Jem and the Holograms Was Every Glitter Kid’s Dream
One look at pink hair, star earrings, and a wall of neon, and you knew this wasn't ordinary Saturday morning TV. The boys had He-man, and the girls had Jem…
Posted inPop Culture Toys and Games
Pound Puppies: The Soft Shelter Dogs Kids Loved
Some toys asked to be bought. Pound Puppies and the Pound Puppies Classic line asked to be saved. That was the whole trick, and in the mid-80s it worked like…
He-Man and Castle Grayskull: Why the Power Still Matters
"By the power of Grayskull!" You can hear it, can't you? Even before the sword goes up, the castle is already doing half the work. For 80s kids, Castle Grayskull…
Posted inPop Culture Fads Toys and Games
Garbage Pail Kids: The Gross Trading Cards Schools Couldn’t Stand
Few things felt more dangerous, or more fun, than opening a wax pack and finding a card so disgusting you had to show somebody immediately. Garbage Pail Kids were rude,…
Posted inPop Culture Fads Toys and Games Trends
Why the Rubik’s Cube Craze Took Over 80s Bedrooms
If you grew up in the early 80s, you probably remember a Rubik's Cube sitting somewhere in your room, half-solved and impossible to ignore. It wasn't tucked away like an…
Posted inPop Culture Fads Toys and Games Trends
Cabbage Patch Kids and the 1983 Toy Frenzy
One doll should not be able to turn a toy aisle into a contact sport. But in late 1983, Cabbage Patch Kids came awfully close. If you were around then,…
Posted in80s Heartthrobs Celebs and Icons
Ricky Schroder 80s Heartthrob was The Blue-Eyed Boy Wonder Turned into A Household Name
If the 80s had a poster child for innocence with just a hint of mischief, it was Ricky Schroder. He was the boy you wanted to sit next to on…
Posted inPop Culture Animated Fads Toys and Games
Popples Plush Toys and the Ball Trick That Made Them 80s Icons
Some toys were cute. Some toys had a gimmick. Popples plush toys had both, and that was the whole magic. Created by Those Characters From Cleveland, a division of American…
Posted inDiscontinued Treats Fads Food Pop Culture
PB Max Candy Bar is The Peanut Butter Favorite Fans Still Miss
Some candy bars fade out. PB Max never did. It left store shelves, sure, but it stuck in memory like a favorite song you can still hear after the radio…
Posted inFood 80s News Discontinued Treats Pop Culture
The Real Story Behind New Coke’s 1985 Disaster
New Coke didn't crash because Americans suddenly lost their taste for sweet soda. It crashed because new coke ran smack into memory, habit, and brand loyalty. For 80s fans, the…