Today marks the 100-year anniversary of perhaps the biggest youth organization to ever exist, The Boy Scouts of America. First incorporated by publisher W.D. Boyce in 1910, the original mission of the group was “to teach patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred values”. And over the past century, some 110 million boys have become Boy Scouts – wearing their uniforms with pride, taking the Scout Oath, and earning any of more than a hundred merit badges in areas such as crafts, science, outdoor activities, and even vocational training. Many a prominent adult, from entrepreneurs to astronauts, have cited the Boy Scouts as having contributed significantly to their successful careers.
Here is one such testament:
And something a little more retro…
Over at Retroland, we know that we have many former scouts, some of which have posted in this thread on our Retrotalk discussion board. We would like to hear from you here as well. Did scouting play a role in your childhood? Looking back, do you credit any of your success to the skills you learned in the Boy Scouts? Share your memories of all things scouting-related with us at Retroland as we wish the Boy Scouts of America a happy 100th birthday.
Surely you remember Kenner’s Stretch Armstrong, that lovable, malleable muscleman from the 70s? You could bend him, tie him in a knot, and practice any other form of sadistic contortion your twisted mind could muster. Stretch didn’t mind in the least, always returning back to original form, with not even one blond hair on his head out of place.
If you need a little help remembering Stretch and his other bendable buddies, you can click on the picture above and check out Retroland’s take on this iconic toy. For a massive overview of all things Stretch, you might want to check out this fascinating blog, Stretch Armstrong World – which should answer any question you could possibly have about Mr. Armstrong. There’s also this little blast from the past, which introduced one of Stretch’s new enemies, Stretch Monster:
And if you still need more Stretch, you will be happy to know that the big guy is finally going to make his debut on the big screen. Universal is producing the 3D pic, and has cast teen Twilight star, Taylor Lautner in the lead role. The film is scheduled for release in 2012.
Did you have your very own Stretch Armstrong as a kid? Perhaps an Olivia, the Stretch Octopus to keep him company? Now that this pending movie has us all nostalgic over Stretch, we’d love for you to share your own memories of this unique and wonderful toy with all of us at Retroland.
If you were a kid of the 70s (and even a little beyond), there is a pretty good chance that you plastered your notebooks, locker, bedroom door, family pet, etc., with a bunch of stickers known as Wacky Packages. These popular trading card/stickers mocked all sorts of products of the day and were beloved by millions of kids.
Today, we thought we help you stroll down memory lane by offering a fun site for you to check out that presents the entire collection of the stickers, which were produced off-and-on by Topps between 1967-1991. And for those who wish Topps would continue making these stickers, you will be happy to know that the company has plans to release a new series this month, called “Wacky Packages Old School.”
Share your memories of these beloved stickers with all of us at Retroland, as we applaud the return of a little slice of our childhood.
Had he not passed away in 1981, Bob Marley would have turned 65 today. Without question, Marley holds the distinction of bringing reggae music into the mainstream, and remains the most beloved and successful performer in the genre.
How successful? Well, consider the fact that his compilation album Legend, which came out 3 years after his death, has sold more than 20 million copies and is certified Diamond (10 times platinum), Songs like “Stir It Up,” “One Love,” and “No Woman, No Cry,” not to mention Marley’s infectious voice and thought-provoking lyrics, have all but ensured that this collection of music will continue to live on for the foreseeable future as new generations continue to discover his heartfelt music.
As we celebrate the life and career of Bob Marley at Retroland, we ask you to share your memories of this amazing performer and what his music means to you. Was it the soundtrack of your college years? Were you fortunate enough to see him in concert? Let’s hear your thoughts on Bob Marley as we wish him a happy birthday.
Just when you thought that you’ve seen everything that could possibly be created from Legos, the folks over at trendsetter.com are spotlighting some rather creative individuals who have inserted a little high tech flair into the 60-plus year old building toys. Not only can you find technological tips of the hat to electronic devices such as phones, blackberries and iPods, but there is also this little gem that simply must be seen.
It almost makes you want to go buy a set and start working on a screen replication of Jungle Hunt (or maybe it’s just me). Yes, the possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to being creative with Legos, and we suspect there might be a few fans of these building blocks among the Retroland crowd. Do you have any pictures of your prized creations, or just a good Lego story to tell? Share your Lego stuff with all of us at Retroland as we celebrate those wonderful interlocking blocks from our childhood.
Many of you are familiar with the show Mystery Science Theater 3000, which ran from 1989-1996 on Comedy Central (and if you aren’t, you probably should be). A certified cult favorite, the program featured two robots and a human who are forced to watch some of the worst movies ever made. As the movies play, the trio provides an endless stream of sarcastic remarks. But along with feature-length films, MST3K also occasionally set their sites on some deliciously-retro informative films from the 50s and 60s, featuring subjects such as personal hygiene, getting hired for a job, and going to the fair. And, along with providing fodder for amusing commentary, these films contain some wonderful imagery from yesteryear that is worth checking out.
