Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast (TechnoRetro Dads)

Join JediShua, shazbazzar, and Jovial Jay on this special sendoff show as they say goodbye to TechnoRetro Dads. We remember the great times, listen to memories from Earbuds, and visit with Shane the Roving Spoonster. It’s the closing of one chapter and the opening of the next on The TechnoRetro Dads



Come with us to the TechnoRetro Mall as we remember 8 amazing years of TechnoRetro Dads! JediShua, shazbazzar, and Jovial Jay look back on all the great movies, cartoons, toys, games, and cereal that they’ve shared over the years. We revisit some old clips and songs that will go down in the TechnoRetro Hall of Fame. Plus, we hear some memories from the most important part of the show, the Earbuds.  

 

Thank you for so many great years! They have truly been an important part of our lives. Stay tuned in May for our spinoff show, Enjoy Stuff - A TechnoRetro Podcast.

 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-45.mp3
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As the TechnoRetro Dads head into the sunset, we look back at the great things we've had the opportunity to share with our families throughout the years, and what they've shared with us. From movies to video games to music, Jovial Jay and JediShua wrap up the series looking to the past and sharing it with the future.  



In the 8 years of TechnoRetro Dads, we have had the opportunity to revisit so many of the great things we grew up with that influenced who we are today. But even better than that, we have had a chance to share it all with our amazing families. This week we look at how the TechnoRetro Way has given us even more great experiences. 



TechnoRetro News

  • A Micronauts movie may still be coming to your future
  • The Dark Crystal Ballet is a real thing, so let’s all meet up in London
  • Thanks to the DeuceCast Movie show for the tribute



Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast

Coming in May, The TechnoRetro Dads present a brand new podcast featuring Shua and Jovial Jay. Tune in for “Enjoy Stuff! A TechnoRetro podcast” Enjoy Stuff will look at all the great stuff we love in pop culture, and how you can enjoy it. It’s all about making a positive experience. We will talk about the movies, toys, tv shows, and games we’ve loved for years and the great new stuff that we love to do today.  And we want to hear from you! How do you make every experience tons of fun for yourself, your friends, and your family? Keep this podcast feed open for Enjoy Stuff! A TechnoRetro Podcast, coming in May! 



I Love My Cereal

Well, this week we’re not so sure. A man has discovered some very unsavory items in his Cinnamon Toast Crunch. And until General Mills makes up for it, we are demoting them to Sergeant Mills! Tune in….if you dare.



Magazine Rack

The April 1981 issue of Starlog features Hawk, the newest character for season 2 of Buck Rogers. How did they decide to portray this character and how did he prepare for it? Plus, some cool looks back at the making of Escape from New York, an update on Saturn photos from Voyager, and some cutout Fuse Blocks (Warning: Do not cut these out of your iPad!)



Vinyl Scratchback

What music do you love? Is it still the stuff you grew up with? Have your tastes changed, or maybe even expanded? Do your kids sing along or roll their eyes? And can you tolerate their melodious choices or do you feel (like Huey Lewis) that they’re “just too darn loud”? The TechnoRetro Dads keep an open mind as they shape the next generation of music lovers. 



TechnoRetro Arcade

We love sharing video games with our kids. But like everything, they may not enjoy all of the games we love. Luckily, we’ve taken strides to get them into a few of the great ones we grew up with. And it has given us some fun times when our Padawans have surpassed our skills. 



Let’s All Go to the Movies

Movies may be the TechnoRetro Dads most important form of entertainment. And luckily for them, the kids seem to like most of the ones they like too. But the movie itself isn’t the biggest part of sharing with the youth. It’s better if it’s a whole, positive experience. How have we done it over the years, and have we sat through an occasional stinker just for our youngins? Of course! 

 

Thanks to all the Earbuds that have supported us over the years!  We love you and can’t wait until the next chapter! Stay tuned April 1, 2021 for the series finale of TechnoRetro Dads.

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-44.mp3
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It's a birthday extravaganza! We celebrate Jay's special day by looking at some of his favorites like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Micronauts, and Peter Gabriel.  It's always fun to celebrate birthdays with your Earbuds, so grab a slice of cake and join The TechnoRetro Dads!



Let’s all don our pointy, cardboard hats with the snappy, elastic string as we celebrate Jay! Toys, movies, music, and more are the topics of fun discussions this week because we’ll use any excuse to party.  



TechnoRetro News

  • The Indiana Jones Saga is coming to 4k
  • Nicholas Meyer has pitched a Star Trek story idea to Paramount
  • Kevin Bacon and Michael Gross are back in Tremors….kind of
  • Some classic Star Wars cartoons are coming to Disney+, including Genndy Tartakovsky and the Ewoks cartoon



Toys in the Attic

Before Star Wars figures came out, we had a different space action figure to play with. Micronauts! The original Mego toys, based on the Microman toy line from Mego were tons of fun, and eventually worked great with all the Star Wars toys that were to come after. We remember what we had. 



Vinyl Scratchback

Jay shares a few of his favorite musicians growing up; Peter Gabriel and Yes. We look at some of their history and memorable hits that helped to shape him as he grew up. Sledgehammer, Shock the Monkey, In your Eyes were some of the great songs from Peter Gabriel that were gracing the airways in the 80’s. Yes has had a very long history dating back from the ‘60’s and released such memorable progressive rock hits like Owner of a Lonely Heart and Long Distance Runaround. Drop the needle on the record player as we spin some favorites on Vinyl Scratchback. 



TechnoRetro Arcade

What was your first home arcade console? Jay had an Intellivision that made some great memories. He’s recently found a working console that he’s cleaned up and got working to revisit some of those good times. Come to the home console wing of the Arcade and grab your numbered controller to revisit the biggest competitor of Atari in the early 80’s. 



Let’s All Go to the Movies

You probably have a list of movies that you love putting on for your birthday. Jay celebrates one that probably falls on a lot of lists; Raiders of the Lost Ark. We remember the first time seeing in, why we love it, how it affected us. We go back to the movie theater again to revisit the perfect movie!

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-43.mp3
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ATechnoRetro Dads: Bowzilla vs King Donkey!

ll monsters attack!  Soon we’ll get to see the ultimate battle between the Kings! Godzilla vs Kong premieres in a few days so Jay and Shua look at the history of the giant kaiju and choose who they think will be triumphant. But who would win if it was Donkey Kong vs Bowser?

 

Godzilla vs Kong is a battle years in the making. We look back at the history of both Titans and predict the victor. But they’re not the only monsters we pit against each other. We also debate the epic rivalry of Donkey Kong vs Bowser.



TechnoRetro News

  • The Powerpuff Girls are all growed up and ready for life in their 20’s on a new CW show
  • There’s also a new Kung Fu show ready to update the original
  • Alamo Drafthouse has declared bankruptcy. We hope they can get through this difficult time. 



Cereal

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No! It’s Superman Ice Cream! A talented baker in Michigan has come up with a delicious cheesecake ice cream recipe that Shane, the Roving Spoonster says is delicious.  



TechnoRetro Arcade

Legendary Titans battle in an epic battle for the ages. But this one takes place in the arcade. Donkey Kong and Bowser may have a common enemy, but who would win in a battle. Jay and Shua debate each other in the TechnoRetro Court. And don’t forget to vote on who you think would win too!



Let’s All Go To The Movies

Godzilla vs Kong will soon grace our streaming services (and a few movie screens). We are excited for the sheer epicness of the battle. But these two have been going at it for years. Jay and Shua look back on the history or Godzilla, the first time King Kong joined the fight, and all the fun they’ve had over the years watching the battles. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-42.mp3
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We can’t wait to return to the movie theater! But in the meantime, let’s imagine what our Ultimate Movie theater would look like. From food to design to ambience, Jay and Shua talk about what they would include if they could build the best cinema house possible!

 

We would like to invite you to the TechnoRetro Cinema! Jay and Shua aren’t just imagining a movie house, but a mecca for movie lovers that can get whatever they want!



TechnoRetro News

  • Christopher Lloyd co hosts a new Documentary on Discovery+ where he and Josh Gates look for the missing DeLoreans.
  • Is Mr. Potato Head still a Mr? A Mrs? Something else?



Cereal

Shane the Roving Spoonster shares an update about the Crunchcup. It now comes in XL size! Would it work for you? Plus, Kellogg’s gets into the cereal mashup business with Frosted Flakes. 



Let’s All Go To The Movies

What would you include in your own movie theater? Recliner seats? A decorated lobby? Maybe you’d prefer a drive-in. We look at a brief history of cinema, and then decide what ours would look like. And we share our Earbud’s ideas too. Join us as we make movie theaters fun to go to again. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-41.mp3
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What would you include in your Ultimate Arcade? Jay and Shua decide what the best video games, food, music, and more would be the best to include in the TechnoRetro Arcade. Plus, the March 1981 issue of Starlog on Magazine Rack. 

 

If you could build your very own TechnoRetro Arcade, what would you make it look like? Would you just recreate your childhood refuge or would you deck it out with everything you ever wanted? We give our suggestions and the suggestions of our amazing Earbuds.  And will Altered States be a good movie? The March 1981 Starlog should tell us. Or does it?



TechnoRetro News

-Disney+ has released some very cool Muppet Show parody promo posters.

-Daft Punk calls it quits. We think we know why.

-Scooby Doo-The Sword and the Scoob premieres. Is it destined to be a classic?

-The Knight Rider semi has been found by the Knight Rider Historians...wait...Knight Rider Historians?



Cereal

Lucky Charms is going all out for St Patrick’s Day!  From green milk to Candy Land, check out Shane, the Roving Spoonster’s report of what you can expect. Plus, Carnation Breakfast Drink is getting the cereal flavor treatment. Plus, what does more than 600 dominoes falling over in a school look like? They look like cereal boxes for the local food bank, and lots of good potential lessons for the students. And some drug runners got a lesson of their own when federal agents seized the cocaine they were smuggling in boxes of Corn Flakes. What a horrible way to waste cereal! 



Magazine Rack

The March 1981 issue brings us a variety of stories beginning with a not so thorough article about the upcoming horror movie Altered States. Then it takes a look at how The Incredible Shrinking Woman managed to get made because of the legendary Verna Fields. And how does the 1980 actor’s strike affect the movies that came later and does it reflect what we may see in movie releases in the coming year?



TechnoRetro Arcade

If we’re gonna open an  arcade, then we want to do it right! Sure it’s going to include tons of legendary video games, but what else does it need? How big will it be? What will the decor look like? What kind of food should we serve? We lay it out in our brains and incorporate some great ideas from our Earbuds as well.  Join us in our Ultimate Arcade!

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-40.mp3
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  1. Has there ever been a year with more epic movies? Maybe, but it sure was a fun one. Jay and Shua look back at a long list of great (and not so great) movies from thirty-eight years ago. 

 

Each year brings us a variety of movies that you may like, or could rather do without. And many of them pass through the night without another thought. But not in 1982. The entire year gave us so many influential and memorable movies that we continue to revisit today. Let’s take a look back at a bunch of them. 



TechnoRetro News

  • A napkin with the original design for KITT has been found, and it’s a great piece of history
  • Fortnite continues the fun crossovers with a TRON skin
  • A special announcement concerning the future of TechnoRetro Dads



Cereal

Do you think the Crunchcup is a good idea, or another kitchen dud? Grape Nuts apologizes for the shortage by giving away free cereal!



Let’s All Go to the Movies

Were you around in 1982? If so, you may have seen one of the many movies that came out that year. Action movies like Firefox and First Blood. Culture-changing stories like Tootsie and Deathtrap. And who could forget the plethora of Sci-Fi. Star Trek II, TRON, Blade Runner, and more! We look fondly back on almost 50 movies that we loved, how they made a difference, and the legacy they have created. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-39.mp3
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Love! Horror! What better combination? In honor of Valentine's Day, we look at some famous arcade couples. And in honor of anniversaries, we look at the 30th of Silence of the Lambs. Get ready to hold your sweetie!

 

What better motivation than love? As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we honor some legendary arcade characters and the love of their life that they must save. And 30 years ago Hannibal Lecter gave us something to fear and menus to avoid in the award winning Silence of the Lambs. 



TechnoRetro News

  • RIP Christopher Plummer and all his legendary roles.
  • Play Dungeons & Dragons as a Muppet in this adaptation of the classic game. 



Cereal

Everyone seems very excited about the new Little Debbie’s Cosmic Brownie Cereal. Is it for you? Let us know what you think?



TechnoRetro Arcade

So many of our favorite, legendary arcade characters started their adventures by rescuing their true love. Mario and Peach, Link and Zelda, Dirk and Daphne, who did you relate to? And were the damsels in distress in as much distress as we thought? We look at the games we loved and the relationship tips we got from the arcade. 



Let’s All Go to the Movies

Thirty years ago, Jonathan Demme brought us one of the scariest films of all time. Silence of the Lambs earned all of it’s accolades and awards as Jodie Foster portrayed a strong, intelligent woman against the insanity of Anthony Hopkins and his portrayal of Hannibal the Cannibal. The movie led us into an era where our culture was obsessed with crime drama, but none ever came close to scaring us like this. But Shua is pretty wimpy when it comes to scary movies, so he needs to silence his lambs by watching some horror comedies. Abbott and Costello, Monster Squad, Transylvania 6-5000; there were bunches of options for those that needed the kids table of scariness.

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-38.mp3
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Pew! Pew! Lazer Tag has always been a fun way to express our aggressive nature in a safe, futuristic way. From fun centers like Photon to backyard competitions on warm summer nights, the futuristic toy led us into the 21st century to prepare us for any zombie apocalypse that we may be facing. 

 

Lazer Tag was Pho-tons of fun! It was a futuristic way to play cowboys. We got to run around and shoot lasers at each other in places like Photon. Jay and Shua remember the fun of running around in the dark getting zapped. Plus, news, cereal, jokes and more. 



TechnoRetro News

  • RIP Screech. Dustin Diamond passes away at age 44
  • Will George Clooney be the new Buck Rogers?



Magazine Rack

The February 1981 issue of Starlog Magazine features David Cronenberg’s Scanners. Plus, news about the Space Shuttle’s first launch, George Takei in politics, and a new book called Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Why didn’t we get our annual sequels to Christmas in the Stars? And some great looks at movies of the time. 



TechnoRetro Arcade

Did you ever go to Photon, The Ultimate Game on Planet Earth? It was a popular, albeit brief, facility where you could go play Lazer Tag without having to furnish your own batteries. Jay recalls his Saturday nights with his buddies, and even still has his Photon card. 



Toys in the Attic

If you weren’t lucky enough to have a Photon, maybe you had your own Lazer Tag game to play with your friends in the neighborhood. This Worlds of Wonder toy was very popular until some unfortunate accidents. It even spawned a cartoon, puzzles, and a Commodore 64 game. 

 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-37.mp3
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The Muppet Show was a groundbreaking television show that showed us that puppets weren’t just for kids. With the show soon available to everyone, we take a look back at the history of the show, some of the memorable guests, and how Henson’s vision grew into something even bigger. 

 

It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights. In 1974 The Muppet Show helped Jim Henson to build his vision of bringing his creations to the world. On February 19, Disney Plus will make the show available for streaming.  In addition, we look at the book and the music album that helped to share the show across other mediums as well.  



TechnoRetro News

  • The Godzilla vs Kong trailer blew us away
  • Did Cookie Monster start out as a rock?



I Love My Cereal

A tasty new Japanese Hershey’s cereal looks great in a variety of ways. Now we just need someone from Japan to send us some. A new cereal restaurant is opening in Indianapolis, but what are the mysterious pictures coming from the Cereal Box, Inc. Instagram all about?



Muppet Show Special Look

We have loved the Muppet Show since the very first pilot in 1974. But it was a long road to get there. We look back on how Jim Henson started building his vision from his early days on Saturday Night Live, to he crazy pilot called Sex and Violence. And who were some of our favorite guest hosts on the show? Mark Hamill, Vincent Price, John Denver, and so many more made legendary appearances over the years. This is what we call the Muppet Show!



Vinyl Scratchback

Shua shares songs and memories from The Muppet Show Album that includes some songs from the show along with some classic skits. So much Muppety goodness. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-36.mp3
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80s teen comedies were tons of fun at the time, but were they a deeper influence than we remember? Plus, the classic puzzle-platform video game Lemmings and other brain busting games. 

 

When we were independent enough to see more mature movies, we often chose from a variety of 80s teen comedies. Sure they were ridiculous, but they also presented relatable coming of age stories that stuck with us into adulthood. Plus, keep your mind sharp by playing the ‘91 classic Lemmings or other puzzle platform video games. 



TechnoRetro News

  • Mortal Kombat is set for a more mature and true to the game rated R version
  • A Buckaroo Banzai sequel novel is finally coming from the original author
  • The original Muppet Show will soon be on Disney+
  • Are you on board for a Willy Wonka prequel movie?
  • How about a Young Guns 3 sequel?



I Love My Cereal

More classic cereals are getting the snack bag treatment with Cap’n Crunch’s Oops! All Mega Berries. And the Ghostbusters sequel will start out the hype with a General Mills cereal



TechnoRetro Arcade

Lemmings has been a favorite for 30 years. In this puzzle platform video game, you control a pack of lemmings (or more scientifically accurate; a ‘slice’ of lemmings) as you lead them to safety. And we would occupy ourselves with other puzzles like Tetris, Qix, The Incredible Machine, Minesweeper, and Myst.  What were some of your favorites?



Let’s All Go To The Movies

The 80s gave us so many great movie genres that have influenced us in different ways. But were Teen Comedies just mindless fun, or did they make a difference too? We look back as some of our favorite goofy, fun, sometimes raunchy selections and how they may have been deeper coming of age stories for all of us to learn from as we grew up. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-35.mp3
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Bro, do you even TechnoRetro? Have movies shaped your life? What cartoons taught you life lessons? How does cereal teach independence? This week we look at why we still love all the great things we grew up with and how they shaped who we are. 

 

We grew up with so many great things. And we still love remembering it all today. Has it affected who you are as much as us? Jay and Shua reminisce about how they got where they are and share some of the influences of you, the Earbuds, too. 



TechnoRetro News

  • We have confirmation that the TRON coaster at Disney World will be delayed.
  • Congratulations to The Mandalorian for winning Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy series at the Critics Choice Super Awards.
  • Could Cobra Kai be getting a spinoff series soon?
  • The Willow series loses a director
  • Bethesda and Lucasfilm Games announce a great new Indy game
  • The Risk Board Game is getting a live action series treatment



I Love My Cereal

Shane the Roving Spoonster gives us news of a tasty cereal snack from Post. Plus, UK cereal gets an organic version. Will it be tasty? We want to know!



Saturday Mornings

Whether you enjoyed GI Joe, Bugs Bunny, or Challenge of the Super Friends, Saturday morning was a special time in a kids life in the 70s and 80s. Which shows were your favorites? Did the raving commercialism actually do us harm, like the so-called experts claimed? Or did it help us with creativity and ethics? That’s probably a matter of opinion, but either way, they stuck in our brains all these years. 



TechnoRetro Arcade

Did you have a local arcade in your town? Or did you have to ride your bike to the 7-Eleven to indulge in your favorite game? Jay and Shua share their stories about why the enjoyed their experiences with the house of games and how it helped them grow. 



Let’s All Go To The Movies

Arcades weren’t the only escape we got to go to when we were younger. The movies gave us an opportunity to learn valuable life lessons too. And a lot of times we capped off the time with a little jaunt around the mall. How did you experience your movies? Let us know, and try to make it a great experience for the next generation. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-34.mp3
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If you're wondering which decade dripped the most machismo, it had to be the 80s. Iron Eagle was a perfect movie example of this, but it probably had something to do with the montage-style music it included. Jay and Shua look at both this week on TechnoRetro Dads.

 

Need an F-16, but just for an afternoon? No problem! Just get Chappy to help you grab a couple so you can go rescue your dad from his Biyalian captors.  Thus the plot of the 1986 macho film, Iron Eagle. Plus, this movie included a macho soundtrack, a staple of many 80’s flicks. We look at montage music on Vinyl Scratchback.



TechnoRetro News

  • A Rubik’s cube movie is in development, but will it be the Dark Knight of game movies?
  • Michael Keaton is Batman, now and forever. Seriously! We are getting word that he will be THE Batman in the DCU.



