Awesome 80s Archives : Page 8 of 15 : The Retro Network

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

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

Television

Remote Control: The MTV Game Show That Broke All the Rules

Mickey Yarber

Before reality TV took over and music videos faded into the background, MTV’s first original non-musical show, Remote Control, blasted onto screens in 1987 with a recliner, a remote, and a whole lot of irreverence.

The Birth of MTV’s Video Music Awards

Mickey Yarber

When MTV launched the Video Music Awards (VMAs) on September 14, 1984, it wasn’t just creating an awards show, it was igniting a cultural revolution, though no one knew it then. Held at Radio City

Whatever Happened to MTV’s Original VJs?

Mickey Yarber

When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, it didn’t just revolutionize music television—it introduced the world to a new kind of celebrity: the Video Jockey, or VJ. Five charismatic personalities became the faces of the

MTV and WWF’s Rock and Wrestling Connection of the ’80s

Mickey Yarber

In the mid-1980s, a seismic shift occurred in entertainment when two unlikely forces, MTV and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), collided in a glittery explosion of music, muscle, and mayhem. This fusion, dubbed the Rock

The Cultural Impact of MTV’s Early Days

Mickey Yarber

The first wave of MTV music videos that all started with The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” did more than entertain; they reshaped the cultural landscape in ways that still echo today. Here’s how

In Memory of Hulk Hogan

Kevin Decent

It’s not every day that your parents call you about a celebrity death. But it’s also not every day a super hero dies. For children of the 1980’s, Hulk Hogan was a comic book hero

Enertech Water Guns: The Realistic Water Guns That Created Controversy

Mickey Yarber

Before the neon splash of Super Soakers dominated backyard water warfare, a more intense breed of water guns made waves in the mid-1980s. Enertech water guns, manufactured by LJN Toys, stood out for their jaw-dropping

When Ernest Went to Splash Mountain

Mickey Yarber

Before the rise of influencers and viral ride-throughs, there was Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain, a gloriously goofy, half-hour TV special that aired on July 7, 1989, just days before the grand opening of Splash

The Fall Guy: A Look Back at TV’s Original Stuntman Hero

Mickey Yarber

The Fall Guy delivered big stunts, Hollywood charm, and Lee Majors at his effortless best. This look back revisits the action, the cast, and the blue‑collar heroics that made the 80s series a fan‑favorite classic.

Time Capsule: 1981 TSR Gateway To Adventure Catalog

The Retro Network

Go back to the golden age of role-playing and table-top gaming and browse through this TSR catalog from the early ’80s!

Cartoon Cruisers: A Comparison of Iconic Animated Vehicles

Brian Cave

We’ve all been on a commute, stuck in traffic due to some accident up ahead or cut off by a lousy driver. Sometimes you get mad and honk, sometimes you just suck it up and

Mr. T Cartoon: Gymnastics, Grit, and Gold Chains on Saturday Mornings

Mickey Yarber

Looking back at the Saturday morning cartoon of the ’80s based on the iconic Mr. T.

New Coke: Marketing Failure or Marketing Genius?

Pitfall Gary

Origins and addictive ingredients Coca-Cola has been a staple of American life for over 130 years. Created in 1886 by John Pemberton with a mixture of coca leaves and kola nuts. And yes, cocaine was

The Legacy of Pole Position and Its Impact on Arcade History

Mickey Yarber

Pole Position brought real speed to the arcade, turning simple controls and a single qualifying lap into a rush of Formula 1 excitement. It set the standard for racing games and became an unforgettable golden‑age favorite.