online community focused on sharing and reminiscing about video, audio, and images that stir our memories of the past – old television, theme songs, commercials, print advertisements, the sights and sounds you remember
In a festive Fourth of July-themed segment, Barney and his young friends come together to celebrate America’s birthday in a fun and educational way—by building the American flag out of blocks.
The scene begins with excitement as the children collaborate to carefully place red, white, and blue pieces, forming the stars and stripes in a colorful tribute to the United States. As they build, Barney explains the importance of the flag and what it represents, making the moment both meaningful and age-appropriate for preschool viewers.
The video also features familiar patriotic songs like “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “Yankee Doodle,” encouraging children to sing along and learn about American symbols and traditions. Through teamwork, music, and hands-on creativity, the episode delivers a message of unity and pride in a way that’s accessible and entertaining for young audiences.
The segment blends celebration with learning—showing that even through simple play, kids can connect with big ideas like patriotism and community.
Dave Thomas, the beloved founder of Wendy’s, wasn’t just a fast-food innovator — he was a man shaped by humble beginnings, guided by strong values, and driven by a desire to make life better for others. His story is as memorable as the square burgers that made his restaurant famous.
Born in 1932 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dave was adopted as an infant and raised by a working-class couple. He moved frequently throughout his childhood and began working in restaurants at a young age. Though he dropped out of high school at 15 to support himself, he never stopped believing in the importance of education — a belief that led him to earn his GED at age 61.
Before launching Wendy’s, Dave made a name for himself helping turn around struggling Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises. Working directly with Colonel Harland Sanders, he helped revamp operations and marketing. Dave sold his stake in KFC and used the proceeds to open the first Wendy’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969. Named after his daughter Melinda Lou, whose nickname was “Wendy,” the chain was built on a promise of fresh, made-to-order food served with respect and honesty.
One of Wendy’s most distinctive features — its square burger patties — was Dave’s way of saying, “We don’t cut corners.” He wanted customers to see the quality hanging over the edge of the bun. Wendy’s also helped pioneer the drive-thru window, setting a new standard in fast food convenience.
Though initially reluctant to appear in commercials, Dave eventually became the face of Wendy’s. With his warm demeanor and plainspoken charm, he starred in over 800 TV ads and became one of the most recognizable spokespeople in advertising history.
Beyond business, Dave Thomas was a tireless advocate for adoption and children’s welfare. Drawing from his own experience, he founded the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which continues to help thousands of children in foster care find permanent, loving homes. He also established the Dave Thomas Education Center, encouraging others to pursue their education, no matter their age.
Dave Thomas passed away in 2002, but his legacy lives on — not just in the Wendy’s brand, but in the values of hard work, honesty, and compassion that defined his life. His story is a reminder that you don’t need to cut corners to get ahead — you just need to do what’s right.
If you were a kid in the late ’90s or early 2000s, odds are your childhood wasn’t just fueled by sugar—it was weaponized by it. This was the golden age of novelty lollipops: candy that doubled as a fashion statement, a toy, or sometimes just a chaotic mess in your backpack. Push Pops, Ring Pops, Baby Bottle Pops, and the short-lived Lollipop Paint Shop weren’t just treats; they were experiences. Messy, colorful, slightly dangerous experiences.
While Lollipop Paint Shop is no longer a thing, you can relive your childhood and try out the other three here! Let us know if you want more videos on retro candies from your childhood
Push Pops hit shelves back in the ‘80s, but they hit their stride in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. The idea was simple: a tube of flavored hard candy you could push up and save for later. In theory. In reality, that cap was either instantly lost or coated in a layer of sticky backpack lint. And trying to bite into one after it dried out felt like gnawing on a sugar geode.
Ring Pops actually debuted in the late ’70s, invented by a man who wanted to help his child kick a thumb-sucking habit. But it was the ’90s reboot that turned them into candy royalty. Suddenly, every playground had kids strutting around like royalty, showing off their syrupy gemstones. Cool—until your fingers turned blue from the dye and the once-smooth candy started forming edges sharp enough to leave a mark.
Then there was Baby Bottle Pop, launched in 1998 and absolutely engineered for kids raised on commercials and catchy jingles. It was half candy, half toy: a baby bottle-shaped lollipop you dipped into sour powder again and again until it was crusted, sticky, and impossible to put down. The bottle shape made it feel interactive, and if you were a kid at the time, the jingle was permanently etched into your brain.
Lollipop Paint Shop followed a similar formula, taking the same powder-dipping concept and turning it into an art project gone sideways. The lollipop came in the shape of a paintbrush, and you’d dunk it into candy “paint” before brushing it across your tongue. It didn’t last long on shelves, but it was absolute chaos while it was here—finger-staining, powder-spilling, high-fructose chaos. It felt more like a craft activity than a snack.
Baby Bottle Pop and Lollipop Paint Shop shared the same core concept: interactive, hands-on candy with powder-dipping mechanics. But where Baby Bottle Pop had structure and branding, Paint Shop leaned hard into the messier, more chaotic energy—and probably stained more T-shirts in the process.
What tied all of these together was their strange obsession with hard, glassy sugar. They were fun, loud, and dangerous in a way candy just isn’t anymore. And let’s be honest—most of us walked away with blue tongues and at least one small cut from the sugar shiv left behind at the end.
Wild & Crazy Kids was a popular Nickelodeon game show that aired from 1990 to 1992, totaling 65 episodes over three seasons. The show featured large teams of children competing in a variety of fun and often messy physical challenges, such as obstacle courses, water balloon fights, and relay races. These games were typically set in outdoor locations like parks and beaches, contributing to the show’s energetic and adventurous atmosphere. Wikipedia
The original hosts were Omar Gooding, Donnie Jeffcoat, and Annette Chavez. In the second and third seasons, Jessica Gaynes replaced Chavez. Wikipedia The show was known for its high-energy format and emphasis on teamwork and fun.