Let’s All Go to the Movies

In 1986, movies about the military and macho heroism was all the rage. So the Louis Gossett Jr movie, Iron Eagle came at a perfect time. Doug Masters must rescue his father from his Biyalian captors after he is shot down illegally. But Doug is only 18 years old. So he enlists the help of experienced Air Force Colonel Chappy Sinclair.  They use their wits and plot conveniences to hijack a couple F-16s and begin their mission. We break down all the crazy, unlikely fun of Johnny Lawrence’s favorite movie.  



Vinyl Scratchback

If you need to show a lot of things happening at once, remind everyone of what’s going on, and with every shot, show a little improvement, to show it all would take too long, you need a montage. It was a great way to move the plot along in 80s films. We look at some memorable montage music on Vinyl Scratchback. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-33.mp3
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We're sure all the Earbuds are ready to start a fresh new year! Let's do it by bursting our brain while watching the horror classic Scanners. Plus, the January 1981 issue of Starlog and our recap of the amazing TechnoRetro gifts we got for Christmas this year.

 

Now that the holidays are over, we can get back to horror movies, right? Well, that’s what David Cronenberg though in 1981 when he brought us Scanners. A new month brings a new issue of Starlog from 1981 on the Magazine Rack. And we share the great gifts we were lucky enough to receive for Christmas. 



TechnoRetro News

  • Netflix gave us a Christmas gift when they announced that season 3 of Cobra Kai would premiere early on January 1
  • We send all our best wishes to legendary voice actor Tom Kane who has been recovering from a stroke
  • The surviving Beatles have been keeping busy during the pandemic. Both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr released new music. 
  • Saturday Morning cartoons have returned to MeTV!




Cereal

Shua shares some holiday discoveries and The Roving Spoonster has two great stories. Pebbles has a great filter if you are a user of TikTok. And you can share it to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Kellogg’s is releasing a Crayola Crayons cereal, but does it taste as authentic as the real thing?



Magazine Rack

The cover story about Star Trek actor Mark Lenard doesn’t even scratch the surface of what you can find in this issue of Starlog. If you were lucky enough to pick up the actual paper copy, you would have acquired a free vinyl disk by Neil Norman who plays sci-fi songs in his own special style. And you could read about the animated Flash Gordon, the Wild Wild West, and an announcement about the upcoming Star Wars Radio Drama. And tons more! Check out the Magazine Rack!  



Let’s All Go to the Movies

In 1981 David Cronenberg was experimenting with all kinds of gruesome special effects as he built his directing career.  Michael Ironside, in one of his early roles, stars as an evil, telepathic ‘Scanner’ who wants to build an army of more evil, telepathic Scanners. How well does the 40 year old movie hold up by today’s standards. And what did this groundbreaking movie do to push special effects into the future. This is Scanners



Toys in the Attic

Jay and Shua give a rundown of the great TechnoRetro gifts their friends and families bequeathed upon this this holiday season. Toys, games, comics, and more for the grateful Dads. What did you get?

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-32.mp3
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Santa Claus has been around for a long time, but in 1985 we got to see him in his very own movie! Dudley Moore and John Lithgow star in Santa Claus the Movie. Plus, the Earbud Toy Catalog Champion has been chosen!

 

Have you ever wondered about the origins of Santa Claus? We get to find out in Santa Claus the Movie and also learn why commercialism is an evil, greasy mistress. Plus, Christmas memories, arcade toys, and the Champion of the Earbud Toy Catalog. 



TechnoRetro News

  • We say goodbye to another Star Wars legend. Boba Fett, Jeremy Bulloch, passed away at age 75. We honor his memory and his kindness. 
  • Chris Pine plays Dungeons & Dragons?! Well, he’ll be playing someone in the new D&D movie




Let’s All Go to the Movies

Did you see Santa Claus the Movie in theaters? Or did you decide to see Rocky IV instead? David Huddleston gets to present his interpretation of the man in the red suit, but still gets third billing after Dudley Moore and John LIthgow. Either way, Jay and Josh look back on a legendary movie made by the same people who brought us Superman in 1978. 

 

Toys in the Attic

We remember arcade games we received for Christmas when we were growing up. From LED sports to Pac Man watches, we explain why we had so much fun with toys that were so Low-Def. And the Earbuds join in too. 

 

Earbud Toy Catalog 2020

The final results are in!  The final four found UNO vs Lego and GI Joe vs Big Wheel. Who took the Championship this year? 

 

Christmas Memories

The memories of Christmastime helped to shape who we have become in our lives. And with this year’s holidays being so different than ever, it’s a great time to build special, new memories with your family. We reminisce about the before time, the long, long ago with Christmastime of the past. And Shua shares the great gift that was given to him by Jay. Check it out here: https://imgur.com/gallery/txNflqN 

 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-31.mp3
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Ernest Cline's "Ready Player Two" has arrived. We give our spoiler-free impressions of the new novel. And 40 years ago, the legendary Robin Williams gave us his interpretation of Popeye. Plus, the Toy Catalog and tons of breaking Star Wars news

 

In 1980 Director Robert Altman gave us his idea of the classic comic character Popeye. But it wasn’t quite the blockbuster they expected. And we’ve been looking forward to the release of Ready Player Two. It’s here! What did you think?



TechnoRetro News

  • Back to the Future will get some answers to unanswered questions in a new DeLorean Owner’s Manual. 
  • Breaking! Disney made announcements of TONS of new projects. We give our first reactions of all the Star Wars coming our way

 

Cereal

General Mills announces 16 new cereals for 2021. The Roving Spoonster found us all the scoop of some tasty morning treats. 

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies

He’s strong to the finish, ‘cause he eats his spinach. He’s Popeye the Sailor Man! And in 1980 he was played by the legendary Robin Williams. Director Robert Altman made the film with his own style, and a feel that was reminiscent of the original strip. But despite the attention to detail, the film didn’t hold up to expectations. Was it the writing? The performances? The music? Whatever it was, it launched the movie career of Robin Williams and gave us fun stuff to talk about. 

 

Book Review

Ready Player Two is the follow up to Ernest Cline’s best selling novel Ready Player One. The story hits “continue” right where we left off from the first book. We find Wade dealing with all the pressure of becoming the most powerful man in the world. But not long after he takes control of the OASIS, a new threat emerges and it could spell disaster for the whole world. Jay and Shua review the novel without spoiling it for you. And we want to know what you thought. Send us a message to podcast@technoretrodads.com 

 

Earbud Toy Catalog 2020

This week we break down the Creative Toys Division of the Toy Catalog. Who will be the winner of this round? Rubik’s Cube? Lego? And make sure you vote on the last division “Fun For All!” as we make our way to the Final Four. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-30.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Flash! Ahhh ahh! He'll save every one of us. Forty years ago we got a modern day interpretation of a classic space hero! Flash Gordon may not have been the hit they hoped, but it has lived on in legendary status. Plus, the December 1980 issue of Starlog on the Magazine Rack.

 

Flash Gordon has been around for 86 years, and the 1980 interpretation has gained a cult following all on it’s own. Let’s talk about his history and celebrate 40 years of Flash. 



TechnoRetro News

  • RIP David Prowse
  • New casting announcements for the Willow series, including Enfys Nest herself 

 

Cereal

Today’s cereal news is brought to you by the letter S for Sesame Street Cereal. Coming soon! We speculate how good the new flavor or Fruity Pebbles is going to be. And for those of you that like to think healthy, Foodnerd may have some new plant-based cereals for you. 

 

Magazine Rack

The December 1980 issue features the new movie Flash Gordon. They show a lot of sci-fi love for it. Plus, mentions of Outland, Heavy Metal, and Escape from New York. 

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies

The 40 year anniversary of Flash Gordon generates all kinds of conversation as Jay and Shua remember their experiences, talk about the making and history of the Character. Sam J Jones and Max Von Sydow star in this 1980 classic.



Earbud Toy Catalog

The results are in for the next division of The TechnoRetro Dads Earbud Toy Catalog! The other divisions; Creative Toys and Fun for All are up now!   Will your favorites make the cut? Share the survey with everyone and check back all week to see which toys are moving to the next rounds. Look on social media and Discord for the links to the surveys

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-29.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Kevin! Don’t be sad that you’re Home Alone! You have The TechnoRetro Dads to keep you company. We remember the movie on its 30th anniversary and the video games it inspired. Plus, the Mousetrap game that may have just inspired Kevin’s booby traps. And the results of the first matchups in the Earbud Toy Catalog. The holidays are here!

 

We may all be Home Alone this year, but we can still have some fun. We remember Kevin McCallister’s antics and the Mousetrap board game that reminds us that we can play at home. 



TechnoRetro News

  • Ready Player Two is available now! What do you think?
  • Indiana Jones is timeless. Well, we hope so since Indy 5 begins pre production next year. 

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies!

30 years ago Kevin McCallister taught us the true meaning of Christmas while protecting your house from really, really stupid burglers. Home Alone is one of the highest grossing comedies of all time. Let’s look back on all the holiday fun!

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

Home Alone inspired a slew of video game versions for tons of platforms. We compare them and discuss how it could look today.

 

Retro Holiday Shopping

We remember the old stores we used to go to for the holidays and why they stuck in our memories. Do you remember going shopping with Mom or Dad? Let us know your stories!

 

Toys in the Attic

Mouse Trap was a fun board game. Did you know it actually had rules?! Us neither. We though you just set up the Rube Goldberg device and captured your Star Wars figures with it. We look back at the 58 year old game and share our experiences. 

 

Earbud Toy Catalog

The results are in for the first division of The TechnoRetro Dads Earbud Toy Catalog! The next round is Action Figures. Will your favorites make the cut? Share the survey with everyone and check back all week to see which toys are moving to the next rounds. Look on social media and Discord for the links to the surveys

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-28.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Happy Thanksgiving from The TechnoRetro Dads! Tons to be thankful for even this year. Wacky cereal recipes for your feast, video game mods for the season, and some of our favorite retro Thanksgiving specials. Join us at the table for a holiday week of fun and laughs. 

 

Missing everyone for the strangest holiday season ever? Come hang out with The TechnoRetro Dads! We have cereal recipes, video games, Thanksgiving specials and more!  



TechnoRetro Cereal -News

The Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser continues to make progress and we have now been given a taste of what the rooms will look like. Star saving now because you may need to dip into your kids’ college fund to afford it. But one Disney property that won’t break your bank is the Star Wars Lego Holiday Special on Disney+. It’s tons of fun!

 

Cereal 

The Roving Spoonster has shared some adult cereal flavored beverages to indulge in for the holidays. More companies are trying out the snack bags. And you can flavor up your coffee too. Unless you want to just drink it straight. 

And we have some cereal supplements (or straight out replacements) for your Thanksgiving feast. 

 

Earbud Toy Catalog

The TechnoRetro Dads Earbud Toy Catalog is back! This week, we feature retro games!  Share the survey with everyone and check back all week to see which toys are moving to the next rounds. Look on social media and Discord for the links to the surveys



TechnoRetro Arcade

What if some of our classic arcade favorites had their characters replaced with turkeys for Thanksgiving? Join us in the arcade and make sure you don’t get gravy in the Pac-Man machine.



Saturday Mornings

Thanksgiving specials may not be as common as other holidays, but there are still some great ones. From the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to the Charlie Brown Special, we always had some great TV to look forward to. We remember some of the most popular and discuss some more obscure ones. What specials do you remember?

 

Thankful for Thanksgiving

It’s the perfect time to look at our life and truly appreciate all we have to be thankful for. Jay and Shua share some of the most special things in their life and how it’s impacted them even today. And we are always thankful for all of you. 

 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-27.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 1:15pm EDT

We pay tribute to the memory of Sir Sean Connery (and others) when we look back at some of the movies that made a difference to up. And the November 1980 issue of Starlog focuses on Mark Hamill in the Magazine Rack. 

 

Connery. Sean Connery. The legendary actor passed away at age 90 recently. But he left behind a slew of memorable films and set a bar for a generation of machismo higher than just about anyone else. Jay and Shua look back at some of the greatest ones and Shua remembers how his father turned him onto the actor. 



TechnoRetro Cereal -News

General Mills has once again begun to include some toys in their cereal. But how long will Cereal be around? Well, the village of Cereal, anyway. And keep your eye out for the latest cereal flavor in the grocery store aisles as Cinnamon Toast Crunch-flavored milk will soon be a reality. 



Magazine Rack

In November of 1980, The Empire Strikes Back had changed the way we saw Sci-Fi in the cinema, and we couldn’t get enough of it. This issue features the long-awaited interview with Mark Hamill who may have predicted the future of Star Wars almost 40 years ahead of time. Plue, the state of science fiction on TV as Starlog looks at everything available from the point of view of the culture that gave us the foundation for everything we have today. 



The Star Wars Holiday Special!

It’s been 42 years since CBS graced us with the first Star Wars sequel.  It’s aged like a fine cheese. Whether you love it, hate it, or pretend it doesn’t exist, it’s always fun to talk about. But what would it look like if it aired today? We recast a modern day version and speculate what it would look like to a whole new generation to be embarrassed by. 



Mandalorian

Season 2 of Disney+’s hit series is back. Jay and Shua give their brief impressions of how it’s looking so far.



Movie Legends

Did your dad turn you on to Sean Connery movies? Ours did. The late actor left behind a library of movies to inspire your machismo. We look at some of the most memorable roles of Sir Sean that made a difference to us. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-26.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

The TechnoRetro realm turns medieval as we talk with Superfriends Mike Witwer, author of Heroes' Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook and Antony Soehner, author of After School Adventures. 

 

Hungry? We hope so, because we have some delectable food from the Middle Ages as we welcome Michael Witwer, celebrated Dungeons & Dragons author, whose latest book “Heroes' Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook” is available now. Plus, author of multiple D & D based novels, Antony Soehner stops by to share his latest series. 

 

In the NEWS

  • We offer best wishes to Jeff Bridges as he faces a health battle. And we are confident he will conquer it!
  • The Portable Atari Mini Pong Jr. is the portable video game you didn’t know you needed
  • The video game that became a board game, now becomes a video game. The Kickstarter success “Space Invaders” will soon entertain you on your table and your electronic device.



TechnoRetro Cereal -News

The Roving Spoonster’s very own Grand Rapids, Michigan is soon getting its very own cereal bar! And more impressive than that, it’s being run by a 17 year old!  We wish all the best of luck to her and can’t wait to hear a review. 



Superfriends

Antony Soehner has written six great novels based in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and he’s not slowing down now. We discuss his work that’s available now, and what may be to come. Make sure you check out his great stories and share them with your friends by going to antonysoehner.com   



Michael Witwer returns to TechnoRetro Dads to share another of his great Dungeons & Dragons literature projects. This time it’s an incredible cookbook with food straight from the realm. Pick up Heroes’ Feast - The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook, available now. 



Would You Rather?  Dungeons & Dragons Edition 

Would you rather have everyone in your D&D party have no hands and only fight with their feet, or have everyone’s weapons be made of seaweed? Mike and Tony use a spell to open the door and enter the chamber when suddenly they are confronted with these types of questions. Their only way out is to decide what they would do in these ridiculous scenarios. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-25.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Not very scary Halloween specials were a staple as we enjoyed our retro candy choices. Do they stack up against today's sweets?

 

We really enjoyed the “not very scary” Halloween specials that would show up on TV every October. What were some of your favorites? We discuss them as we indulge in a variety of popular 80’s candy and pit them up against today’s choices. 

 

In the NEWS

  • Willow comes to Disney+ as a series with director Jon M. Chu
  •  The Witches gets a remake thanks to HBO Max and Robert Zemeckis, plus some big named stars



TechnoRetro Cereal -News

The Roving Spoonster has shared cereal news that’s good for all!  Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins launches a cereal for charity. Kellogg’s has cereal boxes for the visually impaired. General Mills held a contest with free artistic renderings of our favorite Monster Cereal mascots for anyone that entered. And for those that need a little boost in their taste buds, you’ll soon get a chance to use SpoonTEK. Cereal is the great uniter! 



Saturday Mornings - Not Very Scary Halloween Specials

You know the hype was building in October when the TV stations started playing the Halloween specials. Every episode of Scooby Doo made it seem like Halloween. In 1985 Garfield gave us his first Halloween adventure. And who could forget It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown? But only the Simpsons has given us more than 30 years of special episodes every year. We remember our favorite Treehouse of Horror episodes, plus Earbud ideas too. 



Halloween Candy TechnoRetro Taste Test

We know we loved candy in the 80’s (yes, even Bit-O-Honey). But does it stack up against the candy we have to choose from today? Are the new, fancy ones worth getting in your Trick-or-Treat bag? Jay and Shua push through the sugar sweats as they sample a plethora of sweet treats from the past and present.

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-24.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

As Halloween approaches, get ready for some spooky games in the arcade! Plus, learn a lot about life on the 30th anniversary of Edward Scissorhands.

 

30 years ago, director Tim Burton presented a story of love and acceptance in the way only he can with the classic Johnny Depp movie Edward Scissorhands. And while you prepare yourself for a Halloween like no other, why not revisit some spooky games in the arcade? 

 

In the NEWS

  • Jeff Bridges and his daughter have written a great picture book about their relationship
  • The synopsis for Ready Player Two has been released
  • Alice Cooper is planning a fun Halloween for all the kids!
  • Our Life Day present came early when Disney+ announced the Lego Star Wars Holiday Special 



TechnoRetro Cereal -News

The Roving Spoonster has shared his insight once again! Do you live in Massachusetts? You may be interested in Pixels and Pints where they are beginning to host all you can eat cereal and Saturday Morning Cartoon events. Check it out and let us know! And Post will be releasing some cereal infused bunnies for Easter this year. We can’t wait to try them out! 



TechnoRetro Arcade - Spooky Games for Halloween

Video games have had a rich history when it comes to games featuring scary monsters and situations. From all the way back in 1972 when Killer Shark appeared, the genre has been one of the most popular. We look at featured games such as Atari’s Haunted House, movie-based games like The Evil Dead, Halloween, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street. Plus, gory additions such as Splatterhouse and Doom. Do you like the Horror genre of games? Let us know! 



Let’s all go to the movies! - Edward Scissorhands

In 1990 Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp were just beginning their illustrious careers. And when now legendary director Tim Burton cast them in his surreal classic Edward Scissorhands, they ended up being the perfect pair to teach us all lessons about kindness, inclusion, and how to treat people that are different from us. We take a close look at the movie on its 30th anniversary and share what it’s meant for us. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-23.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to Dads. We look at Twilight Zone: The Movie, the classic show, and the Golden Earring song and misheard lyrics of 80’s songs. 

 

For more than 60 years the Twilight Zone has given us a ton of stories to fill us with dread and make us think about the world. Jay and Shua look back on the classic TV show, the Movie, and the Golden Earring. But are we hearing those lyrics correctly?

 

In the NEWS

  • Cobra Kai returns in January and it’s been renewed for a season 4!
  • We recommend some great new books featuring art from video games
  • Would you try pumpkin spice Mac and Cheese?
  • We honor the memory of Eddie Van Halen 



Let’s All Go to the Movies - Twilight Zone: The Movie

In 1983 four legendary directors put together some Rod Serling-esque stories to give us Twilight Zone - The Movie. We look back at the origins of Rod Serling’s creation and how it evolved into the movie and future versions of the show. 



TechnoRetro Dads - Vinyl Scratchback

Twilight Zone also inspired (sorta) a classic 80’s song by Golden Earring. This song was a definite product of the 80’s but we may not have been hearing all the lyrics correctly. We figure out what they really said and also share some other wacky misinterpretations of lyrics. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-22.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

October is here! And who better to usher in the spooky month than the Godfather of Spooky himself, Vincent Price!

 

Vincent Price became a legend in all things Halloween. We look back at some of his great roles and appearances in classic movies, TV shows, and songs.  Plus, the TechnoRetro Dads Magazine Rack features the October 1980 issue of Starlog and the dwindling Sci-Fi options on TV.

 

In the NEWS

  • Some very cool stylized Back to the Future figures are now available online and in stores. Just in time for Christmas!
  • Artist Travis Falligant has made some very TechnoRetro Scooby Doo prints featuring classic horror movie villains. 



