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Retro Reel Review: Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)

Eddie Murphy’s cool charm and Angela Bassett’s grounded intensity make Vampire in Brooklyn a nostalgic mid‑90s mix of spooky fun, foggy streets, and irresistible charm.

Dark Tower: The Holy Grail of 80s Board Games

Dark Tower mixed fantasy adventure with electronic magic, creating one of the most unforgettable and ambitious board game quests of the 1980s.

TRN Time Machine Podcast: Getting to Know Jason

Our dear friend and co-founder of The Retro Network, Jason Gross, passed away three years ago today. In memory of him, and to mark the occasion as part of Jason Gross Day, we’re re-releasing a

Halloween For Gen X Was Full of Costumes, Candy, & Chaos

Halloween gave us school parades, homemade costumes, wild teen pranks, and now the cozy joy of movies, snacks, and handing out candy to the next generation.

Filmation’s Ghostbusters: The Other Ghostbusting Team We Grew Up With

Filmation’s Ghostbusters delivered wild ghosts, goofy gadgets, and Saturday morning fun, creating a wonderfully weird ghostbusting world that stood proudly apart from the movie version.

Ecto‑Cool Adventures: Revisiting The Real Ghostbusters

After the success of the 1984 film Ghostbusters, a cartoon adaptation was inevitable. With most of the characters from the movie appearing in this series (though in slightly altered form…Ray was a bit chunkier and Egon

When Franken Berry Cereal Caused a Pink Poop Panic in the ’70s

In March 1971, General Mills launched a new line of monster-themed cereals to capitalize on the success of Lucky Charms. The first two entries were Count Chocula, a chocolate-flavored vampire, and Franken Berry, a strawberry-flavored

Count Duckula: The Funniest Fowl in Transylvania

Count Duckula was a centuries-old vampire who also happened to be a duck. While trying to revive him, the Count’s assistant Igor accidentally injected him with ketchup instead of blood. This mishap resulted in the

DTV Monster Hits: When Rock & Roll and Disney Came Together To Make Halloween Magic

In the golden age of TV specials, when Halloween was more about mood than merchandise, Disney delivered a rock-infused treat that still haunts the memories of fans who caught it live: DTV Monster Hits. Originally

Digging Up Memories of Mr. Bones Candy

Perhaps you were once taught that you should never play with your food. But what if your food was also a nifty jigsaw puzzle? Better yet, what if it was also a disassembled candy skeleton

Ruh-Roh! The Top 10 Scariest Monsters from Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! premiered on CBS in September 1969 and changed Saturday mornings forever. Scooby-Doo was created by Ken Spears and Joe Ruby, who also created Jabberjaw, Captain Caveman, Dynomutt and many more great

Nine Forgotten Detective Shows from the ’80s

Crime dramas ruled the 1980s, yet many promising contenders vanished almost as quickly as they arrived. These forgotten shows capture the era’s energy, ambition, and the risks of chasing a hit.

The Wild History Behind UNO: America’s Favorite Family Card Game

UNO began in a Cincinnati barbershop in 1971, growing from homemade cards into a beloved family game known for color, chaos, and unforgettable Draw Four battles.

The Short Life of the Chevy Chase Show

In the crowded and competitive world of 1990s late-night television, The Chevy Chase Show stands out. Not for its longevity or acclaim, but for its spectacularly short and disappointing run. Airing on Fox in 1993, the show

Rubik’s Cube: The Puzzle That Defined a Generation

The Rubik’s Cube began as a simple wooden teaching tool in a Budapest classroom, but it quickly grew into a global obsession, a colorful puzzle that turned a quiet architect’s idea into one of the most iconic toys ever created.

Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels: The Prehistoric Hero of Saturday Morning

By the late seventies, Saturday morning television had settled into a familiar groove. Kids knew the routine. A bowl of cereal, a spot on the living room floor, and a lineup of shows that mixed

Toy of the Week: Search for The White Ranger

1. Why did I choose this toy? I chose the White Ranger for two reasons: 1. It’s a story about looking for a popular toy for a child at Christmastime. 2. The recent tragic passing

Summer Reading Program, Day 5: Death, Time, and Fate

By the time I hit tenth grade, my penchant for reading had slowly been replaced with a new hobby: playing guitar. It’s all I did in my spare time and recreational reading fell by the

Summer Camp: The Campy Movies of My 80’s Youth, Installment #1

They eighties were FULL of ridiculous, campy movies in every style and genre. This week, I’m reaching back into my younger days to revisit and review some of my favorites from the early and mid-eighties.

Looking Back at Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure

Some of my earliest memories include Pee-Wee Herman. My brother took piano lessons when I was really little, and on Saturday mornings after his lesson, my mother would try to wear us out and keep

Toy of the Week: Rainbow Brite

As I’ve mentioned in a few of my previous articles, many popular toy franchises of the 1980’s originated as greeting card characters. Rainbow Brite is no exception. However, instead of being a member of the

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