Everything 80s

Welcome to the annual Everything 80s Christmas special! There really was nothing like the holiday season during the 1980s, and today, we'll take a look back at: The knock-off versions of some of the big toys of the 80s that began to appear on toy shelves A unique new holiday catalog that combined several iconic 1980s brands and TV shows The holiday versions of some of our favorite breakfast cereals A lesser-known, but unique TV Christmas special that combined two of the biggest network stars of the decade So, sit back, relax, and let's journey back to the holiday season during the 1980s Support the show and get bonus 1980s content: Patreon.com/80s

What began as a simple doll sold at craft fairs in the 1970s soon became one of the biggest toy fads in history. After beggning their life as "doll babies," the soft and playable dolls went through some more changes before becoming the Cabbage Patch Kids. And their release in 1983 couldn't have been timed out better, as, coming out of the Great Video Game Crash, there was a return to simple, more traditional toys. But then something happened... The growing popularity, combined with a very short supply, led to one of the biggest toy crazes of all time. Heading into the holiday season of 1983, utter chaos emerged in retail, and toy stores everywhere... Bonus 1980s audio content: Patreon.com/80s  

She-Ra: Princess of Power wasn't just a He-Man spinoff, but a standalone character with her own persona, legacy, and mythology. She was a bold experiment by Mattel and Filmation to crack into multiple toy markets at the same time, while also growing the He-Man brand.  From breaking the "Smurfette principle" to its unique introduction, She-Ra quickly became a defining 1980s brand.  Today, we look back at the creation, launch, and success of what ended up being a relatively short-lived toy and 1980s cartoon that still managed to make a huge dent in 1980s pop culture.  50% off your first month on Patreon.com/80s: codeword: MARTY Give the gift of the 1980s: Patreon.com/80s/gift

Over the years, there's been a steady return to traditional media. From vinyl albums to 4K Blu-ray, people want to hold--and own--the content they love. There's also been a return to traditional film.  Our digital, streaming age is incredible, but sometimes it can feel like something is missing. And if you're a fan of 1980s movies, that means seeing these films we love, the way they were meant to be seen.  Traditional film, such as 35mm and 70mm, is making a comeback as real film provides a richer, more organic movie-watching experience compared to digital projection.  To look deeper into this, I took a trip to an independent cinema to talk to a true film projectionist and learn about the movies we grew up watching, and the theatres we watched them in.    The Hyland Cinema: hylandcinema.com The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

When it was released in the summer of 2016, not only did Stranger Things become a pop culture phenomenon, but it was also a true love letter to the 1980s. Today, we look back at the creation, success, and impact of an era-defining show that introduced 1980s culture to a whole new generation. In this episode, we'll look at: The struggles the Duffer brothers went through to get the show made The specific premise they used that combined two 1980s icons The real-life CIA experiments that led to the creation of Eleven The 1980s movies that influenced the show How Stranger Things became one of the crown jewels for Netflix How Stranger Things may have led to a resurgence of 1980s-based movies and TV shows The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s