TechnoRetro Cereal -News

The Roving Spoonster has done it again! Great cereal news. Holiday cereals will be hitting the shelves soon. The newest this year is Elf cereal, based on the Will Ferrell Classic. ARe our cereals going back to basics? General Mills is, even with their recipes straight from the 80’s. And if you’re looking for a new video game, why not check out Cereal Killaz?



TechnoRetro Dads - Vinyl Scratchback

Danny Elfman’s genius has given us a ton of classic music over the years, but one of their biggest mainstream hits was Dead Man’s Party. We look back at the history and influence of the classic whether it’s October or any other month. 



Let’s All Go to the Movies

Vincent Price has hundreds of acting credits to his name over his career. But in 1953 he began developing his trademark type of character in House of Wax. From there he starred in a variety of spooky movies, often parodying himself. Plus, he made appearances in TV shows from Love Boat to the Muppet Show. We talk about our favorites, what are yours?

 

Toys in the Attic - Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture

Vincent Price didn’t stop at the movies. He also endorsed some creepy toys too. All you need is an apple. This would be perfect for Halloween, so get your twisted Mr. Potato Head knockoff now!

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-21.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Don't look now, but Michael Keaton is moving into your house. We look back at Pacific Heights and movie-based video games that never were.

 

In 1990 Michael Keaton terrified any yuppie that was looking to become a landlord. We look at Pacific Heights. And we think about movies that didn’t get their own video games in the TechnoRetro Arcade.   

 

In the NEWS

  • The Dark Crystal will not be having a season 2 and we’re not very happy about it. 



Let’s All Go To The Movies - Pacific Heights

Suspenseful thrillers were all the rage in 1990. Michael Keaton, in his next movie after Batman, gets into the game with Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine as he channels his not-so-inner sociopath. He is Carter Hayes and he’s making the young couple’s life miserable as he rents out their apartment and proceeds to torment them in a complex scam that threatens to ruin their life. 



31 Days of Horror

Jovial Jay continues his tradition of watching a scary movie a day in October. This year’s RetroZap posts will be a plethora of “H-origins”. With movies like Dracula, The Invisible Man, and Psycho, the month looks to be a promising fright-fest. He tells us some of the movies he’ll be sharing as we prepare for 31 Days of Horror. 

 

TechnoRetro Arcade - 1990 movies that would be horrible video games

James Bond, Batman, Jurassic Park...these movies all got great video games. Why not other 1990 movies. Wouldn’t you love to play a Pretty Woman video game? Or how about showing off your gaming skills as Mel Gibson’s Hamlet? The obscure (and fictitious) Obscure Games room gets some imaginary additions as we wonder what could have been. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-20.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Slide on those knee pads and pile up the cardboard boxes! The TechnoRetro Dads are preparing movie stunts and look at Lee Majors’s 80’s macho show, The Fall Guy.

 

We might fall from a tall building, we might roll a brand new car. But we should probably leave that up to the professional stuntmen. 

 

In the NEWS

  • The Mandalorian Season 2 trailer is here! We are very excited about the upcoming show. 



TechnoRetro Cereal - News

Are you ready for gingerbread? If so, it’s making its way to your breakfast as Kelloggs introduces gingerbread toaster pancakes. And what is the greatest spinoff in history? We’d say Honey Nut Cheerios. 



TechnoRetro TV

Lee Majors is known for his macho roles. And he got to show off about as much machismo as anyone could handle back in the 80’s with his stuntman-turned-bounty-hunter Colt Seavers. He would catch those fugitives with his partners Howie and Jody and use his Hollywood stunt skills to do it for our dramatic entertainment. Jay and Josh look back at the retro ABC show The Fall Guy. 

 

Let’s All Go To The Movies - Classic Movie Stunts

Hollywood has a rich history of movie stunts. From Buster Keaton to Jackie Chan, the stunt people risk their lives for our pleasure. We take a look at some of the classic, memorable stunts from movies we love. First, Jackie Chan tops our list with some of the craziest stunts you’ve ever seen. And who could forget how many times James Bond has thrown his body all over the place. Plus, we remember the incredible thrills of Speed and Raiders of the Lost Ark. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-19.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Sports are back! We commemorate the return by looking back at some fantastic sport video games. Plus, we lay out our ideal Saturday Morning Cartoon lineup would be. 

 

We. Could. Go. All. The. Way! ….back to the beginning of video games to look at the sports that kicked all of them off, and how they evolved. Plus, we try to figure out what our ideal Saturday morning cartoon lineup might be. 

 

In the NEWS

  • An update on the progress of the TRON coaster
  • The Princess Bride cast to reunite for a table reading
  • You can get a really cool Sid Krofft jigsaw puzzle, signed by the man himself
  • They Live gets an impressive box set
  • Do you have a golden ticket? If so, you could win your very own candy store!



TechnoRetro Cereal - News

The Roving Spoonster has been working overtime this week. General Mills and Champion team up for some cerealicious clothing. Are you trying to eat healthy? There are some sugar free options out there. Buffalo, New York gets their very own cereal restaurant. And Little Debbie decides to get into the cereal game with a version of their oatmeal cream pies. 



TechnoRetro Arcade - Sport Games

The very first video game was inspired by the real sport of tennis. From their, the games evolved into more and more realistic games. Which is good, because they’ve been the only sports we’ve really had access to lately. Pong, soccer, boxing, baseball, football, hockey, racing...the list goes on. Jay and Shua share some of their favorites from their childhood while looking at some of the history as well. 

 

Magazine Rack - Starlog September 1980

This month’s Starlog had a cover story about a legendary, cinematic special edition. Nope. Even before Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind returned to theaters with never before scenes, but not digitally-added Jabba the Hutt. There were also some great features about Space 1999, Clash of the Titans, and Galaxina. Empire Strikes Back had been out for several months when this issue came out. What was the reaction after it had successfully woven it’s way into the new decade? It may not be what you think. 

 

Saturday Mornings

If you had your own TV station and access to all the cartoons, what would you schedule for your Saturday Mornings? Jay and Shua try to come up with a good 5 hour lineup and find it more difficult than expected. But there’s just so many to choose from!  What would be included in your lineup?

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-18.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

No matter what school looks like this year, we can always make memories that last a lifetime. The TechnoRetro Dads take a look back at their edu-macation and maybe give you a few ideas for using all the retro memories to help today’s kids. 

 

It’s time to head back to some form of learning!  But let’s pause and take a look back at what it was like back in the day. 

 

In the NEWS

  • Our first impressions of Bill and Ted 3
  • And Cobra Kai is making impressions with us
  • Jay is looking forward to a new Star Trek book
  • And there may be a possibility of a movie in your future...



TechnoRetro Cereal - News

A newly graduated student is using cereal to help with some unfortunate circumstances. And was the classic cereal mascot Quisp inspired by a comic book character. Plus, where can you find a bag of just Lucky Charms marshmallows?



TechnoRetro Arcade - The Tech of our Schools 

When did you go to school? The 80’s? The 90’s? No matter what decade you found yourself learning the basics, it is always a big deal when your school gets some new technology. Even having that freshly mimeographed worksheet passed out to you was a sign of modern times. We take a look at some of our early tech exposure such as the Apple ][ computer, or the TRS-80. And who could forget those wonderful filmstrip projectors?

 

Magazine Rack - Starlog September 1980

This month’s Starlog had a cover story about a legendary, cinematic special edition. Nope. Even before Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind returned to theaters with never before scenes, but not digitally-added Jabba the Hutt. There were also some great features about Space 1999, Clash of the Titans, and Galaxina. Empire Strikes Back had been out for several months when this issue came out. What was the reaction after it had successfully woven it’s way into the new decade? It may not be what you think. 

 

TechnoRetro School Supplies

Do you remember getting the chance to go to the store and pick out your new supplies for the upcoming school year? Even today it’s a memorable experience, but we take a look back at some of the more iconic items such as cardboard pencil boxes, Pee Chees, and Trapper Keepers. And then we get ready for lunch by grabbing our legendary tin lunch boxes with a wide variety of pop culture characters. Can we help make this school year memorable in a positive way for today’s generation? Let’s hope so 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-17.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Who is Darkman? He's everywhere and nowhere, but mostly he's Liam Neeson. 30 years ago we witnessed the birth of a new kind of hero and launched Neeson's career. The TechnoRetro Dads look back at Sam Raimi's classic.

Darkman stepped into the light 30 years ago and helped make Liam Neeson a star. We review the finer aspects of the 1990 film.

In the NEWS
Wil Weaton returns for the audio version of Ready Player Two


TechnoRetro Cereal - Coffee for Breakfast
Hostess introduces the world to two new coffee possibilities. Ding Dongs and Twinkie flavored Latte. Shua thinks it sounds intriguing. But what do you think? Let us know at podcast@technoretrodads.com

Let’s All Go to the Movies - Darkman
In 1990, Sam Raimi wanted to make a superhero movie. Not being able to gain the rights of some of his beloved classic heroes, he decided to create his own. Enter Darkman; the tragic antihero who was viciously attacked and left for dead. His recovery included severing his pain receptors, loss of emotional control, and liquid skin. This movie was Liam Neeson’s first leading role and while it is a product of its time, it is chock full of cinematic history. We take a deeper look at the movie and revisit some of our favorite Neeson films.


TechnoRetro Arcade - Games inspired by Liam Neeson movies.
If you’re going to be a big action star, you better expect a slew of video games featuring your characters. Liam Neeson’s long career gave us some good ones. Krull may be a cult movie, but it inspired a really great, underrated game full of action, rolling rocks, and glaves. Our featured movie, Darkman could be played at home in a variety of versions, Batman Begins was a hit in the cinemas and a stunning cinematic game with Neeson as the main antagonist. And of course we couldn’t leave out Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Grab your quarters and come join us in the arcade.

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-16.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Tech is everywhere! But in the 80’s we looked at it with a little wonder, a little excitement, and a lot of neon. We look at the technology our heroes used to save the day and the toys that helped us grow. 

 

Technology in our favorite TV shows and the tech toys that kept us entertained and edumacated.

 

In the NEWS

  • The Princess Bride is coming to a board game near you
  • A Knight Rider movie is in the works! 
  • TRON 3 gets a new director
  • The last Blockbuster Video is available for a sleepover! Pack those PJs
  • Space Camp may just be around for a bit longer!



TechnoRetro Cereal - Junior Spoonster

Jay brings us news of a new type of breakfast; Mac and Cheese...wait, that can’t be right. Mac and Cheese?!?!?! Would you indulge in this traditional kiddie meal as a morning feast? Let us know. And you’ve gotta check out the Teachable Machine Lucky Charms Marshmallow extractor.  It’s sure to change your late night snacking habits.

 

Saturday Mornings - Retro TV with Tech-Centered Stories

We loved our TV heroes! In the 80’s those heroes often got to use cool new tech to save the day. Automan was a hero straight out of TRON. He is a complex computer construct that partners up with a police computer expert. And he’s got a sweet glowy car! Max Headroom was a one of a kind piece of technology that helped shape the 80’s without ever leaving a TV screen (or having a body). The Street Hawk was a super fast, super cool motorcycle. And Airwolf saved the day from the sky while Stringfellow Hawke piloted the powerful helicopter. Finally, Michael Knight was a faithful partner to KITT, the computer powered super car whose legacy lives on to this day. How cool were they? And how much did they influence the future? 



Toys in the Attic - Tech Toys

Was there anything more exciting for a kid to get a toy that needed batteries? Electronic toys became more accessible to kids in the 80’s. They kept us entertained and helped us learn. The Little Professor calculator was where Shua learned his numbers and the Speak and Spell built his words. Most kids enjoyed their Mattel Electronic sports games, even though it was really just a few little red LED lights. But blinking lights could be fun, and be the basis of games like Merlin and Simon. The Microvision was the granddaddy of the handheld games we love today. And if you like games of fantasy, Dark Tower and Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game sparked our imagination.

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-15.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

The truth is out there. But since we’re hanging out at home, we’ll have it delivered straight to you! Jay and Shua take a look at some classic movies and TV shows that focused on some classic conspiracies. And we’ll take a second look at what our retro board games were really trying to do to us. 

 

Conspiracy movies and TV with some very suspicious board games.  

 

In the NEWS

  • Holidays come to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World!
  • Remembering the legend of Wilfred Brimley

 

TechnoRetro Cereal - Roving Spoonster

Shane shares some tasty stories this week. Tim Hortons has a deliciously sweet looking Froot Loops donut that just bowls us over (or is it a sugar coma?)  Post’s Dunkin Donuts coffee cereal is sure to wake you up. And we look at some discontinued cereal and contemplate which ones should return.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies - Conspiracy Movies

Movie goers have always been fascinated with stories with plenty of intrigue. And no genre has more than conspiracy movies. We look back at some memorable conspiracy stories from the 70’s, 80’s, and even 90’s. Do you remember The Parallax View with Warren Beatty? How about some Robert Redford dramas like Three days of the Condor or All the President’s Men? Space was all the rage with the Mars launch hoax of Capricorn One or the Area 51 inspired Hangar 18. Roy Scheider traded boats for helicopters in 1983’s Blue Thunder. And we would never forget Buckaroo Banzai’s contribution to saving the world from aliens. He probably inspired Roddy Piper in John Carpenter’s They Live. And of course, the granddaddy of all the conspiracies would have to be Oliver Stone’s classic cover-up story inspired by true life events in JFK. Which ones do you like? And what did we leave off the list?

 

TV - More truth to be uncovered

Conspiracies weren’t limited to the cinema. TV had it’s share of intrigue. V: The Miniseries had us questioning if we were being invaded by aliens or fascists. Or maybe fascist aliens. But we’ll never stop questioning all the mysteries of the world in Leonard Nimoy’s In Search Of, or Jack Palance’s Ripley’s Believe it or Not. And as we prepared to head into the 21st Century, Agents Mulder and Scully helped us to track down the real story behind mysterious aliens and why you shouldn’t smoke so much.

 

Toys in the Attic - Board Games or Conspiracies

We grew up with so many great board games. But were they given to us to entertain ourselves or control our minds? Take the quiz and listen to the evidence. Can you identify the board game by the conspiracy theorist description?

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-14.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

You don’t have to be a Real Genius to know that Weird Science can get out of control. Science was all over the place in August of 1985. If you want the fiction of it, just look in Starlog Magazine. We take a look at the classic Sci-Fi publication in a new segment called Magazine Rack. 

 

Starlog Magazine, plus the sciencey movies Weird Science and Real Genius 

 

In the NEWS

  • Longtime character actor John Saxon passes away
  • A Transformers/Back to the Future crossover? Could that really happen?
  • We got our first look at the live action Tom and Jerry movie
  • Coming soon: A Back to the Future 4K set, complete with tiny floating hoverboard
  • Please consider helping to save Space Camp for future generations of young scientists by donating to savespacecamp.com

 

TechnoRetro Cereal - Tiger Paws

Jay tries the new Kellogg’s snack and lets us know if it’s worth it. Well, if you like sweetness, it may be for you!

 

Magazine Rack - Starlog August 1980

In a new segment on TechnoRetro Dads, we take a look back at the classic sci-fi magazine Starlog. This month’s cover story is an interview with Harrison Ford, the star of the newly released Empire Strikes Back. There are also some great articles about how the 1980’s sci-fi genre entered the 80’s. Battlestar Galactica left TV, Buck Rogers was grasping for one last chance, and a little science fiction movie from Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford was on the horizon.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies - Weird Science/Real Genius

August 1985 was a rich time for science in the movies. Well, science may be a little generous when describing these films, but they certainly felt sciency. John Hughes’s Weird Science starred Anthony Michael Hall, Kelly Lebrock, and Ilan Mitchell-Smith. It tells the story of Gary and Wyatt trying to fit in with their High School peers by creating the beautiful, smart, and magical Lisa from thin air. Aahhh, remember when you did that in high school? Then, watch Val Kilmer at his finest in the classic smart people against the government story Real Genius. Chris Knight helps his roommate Mitch to build a super powerful laser, but must stop it when they realize how it’s going to be used. Both movies featured quotable lines and lots of laughs. And if you want a little science cherry on top, check out the third movie that month, My Science Project. 

 

Vinyl Scratchback - Weird Science/Real Genius Soundtrack

There may have only been a few memorable songs from these movies, but the 80’s vibe was very important to the flow of both. We break down which ones were important, such as Oingo Boingo’s hit Weird Science, and the Tears for Fears favorite Everybody Wants to Rule the World. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-13.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Ever wonder where to go during an earthquake? How about what to do in case of fire? Would you duck and cover at the first sign of a meteor? These disaster and much more made up a good portion of movies in the 70’s and 80’s. Everyone wanted to know how their favorite stars were going to survive and become heroes. It even transferred to the arcade in great games like Missile Command. Get ready to shake and bake as we relive massive destruction!

 

Retro disaster movies and Missile Command 

 

In the NEWS

  • Jim Varney was much more than just Ernest P. Worrell. A new documentary will show off his brilliance
  • We are excited to see how the prequel animated series based on Gremlins will avoid feeding tose little guys after midnight.
  • The hit YouTube series ‘Cobra Kai’ moves every season over to Netflix
  • Hide your skyscrapers because Godzilla vs Kong just release a trailer for the upcoming flick 

 

TechnoRetro Arcade - Missile Command

In 1980, Atari was preparing us for any kind of attack from the sky we may have to face. Missile Command was a new kind of video game for the arcade, with a trackball and multiple firing buttons. And despite the fact that there’s no way to win, the frenetic pace mad it a fun game to play. 

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies - Disaster Movies

In the 70’s a wave of disaster movies swept through theaters like a hurricane! Audiences were shaken when they watched their favorite stars escape from every danger the world could drop on them. People like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Sean Connery, and Lorne Greene burned their performances into our memories forever. Stay home, away from germs, and listen to our look back at the most entertaining destruction you’re gonna get this side of the fault line!

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-12.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

I’m alright. Nobody worry about me. Because we love watching movies. This week we take a look back at the 1980 classic comedy Caddyshack. For 40 years fans have been inspired by the wacky humor and quotable lines. Plus, it had a cool soundtrack. We also head to the arcade to play a legendary digital golf classic, Golden Tee. 

 

Caddyshack, it’s peppy soundtrack, and the arcade Golden Tee. 

 

In the NEWS

  • The Battlestar Galactica is in energetic preparations on the Peacock streaming service
  • Star Wars animation gets an exciting boost with the announcement of Bad Batch
  • Jon Hamm will star at the title character in the Fletch reboot 



We Love Our Cereal

The Roving Spoonster digs deep once again for the best in cereal news. After far too many years, we will finally be getting a female cereal mascot. Even if she is undead. Will South Koreans enjoy the much anticipated Green Onion Chex cereal? And put the matches away, because you won’t need a campfire to enjoy the new S’Mores cereal. 

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies - Caddyshack

40 years ago the guys that brought us National Lampoon set their sights on the golf course. Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, and a variety of hilarious actors prove once again that bullies will get their come-uppance in any environment. Grab that 9-iron and be the ball. 

 

Vinyl Scratchback - Caddyshack soundtrack

Kenny Loggins beat out Pink Floyd when got the opportunity to write songs for the movie. And he is still singing about how he’s “Alright” today. Plus, an iconic Journey song made it’s way into the movie. More specifically into Al Czervik’s golf bag. 

 

TechnoRetro Arcade - Golden Tee

Some arcade games have medieval action. Some have enemies from space. Some have plumbers chasing turtles. But if you’re ready for something a little slower-paced, then we have a golf game for you. In 1989 Incredible Technologies gave us the strategic golf simulator “Golden Tee”. The series continued for years and was popular with those that would rather stay inside and swing the clubs. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-11.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

July is JediShua’s top month because he gets all the attention for his birthday! To celebrate the TechnoRetro Dads find some fun facts about the 35 year old favorite, Back to the Future. What makes the best cereal cake? We want you to tell us. We’ll wait, but in the meantime let’s play a little Dig Dug and remember some cool birthday gifts from the past. 

 

Back to the Future fun, cereal cake, Dig Dug, and birthday toys from days gone by. 

 

In the NEWS

  • Great big news as we get some very promising news about TRON 3! Shazbazzar stops by briefly to celebrate
  • What was the top movie at the box office on Independence Day weekend? It’s not what you may think! 
  • Your chances of getting your very own two-wheeled, perfectly balanced, transportation system just got slimmer because Segway will be ceasing production. 
  • We are enjoying Gary Larson’s return with new Far Side comics out now
  • And more great news in the future of retro entertainment as Ernest Cline’s “Ready Player Two” gets a release date. 




