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Retroist @retroist.com · 29/09/2026

Over on Patreon I did a podcast about the history of Nerf. From a simple safe ball to a line of gun-like blasters, Nerf has been in our lives for decades. www.retroist.com/p/retroist-n...

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Retroist @retroist.com · 29/09/2026

I had only one Manglor toy, Manglord, and my dog made short work of him. Still the concept of a toy you could mangle and put back together has always seemed cool to me. Here is a history of the short lived toy line. www.retroist.com/p/manglors

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Retroist @retroist.com · 25/09/2026

In 1982, a World's Fair came to Knoxville, TN and it would be the last "successful" one in the United States. On today's Retroist Podcast I talk about the history, accomplishments, and controversies surrounding this early 80s event. www.retroist.com/p/retroist-1...

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Retroist @retroist.com · 24/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 13 of 54) Pac-Man Headquarters: Counseling Available. www.retroist.com/p/fleer-pac-...

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Retroist @retroist.com · 22/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 12 of 54) Pac-Man For President. This is one of my favorites.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 22/09/2026

A few years ago, I got to go to the Funspot arcade in Laconia, NH. I got there early and for a litte bit I was the only one on this floor and I snapped this photo of paradise.

Funspot Arcade retro arcade floor with no one around. Just arcade games everywhere and a stairwell leading down in the center.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 21/09/2026

I can't wait to see The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth with its featured guest star the Orange and Yellow Flowers Paper Cup. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjEZ...

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Retroist @retroist.com · 21/09/2026

Over 50 years ago, Carnation Breakfast Bars hit shelves and for decades afterwards they were used by many as breakfast on the go. I loved them because I thought I had found a "candy for breakfast" loophole. Let's look at their history. www.retroist.com/p/carnation-...

A carnation breakfast bar torn open artistically

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Retroist @retroist.com · 20/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 11 of 54) Slide Out The Side Door & I'm Cookin’ Now

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Retroist @retroist.com · 20/09/2026

This art really flips the script on Pac-Man and the Ghosts. Here he is a nightmare monster gobbling cowering ghosts that stay "alive" inside his cavernous spherical body.

Pac Man looms over several frightened ghosts, his huge round body shown as a dark cavern where he appears to swallow them whole. One ghost is already trapped inside, while another cowers in his hand.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 19/09/2026

The GE Widescreen 1000 was massive.

Vintage General Electric magazine ad for the Widescreen 1000 color television, showing an enormous wood cabinet TV with a 25 inch screen beside a suited salesman. The ad promotes the television as having a picture three times the size of a standard 25 inch console and mentions VIR color adjustment, electronic tuning, remote control, and an optional GE VHS recorder.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 18/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 10 of 54) Waka! Waka! & Here Comes Jaws!

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Retroist @retroist.com · 18/09/2026

The brief annual meeting of watermelon season and pumpkin season.

Watermelons and pumpkins displayed side by side outside a grocery store, marking the overlap between summer and fall.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 18/09/2026

I picked up Forbidden Solitaire on Steam. A solid independent video game that is perfect for this time of year. Solid solitaire fun with a meta horror game story that unfolds as you play. greyaliengames.com/forbiddensol...

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Retroist @retroist.com · 17/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 09 of 54) Waka! Waka! Waka! Waka! GULP!

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Retroist @retroist.com · 17/09/2026

You are headed to Toys R Us after the release of Empire Strikes Back and can only pick 3. Which are you choosing?

Back of a vintage Kenner Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back action figure card showing a checklist of available figures, including Yoda, Lando Calrissian, Boba Fett, C 3PO, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Han Solo, R2 D2, Chewbacca, and others. The lower section advertises the Hoth Ice Planet Action Playset, Star Destroyer Action Playset, and Darth Vader Collectors Case.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 17/09/2026

I traced Vampire Mr. Owl for my new Halloween Avatar this year. I hope Tootis Roll makes a big deal about him. I could see myself picking up a t-shirt or more with him on it.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 17/09/2026

Need a life of the party? Call Rent-A-Nerd (1987)

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Retroist @retroist.com · 16/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 08 of 54) Never! & Let's Get Together

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Retroist @retroist.com · 16/09/2026

Planning my Halloween Trick or Treats this year and I would like the Kool-Aid Ghoul-Aid Popping Candy in these sized pouches to be available in bulk. The smaller packs just aren't the same.

Kool-Aid Ghoul-Aid Popping Candy Pouches

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Retroist @retroist.com · 15/09/2026

How is Vampire Mr. Owl not a bigger deal?

Tootsie Pop Mr. Owl dressed as a vampire

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Retroist @retroist.com · 15/09/2026

Collect all your favorite Starriors characters!

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Retroist @retroist.com · 14/09/2026

McDonald's Orange Drink dates back to the original restaurant, but the Orange Hi C served today is not the same drink they served for decades. On the Retroist, I look at the history of McDonald's Orange Drink and how it changed. www.retroist.com/p/a-history-...

McDonald's Orange Bowl Drink Dispense and Ronal McDonald cup (illustration)

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Retroist @retroist.com · 13/09/2026

The Real Ghostbusters premiered 40 years ago today, on September 13, 1986.

