Geeks and nerds the world over had plenty of reason to rejoice over the 1985 film, Real Genius. For once, the brainy characters were the stars, rather than some misfit outcasts injected into a plot for mere comic relief. As a result, this endearing movie about a group of highly intelligent teens has remained a favorite, even a cult classic, ever since the film was originally released.
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Sure, when you ponder sweetened popcorn snacks, you might immediately think of the iconic Cracker Jack, the boxed treat that has been forever linked with America’s favorite pastime. But not everyone enjoys peanuts mixed with their popcorn, and in the 60s, a company called Lincoln Snacks introduced a clever and humorous alternative to the beloved Cracker Jack. Given the name, Screaming Yellow Zonkers, it was clear out of the gate that this decidedly different concoction might not be taking themselves all too seriously. That didn’t stop millions from embracing this popcorn treat that dared to be different.
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Often times, we don't realize the value of something until it is taken away. From that point forth, we mutter, we sign petitions, we reminisce with a saddened sigh. Such is the case with a tasty little confection known as BarNone. Introduced by Hershey's in 1986, it managed to stay in the candy aisle for a little over a decade, making more than a few fans along the way. And then it was gone, much to the chagrin of all who once savored its chocolatey goodness.
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Each of us seems to have a number of scents stored within our brain, just waiting to unleash memories of the past the moment we catch a whiff. Whether it be a freshly cut lawn before a baseball game, an oven full of piping hot-cookies, or simply a can of colored wallpaper paste, these fragrances instantly return us to a better time, a simpler time. Wallpaper paste?
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Just about every kid of the 70s, at least those who had access to a TV on Saturday morning, remembers Jonny Quest. The reason is simple: there was hardly a time that the Hanna-Barbera produced series wasn’t on TV. From 1967 through most of the 70s, and even into the 80s, kids have been following the adventures of Johnny and his pals. That’s some surprising longevity considering that only 26 episodes of the original animated series were ever produced.
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In the 80s, musical styles were exploring strange new territory, with the inclusion of synthesizers and drum machines adding a mechanical texture and giving a glimpse into the future. But one band in particular, decided to look back rather than forward, going to their roots to forge a retro sound that harkened back to a simpler time in music, the rockabilly era of Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and the famous Sun sessions of Elvis Presley. With plenty of pomade in their hair, flipped up collars, and a simple instrumentation, The Stray Cats were a welcome blast from the past.
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They say that good things come in small packages, and in the world of Toys, perhaps none have ever been smaller than Micro Machines – those tiny vehicles that made Matchbox cars look like a giant movie prop by comparison. And in the eyes of kids throughout the 90s, Micro Machines were must-have toys, beloved by car collectors, young and old alike.
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If there were any lingering questions about Disney's animated comeback in the 90s, The Lion King answered them all. Released in 1994, after a string of hits that included The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, the story of a young cub and his ascent to become ruler of Pride Rock surpassed them all. Bolstered by an all-star voice cast (James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jeremy Irons, Whoopi Goldberg and too many others to mention) and by a multi-platinum album's worth of hit songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, Simba and company went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
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In the mid-70s, action movies were upping the ante as far as acceptable levels of violence, with films like Dirty Harry redefining the role of the fictional cop. Soon after, the normally timid medium of television decided that they needed to respond in kind if they wanted to attract the audiences that were flocking to see this new era of films. ABC decided that the calm days of Adam-12 and Dragnet were over. There were two new cops on the beat that didn’t take crap from anyone and weren’t shy about drawing their guns and firing off a couple dozen rounds. Their names were Starsky and Hutch.
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Parents tend to sigh in relief whenever their children take a liking to something that also happens to be nutritionally sound. And for many years now (longer than the broadcast of radio in this country), Ovaltine has sold itself as a vitamin-rich beverage with a flavor that every kid loves. Truth be told, maybe not every kid, but enough to sell millions of jars of the powdered drink mix over the years.
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