They are some of the best-remembered bands of the 60s and 70s, even if they never set foot on the stage of The Ed Sullivan Show or American Bandstand. We remember their songs, which stick to the brain like a wad of gum, even though we never got the chance to see them in concert, our lighters held high, our arms swaying back and forth in reverence. They are the cartoon bands of yesteryear, and today, we pit them against one another to find out who is the best, all-time animated band.
We’ll offer some choices for your consideration, but if you feel we have neglected your favorite, chime in below in our comments section, and tell us why your choice should have been included.
First up, and with an amazing talent for turning mattress springs and car radiators into musical instruments, is the North Philadelphia Junkyard Band, laying down a funky groove on Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids:
Next, we present perhaps the first “monsters of rock” in existence, the Groovie Ghoulies. Featuring Frankie on percussion, Tom Drac tickling the ivories, and the Wolfman strumming the stringed instruments, this trio of terror performed a song each week on their popular cartoon series. Here is a music video of “123” for you to sink your teeth into:
And straight from Riverdale High, it’s the only cartoon band we are aware of to have a #1 hit on the Billboard charts, with their classic 1969 song, “Sugar, Sugar.” Let’s stroll down to the intersection of Memory Lane and Bubblegum Boulevard to remember this classic track from The Archies:
Finally, we have to mention this remarkable all-girl group, who created a surprisingly full sound considering that the band’s instrumentation consisted of nothing more than drums, guitar and a mere tambourine. Enjoy the soulful sound of Josie and the Pussycats:
Which band, in your opinion, should be the first to be inducted into the Cartoon Band Hall of Fame? Remember, there are many more to choose from as well. Think it over while you rock out to the cool videos we’ve posted, and share your opinion with us, here at Retroland.
One wonders how many questions the wise Mr. Owl fielded over the year from the various critters in the forest. As it stands, he will always be remembered for that one particularly iconic question, posed to him by a young boy, who innocently asked, “Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?” Of course, our fine-feathered friend succumbs to temptation, forgoes science in favor of flavor, and after chomping through the dense candy shell to get to his chocolaty prey, proclaims “three!”
The Tootsie Pop commercial first aired in 1970 and has continued to run sporadically for decades. It continues to spur debate over the number of licks necessary, and the bespectacled owl remains a beloved mascot to millions. As we pay tribute to this iconic commercial and its beloved Mr. Owl, we invite you to share your thoughts and memories with all of us at Retroland.
If you grew up watching television on Saturday mornings in the 70s and early 80s, you likely recall that the networks did their best to sneak in a little educational material in between the weekly doses of Super Friends and Scooby Doo. Over on ABC, they chose to teach us about grammar and government, thanks to the ever-popular Schoolhouse Rock. But if you happened to tune into CBS, then you likely remember the name Christopher Glenn (pictured to the left), who kept kids informed of current news events, thanks to a little segment called In the News. Running from 1971 until 1986, In the News enjoyed a respectable fifteen-year run and made us all a little smarter along the way.
Here’s a clip of a full segment, which commemorated the 40th anniversary of the use of nuclear weapons:
Christopher Glenn, who passed away in 2006, had a wonderful talent for communicating these news stories in a way that a kid of most any age could comprehend, without dumbing down the story, nor boring them to tears. Most importantly, the information seeped into our cartoon-addled brains almost effortlessly, without us ever realizing that we had been stealthily educated between segments of Bugs Bunny and Far Out Space Nuts.
If you happen to remember watching In the News during the Saturday mornings of your youth, share your memories with us as we tip our hats to these informative segments and their memorable host, here at Retroland.
Today marks the 70th birthday of one of the most beloved cartoon characters of all-time, a “wascally wabbit” with a Brooklyn accent named Bugs Bunny. On July 27, 1940, Warner Brothers released the first official cartoon to feature the carrot-chomping character, called “A Wild Hare”, which pitted our furry friend against a dimwitted hunter named Elmer Fudd. Let’s take a look at this classic clip:
The cartoon, directed by Tex Avery and produced by Leon Schlesinger, was not only nominated for an Academy Award, but also introduced Bugs’ iconic catchphrase, “What’s up Doc?” which left audiences in stitches wherever the cartoon was shown. As a result, it was included prominently in the majority of Bugs Bunny cartoon shorts in the years that followed.
As we help Bugs celebrate his birthday today, we want to hear from some of his many fans on Retroland. Do you have a favorite cartoon from his vast catalog? Do you have memories of waking up and watching Bugs before heading out to catch the bus to school? Or, do you simply have fond recollections of waking up to this little ditty on Saturday mornings?