We Love Our Cereal

JediShua tried to make an ice cream cone out of Cinnamon Toast Crunch with mixed results. For Shua’s birthday he wants a cereal cake. But which one? There are 3 really good ones to choose from. Why not make one and let us know which one would be best? Here’s some links with recipes. 

Fruity Pebbles Cake

https://www.popsugar.com/food/Cereal-Cake-Recipe-44091253 

Froot Loops Rainbow Cake

https://www.yummly.com/recipe/Rainbow-Cereal-Cake-1542919 

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cake

https://livforcake.com/cinnamon-toast-crunch-cake/ 



TechnoRetro Arcade - Dig Dug

Go underground in the 1982 classic arcade game Dig Dug. It’s fun to sadistically pump up Figars and Tookas as you create crazy mazes in the dirt. Both Jay and Shua liked the gameplay, the music, and the fact they could actually play the game well. Let’s revisit Dig Dug. 



Let’s All Go to the Movies - Back to the Future

35 years ago we experienced a movie that’s changed our lives. It’s no secret how much we love Back to the Future, and we thought we knew everything there was to know about the classic film. But we found some facts that were not only obscure, but totally interesting too. And we get to enjoy a song from Biff too!



Toys in the Attic - Birthday gifts from our past

Do you still have any of the toys you got for your birthday when you were a kid? Even if you don’t you still have the memories.  Jay enjoyed his Star Wars Landspeeder and the Death Star that seemed to reproduce. Shua had the immortal Suckerman and a sweet Walkman. What gifts do you remember?

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-10.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Looks like you picked the wrong week to stop eating cereal. 40 years ago one of the funniest movies of all time was unleashed. Airplane! flew over Macho Grande and into our funny bones. We stay a mile high as we look back at memorable airplane video games and Evel Knievel  teaches us new ways to land. 

 

Look! Up in the sky! Airplanes, video games, and Evel Knievel!

 

In the NEWS

  • The 80’s ‘kid running from the government’ classic movie DARYL gets a sequel TV series
  • Ever wondered where the Ferris Bueller song “Oh Yeah!” came from? The writers reveal their inspiration
  • We say goodbye to comedy legend Carl Reiner




We Love Our Cereal

We love new ways to use cereal, and the Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cheesecake recipe may be one of the sweetest ways to do it. General Mills releases several new cereals along with Kellogg’s and their superfood for kids. And the Roving Spoonster has us excited about Froot Loops Tropical. 



Let’s All Go to the Movies - Airplane!

In 1980, Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker, and David Zucker spoofed the forgettable movie Zero Hour! to create the comedy classic Airplane! It starred Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty, plus a collection of classically serious actors like Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, and of course Leslie Nielsen. We look back at the quotes, the jokes, and all the fun that inspired a whole new genre of comedy.  

 

TechnoRetro Arcade - Airplane games

 How many airplane video games do you remember? We start in the early days of gaming all the way back in 1970 with the first flying game ever, Jet Rocket. As the years went on, we saw graphics change but our joy of flying never dwindled. As long as we dream of soaring, they’ll keep simulating it.

 

Toys in the Attic - Evel Knievel

If you’re like us, you probably used your bikes for some pretty crazy stunts when you were little. You may have been inspired by the motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel. We look at his life and the cool toys that he inspired. Don’t try this at home, kids! 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-09.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Do you remember your first car? The freedom it gave us was the beginning of an important chapter of the TechnoRetro Dads’ lives. And the FM radio we listened to kept us entertained as we cruised down the road. 

 

A look back at our first cars and the FM Radio that we all listened to!

 

In the NEWS

  • Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water, it’s the 45th anniversary of the classic Spielberg movie Jaws
  • Sir Ian Holm passes away at 88
  • Cobra Kai is coming to Netflix
  • A new book focuses on the toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe




Toys in the Attic - Our first cars

You never forget your first ride. Jay had a VW Beetle and Shua had a...well, he’d like to forget. We remember what our first cars meant to us, and share some of the sweet wheels our earbuds had too. What did it mean to you and what ended up happening to it? 

 

Vinyl Scratchback - FM Radio

In the 70’s and 80’s there was almost no form of entertainment so accessible as the radio. We listened in our bedrooms, our living rooms, doing yardwork, in our headphones, and especially in our cars. And FM stations crowded the airwaves giving us the legendary music that is still popular today. Shua break down a short history of how FM was developed into what it was when DJs ruled the airwaves. Then we remember some of the stations that were big in the cities where we grew up. 

 

Saturday Mornings - Speed Buggy

Speed Buggy was a Hanna-Barbera cartoon that only lasted for 16 episodes, but it left a mark that keeps it in our memories today. Part Scooby Doo, part Josie and the Pussycats, it told the tale of a little dune buggy and his friends.

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-08.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Happy TechnoRetro Dads Day! Shane the Roving Spoonster joins Jay and Shua to talk cereal, take the ultimate Dads Quiz, and revisit the Rick Moranis classic, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

 

We celebrate the Papas and those who are fulfilling the Papa role!

 

In the NEWS

  • School House Rock is now available on Disney+
  • Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2020 has been officially cancelled

 

We Love Our Cereal

For the first time ever, The Roving Spoonster, Shane joins us to talk Dads and cereal. First, he shares news of each state’s favorite cereal. Did your favorite make the cut? Next, what can we do if our coffee creamer runs out? How about some cereal milk. Another casualty of cancellations is Battle Creek, Michigan’s National Cereal Festival. And have you ever tried to freeze your cereal? We’ll talk about some results. 

 

Ultimate Pop Culture Dad Quiz!

It’s Father’s Day week. Do you remember all the dads that helped to raise you? We’re talking about, of course, the ones you saw on TV and in the movies. How much do you remember about these retro Pops and what they did right (and wrong) when raising their kiddos. Shane and Jay go head-to-head in this fun game of Daddy-ness.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies - Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

On June 23, 1989 you may have been sitting in a movie theater watching the premiere of Tim Burton’s Batman. But if you couldn’t get in, you may have checked out another movie that opened that day. Disney’s Honey, I Shrunk the Kids starred a nice, wide variety of popular actors from the time, including Ghostbuster’s Rick Moranis and Max Headroom himself, Matt Frewer. It tells the story of four kids that get miniaturized by their quirky, scientist dad Wayne Szalinski. They have to cut their way through the backyard to find a way to get big again. Shane joins in the discussion as we revisit this fun, family comedy. 

 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-07.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Take Off with Bob and Doug’s Strange Brew!

Superfriend Sheldon joins us as we look back at the movie Strange Brew, test our Canadian knowledge, and play the arcade game Root Beer Tapper.

 

Take off to the Great White North!

 

In the NEWS

  • Mad Magazine’s Al Jaffee retires at 99 years old!
  • Paul Hogan revisits his character Crocodile Dundee (sort of)
  • The trailer for Bill and Ted Face the Music arrives, and it’s wonderful!



We Love Our Cereal




Let’s All Go to the Movies - Strange Brew

In 2020, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley intercepted with the International Space Station, but in 1983 Bob and Doug McKenzie intercepted with the Elsinore Brewing Company in the movie Strange Brew.  This spinoff of their popular skit on SCTV hit theaters and showed the fictional brothers’ true love of beer. Sheldon Norton, Superfriend and Canadian, join Jay and Shua to reminisce about the goofy comedy and then give them a test to see how Canadian they actually are. 

 

TechnoRetro Arcade:  Bally Midway’s Root Beer Tapper

In 1983, Bally released an arcade game where you got to be a bartender! But you have the option of serving up some delicious, foamy root beer in this classic game where your coordination must be in tip top shape so you don’t drop the mugs. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-06.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Jay and Shua get their tushies to Mars as they look back at Ah-nuld’s classic movie Total Recall! Plus, summer toys, and cereal!

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-05.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

TechnoRetro Dads: A Summer of Monkeys and Chevys as we welcome Jovial Jay!

Fletch, Paul Simon’s Graceland, and a Secret of Monkey Island

 

Our good buddy shazbazzar is going to be taking some time off from the show. But never fear, the witty and effervescent Jay Shepard will be filling in!

 

In the NEWS

  • Mike Mignola has some great cereal art for charity
  • Rancho Obi-Wan now gives virtual tours
  • We are enjoying Josh Gad’s Reunited Apart shows on YouTube
  • It may just be a satirical story, but we would look forward to sequels from John Carpenter’s - They Live

 

We Love Our Cereal

Great stories, courtesy of our Roving Spoonster Shane! Kelloggs has heard our wishes and given us giant cereal for your snacking pleasure. A new, sweet cereal is released from the small company Magic Spoon. A new way to close cereal boxes. Plus, enjoying some mini pancakes as a cereal. Is it a good idea?

 

Vinyl Scratchback

Do you remember Paul Simon’s 1986 release, Graceland? We take a look back on the influence of this groundbreaking album, and discuss some of the more memorable songs. And do we recognize someone from that You Can Call Me Al video?

 

TechnoRetro Arcade:  The Secret of Monkey Island

In 1990 Lucasfilm Games released one of their biggest hits about a pirate named Guybrush Threepwood. Well, he wants to be a pirate. And you, as the player, will have to go on adventures and solve puzzles in this graphic adventure game reminiscent of the Pirates of the Caribbean.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies

The summer of 1985 was kicked off in the movie theater with one of our favorite Not Ready for Primetime Players, Chevy Chase. Fletch was one of Chase’s biggest, (and funniest) movies. Quotable lines and hysterical humor made this one a movie with years of rewatch potential.  

Direct download: TRDads_08.04.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

The Empire Strikes Back premiered in theaters 40 years ago today.  And since the number 40 has a nice ring to it, TechnoRetro Dads delve into the archives of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem as a soundtrack for the day.  In a strange turn of events, an alternative version of the radio show came across the airwaves as host Spacey Ace’em counts down the Top Ten from the week of May 21,  1980 and while the tunes sound familiar, the lyrics are a bit odd.  Count down the greatest hits of this week 40 years ago with a flair from that galaxy far, far away.  

 

10.  “Biggest Hope We Have” (Am Yozia)

Yozya, of a wrinkled and green species unrecorded in the Official Archives of the Galactic Empire, sings about his great, great, great, great uncle’s training of a farm boy from Tatooine during his self-imposed exile on Dagobah. 

 

9.  “Another Snow-Covered Brawl” (Pink Asteroid)

This controversial piece has been banned from educational academies throughout the Galactic Empire because of its alleged ties to the traitorous Rebel Alliance.   

 

8.  “Don’t Find a Friend in a Gambler” (Gordon Rogers and Buck Girard)

A duet about scoundrels, pirates, and honor among thieves that you’re going to have to hear to the end.

 

7.  “You May Be Right, I May Be Scruffy” (Joel Willbilly)

Willbilly hits hard with this raucous tune about a scoundrel with a high opinion of himself.  Perhaps a princess and a scoundrel could have a future.

 

6.  “Roll the Dice” (Dr. Bookie)

Known for their songs about fast podracers, fast ships, and fast money, “Roll the Dice” comes from the band’s latest album, Canto Blight.

 

5.  “With You I’m Left Behind” (C-3PO and R2-D2)

The second duet in the top ten this week features a protocol droid and an astromech singing a song you’ll hope never ends.

 

4.  “BespinTown” (Faux No)

From the album Villa Manilla, the lip-syncing pseudo-band Faux No tells the story of a city that will get you moving and grooving.

 

3.  “Frozen Love” (Iron Lung)

“Frozen Love” will warm the coldest hearts with a love song that will make you say, “I know.”

 

2.  “Fly the Slave 1” (Cross-2-4-Chris)

Cross-2-4-Chris knows about the relationship of a pilot and his ship.  While it’s not quite as romantic as his number one hit “Solo’s Falcon”, this song about Han Solo’s rival will have you hunting bounties in no time.

 

1.  “Call Me” (Blah N Di)

Force Time.  Enough said.

 

And that’s the Top Ten.  Of course, there are a few surprises along the way, so plug in your ear buds, EarBuds, and turn up the tunes.  We’re betting you’ll be crying before it’s over.

In case this wasn’t all you hoped it would be, tune in to the last Top40 Top Ten from May 25, 1977 here.

Direct download: TRDads_ESB40th_Countdown.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Where would we be without our Moms?  Well, nowhere, obviously.  I mean, people don’t just randomly occur by chance.  And no, storks are not the answer folks, regardless of what Papa Smurf told you about “once in a blue moon”.  

 

In the NEWS

  • Will Ryan Reynolds be Dirk the Daring?
  • Just how cool would it be to meet the creator of TRON and the man who wore the suit?
  • The cast and crew of The Goonies reunite!
  • Star Wars: Droids on one long YouTube video!

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and more and more people are jumping on the #chillyourbowl bandwagon as boxes disappear from grocery store shelves like they were toilet paper.  Discover new cereals for your taste buds while binging your favorite toons on your days off.  You can even order cereal (and more) from The Cereal Box, Inc.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: Mothers

Atari brought a hip-hoppin’ punch-throwin’ Mom to the arcade with a Popeye vs. Donkey Kong game called Kangaroo.  PLUS: we find out the origins of Blanka from Street Fighter II — and see his mom!

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies

Moms in movies from the ‘70s and ‘80s were scary, sweet, tormented, and awesome.  Which ones do you remember?  Which ones would you like to forget?

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_08.03.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

May 25, 1977 — Star Wars dazzles audiences.

May 21, 1980 — The Empire Strikes Back hits a home run.

May 4, 2020 — TechnoRetro Dads pay tribute to the FORCE that became even more powerful with the sequel.  

 

In the NEWS

Disney+ says, “May the 4th Be with You” with:

  • Cool artwork
  • The Rise of Skywalker
  • Behind the scenes of The Mandalorian
  • The Clone Wars finale

 

And Yoda Is His Name-Oh

There was a Jedi, not too tall,
and Yoda was his name - oh!
Y - O - D - A -

Well, even if his name has too few letters to fit the song, even if he isn’t tall enough to ride certain attractions at Walt Disney World, and even if he is all wrinkled and green, Yoda proved to be the ultimate Jedi Master with his quirky personality, questionable syntax, and quotable words of wisdom.

We continue in our amazement of Yoda lifting Luke’s X-Wing from the swamp and examine why his pithy proverb uttered in The Empire Strikes Back has had such an impact on the world and the ‘Dads themselves.

JediShua remembers when Yoda was purple; shazbazzar thinks that the Hulk was, too.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and we think that Star Wars characters would, too.  JediShua and shazbazzar consider which cereals from our galaxy would most appeal to our friends from that galaxy far, far away.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: The Empire Strikes Back

From the Atari arcade revamp of Star Wars to the home version of the “Battle in the Snow” to the immersive experience of on the Super NES, shazbazzar and JediShua remember when you could put yourself in the action of The Empire Strikes Back.

 

Thanks to Talented Friends and Friendly Talents

We think you’re funny!

  • Joey, Nathan, & Kelly from Animanicast
  • Author Antony Soehner
  • RetroZap Emperor Joe Tavano from Brews & Blasters
  • Dennis Keithly and Jay Krebs from Podcast Stardust
  • Roving Spoonster Shane in Grand Rapids with Trusty Sidekick Emma
  • RetroZap Writer Courtney Martin
  • The Specialist Chris Luby from The Geek State Podcast
  • Jovial Jay and JediShua from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Case Files and Superhero Suite
  • JediShua “Going to Dagobah”
  • Weird Al Yankovich “Yoda”
  • The Syzlaks “The Lando System”
Direct download: TRDads_08.02.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

After seven years of podcasting, did the TechnoRetro Dads call it quits?  Well, not yet at least.  Join shazbazzar and JediShua for the premiere of the eighth season of TechnoRetro Dads today, featuring musical cues from:

  • High Adventure
  • Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, & Martin Short
  • Ben C. Foster
  • Buckner & Garcia
  • R. Cade & The Video Victims
  • The Family Shua

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_08.01.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 3:00pm EDT

Take time to enjoy the stuff you loved as a kid as the weather gets better outside and a lot of people are in the middle of Spring Break.  Check out what’s on TechnoRetro Dads this week:

  • These “Dad Jokes” are for the birds!
  • Strange Cereal News and a March Madness Cereal Bracket!
  • Saturday Mornings: Streaming ‘80s Cartoons
  • TechnoRetro Arcade: Games to Play Online
  • Vinyl Scratchback: Songs You Know by Heart
  • Let’s All Go to the Movies: Feel Good Flicks
  • Star Wars Scrapbook: Historical March Timeline

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.48.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

In the mid-80s, Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories was a weekly treat for fans of the far-out and freaky with its John Williams’ theme and oddball anthology style.  Every Monday night brought another mini-movie as science fiction crossed over with comedy, horror, drama, or fantasy.  Now that it’s back on AppleTV+, shazbazzar and JediShua renew their fervor for the series as the “third season” picks up where we left off more than thirty years ago.

 

In the NEWS

  • Netflix plans to bring back Kids in the Hall.
  • Amazon announces third season of Lost in Space.
  • Disney+ claims they will not pursue Tron series.
  • Remember the vibrant career of Max Von Sydow.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…but not everyone is a fan of cartoon cereal mascots.  Aldi is set to follow the trend of pulling cartoon characters from boxes of sugary cereal.  Syracuse alumnus kicks off a new business creating a brand of “healthy” kids’ cereals.

 

Saturday Mornings: Jonny Quest

Who knew that Jonny Quest was originally aired in a prime time slot in the ‘60s?  While it wasn’t actually Saturday morning fare, the short-lived series was ahead of its time in artistic style, story content, and pretty much everything except for the dog.  Somehow, Bandit must have sneaked onto the set unseen and the Quests couldn’t get rid of him.

 

Amazing Stories

From the John Williams theme to the stranger than Stranger Things vibe of the show, anthology series Amazing Stories touched a nerve among teens who were looking for science fiction/fantasy entertainment in the mid-1980s.  Now that the series is being continued on AppleTV+, the ‘Dads revisit the show they loved more than thirty years ago.

 

The Road to The Empire Strikes Back

Where would Mark Hamill go to plug the sequel to Star Wars?  A comedy variety show, of course.  Accompanied by the characters of Star Wars, Mark had a blast with the “argyle gargoyle” and the entire cast of The Muppet Show as Mark, Luke, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca invaded the Muppets’ stage in this unapologetic “vaudevillainous” stop on the press tour as the hype for The Empire Strikes Back continues to grow in February 1980.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.47.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Beneath your feet a superheated maelstrom is churning, burning, yearning to be borne to the surface through a crack in the crust and carried to new heights in a funnel-shaped mountain in hopes of bursting forth into our cruel, cool world.  Magma, lava, it’s all the same — just a different location.  Tune in for explosive eruptions on TechnoRetro Dads as we explore the hot topic of volcanoes.

 

In the NEWS

Nik Wallenda walks across the mouth of a volcano . . . on a tightrope.  And he did it just in time to be featured on this volcanic episode of TechnoRetro Dads.  Yep.  We’re that hot!

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…even in pancakes.  And the world seems to agree.  Cap’n Crunch has a new Berrytastic Pancake Mix you can make at home.  Or, if flipping flapjacks sounds like too much work, you can go to IHOP and enjoy their cereal pancakes.  Swiss Miss will soon release Lucky Charms hot chocolate you can heat over the cone of a volcano (if you’re daring).  Florida girl is a cereal hero who continues collecting boxes of cereal for the less fortunate in the Tampa area.

 

Joe Versus The Volcano

Thirty years ago, Tom Hanks was connived into agreeing to jump into a volcano for Lloyd Bridges because Robert Stack clouded his mind through masterful manipulation.  And just when it seemed that things couldn’t get any stranger, Meg Ryan showed up with Meg Ryan and Meg Ryan — all of whom were more than a tad bit interested in Tom Hanks.  Add some orange soda and an island big enough for Abe Vigoda and Nathan Lane and you’ve got a match Vegas would love to see.  In the aftermath of Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas, we were given a red hot battle in Joe Versus the Volcano.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: Volcanoes in Video Games

Whether it was the never-changing vector-graphic volcano in Battlezone or “Lethal Lava Land” in Mario 64, we lava the explosive eruptions and  magmaficently brilliant digital flows in video games at home and in the arcade.

