Category Archives: Retro

A look back at the outdated styles, trends, people and kitch that defined past generations. Think “Fat Laces” and pinning your pants.

Remember OK Soda?

From the FW: Back in 1993, Coke attempted to connect with the disaffected members of Generation X through a soda that was just as snarky and “over it” as they were. With a trendy can designed by graphic novelists Charles Burns and Daniel Clowes, a pithy catchphrase (“Things Are Going to Be OK”) and a vaguely citrus-y taste, OK Soda was unleashed on a few markets around the country. The soda even came with a “manifesto,” with phrases like “What’s the point of OK? Well, what’s the point of anything?” printed on the can. Unsurprisingly, a soda featuring sad-looking Gen X-ers staring you down while you guzzle failed to connect with the public. Coke discontinued the beverage, but it has achieved something of a cult following on the Web.

I always thought it tasted like mop water. Not that I know what mop water tastes like. Shut up.

(via The FW)

Everyone enjoys a nice murder

I agree with Alfred Hitchcock.

Everyone enjoys a nice murder
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Worst Easter ever

An Easter egg hunt to forget.

worst easter
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Related:
Beware of bunny
The Easter Bunny’s evil twin
How People View Easter

80′s film horror characters today

What if the most scary 80′s film horror characters were alive now? A project conceived by Federico Chiesa! Make up by Carolina Trotta. Love this! View their photography here.




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Retro Fisher Price toy

They just don’t make toys like they used too. What was this Fisher Price thing called again?

Retro Fisher Price toy
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Don Draper on the topic of cigarettes

Mad Men Don Draper

“People were buying cigarettes before Freud was born.” – Don Draper

Read more of Don Draper’s best lines here.

Related:
Angry Birds meets Mad Men
New ‘Mad Men’ ad shows falling man

Monday Music Rewind: Dramarama

DramaramaDramarama is a Los Angeles, California-based alternative rock/power pop band. The band was formed in New Jersey in 1982 and disbanded in 1994. “Anything, Anything (I’ll Give You)” is a 1985 song by the alternative rock band Dramarama released as the first single from their debut album Cinéma Vérité. The single was featured on the Nightmare on Elm Street 4 soundtrack and is one of the most requested songs in the history of Los Angeles radio station KROQ. Download it here.

The band formally reunited in 2003 following an appearance on VH1’s Bands Reunited reality show and consists of all original founding members. They will be releasing a new album this year.

I’ll give you candy, give you diamonds, give you pills…

Gas prices in 1986

Gas prices in 1986
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On the set of Jaws

These photos give a rare look behind the scenes of a movie that was blamed for ruining tourism in many parts of the U.S. during the summer of 1975. Buy the Jaws (Two-Disc 30th Anniversary Edition) here.

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Monday Music Rewind: Material Issue

Jim Ellison pictured far right

The band Material Issue formed in 1985. In early 1991, Material Issue broke onto the national scene with their debut album International Pop Overthrow (IPO) which sold over 300,000 copies. In the summer of 1995 the band co-headlined the first Edgefest in Somerset, Wisconsin (named for its sponsor, Minneapolis alternative radio station 93.7 The Edge). Material Issue was the brainchild of frontman Jim Ellison, who also played guitar, sang lead vocals, and wrote most Material Issue songs. The band came to a tragic and sudden end when Ellison committed suicide on June 20, 1996 by carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage. No one knows for sure why he did it but the loss of their record label in 1995 as well as an end to a long term relationship were rumored to be contributing factors. A suicide note was found by police, but the contents of that note remain known only to Ellison’s family. Because of this suicide, we may never know what this band could have accomplished. Here are two of my favorite songs from the Modern Rock era that Material Issue gave us. Buy them here.