For most of us growing up on this continent, we have a pretty good handle as to what resides on the typical McDonald’s menu. Sure, the McRib comes and goes, and other specialty items pop up from time to time, but much of the menu remains the same as it has for decades. Inspired by this wonderful blog post over at www.ireallylikefood.com, however, we thought it might be fun to see a few of the fun items that can be found on various McDonald’s menus around the globe.
We’ll start in Japan, with the Shrimp Fillet sandwich. Much like its American Fillet-o-Fish counterpart, this baby contains a fried shrimp patty, complete with lettuce and special sauce.
Hopping over to China, we have the McRice sandwich, where the buns have been replaced by two rice patties encasing a chicken fillet.
A trip to India wouldn’t be complete without ordering a McCurry Pan, now would it?
Perhaps, an El Maco sounds like it would hit the spot. Luckily, one needn’t travel south of the border for this delicacy. Sweden or Finland will be happy to serve you this burger, which is topped with salsa and sour cream.
This is really only the tip of the iceburg. Head on over to the afformentioned blog, or perhaps here for another assortment of unique menu items, or you can see what Wikipedia has on the subject. And what we are interesting in learning is whether or not you have tasted any of these international delicacies unavailable to us in the states. What did you think of them? Also, are there any of these items that you feel are long-overdue in the states? Share the memories of your McDonald’s travels with all of us at Retroland.
Ever since Variety magazine reported on Tuesday that Gilligan’s Island is headed to the big screen, numerous groups have been pondering who will be cast in each of the seven familiar roles. And we’re sure that you have some ideas of your own.
Let’s start by taking a glance back at the original cast. And to be fair, we decided to include both the “and the rest…” original version (actually, a rare colorized version of the original) and the later version, which finally credits the previously neglected Professor and Mary Ann.
So, what are the casting ideas that have been floated around? Original producer, Sherwood Schwartz seem to prefer Michael Cera as Gilligan, and Beyonce as Ginger. Fox411 would like to see William Shatner, skippering the doomed voyage (and let’s face it, could The Minnow be in hands more competent than that of James T. Kirk?). This article from USA Today offers plenty of suggestions, but we want to hear your casting thoughts. Share your ideas with us at Retroland, as we all prepare for yet another three hour tour.
It is often said that nothing in this world is free, but if one wanted to set out to disprove such a notion, he or she would need to look no further than Popular Science. This informative publication, which has been serving those interested in science for well over 100 years, announced on March 5, 2010 that they will be making every single issue of the magazine available online – for free!
Founded by Edward L. Youmans in 1873, the stated goal of Popular Science was to “disseminate scientific knowledge to the educated laymen,” and that’s precisely what they have continued to do since their inception. Today, the magazine barely resembles the early years of publication, which was altered dramatically in 1914 to appeal more to the mainstream. But they have always remained true to their mission statement – by putting complex information into terms that even the average joe could understand. For the past year, the publication has also maintained a television presence on (where else?) the Science Channel, with the show, Popular Science’s Future Of…
The magazine has inspired and educated numerous people over the years, such as this guy, who used one of their magazine covers in a pretty unique way:
So, before you head over to check out the hundred of issues of Popular Science now available, we thought we would ask you to share your memories of this beloved publication with all of us at Retroland, as we applaud their willingness to share so much information at absolutely no charge. Meanwhile, We can think of a few more magazines that we wish would follow suit. Mad magazine, anyone?
Over the last 29 years, millions of television viewers have tuned in on Oscar night, not only to watch the ceremonies, but also to watch Barbara Walters interview some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Always interesting, often provocative, there are few in the business with the ability to conduct an interview with the finesse and charm that Walters has always displayed in her distinguished career.
Well, tomorrow night sadly marks the end of an era. A few weeks ago, Walters (who, you may be surprised to learn, turned 80 in September) announced on The View that this will be her final year of providing these memorable Oscar interviews.
Let’s take a look at a classic example of one of these interviews, conducted with Cher in 1988.
Did you faithfully tune in to these specials each Oscar night? Do have a particular favorite out of the many interviews she has conducted over the last three decades? Share your thoughts on this end of an era with all of us at Retroland as we give a grateful tip of the hat to Barbara Walters.
Tonight is the big night for the premiere of Tim Burton’s remake of Alice in Wonderland. We shared some info on Lewis Carroll and Walt Disney’s 1951 animated feature a couple of days ago, and yet, we still seem to have a little “Alice” on the brain. Today, we thought we would take a trip to one of our favorite places, Disneyland, and visit the rides from this classic film.
Upon heading into Fantasyland, it’s hard to miss the twirling teacups, and the colorful supply of caterpillars ready to give eager visitors a ride into Wonderland. In fact, Alice in Wonderland is one of the only films to ever be honored with two separate attractions at Disneyland. Having said that – while one can take a spin on the teacups in all of the Disney theme parks around the globe, one must travel to Anaheim, California’s Disneyland to experience the Alice in Wonderland attraction.
Since a video is worth a thousand words (or something like that), let’s see the rides in action. Here’s a classic clip of the Mad Tea Party:
And now, let’s hop in our own caterpillar and take a tour through the looking glass:
So, have you ridden the Alice in Wonderland dark ride at Disneyland? Have you taken a dizzying spin in the teacups at any of the Disney parks, gleefully knocking your equilibrium out of whack? Or perhaps you just want to voice your opinion about tonight’s premiere of the anticipated Tim Burton film. Share your thoughts on all things Alice, old and new, with all of us at Retroland. Meanwhile, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that nobody at Disney decides to insert an audio-animatronic version of Johnny Depp in either of these rides. Pirates of the Caribbean was quite enough, we think.
