Mon, 29 April 2019
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. |
Mon, 22 April 2019
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…
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. |
Mon, 8 April 2019
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:
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. |
Mon, 1 April 2019
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…
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. |