Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast

Who is a Star on 45?  You know.  Today is shazbazzar’s birthday, and it’s time for a trip back to when the ‘Dads were 5 and 6 in the final seven days before Christmas as the anticipation became unbearable!  After all, seven days to kids is like a year to forty-somethings.  For the next 77 minutes, sit back and enjoy bad puns, sad jokes, mad banter, and virtually endless drivel.

 

In the NEWS

Speaking of “virtually endless drivel”, the virtual realm is where everyone lives in 2045 (are you seeing a trend developing in the numbers, yet?).  A second trailer for Ready Player One has been released, and the hype is in full force with the first one sheet poster.  And that’s not all.  Ernest Cline has signed on to pen the sequel to Ready Player One and we have all the details here on TechnoRetro Dads.  Find out whether the sequel will be called “Ready Player Two” or “Game Over”.  PLUS: The Dark Crystal is returning to theaters in February.  Be on the lookout for listings in your area.

 

Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas 

A washboard, a washtub, a broom handle, a cigar-box banjo, a kazoo, and a tub all come together to create Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band in the 1977 Jim Henson special on HBO.  Back in ’77, more than a few of us were interested in putting another hole in another washtub to string up a cable to a broomstick and get famous like the woodland creatures along the riverside in Frog Hollow.  Mama and Emmet both want to win a talent contest to give the other a gift for Christmas, but a late entry from Riverbottom surprises everyone with a hard-rocking tune that clobbers the competition.  It’s forty years old, so the spoiler statute of limitations is right out by now.  It’s about family, friends, and a fish that likes to spit during rock concerts.  It’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas.

 

Aftershocks of 1977: Christmas Toys

It’s the last week before Christmas, and in 1977 that usually meant that Christmas lists had been finalized long ago and there was no more time for late additions.  Still, the anticipation for what might be under the tree in a week grew more and more as we continued thumbing through the JCPenney Christmas catalog and the Sears Wish Book.  From actual houses to leisure suits, the Sears catalogues had long been the standard for mail-order shopping.  JediShua and shazbazzar check out the catalogs from 1977 and remember the toys they got that year straight from the mail-order maestroe

 

Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, or lend your voice to our discussion about toys, cereal, games, or movies and shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback on voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com

 

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Direct download: TRDads_05.34.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Forty years ago Debby Boone was lighting up the charts for her tenth week in the number one position with “You Light Up My Life”.  Forty years later, she could be singing “You Light Up My Lightsaber” as the final days leading up to the widespread release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi rapidly approaches.  This week on TechnoRetro Dads is (understandably) Star Wars oriented as shazbazzar and JediShua enjoy the hype before the movie spoils all the speculation — and we all know how Shua hates spoilers (tongue-in-cheek).

 

In the NEWS

Joe Dante’s infamous Christmas movie is now showing at select theaters across the country.  If you want to see it, you have to follow the rules: (1) no exposure to sunlight, (2) don’t get them wet, and (3) don’t ever feed them after midnight.  And you’ll probably want to check out gremlinsrulebreakers.com to find out where you can see it over the next few weeks.  Columbia outer wear takes you to Hoth with their new line of winter gear in the stylings of Han, Luke, and Leia from Echo Base.  Disney has Star Wars options at the Bibbidi Boppidi Boutique, including dress-up play for adults! 

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and Nintendo games.  Super Mario Cereal is coming soon from Kellogg’s.  Kellogg’s, by the way, is the cereal company who carried the notorious C-3POs with “double-os” from the mid-eighties.  And we remember C-3POs cereal with fondness (and trading cards).

 

TechnoRetro Arcade 

Nothing says “Christmas at the Arcade” like the classic Atari Star Wars arcade game from 1983. With music, sound effects, and vocal clips from the original movie, this vector-graphic first-person flight simulator still beckons gamers to immerse themselves in Star Wars as they engage TIE Fighters in dogfights, try to knock out turbolaser emplacements and towers, and destroy the Death Star (over and over and over again) in an effort to restore freedom to the galaxy and score millions of points for bragging rights among your friends at middle school. 

 

TechnoRetro Speculations

With fewer than four days from the “early” premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, shazbazzar invites JediShua (and all EarBuds) to speculate about several unanswered questions which have arisen since The Force Awakens began this new era of Star Wars movies.  From Rey-Buns to Snoke’s Smokes and every color of “You Light Up My Lightsaber”, this fast-paced discussion might finally shut shaz up about bringing Mortis into the film franchise.

