Over the years, I have been slowly trying to cover all of Atari’s console releases. The first one I talked about, the Atari 5200, was way back in 2009. Well, I am happy to announce that I have finally covered all of the released consoles now with this podcast about the Atari XEGS. This console was interesting in that it combined a computer and gaming console in an attractive and cohesive packages. Unfortunately for Atari, releasing it in 1987, was just too little too late. And while there was so...
Jun 20, 2025•26 min•Ep. 344
Arcades in the early half the 80s had a constant flow of new machines. Some were food, you would play them a few times and forget about the, but other’s attracted a crowd. Robotron 2084 attracted a crowd. I can still remember trying to catch glimpse of the screen while adult after adult kept playing the game. Eventually I made my way to the screen and put my quarter in. The experience was intense, but I was hooked. On this episode of the Retroist Podcast, I am going to discuss this arcade classi...
Jun 06, 2025•28 min•Ep. 343
In the late 1980s, a new multiplayer beat-em-up hit arcades, Golden Axe. It took what other games had done and added new depth to combat, a healthy dose of magic, and wrapped it all in Conan-style sword & sorcery. It wasn’t just a hit with me and my friends, but an international success that spawned multiple ports and sequels, each adding something to the franchise and the brawler genre as whole. I loved playing this game in the arcade, but one of my best memories of it was wrapped up in the...
May 23, 2025•25 min•Ep. 342
A few months ago, I was chatting with my sister and out of nowhere she asked me if I had done a Valley Girl podcast yet. She loves this movie and it has come up a few times over the years. I responded that I hadn’t gotten to it yet and that I would get to it soon. I had actually tried to record it many years ago, in my first year or so of podcast, but I don’t think I handled it well, and never released it. I felt a little guilty and so I decided that I needed to get a Valley Girl episode into th...
May 09, 2025•33 min•Ep. 341
I don’t think that Fantasy Island was a show that was meant for the entire family, but with my family’s liberal bedtime and television policy, it became a hit with my sisters and I. Half the time, I didn’t really understand what was going on, but the show was mysterious and exciting. So every week I looked forward to watching it, and when I discovered it was shown in re-runs, I would check it out there as well. Then one day, my sister asked a great questions, “What is Mr. Roarke?” It was a simpl...
Apr 25, 2025•35 min•Ep. 340
The Magnavox Odyssey 2 was a contender early on in the video game console world. It had a lot going for it, but it was up against a gaming juggernaut, the Atari 2600, and just couldn’t keep up. Still it is a memorable system and worth spending some time remembering. So, on todays, show I will talk about this often overlooked gaming console. I begin by talking about my childhood encounter with the Odyssey came about because of a case of mistaken identity. It was a magical find and surprising high...
Apr 11, 2025•30 min•Ep. 339
I have met a couple of adults who are unlucky enough to have never visited a Chuck E. Cheese as a kid. Many of them were not able to fathom why anyone would feel affection to the chain. Some of them would be lucky enough to see it through their kid’s eyes’ eventually, but for many, they will just never understand the magic. So on today’s episode of the Retroist Podcast, I want to talk a little bit about that magic. I started by discussing my first experience at Chuck E. Cheese. It was a mind-blo...
Mar 28, 2025•27 min•Ep. 338
Streets of Fire is a rock n roll fantasy film that crossed genres and had music at its center. Unfortunately, even though it was wildly creative, when it hit theaters in 1984, the reception to the film was underwhelming. Fortunately though, when the film made its way to home video and cable TV, it started to develop a following. Nowadays its has a high-level cult status and many critics have looking more kindly on it. While mediocre reviews were certainly one reason it didn’t do very well, one c...
Mar 14, 2025•33 min•Ep. 337
For years I have been considering doing a Monkees podcast. It has always felt like a big subject since I believe the band was very important in the history of pop music. I have tried to record it a couple of times, but was never happy with the direction or the results. This time I decided to mainly focus on the TV show, and I am happy with how it turned out. On the show, I start by discussing a friend in school who was obsessed with the band and how they hoped to get a part in the reboot of the ...
Feb 28, 2025•48 min•Ep. 336
At one point in the mid-80s, two light based combat gun games hit the market, Lazer Tag and Photon. I wanted Lazer Tag and would eventually get one, but the first set I got was Photon. Which my grandmother got me as a very thoughtful Christmas Gift. In the episode I start by talking about how poorly I received the gift, but to my grandmother’s credit, she kept it in mind. Many months later she would surprise me with a visit to a Photon arena in Wildwood, NJ. It was AMAZING. While I might have st...
