Summer Featured Archives : The Retro Network

Holiday Inn Holidome: A Lost Landmark of Family Travel

Holiday Inn Holidomes turned ordinary hotel stays into indoor adventures, where warm air, glowing string lights, and the sound of splashing pools made every family trip feel like a mini vacation.

We Still Remember Suddenly S’Mores

Mickey Yarber

Warm graham, melting chocolate, and a marshmallow puffing in the microwave. Suddenly S’mores turned an ordinary afternoon into a tiny burst of campfire magic.

Sliding Through Summer on the Crocodile Mile

Mickey Yarber

The Crocodile Mile turned an ordinary backyard into a full summer adventure. One sprint, one dive, and suddenly you were sliding through a giant crocodile like the star of your own Saturday morning cartoon.

Super Soaker 50: The Backyard Blaster That Ruled the Decade

Mickey Yarber

In the summer of 1990, backyards across America were transformed into splash zones thanks to a revolutionary new take on an old toy: the Super Soaker 50. Sleek, pressurized, and wildly powerful compared to the

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

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

All About Saved by the Bell’s Summer at Malibu Sands

Jeff Sheldon

Like many other children of the 80s or 90s, I grew up watching Saved by the Bell. I previously wrote an article about something that has always puzzled some fans of the show, titled “Where Did

Jiffy Pop: The Campfire Classic We Still Love

Mickey Yarber

Popcorn has been around since the first Thanksgiving celebrated by this country, a gift from the Native Americans that we embraced then and still do. A staple of movie theaters since the early 1900s, the

Retro Commercials: Slip ‘N Slide

OldSchool80s

I don’t know about you, but commercials can often take me back to my formative years as quickly as any song or movie can. That is why we will continue this semi-regular feature on ’80s commercials

Lawn Darts: The Most Dangerous Toy of All Time

Mickey Yarber

Starting in the 1970s, people began to cast a suspicious eye on the safety standards used in making toys. Parents and lawmakers began voicing their concerns and this led to new legal standards for what

90’s Summer Reloaded

Adam Pope

My childhood was spent in Southern California, the home of palm trees and endless sunshine. While most folks imagine a California summer filled with surfboards, bikinis and Beach Boys tunes, I grew up just 20

Ice Cream in the Summertime: The Story of Carvel Soft-Serve

Jeff Sheldon

Believe it or not, Memorial Day has already come and gone. So, what better way to celebrate The Retro Network’s Summer Camp 2022 than with a story about ice cream? After all, who doesn’t love

Top Songs of the ’80s with ‘SUMMER’ in the Title

OldSchool80s

Some of my favorite memories growing up were created during the Summer months. As Bob Marley once sang, “Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet.” There are certain songs that

Advice to the Young: Wear Sunscreen and Other Life Lessons

OldSchool80s

With this being graduation time, I am reminded of a couple scenes from my beloved ’80s movies. First we have Rodney Dangerfield as “Thornton Melon” in 1986’s Back to School delivering something on the humorous