by Shawn Robare | Aug 5, 2009 | Branded in the 80s, Read
In the interest of seeing whether or not I can keep the Branded in the 80s podcasts flowing, here’s another episode that’s dedicated to some of my memories of the various bicycles I had growing up. I talk for a little bit about my first two bikes, a...
by Shawn Robare | Aug 3, 2009 | Branded in the 80s, Read
It’s funny. When I stop and think, really think, about merchandising and ad campaigns, it amazes me just how devious some of the practices are, especially when it’s aimed at kids. It’s an area that I have strong feeling about, and weirdly...
by Shawn Robare | Jul 24, 2009 | Branded in the 80s, Read
I was going to post the last Cartoon Commentary! column for the original G.I. Joe mini series today, but I thought I’d take a second to share some sad news instead. I found out yesterday that actor/humanitarian Les Lye passed away on Tuesday the...
by Shawn Robare | Jul 23, 2009 | Branded in the 80s, Read
I’ve talked in the past about the function of pop culture as a sort of Rosetta Stone for deciphering the past. How a picture of an Otter Pop can help unlock very specific memories of times and places, and eventually, when you string enough of these...
by Shawn Robare | Jul 22, 2009 | Branded in the 80s, Read
One of the things that I find endlessly fascinating about cartoons in the 80s is the tonal shift that a lot of the shows took. Throughout the 70s child advocacy groups like A.C.T. (Action for Children’s Television) were having a huge impact on the...
by Shawn Robare | Jul 21, 2009 | Branded in the 80s, Read
…and now for something slightly different though still G.I. Joe related (and heaps shorter than my long winded Cartoon Commentary! posts…) I remember when I was in the middle of a vintage sticker buying frenzy a couple years ago, I was always looking for a copy...