Share your memories of Bugs Bunny with all of us at Retroland, as we tip our hat to a classic character from our childhood that has given us decades of laughter.
There’s something special about the television doctor, with their endless wealth of medical knowledge and (usually, at least) charming bedside manner. They diagnose mysterious diseases, impart valuable life advice upon us, and occasionally, make us laugh, something not always easy considering the pain and suffering they regularly face.
It would be impossible to list all of the memorable doctors that have graced the television screen over the years, but we went ahead and chose five of our favorites to serve as fodder for this particular blog. We would like to know who your favorite is, and which one you most wish was your personal physician.
To the left, we offer five esteemed professionals. First up, Trapper John McKintyre (Pernell Roberts), star of Trapper John, M.D. Next is hometown favorite, Dr. Marcus Welby (Robert Young). Then, straight from the Korean War, we have the epitome of grace under fire, Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce (Alan Alda) from M*A*S*H*. Next, someone with a little more intergalactic experience than his colleagues, the curmudgeonly Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley) from Star Trek. And finally, the overachiever in the bunch, the 16-year old prodigy, Doogie Howser, M.D. (Neil Patrick Harris)
Each is special in their own right, a shining example of everything a doctor should be, but we bet you have a favorite. Tell us who gets your vote for best television doctor and why you would, without hesitation, trust your medical care to their skilled hands. And, hey, if you think that someone such as Dr. Quinn, Dr. Kildare, Dr. Crusher, or even Dr. Nick from The Simpsons is a far better choice, making these others look like mere interns, let us know that as well. Share your choice with us, and please make sure and tell us why that particular physician gets your vote for “Best TV Doctor” as we try to settle this important debate, here at Retroland.
It may not quite be in the same league as Sleeping Beauty or The Lion King, but for those with a penchant for swords and sorcery, the 1985 Disney animated feature, The Black Cauldron, certainly has its own legion of loyal fans. Tomorrow, June 24, 2010, marks the 25th birthday of this adventurous film.
The Black Cauldron was a bit of a risk for Disney from the get-go, thanks to a darker-than-usual theme that attempted to appeal to slightly older audience than Disney’s typical demographic. Unfortunately, it was a little too sinister and scary for little kids and, as a result, the film fared rather poorly at the box office. Still, with a couple of decades under its belt, feelings for the movie have mellowed over the years, and by today’s standards, it seems tamer by comparison.
Based on a series of stories written by Lloyd Alexander, called The Chronicles of Prydain, the plot revolves around a pig keeper named Taran and his psychic swine friend, named Hen Wren. Together with Princess Eilonwy, they are pitted against the evil Horned King (voiced by John Hurt) in a battle to take possession of a magical black cauldron. Billy Hayes (best known to retro-fans as “Witchiepoo” on the 70s children’s show, H.R. Pufnstuf), provided the voice of “Orgoch,” one of the three witches in the film.
Here’s a glimpse at the first part of the film to refresh your memory:
Fans of this fantasy film will be happy to learn that a 25th anniversary special edition DVD will be released on September 14, 2010, and will feature deleted scenes, a new game, and the 1952 Donald Duck short titled Trick or Treat. Here is a trailer for the special release:
If you are a fan of The Black Cauldron, chime in and share your memories in our comments section, as we wish a happy birthday to this somewhat undeserved black sheep of the Disney vault, here at Retroland.
It’s been quite a few years since we saw our old pals, Beavis and Butthead, the pair of lovable cartoon juvenile delinquents regularly seen on MTV in the 90s. Created by Mike Judge (King of the Hill, Office Space), the duo first appeared in an underground cartoon called “Frog Baseball” that proved popular enough for them to get their own show on MTV in 1993. Here’s a clip of what young viewers were enticed by, back in the day:
Of course, when they weren’t engaged in their mindless antics, they could usually be found watching music videos, and providing their unique and comical commentary. Here’s a little clip of their reaction to Milli Vanilli and Journey:
And now comes the exciting news for fans everywhere that Beavis and Butthead are returned to MTV with a collection of all-new episodes. No word on an exact date, as of yet, but one thing is certain – no music video made during their absence is safe from being skewered by the irreverent pair. One can only imagine, for example, their reaction when they get their first look at Lady Gaga.
