Awesome 80s Archives : Page 14 of 17 : The Retro Network

Mall Stores of the ’80s (and ’90s) that You’ll Never Shop at Again

The Shopping Mall was once an essential destination especially for those of us who grew up from the late-70s through the ’90s. The shopping aspect has been more-or-less replaced by online retailers, but the social

Flight of the Navigator Was the UFO Adventure Every ’80s Kid Wanted

Mickey Yarber

Imagine falling unconscious in 1978 and waking up eight years later, still the same age. Your family is gone, and almost nobody remembers Starsky & Hutch. That was the starting point for Disney’s Flight of the Navigator,

A Brief History of Chuck E. Cheese

The Retro Network

In the realm of retro pop culture, few things evoke as much nostalgia as the mention of Chuck E Cheese pizza. For decades, this iconic family entertainment center has been a haven for kids and

Big Trak: The Programmable Tank That Drove Our Childhoods

Mickey Yarber

November of 1979 was the moment the future finally arrived in the American living room. When the holidays arrived a month later, many American children (mostly boys) were treated to the toy of their dreams,

How Voyagers! Mixed History, Humor, and High‑Concept Adventure

Mickey Yarber

Voyagers! mixed history, heart, and lighthearted adventure as Phineas and Jeffrey leapt through time to set things right. Bright, fast, and endlessly charming, the short‑lived series remains a beloved early‑’80s cult favorite.

Wrestling’s Black Saturday

Kevin Decent

Imagine sitting down at 8 PM, turning on the CW to watch Arrow or The Flash. Instead of your favorite member of the DC Universe, a new yet familiar face appears. Stan Lee is introduced

Indiana Jones and the Franchise of Destiny

Mickey Yarber

Few movies go on to spawn franchises, and even fewer are adored by generations. The Indiana Jones franchise is one of those rare few to capture the imaginations of viewers young and old, worldwide. Before

Fascinating Facts About Your Favorite ’80s Cartoons

Mickey Yarber

If you thought you knew everything about your favorite 80’s cartoons, think again! From the many great, and some not so great, cartoons that aired in the 80’s there is an abundance of things about

The Fall of Hills Department Store

Kevin Decent

Or, Hills is where the toys were. Recently on the Retro Network podcast, Jason and Mickey talked about stores from their childhoods. Take a listen to Episode 10 if you haven’t already. I was

Comic Books

Batmania: Revisiting 1989’s Batman

Michael

It might be hard today to fully grasp just how big a cultural moment it was when Tim Burton’s Batman opened in theaters thirty years ago this month. You couldn’t go out of the house without

GLOW in the Dark – How a Late Night Ladies’ Wrestling Show Taught Me Girl Power

Stacey

I am a certified child of the ’80s. I’m in that sweet spot just between Gen X and Millennial, so I mainly observed the more fun parts of the decade from the sidelines.

WWF and MTV: The Brawl to End it All

Kevin Decent

Way back in 1984, the World Wrestling Federation put on a three-hour show in their home arena, Madison Square Garden. The live event featured a battle royal plus all three men’s titles were defended.

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