You Are What You Were. Celebrate Retro Pop Culture At Retroland.
In childhood, few things are as delightfully frightful as a spooky old home in the neighborhood that, according to legend, is inhabited by ghostly spirits. For decades, our entertainment has happily helped condition us to believe in the validity of such places, as evidenced by the overwhelming number of books, films, television shows, and attractions that not only convinced us, but painted a vivid image in our heads as to what a haunted house is supposed to look like.
Continue reading...
“All the birds sing words and the flowers croon, in the (tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki) Tiki Room”. So sayeth the theme song to one of the most beloved attractions in Disneyland, located at the entrance to Adventureland. With over 250 animated birds, flowers, and statues to serenade and delight guests, it isn't any wonder that people have been flocking to see The Enchanted Tiki Room since 1963.
Continue reading...
The end of summer is a traditional time for families to pack up the car and head out on the nation’s highways for a good, old-fashioned road trip vacation. Perhaps grandma’s house is the final destination, or perhaps it’s Wally World, or just a relaxing jaunt down Route 66, but millions will be traveling the nation’s highways this summer. And depending on where one’s travels take them, folks may even pass a few of the strange and wonderful roadside attractions that have dotted the landscape of rural highways over the last century. Today, we thought we would take a look at some of these classic spots that have lured more than a few families to make a quick detour on the way to grandma’s house.
Continue reading...
They may be disappearing from the landscape one-by-one, but Drive-in movies certainly aren’t forgotten. Enormously popular in the 50s and 60s, there were few places that could compete with the local drive-in when it came to a great place to take a date - mainly due to the privacy that an enclosed theater just couldn’t afford. They were also popular with families, providing an affordable night out on a hot summer's night.
Continue reading...
If your family ever took one of those summer road-trip vacations, you likely encountered Stuckey’s somewhere along your route. An oasis for highway travelers of any sort, Stuckey’s offered a place to rest, gas up, or have a 99-cent breakfast (back in the day, at least). If you had a sweet tooth, they had plenty of their famous pecan rolls on hand; if you needed a quick souvenir, they offered a wall-to-wall assortment of trinkets, from rattlesnake earrings to coffee mugs, Mexican rugs to t-shirts. Stuckey’s was a welcoming sight to many a weary family.
Continue reading...
The public has long held a fascination for the plethora of aquatic critters lurking below the ocean surfaces. Shows like The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau captivated millions in the 60s and 70s by offering a glimpse of this sparsely explored environment from the comforts of their own living room. For those a little more adventurous, Sea world has offered a way to get up close and personal with these majestic creatures for over four decades. They aren't the first oceanarium (Marineland holds that distinction), but over the years they have grown to become one of the best known providers of undersea entertainment, while always keeping their emphasis on research, education and conservation efforts.
Continue reading...
Somewhere in a parking lot near you, there might just be a tiny old shack, perhaps converted into a drive-up coffee stand or some other small business. Chances are, this was once a Fotomat and, in its glory days, was painted a brilliant sky blue with a pyramid-shaped gold roof. Cars waited in line impatiently, eager to relive their memories of a graduation day, or a vacation, or a baby's first steps. Fotomats once dotted the landscape of our nation. Then, almost overnight, technology swept in with little mercy and Fotomat became as extinct as the film they once developed.
Continue reading...
Americans have had a love affair with movies for over a century, not to mention the mystical place that produces them known as Hollywood. This is where it all happens, right? And if you should happen to visit Tinsel Town, what could be more fun than seeing how the movies are made? The special effects, the elaborate sets, the glamorous stars? Well, how about two out of three?
Continue reading...
High atop a hillside known as "Chavez Ravine", and just a stone's throw from the City of Angels, lies a magical place where the inhabitant’s blood runs blue - Dodger Blue. From April until October of every year from 1962 to the present, the air has filled with the fragrant smoke of grilled foot-long Dodger Dogs, cheers from a legion of loyal fans, and the soothing, fatherly voice of Vin Scully to celebrate the wins, and comfort during the defeats. Fans and players agree that when it comes to Major League ballparks, Dodger Stadium scores a home run.
Continue reading...
It was a proposition sure to widen to eyes of any little tyke with nautical aspirations, an opportunity to navigate their very own motorboat, and skillfully navigate through treacherous boulders and hairpin turns with the skill of a seasoned sailor. And, for over three decades, Disneyland's Motor Boat Cruise provided countless voyages for millions of delighted kids.
Continue reading...