 

Feedback

  • The Jeffries tubes on the Enterprise-D came from the Red October.
  • Less than Jake did a song for a Pac-Man cereal commercial.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.46.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

You can #chillyourbowl in the frigid waters of Russia with Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin in the first film adaptation of a Tom Clancy “Jack Ryan” novel.  

 

In the NEWS

  • Tony Soehner publishes the first book in a new series of Dungeons & Dragons novels.
  • Bob Iger leaves office and people want to know if he will pursue a political office.
  • Jif peanut butter gets into the digital graphics game with a bit of flavorful fun.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and when there’s gold in boxes of Lucky Charms, there’s even more to love.  But when buying a box of cereal means you have to pawn your wedding ring, we’re not overly excited. 

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: Video Game Cereals

From Donkey Kong to Pac-Man, cereals have been known to capitalize on licensing video games to garner more of the Saturday morning cereal lovers’ pastimes.

 

The Hunt for Red October

With an iconic soundtrack by Basil Poledouris and an all-star cast featuring Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Sam Neill, James Earl Jones, Joss Ackland, Tim Curry, Stellan Skarsgård, Courtney B. Vance, Jeffrey Jones, Fred Thompson, Sven-Ole Thorsen, and Gates McFadden, The Hunt for Red October preyed on our lingering fears from the Cold War and our interest in suspenseful action movies.  JediShua and shazbazzar remember and rewatch The Hunt for Red October thirty years later.

 

Feedback

Check out these voicemails and electronic-Ms from our EarBuds!

  • Onkl Mawks analyzes the voices of your hosts.
  • Chris the Arvadinian has a favorite arcade game.
  • Ben C. Foster shows his artistic talent in music and pen & ink drawings.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.45.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

How did two years of “Retro Day” pass without us noticing?  Join shazbazzar and JediShua as we make up for lost time in a week devoted to a mix tape of truly TechnoRetro tributes.  

 

In the NEWS

  • Masters of the Universe finds its voice(s)
  • Scott Bakula talks Quantum Leap
  • Rick Moranis and Joe Johnston to return for Shrunk.
  • Wil Wheaton hosts E-Sports game show.
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars is back!
  • New Amazing Stories trailer.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and magic.  However, the lines between science, magic, and downright witchcraft are getting blurry with the pink pebbles that may make blue poo as Post announces Magic Fruity Pebbles.

 

Vinyl Scratchback: Retro Mix Tape

JediShua and shazbazzar suggest five-song TechnoRetro Day mix tapes from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s.  Several EarBuds chime in with their ideas, too!

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

Remember what it was like to go into the arcade at the mall or shopping center with a five-dollar bill?  With a bit of foresight based on hindsight (it is 2020, after all), JediShua and shazbazzar plan their TechnoRetro Day trip to the arcade.

 

Saturday Mornings

The ‘Dads dig into truly retro cartoons they dug as kids (even if they weren’t strictly Saturday morning fare).  With just a bit of controversy, their lists of TechnoRetro Day cartoons will have you reaching for a chilled bowl of your favorite cereal this Thursday.

 

The Road to the Empire Strikes Back

During the three year-long interval between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, the kids of the ‘70s needed something to keep them in that galaxy far, far away without losing their minds waiting for there heroes to return.  Thankfully, Kenner had the prescription to keep hypersensitive kids from going full-on hyperactive: Star Wars action figures, playsets, and vehicles.  Take a trip back in time as shazbazzar and JediShua relive the timeless toys from 1978, 1979, 1980, and beyond on the Road to the Empire Strikes Back.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.44.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Tune up and tune in for some cartoon tunes as animated bands set the stage for music and memories on this mid-February episode of TechnoRetro Dads.  

 

In the NEWS

  • The Academy Speaks Korean
  • Gear up for Retro Day

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and Buffalo does, too.  Check out The Cereal Spot where the bowls are chilled all winter!  Go to Kansas City and get you a super bowl of Mahomes Magic Crunch!  In Japan, you can even get a sweet box of Hershey’s Matcha Chocolate cereal.

 

Saturday Mornings

Listen to the bands as they play cartoon tunes on Saturday mornings from the 1960s to the early 1990s.  Some of these may be more obscure than others, but with a little help from EarBuds, shazbazzar and JediShua have pieced together a nice set list of songs from animated television.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies: Witness

When an eight year-old Amish boy witnesses a murder as he travels to Philadelphia, John Book has to get involved for everyone’s safety as the case is investigated.  Remember Witness from 1985 starring Harrison Ford, Lukas Haas, and Kelly McGillis, and many more famous faces.

 

The Road to the Empire Strikes Back

From soundtracks to disco covers, the music of a galaxy far, far away lived on in the late ‘70s and 1980 as we all eagerly awaited the sequel to Star Wars.  Get out the turntable and spin some vinyl with JediShua and shazbazzar as we listen to everything from orchestral music, disco, and even read-along books on the Road to the Empire Strikes Back.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.43.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

The football champions have been crowned.  Grammy and Oscar have had their nights.  Once again, it’s time for TechnoRetro Dads with an episode that’s longer than a commercial for Super Mario Bros. 3.  

 

In the NEWS

  • Starbucks has secret drinks from a GFFA.
  • Galaxy’s Edge has new drinks, too.
  • New DeLoreans are coming.
  • Atari is in the hotel business.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…but not the way everyone eats it.  JediShua reveals why #ChillYourBowl is better than a recent TikTok challenge as shazbazzar unveils the best ice cream cereal ideas ever will soon be in the freezer at your local grocery store.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

In 1990, Mario and Luigi got new powers and costume changes in Super Mario Bros. 3.  The U.S. release of this game brought in lots of cash for Nintendo after the longest commercial in video game history was shown in theaters under the name The Wizard.

 

Romantic Scenes from TechnoRetro Movies

With Valentine’s Day coming this week, it’s a great time to look back at some great movies from our younger years to highlight some of the most romantic scenes in the movies we love.  It shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that these movie scenes taught us life-long lessons about love.

 

Don’t Forget!

Although the GOLIVERSE marathon for Cure Childhood Cancer is over, you can still make your tax-free donation to help eliminate childhood cancer in our lifetime by making your gift here! 

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.42_.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Sure, you recognize Mom and Dad are palindromes, but did you notice the racecar?  It was a Toyota.  Yep, that was another one.  It could be expanded in context, too: A Toyota. Race fast, safe car. A Toyota.  Wow, that was long!  And we saw a Jawa sew DNA.  Okay, that really didn’t make much sense, but if it was an offworld Jawa, it might explain something about baby Yoda.  Since this is the last show before Palindrome Day, shazbazzar and JediShua wanted to remind you that next Sunday is 2020.02.02 (or 02.02.2020).  So get busy going backwards and forwards at the same time.  Wait, isn’t that what TechnoRetro Dads is all about?  

 

In the NEWS

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

Nintendo seems to have forgotten Stanley, the hero of Donkey Kong 3.  So have the rest of us, evidently.  Witness the child of Galaga and Donkey Kong below:

https://youtu.be/n3kjQzcp7Lk

 

Game Shows

From Wheel of Fortune to Jeopardy, game shows have been a part of our lives since childhood.  We remember hosts, games, prizes, and more from shows like Tic Tac Dough, Press Your Luck, Scrabble, Hollywood Squares, $10,000 Pyramid, $25,000 Pyramid, The Price is Right, The Gong Show, Name that Tune, Sale of the Century, Concentration, Card Sharks, Jokers Wild, Win, Lose, or Draw, as well as Double Dare, Remote Control, and Legends of the Hidden Temple.

 

The Road to The Empire Strikes Back

Comic books were essential for the continuing story of Luke Skywalker and his friends after Star Wars left theaters.  Part of the hype leading up to The Empire Strikes Back included catching up with old friends and meeting new ones in the pages of Marvel’s Star Wars comic books.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.41.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

The LSU Tigers are the undisputed champions of college football.  JediShua has had some experience with electronic and hard-hitting Big Toe football.  Scott Ryfun has an odd collection of football games.  The Mississippi State Bulldogs have an entertaining new coach.  And of all the games we're talking about this morning, football really isn't it.  But you would do well to take a RISK and tune in to TechnoRetro Dads right now!

 

In the NEWS

  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker nominated for the Academy Awards with Missing Link.
  • Disney is considering remaking Space Camp.
  • Quantum Leap looks like it might be making a comeback.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and Cheerios love our hearts.  Plus: Reese's Big Puffs have been spotted in the stores.  Is the picture on the front of the box a scale version of these enormous cereal puffs we've been hearing about?

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

JediShua and shazbazzar imagine what their home arcades could be like even as Shua is actually putting his together.

 

Saturday Mornings

Part of the fun of our youth was sitting in front of the TV with a bowl of cereal on Saturday mornings before your friends (and maybe your family) got up.  Some EarBuds chime in on shows they remember.  

 

Risk: A Game of World Domination

Start with one continent and then expand outward while protecting your land from outside attackers in the classic game of Risk.  Draw your cards, move your pieces, roll the dice, get ready to fight in this game that continues to be popular after over sixty years.

 

The Road to The Empire Strikes Back

With no internet access to quench Star Wars' fans' thirst for information about the upcoming sequel, kids and adults relied on print media to provide sufficient bits of news to keep the hype going and growing on the long, long drive down the Road to The Empire Strikes Back.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.40.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Whether Mr. Cab Driver refuses to pick you up or Lady Cab Driver is caught in the Crosstown Traffic, Baby, You Can Drive My Car while we talk about cars this week on TechnoRetro Dads.  Take us along on your Monday morning commute for a road trip through five decades of love bugs, imperial slugs, with wheels, deals, and lots of banana peels.

 

In the NEWS

  • Disney+ Willow series in preproduction.
  • Legendary Visual Futurist Syd Mead dies at 86.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…but Mexico evidently doesn’t like iconic cartoon cereal mascots like Tony the Tiger.  However, Gene Simmons does enjoy his cereal — with ice cubes.

 

Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)

In the third sequel to Disney’s The Love Bug, Herbie has ended up in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and has been inherited by Pete from his uncle Jim Douglas. As he goes to pick Herbie up with his friend DJ, the two are pickpocketed by an orphan boy named Paco.  In an unexpected twist, Paco also robbed some bad guys, who are after some Incan gold. In the stolen wallet was a piece of film that would lead the villains to the gold.  Seeking an escape, Paco hides in Herbie and gets onboard the cruise ship Sun Princess.  All our heroes meet up with Captain Blythe, Louise, and her anthropology student niece, Melissa. The captain tosses Herbie overboard after his mischievous antics and all seems lost.  But Herbie swims to shore, meets up with Paco, fights a bull, and helps Paco, Pete, and DJ race for the gold. 

 

JediShua’s New TechnoRetro Studio

The walls are up.  The shelves are installed.  The collectibles are being displayed.  Soon, JediShua will share the O.A.S.I.S. with family, friends, and EarBuds in a fun-filled room with absolutely no rabbits allowed — except on boxes of TRIX.  

 

The Road to The Empire Strikes Back

Forty years ago, young Shua and younger shaz anxiously awaited the sequel to the most amazing movie they had (and have) ever seen.  Join the TechnoRetro Dads each week as we remember the five month long drive down the Road to The Empire Strikes Back.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.39.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

As the smoke clears from shazbazzar’s ongoing battle with the chipmunks, Sheldon Norton and JediShua help clear shazbazzar’s vision by providing insights into some aftershocks of Star Wars that could have catapulted Disney into the modern age of science fiction with the last movie made “the old-fashioned way”.  It’s perfect 20/20 vision in the first episode of 2020 this Monday morning!

 

Sad NEWS

  • Jack Sheldon of SchoolHouse Rock fame dies at 88.
  • Caroll Spinney from Sesame Street dies at 85.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and dad jokes on cereal containers’ labels that our Roving Spoonster discovered over the holidays.

 

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Sheldon, Shua, and shaz recount their experiences watching The Rise of Skywalker for the first (second and third) time before studying some Star Wars Aftershocks from 1979.

 

The Black Hole

After the blockbuster success of Star Wars, filmmakers rushed headlong into the cinematic “space race” in hopes of capitalizing on the success of George Lucas’s zeitgeist.  Even Disney was not immune to the attraction of the stars above, embarking on a quest the Mouse had never before undertaken.  That’s how Disney found themselves pulled into the inescapable gravity of a huge budget and PG rating of The Black Hole.  In a quest to discover answers, Disney tells the story of how German scientist Hans Reinhardt maintains his ship, the Cygnus, next to a black hole, planning to plunge the ship into and through the dark monstrosity in his quest for knowledge: specifically, what caused the cause that created the known universe.  

 

EarBuds’ Toy Catalog

The results of the “toys for all” bracket of 2019’s toy catalog are in.  SPOILER ALERT: It’s Nerf or nothing!

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.38.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Join us for an “uncut” and “raw” episode of TechnoRetro Dads in this Star Wars Scrapbook covering eight movies, several theaters, and a handful of states as we recall our lifetime of involvement with the Skywalker family in the films that have had the biggest impact on our lives.

May the Force Be with you.

Direct download: TRDads_07.37.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

If your family’s antics are a bit more for you to deal with for two or more weeks of winter break, you can always ease the tension with a highly competitive board game like Battleship or a nerve-wracking round of Perfection.

 

Whether Sorry summons your inner sadist to the surface or your masochistic side years for endless hours of Monopoly, we’re all likely to break out the board games over the holidays.  So put your copy of Christmas Vacation in the VCR and gather the family for a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit.

In the NEWS

  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in concert
  • The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance on vinyl
  • Star Wars deck of Cards Against Humanity
  • Disneyland After Dark goes totally TechnoRetro

We Love Our Cereal…

…and cereal boxes with Star Wars themed T-Shirts from Funko at your local WalMart!

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Celebrate thirty years with the Griswolds at their home in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.  JediShua and shazbazzar recall the Vacation movies, especially Christmas Vacation as the season continues to be holly jolly in spite of Murphy’s Law interrupting this movie for a couple hours of laughs most of your family will enjoy (others will squirm in their seats, become sick, or just walk out of the room).

TechnoRetro EarBuds’ Toy Catalog

Games are on deck as Mattel Electronic Football, Battleship, skateboards, Connect Four, Mousetrap, Barrel of Monkeys, Monopoly, and Risk compete for votes from our EarBuds.  Don’t let your vote go unnoticed.  Be sure to check social media outlets every day and voice your choices in the Toy Catalog brackets this week!

Board Games

JediShua and shazbazzar thumb through EarBuds’ comments about the games they have loved from childhood and today.  Play on!

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.36.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Their five-year mission was cut short on television, but a decade later, Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. “Bones” McCoy embarked on a brand-new ongoing mission that would take them beyond the limitations of living rooms and into the cinematic universe with Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

TechnoRetro Toy Catalog
The second round of wish book wishing has finished with Earbuds’ pics for creative toys in 2019, but there’s more to come this week as games are in the brackets next.  Be sure to check our social media pages every day for your chance to cast your votes.

Star Wars Aftershocks: Star Trek: The Motion Picture
SuperFriend Jovial Jay (Jedi Journals, Scarlet Velocity, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Case Files) adds valuable insight into the discussion of Star Trek: The Motion Picture as the first (and sometimes maligned) Star Trek movie…er, uh, motion picture… gets its due in this rematch and review.

TechnoRetro Arcade
Star Trek wasn’t just a motion picture, though.  Before the Star Wars vector-based game hit arcade in 1983, Sega’s Star Trek vector-based game showed what was possible in first-person space shooters.  Although the game doesn’t resemble the concept or sounds of Star Trek (on small or silver screens), the music is there, the computer logic-produced synthetic voice is virtually Spock-like, and the game play is a fun and challenging arcade experience — especially the alternate seated version of the cabinet.

Science Lesson
EarBud JediHolmes wonders about Pluto’s planetary status and the Voyager program is discovered to include Pluto’s potential in mankind’s future among the stars.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.35.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

When Mr. Carlson gets his next hair-brained idea for a Thanksgiving promotional for WKRP, someone please remind him of what happened last time.  Especially if he thinks he can use the Omegahedron to create some gobblers to save the world from the evil witch Serena.  Maybe it would be better to stay in and watch Gary Coleman’s appearance on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century on Turkey Day.  It might avoid another Turkeypocalypse.

 

In the NEWS
Ron Howard and Warwick Davis have a promising future on Disney+ with an upcoming Willow series. 

 

We Love Our Cereal…
…and the Roving Spoonster gives us more reasons to love coffee with news of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Coffee-Mate.  PLUS: you can enjoy a bowl of Oreos cereal in a new, comfy Oreos onesie (or with a friend in a Double Stuf sweater).

 

Prime Time on Thanksgiving (1979)
After the football games, you might have enjoyed these prime time programs with your family on Thanksgiving 1979: The Waltons on CBS, Laverne & Shirley on ABC, or enjoy Gary Coleman’s appearance on NBC’s Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.  Can you guess what we were watching?

 

TechnoRetro Toy Catalog
The first round of wish book wishing has finished with the ultimate action figure for EarBuds in 2019, but there’s more to come this week as creative toys hit the brackets next.  Be sure to check our social media pages every day for your chance to cast your votes.

 

Let’s Go to the Movies: Supergirl
SuperFriend Steve Glosson (The Big Honkin’ Show, Geek Out Loud, Disney Vault Talk, and Forceology) brings his depth of superhero (superheroine) knowledge to TechnoRetro Dads.  Now that Supergirl has earned her own ongoing television series, it’s a good time to look back at her big screen appearance thirty-five years ago this month.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.34.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Perhaps you remember seeing Chewbacca’s family on your TV that fateful night in November of 1978, but it’s highly unlikely that you knew about the sequel to The Star Wars Holiday Special before today.  We have rediscovered the promo for The Star Wars Holiday Special Strikes Back and think we know why the program was shelved before its release.  Tune in for a bonus-sized, early release of TechnoRetro Dads on the 41st anniversary of The Star Wars Holiday Special.

 

In the NEWS

Hey, hey, the Monkees (well, half of the Monkees) are going on tour again this April.  

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and Twinkies, too!  Beware of speeding to the store to find Post Hostess Twinkies cereal, though.  The police are watching for people who eat cereal and drive — they may be impaired.

 

TechnoRetro Toy Catalogue 

The brackets begin this week as we scour the pages of our old toy catalogues for the action figures we want most for Christmas this year.  Be sure to watch our social media pages every day this week to vote for the toys you want Santa to put under your tree this year — or last year — or in 1984…

 

The Star Wars Holiday Special (Strikes Back)

On November 17, 1978 at 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, lucky kids across the nation were treated to two hours of indistinct chatter (and growls) from Wookiees, threats from Imperials, music, magic, and mania that was The Star Wars Holiday Special.  And for the past six years, shazbazzar and JediShua have been celebrating Life Day this time every year in honor of the television special we thought we would never see again.  But this year we have rediscovered the nearly unknown sequel, The Star Wars Holiday Special Strikes Back.  Thankfully, we have the promo for the unaired special on cassette tape, so strap in for excitement and entertainment from a galaxy far, far away with Yoda and the Wookiees as we play the tape for you this week!

 

The Mandalorian

Chris Luby, cohost of The Geek State Podcast, joins the ‘Dads for an extended discussion of the first chapter of The Mandalorian and speculation about future chapters and seasons of this instant hit series on Disney+.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.33.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT

Take a walk in a field of clever with shazbazzar and JediShua this Veterans’ Day as TechnoRetro Dads eat cereal, a magic dragon eats homework, and everyone peruses the menu of Disney+ to see what’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner tomorrow.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and the Roving Spoonster continues to share the love:

  • Google brings back prizes in boxes of cereal?
  • Hershey Kisses cereal doesn’t look appetizing
  • Shelf Elves get sugar cookie cereal

 

Puff the Magic Dragon in the Land of the Living Lies

He’s your big, green buddy who teaches life-lessons in television specials featuring sing-a-long songs, imaginative animation, and Mickey from Rocky.  Puff the Magic Dragon in the Land of the Living Lies is the sequel that aired one year after The Star Wars Holiday Special.  The second of three Puff the Magic Dragon TV specials featured Sandy who had a penchant for telling whoppers to get attention and/or get out of trouble, so Puff the Magic Dragon selflessly sacrificed himself to teach her the sad truth about lying.

