Awesome 80s Archives : Page 9 of 17 : The Retro Network

Mad Scientist Monster Lab: When Kids Became Creepy Little Chemists

In the neon-soaked landscape of 1980s toy aisles, where action figures ruled and slime was king, Mattel dared to go one step further into the bizarre. Enter the Mad Scientist Monster Lab…a gloriously grotesque toy

Faces of Death: The VHS-Era Urban Legend

Mickey Yarber

In 1978, a low-budget pseudo-documentary called Faces of Death emerged from the shadows and quickly became one of the most infamous underground films of the VHS era. Marketed as a “shockumentary,” it promised viewers a

When The Inhumanoids Dragged Saturday Mornings Into the Dark

Mickey Yarber

“It’s another Attack!They’re not human, they’re…Inhumanoids, Inhumanoids,The evil that lies within…” Foolish humans. When will they learn that digging and exploring where mother nature never intended will only unleash gigantic monsters bent on destroying the

The Worst Drug Trips Ever Animated

Brian Cave

Back in the 80s, Nancy Reagan led the charge to keep kids drug-free. I was a child of D.A.R.E., but even without that, my television made sure to teach me that “Drugs Are Bad.” I

Supernaturals: The Hologram Heroes and Villains of Our Childhood

Mickey Yarber

In the fall of 1987, toy shelves were glowing…literally. Amid the neon slime, transforming robots, and sword-wielding warriors of the decade, Tonka introduced a line that felt like it crawled out of a haunted comic

Freddy’s Nightmares: The Top 5 Episodes

Pitfall Gary

Freddy’s Nightmares A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Series Freddy’s Nightmares was a television spin-off of the highly successful A Nightmare on Elm Street film franchise, airing during the height of Freddy Krueger’s popularity in

How The 13 Ghosts of Scooby‑Doo Became a Cult Classic in Just 13 Episodes

Mickey Yarber

In the fall of 1985, Saturday morning cartoons took a spooky detour when The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo premiered on ABC. It was the seventh incarnation of the beloved franchise, but this time, the formula

Ghost Castle: The Haunted Board Game That Turned Fear Into Fun

Mickey Yarber

In the mid-1980s, when board games were branching into three-dimensional designs and Halloween-themed fun was creeping into toy aisles, Ghost Castle emerged as a standout. Released by MB Games in 1985, Ghost Castle was more

DTV Monster Hits: When Rock & Roll and Disney Came Together To Make Halloween Magic

Mickey Yarber

In the golden age of TV specials, when Halloween was more about mood than merchandise, Disney delivered a rock-infused treat that still haunts the memories of fans who caught it live: DTV Monster Hits. Originally

Michael Jackson’s Thriller: Little Known Facts About the Iconic Music Video

Pitfall Gary

Micheal Jackson, the King of Pop, was a huge star from a young age. The creation of MTV and Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video propelled him onto another level. His music videos were always a

Ecto‑Cool Adventures: Revisiting The Real Ghostbusters

Mickey Yarber

After the success of the 1984 film Ghostbusters, a cartoon adaptation was inevitable. With most of the characters from the movie appearing in this series (though in slightly altered form…Ray was a bit chunkier and Egon

The Spooky History of the Ouija Board

Mickey Yarber

So there’s no gray-haired psychic in your town? And you can’t sneak another call into the astrology hotline without your mom noticing the long-distance charges? If you need some answers in your life, and answers

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