Today, we thought we would share a couple of our favorites. Sit back and enjoy these blasts from the past, then share your memories of some of the short subject films that you remember from your own childhood. Or, tell us about your favorite MST3K film.
Now, grab some popcorn, find a comfy seat and enjoy!
If you have a fondness for staring at old photographs, or happen to enjoy those popular “Then and Now” books that show two pictures taken of the same location but from different eras, then you might want to head over to Flickr to check out a growing photo pool called Looking Into the Past. Here, posters are taking old photographs and superimposing them on top of recent pics to create some intriguing imagery. There are hundred of photos similar to the one shown here, which was taken by poster brucesflickr.
Once you have taken a few moments to see what others have contributed, perhaps you can pull out those old photo albums and see if you have something interesting to share over there – maybe a picture of your first day of school taken in front of a building that still exists, for example. Of course, should you join in the fun over at Flickr, we all would love to see your photo contributions. Share your memories of those bygone locales from your past, and any photos you post over there, with all of us at Retroland.
On today’s date each year, we rely on some advanced technology to see into the future, and find out whether six more weeks of winter loom ominously. That’s right, it’s Groundhog Day and our forecaster is a respected rodent named Phil, who resides in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
The tradition, which dates back to the 18th century, received some welcome and widespread attention in 1993, thanks to the hit film, Groundhog Day. Equally philosophical and hilarious, this Harold Ramis-produced comedy starred Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliot, and told the story of an unfortunate weatherman (also named Phil) who gets trapped in Punxsutawney, and is forced to live the same day over and over again.
So as we all anxiously await Phil’s arrival, and maybe even throw Groundhog Day into the ol’ DVD player, we thought we would ask all of you at Retroland to share your memories of this film, or anything else groundhog-related for that matter, as we celebrate this special and somewhat bizarre holiday.
If you happen to be a fan of Japanese pop culture, specifically their toys, you might want to head to Pensacola, Florida to view a wonderful and extensive free exhibit.
Running from now until March 17, the Japanese Retro Toys: Root of Today’s Pop Culture exhibit offers a large display of toy collectables, some dating back to 1910. Whether your passion lies with Pokemon , Kimba or Hello Kitty, or maybe you just have a thing for robots, there is plenty to see and do here. There is even a play area, where you can get some hands-on time with an assortment of toys, or attend an origami workshop.
One might think that once a product has been on the market for over a hundred years, it needs little improvement. But the folks at Necco (New England Confectionary Company) see things differently. This year, they have decided to alter the candy by changing from artificial to natural flavorings.
Necco, which invented the candy wafer-making machine back in 1901, is credited with being the oldest, continuously produced candy in America, and also manufactures millions of little candy Sweethearts when Valentine’s Day draws near. Necco wafers traditionally consist of an odd mix of spice and fruit flavors – such as lemon, lime, clove, orange, cinnamon, licorice and wintergreen. The switch to natural flavorings, however, will mean the demise of the lime wafer, so hopefully that wasn’t your favorite. The familiar chocolate variety, popular enough to have its own roll, is getting a major overhaul – what once was actually a vanilla wafer with just a hint of artificial chocolate flavor, is now flavored with real cocoa. Better yet, there will be four varieties of chocolate wafer, including a new dark variety.
So as the new rolls of Necco wafers roll off the assembly line, we ask our retro candy fans to weigh in on this seemingly immortal candy and the new flavor changes on the horizon. Share your thoughts with all of us at Retroland.
Today marks the 100-year anniversary of perhaps the biggest youth organization to ever exist, The Boy Scouts of America. First incorporated by publisher W.D. Boyce in 1910, the original mission of the group was “to teach patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred values”. And over the past century, some 110 million boys have become Boy Scouts – wearing their uniforms with pride, taking the Scout Oath, and earning any of more than a hundred merit badges in areas such as crafts, science, outdoor activities, and even vocational training. Many a prominent adult, from entrepreneurs to astronauts, have cited the Boy Scouts as having contributed significantly to their successful careers. 
On today’s date each year, we rely on some advanced technology to see into the future, and find out whether six more weeks of winter loom ominously. That’s right, it’s Groundhog Day and our forecaster is a respected rodent named Phil, who resides in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. 
If you happen to be a fan of Japanese pop culture, specifically their toys, you might want to head to Pensacola, Florida to view a wonderful and extensive free exhibit. 
One might think that once a product has been on the market for over a hundred years, it needs little improvement. But the folks at Necco (New England Confectionary Company) see things differently. This year, they have decided to alter the candy by changing from artificial to natural flavorings.