As we get ready for the return of this classic 90s cartoon, we want to hear from our readers. Were you a faithful fan of Beavis and Butthead in the day? Were you forbidden from watching their antics by protective parents that didn’t quite appreciate their brand of humor? And, most importantly, are you eager to see them return after all these years? Share your thoughts with us at Retroland as we remember this truly one-of-a-kind show.
Today, we take a look back at a true classic, an educational toy that lives and breaths and burrows and scurries. For over fifty years, kids have stared intently through the clear plastic walls of their formicarium (the scientific term for ant farm), as their new ant friends labor intensively to construct a sand-tunneled utopia. Granted, anyone can build one of these observation instruments with a handful of easy-to-obtain supplies, but we have long put our trust into a man named Milton Martin Levine, known to millions of kids as Uncle Milton, to supply us with his special Ant Farms (ants included).
Here’s what one of them looks like:
In case you are wondering if there have been any space-age advances since the first ant farms, rest assured that ant farm technology continues to progress. Uncle Milton offers a new Ant Farm Gel Colony, as well as an Illuminated Ant Farm Gel Colony. Take a look for yourself:
With over 20 million Ant Farms sold, Uncle Milton is still going strong after all these years and continues to amaze us with this unique look into the daily life of ants. Are you the proud former owner of an Ant Farm? Have any fond recollections you would like to share (or even horror stories, if you’ve got them)? Share your Ant Farm memories with all of us at Retroland as we tip our collective caps to one of our favorite uncles!
When it comes to carbonated beverages, it’s no secret that cola-flavored drinks reign supreme. But over the years, a few fruit-flavored competitors have managed to hold their own, providing the refreshing flavor of artificial fruit with every sip. Today, we want to hear from you. Let us know what your all-time favorite fruit-flavored beverage is. And to get you started, we introduce two formidable competitors – Orange Crush and Grape Nehi. Granted, both of these brands sell many different fruit flavors; we just picked the two most popular to get us started.
In the first corner, we present Orange Crush, a tasty citric beverage that has been popular ever since its arrival in 1916. Here’s a look at a wonderfully retro commercial for their product:
Now, unfortunately, we weren’t able to find a commercial for Nehi, which started production in 1928, before eventually going on to become the Royal Crown Company, makers of RC Cola. We have confidence, however, that there are more than a few Nehi loyalists among us, who will fondly remember grape Nehi, as well as all the other exquisite fruit flavors offered, including strawberry, watermelon and peach varieties.
And just so we have another opportunity to post a cool retro commercial, we offer this little flashback for RC cola.
Hard to believe that it was fifteen years ago when we first met the well meaning but woefully misguided Cher Horowitz, played masterfully by Alicia Silverstone, in the sleeper-hit film, Clueless. Released on July 19, 1995, the film grossed $70 million at the box office and made Silverstone a household name. Let’s take a look back at this classic comedy, which perfectly captured the excessive materialistic misadventures of a group of Beverly Hills teens.
Of course, alongside newcomer Alicia Silverstone, the film also marked the first major movie role for the late Brittany Murphy, who gave a terrific performance as Tia, the unpopular newcomer transformed by Cher into her worst nightmare, someone more popular.
And besides launching a few careers, Clueless also spawned a 1996 television spin-off series that ran for three seasons. Stacey Dash (Dionne), Elisa Donovan (Amber), Donald Faison (Murray), Twink Caplan (Ms. Geist) and Wallace Shawn (Mr. Hall) each reprised their film roles in the series.
If you hold fond memories for this beloved 90s film, share your thoughts and comments with us at Retroland, as we take a look back 15 years to celebrate the anniversary of this unforgettable view into the life of the privileged teens of the rich and famous.
They are some of the best-remembered bands of the 60s and 70s, even if they never set foot on the stage of The Ed Sullivan Show or American Bandstand. We remember their songs, which stick to the brain like a wad of gum, even though we never got the chance to see them in concert, our lighters held high, our arms swaying back and forth in reverence. They are the cartoon bands of yesteryear, and today, we pit them against one another to find out who is the best, all-time animated band. 
There’s something special about the television doctor, with their endless wealth of medical knowledge and (usually, at least) charming bedside manner. They diagnose mysterious diseases, impart valuable life advice upon us, and occasionally, make us laugh, something not always easy considering the pain and suffering they regularly face.
When it comes to carbonated beverages, it’s no secret that cola-flavored drinks reign supreme. But over the years, a few fruit-flavored competitors have managed to hold their own, providing the refreshing flavor of artificial fruit with every sip. Today, we want to hear from you. Let us know what your all-time favorite fruit-flavored beverage is. And to get you started, we introduce two formidable competitors – 