytelling and defined an era of sports entertainment.

The Rise and Ruin of Jimmy Swaggart

Mickey Yarber

Jimmy Swaggart rose from Pentecostal revivalist to America’s most-watched televangelist, captivating millions with fiery sermons and music before personal scandal brought his media empire crashing down.

Whatever Happened to Nikita Koloff?

Mickey Yarber

Nikita Koloff left wrestling for ministry and mentorship, and today he inspires others through speaking events, retreats, and his “It’s Time to Man Up” podcast.

Pretty in Pink Turns 40 and Its Soundtrack Is Still Pure ’80s Magic

Mickey Yarber

Pretty in Pink turns 40, and its soundtrack still captures the spirit of ’80s teen culture with unforgettable new‑wave and post‑punk classics.

Movies

Batman 1989: The Summer the Dark Knight Ruled Pop Culture

Mickey Yarber

Batman’s 1989 takeover turned a simple movie release into a cultural tidal wave, with the bat emblem dominating stores, fashion, music, and the entire summer landscape.

Cheers: The Show That Made America Feel At Home

Mickey Yarber

Cheers turned a simple Boston bar into one of television’s most beloved gathering places, blending sharp humor, unforgettable characters, and a sense of community that still resonates decades later.

The Wild History of Action Park and the Chaos That Closed It

Mickey Yarber

Action Park delivered wild, barely supervised thrills where concrete slides, brutal wave pools, and experimental rides made danger part of the fun and ultimately part of its downfall.

The Rise of the Personal Pan Pizza and the BOOK IT Generation

Mickey Yarber

For eighties and nineties kids, the Personal Pan Pizza wasn’t just lunch. It was a moment. It was the smell that drifted through the mall, the hot pan placed on a red plastic tray, and the feeling that you finally had a pizza that belonged entirely to you.

Construx: The Toughest, Coolest, Most Underrated Toy of the Eighties

Mickey Yarber

Construx didn’t look like LEGO or Tinkertoys. It looked like something pulled off a futuristic workbench, and for a few magical years in the eighties, it turned bedrooms into engineering labs.

When the Chipmunks Ruled Saturday Mornings

Mickey Yarber

The Chipmunks turned eighties Saturday mornings into a musical playground, blending pop hits, bright animation, and sibling chaos that made Alvin, Simon, and Theodore unforgettable.

Plastic Terror: The Jaws Toy That Ruled Toy Boxes

Mickey Yarber

Ideal’s snapping shark turned Jaws into a hands‑on thrill, letting kids recreate the movie’s suspense with a plastic predator that made every game feel like a close call.

From Stadium Tours to Pay‑Per‑View Glory: The Story of the Great American Bash

Mickey Yarber

From stadium tours and concerts to pay‑per‑view showdowns, the Great American Bash became a defining summer ritual, capturing the energy and ambition of wrestling’s most transformative era.

Nine Forgotten Detective Shows from the ’80s

Mickey Yarber

Crime dramas ruled the 1980s, yet many promising contenders vanished almost as quickly as they arrived. These forgotten shows capture the era’s energy, ambition, and the risks of chasing a hit.

Practical Tips For Maintaining Your Vinyl Collection

Mickey Yarber

Caring for vinyl is less about perfection and more about steady habits that keep music, artwork, and memories alive. With the right cleaning, storage, and equipment, any collection can thrive for decades.

Bedrock City: A Retro Cartoon World on the American Highway

Mickey Yarber

For decades, Bedrock City offered families a playful detour into a Flintstones‑inspired world, a quirky roadside stop where dinosaurs, cavemen, and childhood wonder waited just off the highway.

Duff’s Smorgasbord and the Golden Age of Buffets

Mickey Yarber

Duff’s Smorgasbord turned a simple rotating buffet into a beloved dining ritual, serving comfort food, value, and a little bit of spectacle to families across America.