 

Aftershocks of 1977: Christmas Toys

Remember Christmas 1977?  We do — sort of.  Stores were well-stocked with toys.  From RC cars to skateboards to electronic games, kids were looking forward to waking up to something amazing under the tree.  But merchandise from the hottest movie in theaters was not well represented.  The unprecedented popularity of Star Wars enabled Kenner to successfully sell an empty box and a promise to Santa’s helpers across America as kids awakened on Christmas morning to discover that Santa’s elves can’t always deliver everything by December 25th.  Although the actual toys weren’t available, the promise of four figures arriving in as soon as six to eight weeks was sufficient to launch perhaps the most powerful toy franchise in the galaxy.  PLUS: shazbazzar and JediShua talk about all the Star Wars toys kids can’t get for Christmas this year.  (Father, Son, and Daughter from Mortis are on this list yet again.)

 

Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, or lend your voice to our discussion about toys, cereal, games, or movies and shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback on voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com

 

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Direct download: TRDads_05.33.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

December has arrived and JediShua’s excitement is contagious.  The Christmas hype is in full force even with questions about the Force hyping everyone up about The Last Jedi.  From jingle bells to lights strung along the eaves, the season is festive and shazbazzar gets bit by the bug, as well.  Join TechnoRetro Dads all month for nostalgia-laced travels through the past four decades week after week!

 

In the NEWS

Can you believe that ABC reported 40 years ago today that the files on the JFK assassination were about to be released?  And still, we wait.  But that’s old news.  The new news surrounds three fantastic fantasy franchises!  The Lord of the Rings will be televised — sort of — in a new streaming series coming soon.  The Chronicles of Narnia will begin filming The Silver Chair next year with Joe Johnston at the helm for his last directing gig before retirement.  The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance has commenced filming, promising to be a return to the mysticism and magic of the 1982 movie.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and cereal socks.  From “Odd Socks” to stylish old man colors, cereal is moving up on the sock market, it seems.  But we’re not just talking about cereal boxes represented on footwear.  It’s December, and that means it’s time for some Christmas cereal.  The ‘Dads are on the hunt for the best seasonal cereals in stores this year.  From Cinnamon Vanilla to Hot Cocoa to Gingerbread Spice, the Christmas flavors are flowing with milk and cereal this month!

 

TechnoRetro Arcade 

After Hallowe’en games and a Thanksgiving Turkey Shoot, it’s time to open up another section of the TechnoRetro Arcade with a fun game from the early ‘90s — Lemmings.  Nope, make that Xmas Lemmings. It’s just like the original game, but more festive with snow, Santa hats, and seasonal tunes.  PLUS: shazbazzar wants to add something he fantasized about back in 1977… a home-version, stand-up pinball machine — The Fonz.  Ayyyyy!

 

Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special (1977)

One thing that a Bob Hope special was sure to do for families in the seventies and eighties was to assemble families in the den to watch these fun, filmed-before-a-live-audience productions.  This special does not disappoint with Perry Como, Olivia Newton-John (who repeats her singing performances from three years before), the Muppets, and Mark Hamill.  Of course, having Mark Hamill on the show means there will undoubtedly be a Star Wars parody.  Yep.  Scar Wars with Barf Vader and Luke Sleepwalker.

 

Aftershocks of 1977: Christmas Toys

Remember Christmas 1977?  We do — sort of.  Stores were well-stocked with toys.  From RC cars to skateboards to electronic games, kids were looking forward to waking up to something amazing under the tree.  But merchandise from the hottest movie in theaters was not well represented.  Never fear, Pooh Bear is here — in the form of an egg-shaped piece of plastic that likes to wobble but won’t fall down.  The ‘Dads remember Weebles from 1977, specifically shazbazzar’s Winnie-the-Pooh Hunny Tree.  JediShua would not be outdone, though, calling back to a classic retro game that has made its way back into stores this year: Mattel’s Electronic Football.  This handheld LED game continues to confuse and thrill players forty years after its interception, er, uh, inception.

 

Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, or lend your voice to our discussion about toys, cereal, games, or movies and shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback on voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us a message or mp3 via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com

 

Share and enjoy.

Direct download: TRDads_05.32.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

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