 

The Wonderful World of Disney+

JediShua and shazbazzar talk about the movies and programs they’re looking forward to watching on the new Disney+ service that kicks off tomorrow.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

The Rise of Skywalker discussion continues with the scene of C-3PO with his “friends” that was seen in the final trailer for the final film in the Skywalker saga.  The Elton John soundtrack is not included in this episode.

 

Feedback

Discord goes to the dogs with feedback from Joey, Laffy, and others on the RetroZap Discord TechnoRetro Dads channel.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.32.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Open up a bottle of LaCro IX or StCro IX and kick back with the TechnoRetro Dads and other EarBuds as we speculate about Star Wars and reminisce about celebrity dogs in movies and on television.

 

In the NEWS:

  • Reno Pop Culture Con
  • Disney+ for Verizon customers
  • The Mandalorean posters

 

Saturday Mornings Go to the Dogs

From cartoon canines like Astro, Clifford, Dino, Droopy, Mr. Peabody, Pluto, and Scooby Doo to movie mutts like Benji, Beethoven, Cujo, K-9, Hooch, Otis, and The Shaggy D.A., Saturdays have often “gone to the dogs”.  Tune in to see which barkers you remember from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and beyond.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

The Rise of Skywalker is just weeks away, and we’re hyped with more discussion from the final trailer for the movie.  JediShua and shazbazzar talk about the voice-overs and speculate about what each of them might mean as the Star Wars Skywalker saga ends with Episode IX.  TEASER: JediShua is drinking LaCroIX.  

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.31.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

It’s the last Monday before Halloween, the National Peanut Festival, November, and the return to standard time.  Oh, yeah, and the first Monday after the last trailer for a Skywalker saga Star Wars movie.  Yep.  There’s lots to talk about today.  PLUS: jokes from our friends and fellow RetroZap celebrities.

 

In the NEWS:

Emmett Otter’s Jug Band Christmas is being rewritten, rescored, and remade…maybe.

 

We Want Candy!

Get out your plastic pumpkins and pillow cases; trick-or-treat is almost here!  We remember some of our favorite sugary treats from Halloweens past as we scrounge around in our closet floors and find remnants of forty-or-so years gone by.  This year’s top treats are also in the mix.

 

Creative Costumes

EarBuds and SuperFriends share memories of trick-or-treating in costumes from boxes, costumes made of boxes, and costumes created by moms, dads, and kids and kids-at-heart.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

With the final trailer of the Skywalker saga available for viewing, rewinding, and viewing again and again (slow-motion and pause enabled), shazbazzar and JediShua start speculating in earnest based on what little has been shown so far.  Let the hype begin!

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.30.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Halloween is coming soon and robots on screen can be the most terrifying creatures ever invented.  The sights and sounds of robots in movies, TV shows, and video games can get your heart beating faster while sitting absolutely still (which you want to do if they haven’t seen you, yet).

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and so do Michael Nipp, Ron Lafontaine, and the Roving Spoonster.

  • Froot Loops Pop Tarts
  • Saturday Morning Cartoon Cavalcade and Cereal Extravaganza
  • Funko Pops cereals
  • Star Wars cereal returns

 

Space Camp

JediShua enjoyed his journey to Mars after a day’s training to be an astronaut in Huntsville, Alabama.  From learning more about the history of the space program and NASA to hands-on experience, Space Camp was well worth the money spent on this thoughtful gift.

But Space Camp isn’t just a weekend adventure; it’s a campy movie from 1986!  The ‘Dads talk about the movie that likely suffered from the Challenger tragedy that struck just a few months before its release — it’s plot, odd geography, and big name actors in this oft-forgotten flick.

 

Scary Robots

From theaters to living rooms to arcades, robots can be scary.  Remember these films, shows, and games? 

  • Terminator
  • Lost in Space
  • Alien
  • Blade Runner
  • Logan’s Run
  • The Black Hole
  • Westworld
  • Superman 3
  • Ex Machina
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Small Wonder
  • The Six Million Dollar Man
  • Battlestar Galactica
  • Robotron 2084
  • Berzerk
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes.  Then share with others on social media, and join us on Discord for discussions about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s.  While you’re at it, give the ‘Dads your feedback via 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_07.29.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

It’s Monday, but we’re talking Wednesday as Pugsley realizes that Thing on his back might just Fester.  When you Add(ams) it all up, it’s a creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky family that is rooted in the early 1930s.  And with a new movie out in theaters, The Addams Family is the epitome of #TechnoRetro.

 

In the NEWS:

The confetti king, the props meister, the triumph of the toupee Rip Taylor leaves this world after marking it with his flair for flamboyance.  Picard is coming and the new trailer is the next generator of discussion in the science fiction community.  PLUS: Netflix’s Lost in Space will continue on Christmas Eve!

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and the Roving Spoonster has some ‘80s style updates as Honeycomb and Super Golden Crisp bring wrestlers back to cereal boxes in your supermarket.  Cheerios add yet another flavor to the classic cereal with coconut.  We don’t think the texture will accompany the flavor, though.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies (and television shows)!

The Addams Family is rooted in Charles Addams’s 1930s comic strip, but has been in pop culture through the 1960s television show, a ‘70s variety pilot (which thankfully didn’t get a green light), a ‘70s cartoon series, a made-for-TV movie on ABC in 1977, two movies in the ‘90s with Raul Julia, Anjelica Houston, and Christopher Lloyd, a ‘90s era cartoon on television (with Rip Taylor), and now an animated movie in theaters.  After a great first weekend, The Addams Family is doing well at the box office, but hasn’t put Joker in a Lurch.  We cover decades of wealthy weirdos in this mid-October episode of TechnoRetro Dads.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

From Ben Cooper boxes of cheap plastic masks and vinyl coveralls to homemade costumes of varying screen-accuracy and craftsmanship, Star Wars costumes have been part of our lives since 1977.  Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Yoda, and Ewoks are fondly remembered by shazbazzar and JediShua as well as some memorable costumes from several EarBuds.  It’s all in this week’s Star Wars Scrapbook memories.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.28.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Who will dare to enter the haunted house first?
Why is there an arcade and theater in there?
What is a “fun scare”, anyway?
Will JediShua ever wear pants?
While all the answers to these pertinent questions will not be solved in this episode, you’ll have a ghostly good time wondering who is holding Jovial Jay’s hand. 

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: Horror or Horrendous?

From the pre-digital days of arcade games to full-scale cabinets and even home consoles, Jovial Jay, JediShua, and shazbazzar share some TechnoRetro games you might remember.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies!

The Professor of Film, SuperFriend Jovial Jay, lends his cinematic expertise to the show (and adds at least some credibility to all the silliness) by explaining why some horror/suspense/thrillers stand the test of time and introduces his “31 Days of Horror” series on RetroZap.com. 

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.27.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

What do Frankenstein, a French octopus, and frightening frogmen from the Soviet Union have in common?  They are all mentioned on this week’s TechnoRetro Dads.  Tune in for 77 minutes of fun as September ends and the month of monsters begins. 

 

In the NEWS…

  • The answer to everything is solved!
  • TR3N may be in the news?
  • Captain Kirk celebrates Kringle Klaus.
  • Triple Force Friday is days away.
  • Casting news from Jurassic World 3.

 

We Love Our Cereal!

Halloween cereals are spotted in Walmart (with “Spooky Marshmallows”)!

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: King of the Monsters

Somewhere between Street Fighter and Rampage lives a NeoGeo game from the early ‘90s that pits enormous beasts (with odd names) against each other over a backdrop of Japanese cities.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies!

Sticking with the theme of monsters, shazbazzar and JediShua look back at some movies from the ‘80s and the monsters that might have plagued our nightmares (or just lived under Fred Savage’s bed).

 

TechnoRetro Feedback

  • Ska Geek recalls the Time Killers arcade game.
  • Fettmatic and Michael Nipp mention more time travel movies/shows.
  • Shane in Grand Rapids finds a VW camper that reminds us of the A-Team van.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.26.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Although we’re all a bit down about losing musical icons like Eddie Money and Ric Ocasek, this morning also features some good news about a specific SuperFriend and some exciting TechnoRetro shows on NBC’s streaming service, a peek at some spooky cereals, terrific (or terrible) autumnal jokes, timely arcade games, informative science lessons, and feedback.

 

In the NEWS:

  • SuperFriend Michael Price receives an Emmy for writing “Mad about the Toy” episode of The Simpsons!
  • The Far Side is returning.  The time is near.
  • Peacock to stream TechnoRetro shows like Battlestar Galactica, Punky Brewster, Saved by the Bell, and A Brave New World.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and so do Disney and Funko.  Maleficent, Oogie Boogie, and four more Disney villains get mini-pops in the continuing Funko cereal series this October.

 

Vinyl Scratchback

Eddie Money and Ric Ocasek debuted in the ‘70s with hit tunes and continued their popularity into the ‘80s and beyond.  With recent news about their recent deaths in mind, we remember some of their hits from our youth.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

  • Hologram Time Traveler
  • Time Pilot

 

Science Lesson

JediShua teaches various theories about time travel and how they work and how they don’t work.  You can decide which theory or theories you think might be possible.

 

Feedback

Jovial Jay discovers digital assistants’ rap crossover.  Onkl Mawks has an entire collection of Elton John records for shAbbeyzzar.  And Wes loves to ride his Mongoose (bicycle).

Direct download: TRDads_07.25.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Traveling through time is a weekly event for shazbazzar and JediShua, but we never realized just how many movies (and how many genres) feature time travel in some way or another.  Thankfully, Jovial Jay lends his expertise in cinematic time travel to reveal the many movies and many means of traveling through time since film projectors brought motion pictures to life on the big screen. 

 

In the NEWS…

  • The highly anticipated Muppet project for Disney+ will not be seen any time soon.
  • HGTV takes time travel to a new level with A Very Brady Renovation.
  • Comparative sales of vinyl records and compact discs look like something straight out of 1986.

 

Let’s All Go Back to the Movies!

Jovial Jay joins shazbazzar and JediShua for a more expansive look at movies featuring time travel.  Whether the film was fantasy or a science-fiction story, the sheer number of movies that deal with traveling through time in some manner or another is almost enough to power a flux capacitor!  JediShua, shazbazzar, and Jovial Jay discuss this timeless trope in various decades and genres with special attention to some favorites from EarBuds.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.24.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Whether it was your first Bike, a Bicycle Race, a Huffy, Murray, Kent, or Free Spirit, kids loved and lived on their bikes in the ‘70s and ‘80s and we all remember taking off the training wheels, sliding into skids, popping wheelies, and telling Mom to “Look! No hands!”  It’s all about bicycles this week, EarBuds!

 

We Love Our Cereal

Cool cereal stories this week!

  • You could turn up your Snap, Crackle, and Pop to eleven with this amplified cereal bowl.
  • Tony the Tiger teams up with the Sun Bowl for a stadium-sized part of your nutritious breakfast.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies…on our bikes!

Whether it was Breaking Away, American Flyers, BMX Bandits, Rad, or Quicksilver, the pedals pushed the gears to the limits in some fun and memorable movies from the ‘70s and ‘80s featuring bicycles.

 

Toys in the Attic: Bikes

We remember riding our bikes in the driveway, around the block, at the playground, the park, and even down to the crawdad hole.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

Bikes are for fun.  And they’re even fun at the arcade (if yours doesn’t get stolen when you’re inside shoving quarters in the machines).  Sometimes, even simulating working on your two-wheeler in the classic Paperboy cabinet.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.23.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Before (or after) he was a spokesman in Coke commercials, spinning tunes as a virtual VJ, or even a TV talk show host, Max Headroom was the iconic example of artificial intelligence (well, perhaps computerized charisma) brought to “life” by a scan of Edison Carter’s brain and 3D imaging of Matt Frewer’s head and shoulders.  This week’s episode is a tribute to Max Headroom with a lot of excitement about upcoming Star Wars opportunities in the near future.

 

In the NEWS…

D23 has happened without TR3N news, any mention of The Black Hole or Something Wicked this Way Comes remakes, reboots, or sequels, but lots of Star Wars updates which may or may not include the following TechnoRetro Facts:

  • See Jefferson Starship on the Galactic Starcruiser as you travel through hyperspace to Galaxy’s Edge.
  • The Rise of the Resistance ride is coming soon to Walt Disney World and Disneyland complete with Force-wielding kids shoving aside stormtroopers with their minds.
  • See how a squid-headed Quarren meets with danger in our first real look at The Mandalorean.
  • The Rise of Skywalker seems to present multiple opportunities to walk over rises in topography to reveal various vistas with the heroes of the sequel trilogy.
  • Although we still don’t know if Ewan McGregor will portray Carl Jung on film, we are fairly certain he will reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in an upcoming series on Disney+.  James Arnold Taylor is rumored to appear as either OB-2 or OB-6 in the new show.

 

Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future

JediShua and shazbazzar watch the complete Max Headroom TV series from 1987 and explain the origin(s) of this iconic computer-generated character who continues to be a familiar face (and simulated stutterer) more than thirty years later.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.22.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

From the second episode of TechnoRetro Dads until just a couple weeks ago, shazbazzar and JediShua have been covering news and rumors about The Dark Crystal from movies, books, toys, and games.  For 82 minutes this Monday morning, relive the past through six seasons of TechnoRetro Dads and take another look at the only official appearance of Thra onscreen before The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance emerges on Netflix this Friday.

 

In the NEWS…

  • Space: 1999 radio drama
  • A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy TV series
  • Masters of the Universe by Kevin Smith
  • Custody battle between Disney and Sony over Peter Parker
  • The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
  • FLASHBACK through the archives of The Dark Crystal in the NEWS from 2013-2018 

 

At the Movies: The Dark Crystal

JediShua and shazbazzar watch The Dark Crystal again this week and focus on the “hero’s journey” and the characters from the world of Thra.

 

 

Family Circle: The Dark Crystal FLASHBACK

Two families in two different cities across the country watched The Dark Crystal “together” on Skype.  Then the TechnoRetro Dads talked about their experiences with the movie as kids and as fathers.  The initial discussion from April 2013 has been remastered (from available recordings) for this exciting episode.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.21.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

When you need someone to falsely support your delusions, when you wear boxer shorts appropriate for work (remember it’s called underwear for a reason), when everything is controvurtial, even if you’re a Streamer (our official designation of Generation Z), TechnoRetro Dads wants you to dream big — but not right now.  It’s Monday morning and you’ve got to go to work/school so kickstart your week with 77 minutes of fun and fandom.

 

In the NEWS…

  • Will Star Wars Resistance return for another season?
  • Will Ewan McGregor make our dreams come true and play Obi-Wan in a series?

 

We Love Our Cereal

  • The Addams Family teams up with GM’s Monster Cereals.
  • Fruity Pebbles might make a neat marshmallow treat.
  • Boxes of cereal marshmallows are spotted at FAO Schwartz.
  • Lucky Charms marshmallows get Jet Popped.

 

At the Movies: Dreamscape

Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, Max Von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, and Eddie Albert meet together in their dreams in the second PG-13 movie, Dreamscape.

 

 

Vinyl Scratchback: Music of Your Dreams

Musical groups from the ‘70s and ‘80s were living the dream with nocturnal themes:

  • Eurythmics — “Sweet Dreams”
  • Van Halen — “Dreams”
  • Heart — “These Dreams”
  • Tom Petty — “Runnin’ Down a Dream”
  • Dan Hartman — “I Can Dream about You”
  • Moody Blues — “Your Wildest Dreams”
  • Hall & Oates — “You Make My Dreams”
  • Fleetwood Mac — “Dreams”
  • George Harrison — “Dream Away”
  • Aerosmith — “Dream On”
  • Blondie — “Dreaming”
  • Cheap Trick — “Dream Police”, “All We Need Is a Dream”, “I Must Be Dreamin’”, “Mandocello”

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.20.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

While some aspects of ‘70s and ‘80s pop-culture is undoubtedly lost on those who didn’t experience the Cold War, wear brightly-colored JAMZ and Bugle Boy jeans, or remember when phones were attached by wires, the movies, music, and TV shows of that era can still elicit deeply emotional responses that transcend the generation gap.  If only the whole world could just sit back and enjoy stuff for 77 minutes every Monday morning…

 

In the NEWS…

  • The Matrix returns to theaters for its 20th anniversary.
  • The Black Hole will finally be released on Blu-ray.

 

We Love Our Cereal

The Roving Spoonster reports bowls full of delicious news worthy of Saturday mornings!

  • Jurassic Park’s Dr. Ian Malcolm Pop Cereal
  • Good Guys cereal (from Child’s Play) is real!
  • St. Paul, Minnesota gets a new cereal bar.
  • Discover what it’s like to be Cinnamon Toast Crunch!
  • Froot Loops Birthday Cake — how sweet.

 

At the Movies: 

Three great movies hit theaters on the same day thirty-five years ago.  (One fun one showed up a week and five years later.)

  • Peter Weller is Buckaroo Banzai in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai across the 8th Dimension.
  • Henry Thomas gets involved with Russian spies (Hmmm… Stranger Things?) in Cloak & Dagger.
  • C. Thomas Howell goes wild when Russians kill his father in the first movie with a PG-13 rating: Red Dawn.
  • John Candy is Uncle Buck.  Watch and laugh.

 

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: Crazy Climber

This vertically scrolling game pits a skyscraper climber against flowers, bird droppings, girders, and giant apes.  Nope, it’s not Donkey Kong.  It’s not even Krazy Kong.  It’s Crazy Climber, and it deserves its moment in the limelight. 

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.19.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Although MAD will cease its magazine’s regular publications, the satirical wit will remain with us with decades worth of art and humor.  The ‘Dads remember their experiences with zany humor from the artists and writers of MAD and the strangeness of “Weird Al” Yankovic on UHF and his decades of musical comedy and parody.

 

In the NEWS…

  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture returns to theaters.
  • The C64 reboots nostalgia for Commodore owners.
  • Upcoming Dungeons & Dragons movie finds directors.
  • MAD Magazine shuts down after nearly 7 decades.

 

In the Magazine Rack: MAD

JediShua and shazbazzar remember the clips, quips, and snips of pulp as they recall their own experiences with the satirical publication: MAD.  First published in 1952, the magazine has entertained and influenced generations with adolescent humor and cultural commentary.

 

At the Movies: UHF 

George Newman has lost yet another job due to his preoccupation with his imagination.  Does he get mad?  Maybe.  Does he despair?  A bit.  But then his aunt finds a career opportunity for her favorite nephew.  She insists that her husband hires George to manage his recently-acquired UHF television station.  Watch “Weird Al” Yankovic, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, and Michael Richards on their mad trip through manic mishaps as they try to make or break the success of a small TV station just trying to garner viewers and generate ad sales.  It’s UHF from 1989!

 

Vinyl Scratchback: “Weird Al” Yankovic

From his early days of parodies and filks on The Doctor Demento Show to polka medleys and original comedy songs, “Weird Al” Yankovic consistently hits listeners’ funny bones and pinches the nerves with his catchy tunes and accordion-based numbers like “Yoda”, “Another One Rides the Bus”, “I Lost on Jeopardy”, “Smells Like Nirvana”, “Fat”, “Eat It”, “Word Crimes”, and “The Saga Begins”.  Whether you simply enjoy laughing at the weirdness, singing along in the family minivan (or station wagon), or writing your own parody creations after being inspired by Weird Al’s ingenuity, you’ll enjoy sharing memories with shazbazzar and JediShua as they recall “Weird Al” Yankovic’s albums. 

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.18.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

While shazbazzar and JediShua aren’t in middle school themselves (neither are their kids), they still enjoy traipsing through the huge corridors eating Karmelkorn and drinking Orange Julius while listening to muzak echoing through the vaulted ceilings.  Add a 35 year-old fantasy movie to the mix and you’ve got a never-ending story that only lasts 77 minutes (which, by the way, is only 25 minutes shorter than The NeverEnding Story from 1984).

 

In the NEWS…

Rutger Hauer, star of great ‘80s films like Blade Runner, The Hitcher, Blind Fury, and Ladyhawke, left this life at 75 (in 2019, the same year that the replicant Roy Batty was terminated).

 

On the ESCALATOR…

You’ll think the trip to the second story of the mall is never-ending with the mall gags and Dad jokes that creep up in unexpected corners their minds.