Former Saturday Night Live alumni, Spinal Tap bassist and The Simpsons voice over mastermind, Harry Shearer, has just released a new album. Titled Greed and Fear, Shearer combines his own brand of satire with a wonderful jazz score in this artistic commentary on the US banking system.
Meanwhile, we thought we would share some classic Harry Shearer with all of you at Retroland. Here’s a fun clip, with Harry performing a handful of his many Simpsons voices, such as Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner.
This is from the “Unwigged and Unplugged” tour, featuring Shearer with musical cohorts, Michael McKeon and Christopher Guest, performing acoustical versions of a few of their songs from both This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind:
Are you a fan of Mr. Shearer’s work? Share your thoughts on his various endeavors and let us know what your particular favorites are, as we wish Harry much success with his newest album release.
In just a few days, filmmaker Tim Burton is going to show us a new version of a timeless tale, through his own particularly unique looking glass. And while we haven’t yet decided how we feel about this latest incarnation, we do find ourselves feeling strangely nostalgic about Alice in Wonderland. And there is sure plenty to write about this topic from a pop culture perspective. For today, however, we’ll take things back to the beginning.
While Mr. Burton certainly has his own eccentricities, they pretty much pale in comparison to English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgeson, better known by his penname, Lewis Carroll. An odd yet brilliant man, he published Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland in 1865 and all had to admit, it was a heck of a book. Filled with strange imagery and fantastical characters such as the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat, it was destined to become a classic.
Years later, in 1938, an intrigued Walt Disney registered the name “Alice in Wonderland” with the MPAA and began what was to become over a decade of often extremely frustrating rewrites to finally bring the animated Alice in Wonderland to theaters in 1951. Here’s a classic clip:
Strange as it might seem today, the film wasn’t all that successful when it was first released. Walt, who was never really enamored with the final product, would move on to bigger and better things. Years later, however, in the 70s, as college kids began experimenting with various chemical substances, the cartoon started gaining enormous popularity on campuses nationwide and sparked a renewed interest that would eventually carry over to the mainstream. Of course, today it is considered classic Disney, a film passed down along generations. Still, it does has its detractors, who fret over the fact that Disney took some rather large creative license leaps with the original story, perhaps too much so.
What do you think? Are you a purist who prefers the literary Alice, or are you someone who grew up watching the animated Disney version and are now sharing this classic cartoon with your own kids? Furthermore, what are your thoughts on the new live-action version, which will be released on Friday? Share all of those thoughts with us as look back on Alice in Wonderland here at Retroland.
Back in 1974, a Hungarian architect and sculptor named Ernő Rubik created a perplexing mechanical puzzle that we now all know as the Rubik’s Cube. Ideal Toys released the brain teaser in the United States in 1980 and it looked something like this:
Flash forward to today and some 350 million Rubik’s cubes have been sold, making it one of the most successful toys of all time. Now, it might seem as if such a timeless toy couldn’t be improved, and in most cases we would agree. But we have to admit, the folks over at Techno Source managed to give it an impressive technological makeover by fully implementing a touch screen to the illuminated cube. We present to you – Rubik’s Touch Cube.
A recent winner at the 2010 Toy of the Year Awards, the Rubik’s Touch Cube was named the “Electronic Entertainment Toy of the Year.” Check out all of the things that the new cube can do and then come back to Retroland and share your thoughts on Rubik’s Cubes, old and new, as we nod our heads to one of the better remakes we’ve seen recently.
Just a quick head’s up that you might want to tune into Today this week. They are doing a recurring special feature, called “Great TV Families Reunited” that looks to be quite interesting. Today, they reunited the cast from Eight is Enough. Tomorrow, they will be featuring the Partridge Family, and 227 will spotlighted on Thursday.
Here is a clip of the Eight is Enough cast, in case you missed it.
If you have a chance to tune in, feel free to come here and share your thoughts on the week’s reunion festivities with all of us at Retroland.
On March 1, 1962, in Garden City, Michigan, the first Kmart opened its doors to the public. Founded by Sebastian S. Kresge, and famous for its “Blue Light Specials,” this discount department store chain would become a familiar sight in most large towns through the 70s and 80s.
And for good measure, here’s a rip-roarin’ television ad from the same time period. Hope you have your dancing shoes on!
Whew! Wasn’t that fun? All right, once you catch your breath, share those memories of Kmart and the infamous Blue Light Specials with all of us at Retroland.
We’ll start in Japan, with the Shrimp Fillet sandwich. Much like its American Fillet-o-Fish counterpart, this baby contains a fried shrimp patty, complete with lettuce and special sauce. 
Hopping over to China, we have the McRice sandwich, where the buns have been replaced by two rice patties encasing a chicken fillet. 
Perhaps, an El Maco sounds like it would hit the spot. Luckily, one needn’t travel south of the border for this delicacy. Sweden or Finland will be happy to serve you this burger, which is topped with salsa and sour cream. 
Just a quick head’s up that you might want to tune into Today this week. They are doing a recurring special feature, called “Great TV Families Reunited” that looks to be quite interesting. Today, they reunited the cast from 
