1980s
Stunt Rock
The trailer first, then the backstory.The Wikipedia entry.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jan 14, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Death, Destruction, Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, Music, 1980s
The TopPop Video Archives
The Wikipedia page, from which:TopPop was the first regular dedicated pop music television series in the Dutch language area. The Netherlands broadcaster AVRO aired the programme weekly, from September 22, 1970, to June 27, 1988.
Scores of videos at their YouTube site, many of which, like the one below, are pleasingly daft. Flute and zither quasi-disco easy-listening? Why not!
Many thanks to pal Peter Danssaert!
Posted By: Paul - Mon Dec 28, 2020 -
Comments (4)
Category: Music, 1970s, 1980s, Europe
Static
A quirky, out-of-place worker (Keith Gordon) at a crucifix factory invents a device he claims can show pictures of Heaven. Discouraged and confused by the inability of those around him to see anything but a screenful of static, he charismatically hijacks a bus of friendly elderly people in order to get media attention for his invention.
The director's page.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 05, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Death, Eccentrics, Crackpots, Inventions, Television, 1980s
I Go Pogo
Your election alternative.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Oct 29, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: Anthropomorphism, Humor, Satire, Politics, Comics, 1980s
Have a nice day
The driver said the customer responded with one punch to his face and six to his stomach.
Casper Star-Tribune - Nov 23, 1983
Posted By: Alex - Sat Oct 24, 2020 -
Comments (6)
Category: Antisocial Activities, 1980s
Where Would You Hide Two Elephants?
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Sep 29, 2020 -
Comments (6)
Category: Animals, Crime, Eccentrics, 1980s
Killed by oranges
Weird way to die — Ingrid Kerztin was walking by the side of the road, minding her own business, when suddenly 16 tons of oranges landed on top of her, crushing her to death.
New York Daily News - July 5, 1984
Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 17, 2020 -
Comments (4)
Category: Death, 1980s
Remove the braces, or else…
I'm sure this must have been the strangest day in Norman Carstens' career as an orthodontist:"I had him in the chair and he leaned over and pulled the gun out of his pocket and said, 'Would this make you change your mind?' and I said, 'Yes,'" Carstens said.
(click to enlarge)
Central New Jersey Home News - Feb 16, 1985
Posted By: Alex - Thu Sep 10, 2020 -
Comments (0)
Category: 1980s, Weapons, Teeth
Aroma Discs
Donald Spector received a patent for these in 1985. They looked like small music discs. But instead of producing sound, they released an aromatic vapor when put in the 'player'.
I don't see what advantage an aroma disc would have over an incense candle (except, perhaps, for the lack of an open flame). Which, I assume, is why these are no longer around and incense candles are all over the place.
But Spector was successful enough to have his product featured on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson:
Posted By: Alex - Sun Sep 06, 2020 -
Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, Patents, 1980s, Perfume and Cologne and Other Scents
Potato Ice Cream
Idaho farmer Alan Reed invented Potato Ice Cream in the mid-1980s. This wasn't potato-flavored ice cream. Instead, it was ice cream that included potatoes (in addition to dairy) as an ingredient. The advantage of this was that the potatoes sweetened the ice cream, eliminating the need to add sugar. The result was a lower-calorie, sugar-free ice cream. Reed claimed it tasted as good as regular ice cream.However, Reed had trouble getting his potato ice cream distributed, so he sold the formula and marketing rights in 1988 to businessmen Rich Davis and James McFrederick. I assume (because I've never seen potato ice cream in a store) that they didn't manage to make a go of it either. The fact that there were better (or cheaper) sugar substitutes probably doomed Potato Ice Cream.
Reed is still operating his dairy farm and selling ice cream. But his website makes no mention at all of potatoes.
However, I don't think he's entirely given up on the idea of using potatoes to sweeten dairy, because his chocolate milk contains potato flakes (if you look closely at the ingredients). And this chocolate milk is sold in the gift shop of the Idaho Potato Museum.
San Francisco Examiner -Dec 6, 1987
Longview Daily News - Nov 16, 1990
Posted By: Alex - Tue Sep 01, 2020 -
Comments (2)
Category: Food, 1980s
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