 

At the FOOD COURT… 

JediShua and shazbazzar pause to talk about some of the cool things from San Diego Comic Con.  Marvel movies may be the next never-ending story as there seems to be no end in sight.  Plus: The Dark Crystal and toys from The Black Hole. 

 

In the CORRIDORS…

Memories of memorable malls of EarBuds and SuperFriends dominate the discussion as shazbazzar and JediShua look at the stores and arcades that used to populate the never-ending list of malls that grew in popularity during the heyday of ‘80s consumerism.

 

At the MOVIE THEATER… 

The NeverEnding Story is playing on the big screen 35 years ago, and the ‘Dads recall and rewatch this inspirational film based on the book by Michael Ende (who didn’t love the movie adaptation).

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.17.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Flashback with shazbazzar and JediShua to moon-moments from 2013, 2014, and 2017 as the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission weekend celebrations come to a close.  Many EarBuds will remember our Moonbase Alpha discussion with SuperFriend Paul Bateman about the short-lived TV series Space 1999, but fewer will remember the brief mentions of the moon in some older clips from NEWS and HISTORY LESSON segments from seasons one and two.  PLUS: JediShua and SuperFriend Tony Soehner tell about their experiences at Galaxy’s Edge.

 

Moon Moments

Scouring the archives of TechnoRetro Dads for tidbits of moon news and history from seasons past resulted in some strange-sounding stories we had forgotten about — and even a couple of references to the Red Julius kiosk at the Mars Mall (maybe a few EarBuds will remember that reference).  From staking claims on the moon to naming moon craters after your sweetheart, in retrospect, we may have discovered how some moon-based locations got their strange names: Mare Fecunditatis, Mount Marilyn, and Crater Joliot-Curie.

 

Moonbase Alpha: Space 1999

In this remastered flashback, Concept Artist, Art Director, and SuperFriend Paul Bateman joins shazbazzar and JediShua on Moonbase Alpha to talk about Space: 1999, a British television series that lasted a brief two seasons from 1975 to 1977.  From big budget beginnings and a great premise in the spirit of 2001: A Space Odyssey to a choppy second season resembling an homage to Star Trek, Space: 1999 is nevertheless an iconic must-see with its curious creatures, magnificent Moonbase Alpha, and classic crafts, the Eagles

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.16.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Huntsville, Alabama will celebrate the anniversary of putting the first men on the moon this Saturday — probably Houston and Cape Kennedy will too — but TechnoRetro Dads kick off the half-century celebration Monday morning with 77 minutes of lunacy as the 15th episode of the 7th season airs on the 15th day of the 7th month.  The zaniness all started when JediShua’s doorbell rang as he was expecting a birthday present to arrive…

 

Science Lesson: Apollo 11

On 16 July 1969, a Saturn V rocket launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida at 9:32 AM, beginning the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.  Four days later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin successfully landed on the moon, putting an end to the “space race” between the United States of America and the Soviet Union.  The world celebrated the landing confirmed by the immortalized words, “The Eagle has landed,” only to be surpassed by Neil Armstrong’s statement as he placed his footprint on the moon’s surface, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”  Although some still debate whether the moon landing was genuine or an elaborate hoax, the excitement of those watching and listening on July 20, 1969 briefly united the world as mankind reached their greatest height to date.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: Lunar Lander

Ten years after the first manned mission to the surface of the moon, Atari capitalized on the public’s continuing interest in the moon and space with the vector-graphic arcade game Lunar Lander.  The original 1979 game was made of simple graphics constructed of white lines on a black background as players tried to land their lunar module on small, level sites on the surface of the moon before running out of fuel or crashing.  Points are earned for each successful moon landing until the player’s supply of fuel or “lunar landers” are exhausted.

 

Saturday Mornings: Moon-Adjacent Cartoons 

In the ‘70s and ‘80s (even the ‘90s), lots of spacetastic cartoons (not necessarily moon-oriented).  JediShua, shazbazzar, and Jovial Jay talk about Bravestarr, GoBots, Gilligan’s Planet, Space Cats, and Yogi’s Space Race.  A live-action show called Far Out Space Nuts gets an honorable mention because of its relationship to Gilligan’s Planet (Bob Denver). 

 

Let’s Go to the Moonvies: Apollo 13

Ron Howard’s film based on the third mission to put men on the moon is an amazing combination of historical facts and Hollywood effects that continues to stir the emotions of audiences today.  The 1995 film is mostly faithful to the events that transpired before, during, and after the “successful failure” of the Apollo 13 mission of 1970 that prevented Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) from completing their mission and landing on the moon.  SPOILER ALERT: Even though they didn’t land on the moon, these astronauts successfully returned to Earth after circling the moon. 

Also noted are other “moon landing” movies like First Man, The Right Stuff, and Airplane II: The Sequel. 

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  While you’re waiting for a brand-new episode, why not read (or lazy read) Michael Witwer's Empire of Imagination?  But don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

 

Share and enjoy.

Direct download: TRDads_07.15.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Whether you’re returning from summer camp in hopes of a glorious reunion with your friends, coming home after a vacation at the beach, or just happy to be “Together Again” with your EarBuds after a week of fun and fireworks, shazbazzar and JediShua are serving up seventy-seven minutes of GenX news and discussion and large bowls of tasty cereal for your tum-tums on this Monday morning!

 

In the NEWS…

  • Goodbye, Willie.  Max Wright from ALF succumbs to cancer at age 75.
  • Hello, Hamill.  Cast and characters of the upcoming Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance are revealed.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and the Roving Spoonster, Shane in GR does, too!

  • Keto friendly cereals that will dent your wallet.
  • MELK Diner & Cereal Bar closes its doors.
  • Fire at the Battle Creek Kellogg’s facility.  What does burning cereal smell like?

 

Let’s Go to the Movies: The Muppets Take Manhattan

The summer of ’84 continues with cinematic hits like The Last Starfighter and The Muppets Take Manhattan.  But 1979 isn’t without a notable movie from this week — The Frisco Kid may have been the last movie starring Harrison Ford that doesn’t focus on the Han Solo/Indiana Jones icon in its trailer.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: The Last Starfighter

JediShua asks which video games would make suitable trainers/testers for potential candidates to save the galaxy in an epic space battle as seen in The Last Starfighter. 

 

Science Lesson

Loads of cool, geeky stuff is going on in our world these days:

  • NASA makes their entire media library publicly accessible and copyright free.
  • NASA introduces Dragonfly, the quadcopter concept for a mission to Titan.
  • LightSail 2 has begun its mission.

 

Feedback

Swamp Angel sends in a message for JediShua.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.14.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Whether you’re celebrating Canada Day today or hurriedly getting work done in hopes of a four-day weekend beginning on the 4th of July, you’ve gotta make time for shazbazzar and JediShua before getting to work as the second half of 2019 begins.  The TechnoRetro Dads have a summer-packed show to kick of the month of July with Bernie, Beach Boys, and big boomers!

 

In the NEWS…

  • The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance will have an accompanying comic book series to delve more deeply into the many characters from the Netflix series.
  • Don’t forget that Stranger Things 3 is coming to Netflix this Thursday.  Find out how Hawkins, Indiana deals with another attack from another dimension.
  • Tickets to Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2020 went on sale…and were quickly sold out.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and the Roving Spoonster, Shane in GR does, too!

  • Two new Cap’n Crunch flavors for your bowl!
  • The UK may have lost major holdings in North America, but they get the last laugh by getting white chocolate Coco Pops while the former colonies fill their bowls with empty wishes.
  • Evidence of the TechnoRetro Dads’ time-traveling tours is discovered by Austrian archaeologists who dug up three thousand year-old Cheerios (not Oreos, shaz).

 

Vinyl Scratchback: The Beach Boys

Summer time is a funner time with music blaring from your boombox at the beach — as long as it’s beach music.  And what could be more summer-centric than the tones of The Beach Boys?  From wave-riding songs like “Surfin’ Safari” and “Surfin’ USA” to cruising songs like “Fun, Fun, Fun” and “I Get Around”, The Beach Boys have been an integral part of summer.  But boys will be boys, and therefore had to include songs about the girls like “California Girls” and the wistful “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”.  Rounding out the mix is their huge summer hit in the ‘80s called “Kokomo” (which, evidently, isn’t about white chocolate Coco Puffs).

 

Let’s Go To the Movies: Weekend at Bernie’s

Richard and Larry discover a discrepancy in their company’s financial records that reveals more than a clerical error.  To reward them for their diligence and vigilance in their work, their boss Bernie invites them to his beach house for the weekend — and plans to have them silenced…forever.  But when Bernie gets on the wrong side of his nefarious partner-in-crime, the hitman is given a different target and the two young employees spend a wild weekend trying to conceal the fact that their boss is dead so that they can enjoy a well-earned weekend on the beach. 

 

Fireworks!

Pack black powder into a paper cylinder, set it aflame, and watch it smoke, skip, snake, skyrocket, or simply go “BOOM!”  The first week of July is a great time for blowing things up at home, the beach, or dirt roads on the way back from another state with less-stringent laws regulating fireworks.  The ‘Dads and several EarBuds recall their experiences with sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, and more as we celebrate national holidays this week.

 

Feedback: New Coke and the Cola Wars

New Coke turned Jeremy into a Pepsi drinker.  Norman speaks of the Cola Wars in coded speech.  Myles can’t find New Coke in Canada and needs help.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.13.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Whether you’re looking for sunny days or a funny joke, you can “Catch the Wave” with the old New Coke (and catch up on some exciting news, reviews, and stand-up comedy even if you’re lying down.  Where else can you get 77 minutes of foolish futility to kickstart your work week for zero dollars?  You’re sure to get what you pay for on TechnoRetro Dads this week!

 

In the NEWS:

  • New Arcade 1Up machines coming this year!
  • TRON action figures from Diamond Select.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

Put down your Coca-Cola for a few minutes and listen to some EarBuds’ scrapbook entries as they go to Galaxy’s Edge (not as far, far away as you might have thought).  Armando and Jack give their thoughts about Smuggler’s Run and more.

 

History Lesson: New Coke

In the late ’70s and early ’80s we experienced Star Wars, the Cold War, and the Cola Wars.  The Pepsi Challenge had evidently increased Pepsi’s market share of carbonated beverage business and Coca-Cola was feeling it in their wallet.  With the popularity of diet drinks rising, Coke needed to do something to bring more bucks home.  Brilliant minds came up with a solution: cease production of their hundred year-old formula and release a new recipe for the Coke brand with much more sugar and BOOM! New Coke was born.  But long-time Coca-Cola drinkers didn’t appreciate the change to a more Pepsi-like taste.  They wanted the classic taste back.  Seventy-nine days later, Coke announced the original formula would return under the name Coca-Cola Classic and would exist alongside the new Coke (which would carry the Coke name).  Eventually, demand (?) for New Coke waned enough to stop making it altogether — until now.

 

With the highly anticipated release of Stranger Things 3 coming to Netflix on July 4th, The Coca-Cola Company decided to rerelease New Coke for a limited run to coincide with the new season’s setting in 1985.  Coca-Cola produced 500,000 cans of New Coke which has been available for the past three weeks, and shazbazzar and JediShua have gotten their hands on some.  It’s time for a taste test, EarBuds.  Can you guess the results?  (Video available on YouTube.)

 

Vinyl Scratchback

What did you do in the ‘80s when you had trouble going to sleep in a quiet room?  Lie down and listen to stand-up comedy, of course!  JediShua and shazbazzar (with input from EarBuds) remember some comedy albums they heard when they were younger.  George Carlin, Robin Williams, Justin Wilson, Laurel & Hardy, Howie Mandel, Eddie Murphy, Sam Kinison, Gallagher, Cheech & Chong, and Steve Martin all make the list as we remember comedy on vinyl.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.12.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

As the summer solstice approaches in the northern hemisphere with the longest daylight hours reaching their zenith, shazbazzar and JediShua remember the summers of ’79, ’84, and ’89 with four movies that impacted them in their youth and beyond.  Tune in for 77 minutes of retro joy and techno hope with your EarBuds this Monday morning and get your week off (and summer) off to a great start!

 

In the NEWS:

  • Get caffeinated drinking “Coke with Coffee”.
  • Play in the Upside Down with Stranger Things games.
  • Experience the return of great LucasArts games.
  • Dare to strategize in the new Nintendo Switch adaptation of The Dark Crystal Resistance.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…but the Roving Spoonster (Shane in GR) may well have surpassed us this week as he chronicles his experience at the Battle Creek, Michigan Cereal Fest.  PLUS: John Schepler gives us a sneak peek at some new cereals in supermarket aisles and the ‘Dads give their takes on cereals they’ve tasted so far this summer (Fillows, Drumsticks, and Sour Patch Kids).

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies: Summer Movie Extravaganza

Anniversaries abound this week with four flicks from our youth hitting 30, 35, and 40!  JediShua and shazbazzar remember The Muppet Movie (1979), The Karate Kid (1984), Top Secret! (1984), and Batman (1989) with memories and interesting connections from actors and EarBuds in this banner week for fun summer movies.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.11.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Dads come in all shapes, sizes, and colors (even blue), so shazbazzar and JediShua take time for some Dad-discussions about fictional fathers from Saturday morning cartoons to movies on the big screen with an extended chat about the father who assumed the title of Mom… Mr. Mom, that is.

 

Saturday Mornings

For kids of the ‘70s and ‘80s, cartoon fathers were part of the cartoon watching experience.  From shows that were #TechnoRetro in the ‘70s like The Flintstones and The Jetsons to The Smurfs, The Chipmunks, The Transformers, M.A.S.K., Dungeons & Dragons, and Ewoks, animated fathers and father-figures on Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons took charge and taught lessons to the TechnoRetro Dads of today.

 

Let’s Go to the Movies

With a bit more “techno” than there was in the Saturday Morning discussion, Father’s Day is a good time to look at memorable fathers on the big screen like cinema icons Mufasa and Darth Vader, respectable Henry Jones, Sr. and the President of the United States, heroic Chief Brody and Mr. Incredible, and homemakers like Mrs. Doubtfire.  Dads can be funny and strong or scary and cuddly — in the end, these fathers are just like many dads today.

 

Mr. Mom

Before he took on the Joker in Batman (1989), Michael Keaton battled the stench of diapers, the temptations of neighborhood wives, the public address systems of supermarkets, and the comfort of the couch in Mr. Mom.  After losing his job, Jack Butler earned the title of Mr. Mom in this riotous comedy from 1983 as he made grilled cheese sandwiches with an iron, fed chili to a baby, competed in office olympics, and won his wife’s heart (again).  JediShua and shazbazzar have a blast reliving the laughs this Father’s Day with Mr. Mom.  Who says Dad can’t cook?

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Beware of Gremlins online when logging on to your favorite TechnoRetro websites on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, RetroZap.com or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.10.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Gremlins was on the marquis at theaters 35 years ago, but we all wanted a Mogwai in our rooms.  “I promise,” we all begged, “I won’t feed it after midnight.”  Nevertheless, Gizmo remained in our dreams and still looks the same even 35 years later.

 

In the NEWS:

  • Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is open!
  • Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is coming soon.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…but we might like it more if it multiplied with popping-sweet goodness like Gremlins when you poured milk on it.  New cereals like Drumstick Cereal and Fillows get our attention while pizza challenges cereal to a healthy breakfast showdown.

 

Saturday Morning Crush

Mac from The Sandcrawler let us know about a Twitter thread about cartoon crushes and we discuss some possibilities.  Several EarBuds get into the swing of things with their own suggestions, too.  It begs the question: what will happen when the Gremlins cartoon comes out?

 

Gremlins

Billy’s dad finds the perfect Christmas present for his son who works at the local bank: a Mogwai he found at a curiosity shop in Chinatown.  But Gizmo, as he called him, comes with three important rules:

  1. Keep him away from bright light; sunlight will kill him.
  2. Don’t get him wet.
  3. No matter how much he cries, no matter how much he begs, never feed him after midnight.

We all found out why these rules were so important in June 1984 when Steven Spielberg presented Gremlins, a horror/comedy that combined with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom to bring about the PG-13 rating we have today.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

June has been a busy month since Star Wars hit theaters a week before.  From Corvette Summer (1978) to comic adaptations and more, shazbazzar and JediShua talk about times they have filed away in the Star Wars Scrapbook.

 

Feedback

Chris the Arvadinian chimes in on Tim Conway’s passing.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Beware of Gremlins online when logging on to your favorite TechnoRetro websites on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, RetroZap.com or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.09.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones.  This week, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade turns 30 and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom turns 35!  

 

In the NEWS:

 

SuperFriend: Antony Soehner

The author of Gather the Party, Unite the Party, and Assemble the Party stops in for a chat about Denver Pop Culture Convention, lessons learned in the adventure of writing, and what we are likely to see from him next.

 

The Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade

Indiana Jones returned to theaters in 1984 and 1989 with a prequel and a sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is set before the events of Raiders as Indy and Short Round end up rescuing enslaved children in India.  We get an even earlier look at our adventurous archaeologist in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when we see Henry Jones, Jr. as a Boy Scout in the sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark.  PLUS: shazbazzar and Jedi Shua remember the night they saw Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom at Hollywood Studios in 2010.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

If arcade adventure has a name, it might be Indiana Jones.  In 1985, the arcade adaptation of Temple of Doom hit malls, pizza places, and skating rinks with a fun rendition of the movie that drove the MPAA to invent the PG-13 rating.  Rescue slaves.  Defeat Thuggees.  Return the Sankara stones.  All in the name of fortune and glory (the arcade makes a fortune in quarters by the guy who gets the glory for his high score on the game).

 

Feedback:

EarBud Jedi Holmes shares the origin story of the Mogwai from Gremlins and reveals Hondo in the next issue of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.08.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Whether you remember him from The Carol Burnett Show, The Apple Dumpling Gang, or his appearances as Dorf on The Tonight Show or home video releases, if you remember Tim Conway, you remember him fondly.  We remember the laughter and joy he brought us from childhood into the age and size of grown-ups.

 

In the NEWS:

  • TRON goes vertical in Walt Disney World
  • Muppet Babies are actual Muppets again
  • Comedian Tim Conway dies at age 85 

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and new kid-style adult-cereal claims to love us back.  Magic Spoon launches four flavors of “healthy” cereal with a hefty price tag.  PLUS: Toy Story 4 has inspired cereal makers to create Carnival Berry cereal.

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

CONSPIRACY: The government used unsuspecting video gamers in arcades in the Pacific Northwest in psychological experiments in 1981 through a strange coin-operated game called Polybius.

CONTROVERSY: Polybius is an urban legend that has contributed to countless hours wasted in search of a fictional video game that never really existed.

Which side do you take in the ongoing debate about Polybius?

 

TIM CONWAY:

From The Carol Burnett Show to Saturday Mornings with The New Scooby-Doo Movies, Tim Conway lent his vocal talent as well as his knack for physical comedy to television screens across America.

But that’s not all!  When families said, “Let’s All Go to the Movies” in the ‘70s, it could have been in anticipation of lots of laughter in response to watching the comedic prowess of Tim Conway in The Apple Dumpling Gang or The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.

Thanks, Tim Conway, for years of funniness and fond memories!

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.07.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Chewbacca immediately connected with audiences, both young and old, when Star Wars first hit theaters in 1977.  Imagined by George Lucas and realized through Peter Mayhew, Chewbacca has continued to be the loyal friend and lovable copilot we always wanted to have.

 

In the NEWS:

Get scholarly with Gremlins 2Willow will likely return in a sequel series on Disney+.  Peter Mayhew, the big-hearted man who gave life to Chewbacca, left this life a couple weeks ago.   In other Star Wars news, Jeff Baucom shared a link to a fan edit of the lightsaber battle in Star Wars: A New Hope and Disney announces release dates for three new Star Wars movies. 

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

May has always been Star Wars month for fans of the saga.  Pop-culture has saddled the pun-laden “May the 4th” as Star Wars Day, but long before that, May 25th has been considered the more significant day, being the release date of the movie that started it all with Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Ben Kenobi.  In this week’s Star Wars Scrapbook, JediShua and shazbazzar look back at major events in May over the past several decades.

 

Feedback

A brief note from Kali (“13K”) reminds us of the ever-growing number of EarBuds tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads every week.  Thanks for tuning in, EarBuds, and thanks for your input each week.  Let your voice be heard by calling (209) TR-TRDAD (209) 878-7323 and leaving us a voicemail.  Maybe you have a memory of (or with) Peter Mayhew that you’d like to share with other fans of Chewbacca.  Call soon!