Wild & Crazy Kids was part of a wave of Nickelodeon game shows in the 1990s that emphasized interactive and physical play. It later aired in reruns on Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids (Nick GAS), a network dedicated to game shows and sports-related programming for children.
🕰️ Timex: A Watch That Made History Founded in 1854 as the Waterbury Clock Company in Connecticut, Timex began by making affordable timepieces for everyday Americans. The brand reinvented itself in the 1940s with a sleek new name—Timex, a blend of “Time” and “Kleenex”—to match its modern, mass-produced watches known for durability and reliability.
But it wasn’t just engineering that made Timex a household name—it was television, and one unforgettable man.
🎙️ John Cameron Swayze, a former NBC news anchor turned enthusiastic pitchman, became the trusted face of Timex in the 1950s. He hosted live commercials that put the watches through outlandish “torture tests”: strapped to outboard motors, frozen in ice, dropped off buildings, even attached to a jackhammer. Time and time again, the watch survived, and Swayze would deliver the now-legendary line:
“It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”
📺 That catchy slogan, born in a golden era of live TV and hard-sell advertising, helped Timex become one of the best-known and best-selling watch brands in the world. Even today, the phrase still echoes as a symbol of toughness and timeless style.
📅 Founded in 1965 – FotoMat started in the mid-1960s and quickly became a recognizable part of suburban America. The company was originally based in Florida.
🏢 Boom in the 1970s – By the late 1970s, FotoMat had over 4,000 kiosks across the U.S., often found in shopping center parking lots. They were a common sight in suburban neighborhoods.
🕰 Innovative for Its Time – At its peak, FotoMat was considered revolutionary because it provided fast photo processing before one-hour labs existed. Customers could drop off film and pick up their prints the next day—something unheard of at the time!
💰 Acquired by Kodak – In 1980, Kodak bought FotoMat, hoping to use it to expand its film processing services. However, as technology advanced, demand for film development began to decline.
🎥 Early VHS Rental Pioneer – Before Blockbuster and Hollywood Video, FotoMat was one of the first companies to offer movie rentals by mail in the early 1980s. Customers would order a VHS or Betamax movie from a catalog, and it would be delivered to a nearby kiosk for pickup.
📉 The Decline – The rise of one-hour photo labs, drugstore processing, and eventually digital photography made FotoMat less relevant. By the early 2000s, the brand had all but disappeared.
🏗 Repurposed Kiosks – Many former FotoMat booths were converted into coffee stands, smoothie shops, flower kiosks, and even small banking kiosks. Some still exist today with new uses!
Johnny Mathis performing in October 2024 at Flagstaff, Arizona.
After more than seven decades of serenading audiences with his velvety voice, Johnny Mathis, the iconic crooner, has announced his retirement. Known for timeless classics like Chances Are, Misty, and Wonderful! Wonderful!, Mathis has been a defining voice in American music since the 1950s.
At 88 years old, Mathis has continued to perform tirelessly, delighting fans with his signature blend of jazz, pop, and romantic ballads. His influence spans generations, with a career that includes over 360 million records sold worldwide, making him one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.
Mathis’ decision to step away from the stage marks the end of an era for fans who have cherished his smooth vocals and heartfelt performances. Though he will no longer tour, his vast catalog of music ensures that his legacy will live on. From his Christmas albums that have become holiday staples to his enduring love songs, Johnny Mathis’ contributions to music are immeasurable.
As he bids farewell to the spotlight, Mathis leaves behind a remarkable legacy—one that will continue to enchant listeners for generations to come.
In 1997, Taco Bell launched one of its most memorable ad campaigns featuring a small, charismatic Chihuahua named Gidget. The dog, voiced by actor Carlos Alazraqui, became famous for the catchphrase “¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!” (which means “I want Taco Bell!”). The campaign ran until around 2000 and included other iconic phrases like “Viva Gorditas!” (Imagine the fallout if that was said today!)
The ads were wildly popular, making the Chihuahua a pop culture icon. However, Taco Bell eventually retired the campaign due to declining sales and a lawsuit from the advertising agency that claimed they weren’t properly compensated for the idea.
For over 50 years, Lite-Brite has been a beloved toy that has captivated children and adults alike. With its simple yet innovative design, this glowing masterpiece allows users to create vibrant, illuminated images using small colored pegs. But beyond being a nostalgic favorite, some versions of Lite-Brite have become valuable collector’s items, fetching hundreds of dollars in the resale market.
The History of Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite was invented in 1967 by Joseph M. Burck, a designer at Hasbro. Inspired by the dazzling effect of stained-glass windows, Burck wanted to create a toy that let children “paint with light.” The first models came with a lightbox, a black perforated screen, and colored translucent pegs that, when placed, created glowing images.
The toy became an instant success, with Hasbro releasing character-themed templates featuring Mickey Mouse, Scooby-Doo, and other popular figures. Over the years, Lite-Brite has evolved into digital versions, LED models, and even app-based designs, ensuring its continued relevance in a modern, tech-driven world.
The Lite Brite is still made and sold today! Pick up one with the same retro aesthetics here!
Before he led Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky led a life full of laughter, satire, and entertainment!
Before stepping into politics, Zelensky was a household name in Ukraine—not as a politician, but as a comedian, actor, and TV star. From co-founding the legendary comedy troupe Kvartal 95 to starring in the hit series Servant of the People, where he played a schoolteacher who accidentally becomes president (talk about foreshadowing!), his career was full of surprises.