The real ghostbusters...ready for action.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 13/09/2026

The Krull arcade game isn't a masterpiece, but if you get the opportunity to play one, it is worth your quarters.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 12/09/2026

I am the Spirit of Snake Mountainnnnnnn

Vintage Masters of the Universe promotional image showing a child playing with Mattel’s Snake Mountain playset. The large purple fortress features its snake, monster face, bridge, and dungeon details, surrounded by Masters of the Universe action figures including He Man, Skeletor, Orko, and other heroes and villains. The words across the playset reads, “I Am the Spirit of Snake Mountain.”

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Retroist @retroist.com · 11/09/2026

A lot of people bought a lot of music from record clubs. In the United States, the most successful club was Columbia House. It lasted for decades with offers that seemed too good to be true. On a new episode of the Retroist Podcast I take a look at its history. www.retroist.com/p/retroist-c...

Columbia House ad for 8-tracks. A person has a box of 8 tracks are exploding outward. She seems pretty appy about it.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 10/09/2026

When you are a kid in school, you have to figure out things to do in your downtime. Pencil Fighting took my school by storm. I am not sure how it arrived or why, but for a few years pencils were for more than just schoolwork. They were an obsession. www.retroist.com/p/pencil-fig...

A pile of mixed pencils. These are not fighting pencils. Althought they could be. No, these are the pencils I put out when I play Dungeons & Dragons. So they get used in a different kind of fighting sometimes.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 09/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 07 of 54) You'd Smile Too If You Could Eat Monsters!

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers with pac-man saying You'd Smile Too If You Could Eat Monsters!

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Retroist @retroist.com · 09/09/2026

Train to be a a model (or just look like one). Barbizon can show you how. For a while these ads were everywhere.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 08/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 06 of 54) Slide Out The Side Door / I’m Cookin’ Now.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 08/09/2026

Remember when you were little and your Mom would take you to the mall to get your photo taken with the Xenomorph?

Xenomorph (Alien from Alien) holding a pretty happy baby

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Retroist @retroist.com · 07/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 05 of 54) Pac-Man Operator's License. Make sure to always have this on you.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 06/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 04 of 54) U.S. Pac-Man Team

U.S. Pac-Man Team sticker with 5 different pac-men in a range of colors.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 06/09/2026

All trash cans should be this fun.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 05/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 03 of 54) Official Pac-Man Fan Club

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Retroist @retroist.com · 05/09/2026

Fonts in the 25th Century seem needlessly complicated.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 04/09/2026

Someone is selling 100+ sq ft of the Pac-Man wallpaper on eBay for $200.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 04/09/2026

Some kids were lucky enough to have Pac-Man Wallpaper on their walls back in 1982.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 04/09/2026

Fleer Pac-Man Stickers (No. 02 of 54) Charge! & Feet Don't Fail Me Now!

Stickers Pac-Man saying Charge! and a Blue Ghost saying Feet don't fail me now!

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Retroist @retroist.com · 04/09/2026

Having a mobile phone is pretty convenient, but our world is a little less bright because of what we gave up.

Pac-Man telephone and box on a piece of cork board with manual

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Retroist @retroist.com · 04/09/2026

Its that magical time of year again. Mallomars are back on store shelves.

5 boxes of Mallomars in front of an orange wall.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 03/09/2026

Card 1 - Waka! Waka! Waka!

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Retroist @retroist.com · 03/09/2026

In 1980 Fleer released a set of 54 Pac-Man Stickers. It was a dream come true. I could finally combine my two passions at the time, Pac-Man and Stickers. Here is my full collection with some info on the set. www.retroist.com/p/fleer-pac-...

Vintage Pac Man sticker featuring five colorful Pac Man figures in yellow, orange, green, red, and blue above the words US Pac Man Team. Red stripes fill the lower half, with Pac Man Stickers printed vertically along the yellow left border and a peel arrow at the bottom.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 03/09/2026

I won this Pac-Man mirror at the Jersey Shore during the height of Pacmania and its been with me ever since. Right now it is on a shelf above my desk.

A pac-man design on glass in a wooden frame. Ghost is chasing Pac-Man and its says Pac-Man all things are outlines in silver and its on black.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 02/09/2026

Aaaaay! Which lunchbox would/did you choose?

group of kids with various 70s lunchboxes and thermoses.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 01/09/2026

In 1984 Breakdancing Fever hit Hawaii and they did something amazing with it. They created a summer talent competition that was broadcast on TV. The end result was the very timely and super watchable, Breakin' Hawaii. www.retroist.com/p/breakin-ha...

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Retroist @retroist.com · 31/08/2026

Tubbs enjoying a beverage in an Orange and Yellow Flowers Paper Cup on Miami Vice.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 31/08/2026

The Mars Attacks cards attracted controversy when they were released in 1962. Topps stopped making them and they became known as one of "Topps flops." But the cards had fans and over the years we would get reissues, new card sets, comics, toys, and even a movie. www.retroist.com/p/topps-mars...

Mars attacks card 1, The Invasion Begins.

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Retroist @retroist.com · 30/08/2026

Lots of fun details in this photo of Ray Bradbury and his desk. My favorite, if you zoom in on his cassette collection, you will see he has one store bought tape where you can make out the label, the Back to the Future Soundtrack.

Ray Bradbury sits behind a crowded desk in his office, smiling at the camera with his arms folded in front of him. The room is packed with robots, toys, model spacecraft, Disney figures, artwork, paint bottles, pencils, videotapes, and other science fiction memorabilia.

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