Feb 07, 2025•33 min•Ep. 335
Like most people, I grew up in my own bubble filled with things that me, my family and friends enjoyed together. It didn’t even occur to me that the rest of the world didn’t love UHF. It was very high on my re-watch for at least a year and was very quotable. I begin the episode talking about what my friends and I took away from our first viewing, Twinkie Dogs! We decided to try it and the results were mixed. I later learned that Weird Al had a similar problem with the Twinkie Dogs. Having to tak...
Jan 24, 2025•38 min•Ep. 334
When I say Burger Chef to most people, they might recognize the name from its appearance on Mad Men, but most people haven’t heard of. This, despite it being the second largest fast food chain in the United States by 1973. Its rise was dramatic, its fall, sad. On this episode of the show, I want to talk to you about this wonderful fast food restaurant. I start the show talking about my childhood visits to the chain. They were all solo trips with my mom and I loved all of them. The place had char...
Jan 10, 2025•27 min•Ep. 333
The hype around Santa Claus the Movie put it at the top of my must-see list in 1985. My family were big Dudley Moore fans and McDonald’s was pushing it with a Happy Meal tie-in. So we drove a few towns over to see it the weekend it opened. It was a great movie-going experience with a very well-decorated theater and an appearance by Santa Claus. I was convinced this was going to be a huge hit, but unfortunately it wasn’t in the United States (the people in the UK were more impressed). I start the...
Dec 20, 2024•34 min•Ep. 332
I remember seeing the trailer for Three O'Clock High and then seeing the ad in the newspaper. Luckily my best friend and I went to see it the week it opened because it wasn’t in the theater very long. For years afterwards we would try and champion the film and when we would convince people to watch it, they almost all walked away as a fan. So I am hoping to convince you to watch it by talking about it in a podcast. This episode does have some spoilers, but the movie is still great if you know th...
Dec 06, 2024•33 min•Ep. 331
In 1987, what is arguably the best Thanksgiving movie ever made, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles hit theaters. Like many people who saw it, I instantly fell in love with it and over the years I have watched maybe over a hundred times. Its a heartfelt comedy, that isn’t afraid to go over the top with humor (or its language). So I am very happy to be able cover it on this newest episode of the Retroist Podcast. I start the episode talking about my brush with being the class clown and how that tied...
Nov 22, 2024•30 min•Ep. 330
In the 1990s, I fell in love with the western genre because an amazing show premiered on FOX, The Adventures of Brisco Country Jr., starring Bruce Campbell. This show was expected to be a big hit and widely praised, but failed to find a home and sadly had only one season. Despite this, or maybe because of it, the show developed a cult following. I start the show talking about the closest thing we had to the old west in New Jersey, Wild West City. It was a place where I could finally shine like t...
Nov 07, 2024•39 min•Ep. 329
Halloween is just around the corner, and I wanted to talk about a made-for-TV movie that I first saw as a kid: Dark Night of the Scarecrow. This spooky revenge film revolves around a terrifying scarecrow and has haunted me ever since I first watched it. It’s a perfect film for this time of year, with its eerie atmosphere and unsettling themes, so I hope you’ll consider giving it a watch. I kick off the episode by sharing a personal experience, an encounter I had with a scarecrow at my uncle’s ho...
Oct 25, 2024•28 min•Ep. 328
Back in 2009, I recorded a podcast about It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It was a childhood favorite and a podcast that many people have emailed me about over the years. So now that I am committed to revisiting some of my older episodes, this one went straight to the top of the list. It's a great subject to cover at this time of year, and I hope you enjoy it. I start the episode by talking about a memorable time when I watched the show. If you've listened to the podcast or read the blog, ...
Oct 11, 2024•34 min•Ep. 327
The Retroist Podcast is back with an episode I promised to release during my first year of the podcast, The Goonies. On this episode, my first of the new season, I am happy to finally have covered this classic and beloved film. I start the show off by talking about how the film was inspiring to me in unexpected ways that have had a positive long-term effect on me. Then I move onto the film itself, I talk about the people in front of and behind the camera, its production, location, video games, m...
Sep 27, 2024•43 min•Ep. 326
Welcome to the 400th episode of the Retroist Podcast. On this episode, my last of the season, I decided to talk about the 1984 Summer Olympics. These Los Angeles games were a big deal for me. I don’t remember any Olympic activity before it, and no other Games have been as enjoyable for me. I begin the show discussing my bit of bootleg patriotism that I wore proudly that summer. Then I move onto the games itself, covering the lead up to the games, its finances, successes, failures, designs, spons...
