Personal Memories Archives : The Retro Network

When the Wizard of Oz Was An Annual Event

Before streaming, The Wizard of Oz wasn’t just a movie. It was a yearly event, a night when every kid gathered around the TV and stepped into Oz together.

Ringing in the New Year With MTV ’92: A New Year’s Special

Mickey Yarber

In those years before I had a driver’s license, before I could pile into a friend’s car, blast the radio, and roam around town on New Year’s Eve like we owned the night, my celebrations

Wendy’s SuperBar and a Buffet of Memories

Mickey Yarber

In the fast-food world of burgers, fries, and drive-thrus, Wendy’s SuperBar was like an oasis in the desert. It launched in the late 1980s and peaked in the early ’90s, and it was an attempt

House Rules Backyard Summer Games

Kevin Decent

My brother and I spent a lot of time at our grandparents home over the summer. There were dinners I still crave. I would never grill a hamburger the way my grandfather did but I

The Last Summer I Saw My High School Friends

Kevin Decent

My son recently graduated sixth grade, and it’s a big time of transition for him. He’ll be going to a new school for seventh grade. New building, new teachers, new classmates. No guarantees that he

TRN Round Table: Vacations and Road Trips

Mickey Yarber

The fine folks from all around the Network have come together to share stories of memorable vacations and road trips throughout the years. We’re combining them all into one long, omnibus-like post for you to

General Pop Culture

I Have Become an Old Dad at McDonald’s

Kevin Decent

Throughout the country there is a gathering that takes place most weekend mornings. The old men congregate at the local McDonald’s. The breakfasts may vary but there’s always plentiful cups of hot coffee. Occasionally a

Take Me Home Again

Jefff Owenby

Whenever I ran into the kitchen looking for a bologna sandwich and some Kool-Aid Mom was ready with the pitcher. The 101 Strings Orchestra played on a living room stereo assaulting my ears with the

’60s Memories

Jefff Owenby

I would love to hear the rain on the window on a cold rainy night in our old house; I would love to be home in a living room full of family. With something sizzling

My Christmas Memories: 1987

OldSchool80s

As you should already know, I can’t get enough ’80s nostalgia the whole year, but Christmas is an especially nostalgic time for me. In the past, I shared My Christmas Memories from 1980 , My Christmas

Pitfall Harry and the Christmas Road Trip

Pitfall Gary

It was a green box with gold bars hiding behind trees, crocodiles swimming in a lake, underground tunnels and the best adventurer ever. That’s right Christmas 1982 I got the one present I wanted…PITFALL!

Looking Back at Captain N: The Game Master

Adam Pope

2019 marks the 30th anniversary of NBC pushing the start button on the Nintendo series, Captain N: The Game Master as part of their Saturday Morning lineup.

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.

Event Spotlight: IBM Christmas Party

Karen Flieger

Sometime in December, my parents would get us dressed up and into the car and my dad would drive us all downtown to a big office building or hotel or banquet hall. I don’t remember

My Christmas Memories: 1984

OldSchool80s

As you should already know, I can’t get enough ’80s nostalgia the whole year, but Christmas is an especially nostalgic time for me. In the past, I shared My Christmas Memories from 1980 and also My

Media Spotlight: Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth (David Bowie & Bing Crosby)

Karen Flieger

1. Why did I choose to cover this recording? It’s now officially Christmastime, for starters. For another, this now classic version of the song is celebrating its forty-fifth anniversary this year. My mom told me