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

 

Direct download: TRDads_07.06.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

It’s been an adventurous week with the ‘Dads as shazbazzar took an unexpected trip to Ashland, Kentucky and JediShua battled strange magicks which had cursed his castle in Arvada, Colorado.  So this seemed like a good time to FLASHBACK to seasons 2, 3, and 5 of TechnoRetro Dads in some of the Dungeons & Dragons discussions from the past.

Toys in the Attic

JediShua and shazbazzar first talked about playing Dungeons & Dragons in July 2014.  From their first Basic Sets to their experiences with the “older kids” and Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, shazbazzar and JediShua remember friends like Randy McClure, Jason Fisher, Jeff Grimm, Perry Lipker, and more.  Dungeons & Dragons was nothing like the ‘Dads expected (no one was actually killing anyone), it was all about becoming a different person in a moderated community story-telling adventure where players’ characters interact with foes and friends in a fantasy setting where magic is real, dragons exist, and it’s always good to have an interesting (and interested) Dungeon Master.  And try not to shoot your friends’ pets.

 

SuperFriend Michael Witwer

After last fall’s release of his second book about Dungeons & Dragons, it seemed fitting to revisit the first two times SuperFriend Michael Witwer appeared on TechnoRetro Dads.  Introducing his book, Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons, Mike gives some insight into what EarBuds can expect in the book.  Then, soon after its release, he returns for a more-informed discussion with the ‘Dads after they had both read the biographical history of Dungeons & Dragons.

 

Saturday Mornings

JediShua and shazbazzar reminisce about watching Dungeons & Dragons, an animated series from the ‘80s that featured a group of kids at an amusement park who were magically transported into the world of Dungeons & Dragons when they rode a specific rollercoaster.  As one of the last cartoons of their childhood, the ‘Dads fondly remember the short series as their imaginations ran wild with ideas of how to incorporate some ideas from the television show into their gaming experiences.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and the younger versions of our kids did, too!  The shazlings and the Shualings join in for a cereal challenge, long ago, as the ‘Dads sat down for a bowl of Corn Pops in a Cereal Challenge from years ago.  Part of the Cereal Challenge was to eat cereal while watching some classic cartoons from the ‘70s and ‘80s.  While eating Corn Pops, the TechnoRetro families tuned in to the animated Dungeons & Dragons cartoon from the mid-eighties. 

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  While you’re waiting for a brand-new episode, why not read (or lazy read) Michael Witwer's Empire of Imagination?  But don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

 

Share and enjoy.

Direct download: TRDads_07.05.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

The gasps from watching the “Heart of Glass” video in 1979 and Pet Sematary in 1989 were likely equal in volume, but radically different in emotion.  These two blondes (Gage from Pet Sematary and Debbie from Blondie) both affected pop-culture in their time and continue to have fans decades later.

 

In the NEWS:

We’re back with news this week — Back to the Future news, that is. 

 

We Love Our Cereal…

Does the overabundance of sweetness in Cap’n Crunch’s Cotton Candy Crunch make it really crunchy or a phenomenon of galactic proportions?  Does a box of Blueberry Cheerios remind you of a certain gum-chewing girl who visited a chocolate factory?  Will Bob Ross really bring us The Joy of Breakfast with painted marshmallow goodness in a new cereal from FYE?  All these questions, along with the new Mikey for Life, are addressed this week!

 

Vinyl Scratchback

She’s blonde, she’s beautiful, she’s broken-hearted…and maybe she even has a bit of a stalker in her.  She’s Deborah Harry and she found a place at #1 on American Top 40 this week in 1979 with “Heart of Glass” from the Blondie album Parallel Lines.  Blondie (the band, not the girl) entranced listeners with her sultry, other-worldly voice which juxtaposed passion with passivity in the ‘70s and ‘80s.  Ranging from punk reggae to pop disco, Blondie seized our attention with raucous riffs, awkward raps, and a hypnotic sound that separated music aficionados from their cash in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.  The band continues playing today with a fan following that fell in love with the lead singer four decades ago.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies: Pet Sematary

Speaking of a blondie, the young toddler Gage Creed (he was so cute!) met with tragedy while playing in the front yard with his family in Maine when he wandered into a busy road and met with an accident.  From the mind of Stephen King and the vision of director Mary Lambert came a story that turned hope upside-down in the haunting horror flick that drew audiences to the box office to see Pet Sematary.  Whether you loved it or hated it, it became an instant classic for movie-goers.  Featuring Tasha Yar, Herman Munster, and that vocal know-it-all from Kindergarten Cop, Pet Sematary spawned a sequel in the ‘90s (not good) and even a remake which is in theaters now (in case you can’t get tickets to Endgame).

 

Science Lesson: The Voyager Golden Record

When Voyager was launched, scientists (hoping for contact with alien life forms) included a golden record with sounds from Earth in the deep space probe.  Now, for the first time on earth, you can get your own copy of this record for $100.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.04.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Last Monday, Star Wars Celebration Chicago was still in swing.  This Monday, we just can’t let go of a good thing.  And if you have thoughts to share about all the Star Wars news (or anything else you’re looking forward to), give us a call at (209) 878-7323.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

Star Wars Celebration Chicago is the newest addition to our scrapbook with pins, buttons, swag, pics, and lots of experiences that have generated lots of speculation…  

  • The Rise of Skywalker Teaser Trailer
  • Galaxy’s Edge 
  • The Mandalorian
  • The Clone Wars Saved

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

Star Wars Celebration Chicago revealed first looks (and even opportunities to play) upcoming additions to the TechnoRetro Arcade with Jedi Fallen Order (think of the Jedi Purge with Inquisitors and a Jedi-in-hiding reminiscent of Canaan Jarrus in John Jackson Miller’s A New Dawn) and Vader Immortal (a tether-less VR experience where the player is a smuggler conscripted into the service of the Dark Lord of the Sith).  

 

Toys in the Attic

From Hasbro’s Retro figures to new 6" Black Series figures (Hondo Ohnaka as he appears at Galaxy’s Edge) to a playset from Jabba’s Palace, Star Wars Celebration Chicago revealed some exciting toys we would like to add to our collections.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.03.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

It’s Monday, but Thursday’s coming as Star Wars Celebration Chicago is just a few days away.  So pack your bags, double-check your reservations, raid your bank account, and then plug in your ear buds and let the TechnoRetro Dads take the edge of with fun memories of the past and happy hopes for the future packed into 77 minutes of audio.  Yep.  That means we would fit on a cassette tape or compact disc.  But don’t speak too loudly about tape recorders; Shua still feels the impact of what his dad did to his first tape player.

 

In the NEWS:

  • a musical rendition of The Princess Bride
  • streaming Farscape
  • Mark Hamill’s other current and upcoming projects
  • Vinyl Scratchbacks of TechnoRetro Tunes
  • Masters of the Universe set to start shooting
  • Dungeons & Dragons Art &Arcana nominated for a Hugo award
  • Indy-Cast produces a real radio drama 

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and thanks to our Roving Spoonster (Shane in GR), we’ve found others who love cereal (and arcade games) just as much!  Discover peanut butter and chocolate Easter bunnies in Reese’s Puffs in stores near you.  Stare with amazement at Toucan Sam’s replacement on some boxes of Froot Loops cereal (she has a tail).  Best of all, if you’re anywhere near Wichita Falls, Texas, you’re going to want to check out Maniac’s Mansion, a truly TechnoRetro cereal cafe/video arcade that is one man’s realization of a childhood dream.  So cool!

 

Lazy Book Club: Read-Along Books

After the feedback from last week’s “read-along book” special, shazbazzar and JediShua take time to recall the magic of read-along books and their history.  Sometimes, they were on record.  Sometimes, they were on tape.  They’ve even made it to compact disc!  The magic is the same every time, though.  Linking technology to the written word on a page has been a winner for generations.

Even some EarBuds get in on the conversation online with some of their memories as well as future endeavors in acquiring some classic read-along books.  

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

Beginning in April 1976, the ‘Dads travel through the years for a history lesson in notable moments of Star Wars history.  

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.02.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

For nearly forty-two years, pop-culture has been populated with images, sounds, and hundreds of plastic characters.  Yet, there always seem to be new opportunities to explore the original Star Wars among fans of the franchise.  The seventh season of TechnoRetro Dads continues this tradition of exploration as shazbazzar and JediShua (and the talented voice of narrator Scott Ryfun) find themselves in this special version of the Star Wars Read-Along….

 

Star Wars Stuff to Enjoy…

  • Vinyl Scratchback of TechnoRetro Tunes
  • Memorable Toys in the Attic
  • Space Games in the TechnoRetro Arcade

 

No, the words to the book aren’t found here.

But, yes, we know that it’s April 1st.  After all, we released our first for-the-public episode on 1 April 2013, the last time Monday marked April Fool’s Day.  And while we didn’t really prank you, we hope you’ll find fun in our foolishness in this bonus-length episode of TechnoRetro Dads.  After all, if it hadn’t been for Star Wars, we might never have started this crazy show to start with.  It certainly wouldn’t normally be 77 minutes long!  So sit back and let yourself go as Scott Ryfun narrates the TechnoRetro Dads’ Star Wars Read-Along (when shazbazzar and JediShua went back in time far enough to actually see that galaxy far, far away).

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_07.01.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

In the season finale of TechnoRetro Dads (season finale, not series finale), shazbazzar and JediShua look back at various iterations of Batman from the days of Bob Kane and Bill Finger to Neal Adams and Frank Miller, Batman has changed over the past eight decades in comics.  In film, from the ‘40s serials to the camp-ridded ’66 movie to the ’89 Tim Burton reimagining to the darkest depths of his persona in Nolen’s trilogy, Batman has gone from black and white, to light, to darkness along with cultural shifts.  Yet the character continues to connect with readers and viewers throughout the generations.

 

In the NEWS

  • RUMOR has it that a new Star Wars trilogy set in the days of the Old Republic will begin shooting this fall.
  • Jim Henson’s Labyrinth has become a role-playing game.

 

We Love Our Cereal…

…and cereal candles, too!  Jovial Jay Shepard lets us know about a scented candle that looks and smells like a half-eaten bowl of Froot Loops cereal.  Shane, the Roving Spoonster, reports another Lucky Charms giveaway for free boxes of totally marshmallows.  Good luck!

PLUS: we remember some amazing prizes found in boxes of cereal from our childhood even into adulthood.  From a Batman bank to diving frogmen to lightsaber spoons to records to flying discs and rings, the ‘Dads and EarBuds recall some memorable toys that made opening a box of cereal on Saturday mornings even better.

 

Batman

JediShua and shazbazzar revisit the Batman of their youth on TV, in comics, and on the big screen while diving into some of the history of the Dark Knight and the Dynamic Duo.  Even SuperFriend Adam O’Brien chimes in with some memories of Batman.  Travel through the inception of the character on the pages of Detective Comics to the oft-forgotten movie serials of the 1940s, the campy zaniness of the Batman TV show in the ‘60s, the animated team-up with the Super Friends, as well as the various actors who played Bruce Wayne/Batman since 1989: Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck.  And with a new Batman movie slated to release in 2020, we’re sure to get a new impression on this Dark Knight fairly soon.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_06.47.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

If the living creatures around you seem a bit twitterpated, it's because the seasonal changes are finally happening this week as the sun crosses the equator to bring more daylight to the northern hemisphere and more dark to the southern hemisphere.  But wherever you may be, TechnoRetro Dads will brighten your day with memories of the past and hopes for the future, even if it means telling tall tales the likes of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

 

In the NEWS

  • New Dungeons & Dragons animated series in the making by the good folks at Critical Role.
  • Disney may give subscribers a digital doorway into the “Vault” when the Disney Plus streaming service goes live.
  • Terry Gilliam (director of Time Bandits, Brazil, and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen) slated to work with Taika Waititi in the upcoming Time Bandits series.

 

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

When, in an Age of Reason, it seems reasonable to order capital punishment for remarkable acts of heroism and bravery (because, after all, we wouldn’t want “ordinary people” to become demoralized because their lives are absent such feats), it takes outlandish tales of fiction (it must be fictional, after all, for all is governed by the age’s intellectual rationalism that must not tolerate anything that cannot be explained by “science, progress, laws of hydraulics, laws of social dynamics, laws of this, that, and the other”) to set straight the path to victory over what simply must be true because the superior minds of elitists insist that they know more than what is clearly evident to a child.  Such a victory is relished in Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen from 1988.  JediShua convinces shazbazzar to watch this amazing adventure for the sake of EarBuds around the world.  Aren’t you glad he did?

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

In anticipation for the upcoming Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, shazbazzar and JediShua cover what was happening in our galaxy the third week of March from 1977 to 2008 relative to Star Wars.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_06.46.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Try on your best Irish accent, fill up a bowl with beans (but not too full), and pull your flashy, splashy green suit out of the closet for next Sunday as shazbazzar and JediShua travel back and forth through time in TechnoRetro Dads.

 

We Love Our Cereal

The Roving Spoonster finds places to eat cereal all round the United States while shazbazzar risks injury to his still recovering gums with a bowl of Cap’n Crunch’s Chocolatey Berry Crunch splashed with milk.  A singular question arises: “How powerful are the Soggies?”

 

Saturday Mornings: Video Games Cartoons

Sure, you remember Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros. Super Show, but were you around when Pole Position seemed like Speed Racer and Knight Rider made a guest appearance on M.A.S.K.?  Was the Legend of Zelda the adventure you craved?  Maybe you’re one of several EarBuds who witnessed Kevin splash into the games like Flynn into TRON in Captain N: The Game Master.  Whatever your interest, from cute to captivating, ‘80s and ‘90s Saturday mornings (and weekday afternoons) were able to capitalize on consumers’ interest in video games whenever and wherever possible.  SuperFriends and EarBuds remember some shows that made a lasting impact on them back in the day.

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies: Splash

Tom Hanks is rescued by Darryl Hannah as John Candy and Eugene Levy seek their own interests in this thirty-five year-old romantic comedy that had us rolling as kids and continues to provide a good time in Ron Howard’s Splash.  This very well might have been your father’s The Little Mermaid if he was part of Generation X.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

In anticipation for the upcoming Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, shazbazzar and JediShua cover what was happening in our galaxy this month in the ‘90s with the likes of Steroid Luke, Hahnold Swartzenegger, and Yoda Garcia and other memories from twelve to twenty-two years ago when Star Wars was making a big splash twenty to thirty years after its inception.

 

Feedback

The EarBuds and RetroZappers are making their own splash on TechnoRetro Dads this week as Stuffedy tries to let us in on a free play point-and-click adventure online and Joey of the Animanicast finds his Indiana Jones role-playing game book as well as Palpatine and Shmi in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_06.45.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Grab a pencil, paper, and some six-sided dice for High Adventure in the past, present, and future as the TechnoRetro Dads kick off the month of March with role-playing games, Star Wars Scrapbook, young Indiana Jones, news, Cereal Day, and ridiculous Dad jokes.

 

In the NEWS

  • Gremlins will soon invade your technology in Warner Media’s new streaming service.  
  • Jim Henson’s The Storyteller is returning with an all-new series.
  • Terry Gilliam will finally complete his dream story about jousting windmills in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.
  • Star Wars clothing on display in a preview of Galaxy’s Edge.

 

We Love Our Cereal

JediShua prepares us for the upcoming Cereal Day later this week.

 

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles

What do Sean Patrick Flannery, George Hall, Corey Carrier, and Harrison Ford have in common?  They all shared the small screen playing the same character in the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.  JediShua and shazbazzar share their thoughts on the series and bemoan the lost scenes from the original airing of the two-season television show from the early 1990s.

 

Game Master Day

Today is Game Master Day, and whether you played Dungeons & Dragons, Star Frontiers, Palladian, Indiana Jones, Toon, or some other role playing game, it’s a great day to remember and recognize those game masters who kept the stories flowing in these imaginative games.  Several EarBuds and SuperFriends chime in about their experiences with role playing games.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

In anticipation for the upcoming Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, shazbazzar and JediShua cover what was happening in our galaxy as Star Wars hype began and the fascination with the franchise continued in the month of March.

 

Special thanks to High Adventure for use of their song “The Ballad of Indiana Jones” from their incredible Acoustic Prog Pop album. 

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_06.44.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Time-travel with Kirk, Spock, Bones, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, and Scottie to bring the future to San Francisco in 1986.  SuperFriend Jovial Jay Shepard joins shazbazzar and JediShua for some whale songs as they remember (or misremember) the conclusion of the Genesis/Khan trilogy in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

 

In the NEWS

  • Find out how to get a “fast pass” to the Rancho Obi-Wan exhibit at Star Wars Celebration Chicago.
  • An original, sealed-in-package Super Mario Bros. cartridge sells for a record high price that will send you down the pipes in unbelief!

 

We Love Our Cereal

  • Exclusive Caticorn Berry cereal hits shelves at Sam’s Club.
  • Maple Bacon Donut comes to Walmart.
  • Chocolate and Berries in new boxes of Cap’n Crunch.
  • The World’s Largest Breakfast Table is coming this summer.

 

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

In one of the most down-to-earth Star Trek features that showed the crew of the Enterprise in perhaps the strangest surroundings, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home pits the Federation of the future against the crazy culture of the ‘80s as Kirk and Spock are unleashed on the streets of San Francisco in 1986.  Jovial Jay Shepard joins the ‘Dads for a fun trip to a past “today” as Spock strives to get into the groove of punk rock and capitalism that seems completely alien to the crew of the recently destroyed Enterprise.  Though our memories are a bit sketchy, the fun flavor of the fourth feature film shines through the banter between the three Gen-Xers.

 

Toys in the Attic: Toy Fair 2019

JediShua and shazbazzar take a peek at pics and slideshows from the recent Toy Fair in New York.  Loads of retrotastic four-inch fun for fans of ‘70s and ‘80s action figures.  Someone needs to win a lottery.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_06.43.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

On this Presidents’ Day (Presidents Day, President’s Day), a day designed to give federal employees a three-day weekend (yes, that’s the real purpose of the holiday), the ‘Dads invite all EarBuds to pull their VHS copies of ThunderCats off the shelf, get their LJN action figures out of that dusty old attic, and get into the spirit of Thundera here on Second Earth for a time-traveling trip back to 1985-1989 with the unforgettable ThunderCats!

 

In the NEWS

  • Howard the Duck Hulu series greenlit
  • Upcoming Muppets series is an ‘80s sequel
  • Sesame Street may celebrate 50th anniversary with a movie

 

Saturday Mornings: ThunderCats

From 1985 to 1989, kids were treated to a sci-fi/fantasy cartoon about cat people fleeing their destroyed home planet of Thundera to a futuristic Earth as they battled evil mutants who wanted to get their slimy (or furry) hands on the Sword of Omens.  Lion-O, Tygra, Cheetara, Panthro, Wilykat, Wilykit, and Snarf were pitted against the evil mutants S-S-Slithe, Jackalman, Monkian, Vultureman, and their terrifying undead leader Mumm-Ra.  The combination of a kicking theme song, an amazing style that blended Rankin-Bass designs with Japanese animation, cool characters, fantastic weapons and vehicles, and a story that captured the imaginations of kids, teens, and maybe even some parents for fun afternoon television viewing.

 

Toys in the Attic: ThunderCats

LJN toys produced loads of figures, vehicles, and even a couple playsets alongside the ThunderCats animated series.  More in scale with He-Man figures than Star Wars and G.I. Joe, ThunderCats followed the pattern of Mattel, Hasbro, and Kenner to fill toy aisles with plastic versions of the heroes and villains kids were watching on TV sets in their homes.  Some of these toys can even fetch a hefty price with collectors.  Be sure to watch garage sales and flea markets for bargains on these classic toys.

 

Star Wars Scrapbook

As Celebration Chicago draws ever nearer, and the future of Star Wars is yet to be seen (no trailer or title as of yet), shazbazzar and JediShua dust off Star Wars Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle in the Star Wars Scrapbook to look into the history of Star Wars and the people and events surrounding the 42 year-old franchise.

 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Be sure to check out episodes you may have missed on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, or at TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merch at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Direct download: TRDads_06.42.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 10:00am EDT