Jul 25, 2024•52 min•Ep. 325
On the newest episode of the Retroist Podcast, I am revisiting a subject I dealt with over a decade ago, the VCR. The original episode I did, had always been a favorite of mine, but I have wanted to revisit it to update the audio, mix, music, and information. It was fun to not just redo the episode, but listen to the original and see how much has changed with how I do the show. Still, I think the DNA of the show is pretty much the same. It has just evolved (and I got a better microphone). I star...
Jul 05, 2024•35 min•Ep. 324
As this season of the Retroist Podcast wraps up, I wanted to cover some of the films that tried to cash in on the breakdancing craze. Breakin’ was the first film to hit the theaters, and it captured the attention of my friends and I. Our dancing crew wasn’t very good and didn’t last long, but it was a lot of fun. I start off the show talking about one of our last dance sessions. Then I move onto the movie itself. I talk about the people in front of, and behind the camera, the film’s production, ...
Jun 21, 2024•29 min•Ep. 323
I wanted to wrap up my coverage of Indiana Jones with a discussion of some Indy odds and ends. So on this episode of the Retroist Podcast, I am going to talk about Indiana Jones Merchandise. I focus on the things I was most familiar with while growing up, so this is not comprehensive. The show starts with a little story about comic book collecting. Although maybe it is more of a story about how collecting has changed over the years as larger economies have grown up around it. Either way, the sto...
Jun 07, 2024•27 min•Ep. 322
In this episode of the Retroist Podcast, I am going to take a look at the first two decades of video games featuring Indiana Jones. This started with me just going to talk about a couple of games, but then morphed into a 12 game extravaganza (maybe 13). Here are the games I discuss: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1982) Indiana Jones in the Lost Kingdom (1984) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985) Indiana Jones in Revenge of the Ancients (1987) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1988) Indiana ...
May 24, 2024•28 min•Ep. 321
In an episode of the Retroist Podcast, we are looking at the "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles," a TV series that charts the early adventures of the iconic character Indiana Jones. This series fleshes out the formative years of the young Indy as he travels the globe and, like Forrest Gump, he engages with historical figures and participates in key events that shaped the 20th century. Unlike the high-stakes treasure hunts typical of the Indiana Jones film saga, this series opts for a more educa...
May 10, 2024•33 min•Ep. 320
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, released in 1989, as the first of the Indy films that I saw by myself. Much like in the other films, it follows the intrepid archaeologist, played by the Harrison Ford, as he embarks on a quest not just for the mythical Holy Grail but also for his estranged father, portrayed by Sean Connery. This new dynamic injects a unique layer of family drama and humor into the series. The chemistry between Ford and Connery is particularly notable, providing both comedic r...
Apr 26, 2024•36 min•Ep. 319
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom carved its niche as a riveting piece of film history, captivating audiences with its daring escapades and dark undertones. Released in 1984, this sequel to the iconic Raiders of the Lost Ark delves deeper into the thrilling world of archaeology and myth, transporting viewers from the vibrant streets of Shanghai to the heart of India. What sets this film apart? It might be its audacious blend of supernatural elements, perilous adventures, and the charismatic y...
Apr 12, 2024•41 min•Ep. 318
In the annals of cinematic excellence, Raiders of the Lost Ark emerges as an archetype of adventure filmmaking, etching its mark on the hearts of moviegoers with its blend of exhilaration and timeless storytelling. Released in 1981, Raiders redefined the adventure genre, introducing the world to the indomitable archaeologist Indiana Jones, portrayed by Harrison Ford. What makes it standout? Perhaps it's the film's perfect concoction of action, history, and myth, combined with Spielberg's masterf...
Mar 29, 2024•39 min•Ep. 317
In 2009, I launched a podcast episode that delved into the iconic TV series "Magnum P.I.," a show that not only defined an era but also captured the hearts of millions with its thrilling adventures and charismatic lead, Thomas Magnum. Since that initial foray, my understanding of both podcasting and "Magnum P.I." has deepened significantly, compelling me to revisit the sun-soaked shores of Oahu for a revisit on this beloved series. For those who tuned in to the original broadcast, you'll find ec...
Mar 15, 2024•42 min•Ep. 316
In the pantheon of video game classics, Joust stands as a testament to innovation and simplicity, capturing the hearts of gamers with its unique gameplay and imaginative design. Released by Williams Electronics in 1982, Joust broke the mold with its two-player cooperative play, pitting knights riding flying giant birds against enemy knights on buzzards in a fantastical medieval jousting tournament. What sets it apart? Perhaps it's the game's simplicity, combined with its challenging gameplay, th...
Mar 02, 2024•28 min•Ep. 315
