HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! I hope you are having fun watching football, enjoying some time with your family and stuffing yourself silly! Truly this is a year to reflect and be thankful for all of those that we care about around us. Have yourself a great holiday weekend!
From all of us at 20 Years Before 2000, thanks for visiting and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
While stuck home during quarantine, one of the things my wife asked me to do is to clean out the back basement closet. When we had our kids a lot of my things were packed up and stored in this closet to make room for their stuff. I gotta say, even though cleaning sucks, it was fun to uncover some of these items that I haven't seen in years. One such item was this sketch of Mickey Mouse as a Jedi that I bought in a store at Downtown Disney in Orlando Florida. I chose this drawing because Mickey is wielding the bad-ass light saber of Mace Windu. This amazing art was done by Disney artist Monica Willis in 2006. I would love to have it framed and put on my wall.
Kazaam on VHS
Not too much to say about this one. I bought it for a quarter at a thrift store and I've heard nothing but terrible things about the movie, but I can't see how a movie about a 7 foot rapping genie could be all that bad. Soon I will have to watch it with the kids and find out for myself. The movie almost made back it's 20 million dollar budget and features an appearance from Efren Ramirez aka Pedro, so it has that going for it!
Tiny "Zeus" Lister Autograph
I had the chance to meet Mr. Lister (hey, that rhymes!) at the Chiller Theater convention in NJ around 2005. He was very cool and took the time to take photos, sign pictures and chat with each person who stopped by his table...all for a price, but still a nice guy from one of my favorite 90s movies "Friday"! Gotta get this back on the wall in the basement!
Whiz-Kid
I loved this toy as a kid. It came out in the early 80s and was, if I remember correctly, my first real exposure to anything that resembled a computer. The Whiz-Kid came with cartridges that you would insert into the toy and each cartridge contained around 50 games that could be unlocked by using the corresponding cards that came with the cartridge. Most of these were educational games that included math, spelling and shape & color recognition. I found this Whiz-Kid at a second hand store for around $5 and believe me it was well worth it. The sound this machine makes when you get a correct answer took me back decades and my kids also had fun plating with it too. Love this thing!
Bart Simpson from Burger King
These dolls were released in 1990 as a special premium at Burger King restaurants. For a mere $3.49 you could own either Homer, Bart, Lisa, Maggie or Marge...of course with the purchase of fries or the new BK mini-muffins. When I was a kid we owned the Bart & Homer dolls, so when I found this in package specimen at a local Goodwill for $2, I grabbed it! That's less than what it cost in 1990! Love the early 90s Simpsons stuff, brings back great memories of Simpson-mania! Below is a commercial from this legendary fast food promotion, ENJOY!
If you would like to see what was found in "It Came From The Closet! Part I" click HERE.
Myself and my wife got word from our school district on Monday that school will be closed for the next 2 weeks due to the Coronavirus. We have been brainstorming ideas on how to keep these kids busy and free from bickering and fighting. One idea I had was to immerse and educate the kids on some of the great movies from decades past. I searched through our options of streaming services, VHS tapes, DVDs & Blu-ray disks and so far this is what I have come up with.
The Karate Kid: Part III (1989)
Yes, I know this is probably the most hated of all the Karate Kid movies, but we have watched the first 2 so it only makes sense to finish the original trilogy. I'm sure my kids will love Daniel's slow turn to the dark side and the crazy overacting of Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry Silver.
Batman (1989)
My family just recently wrapped up watching all of the Spider-Man movies including the original trilogy, Amazing Spider-Man movies, Homecoming and Far From Home. It only makes sense to now move on to a marathon of Batman movies starting with the classic 1989 film starring Michael Keaton & Jack Nicholson.
The NeverEnding Story (1984)
My kids are just starting to become interested in movies that are not animated and that opens them up to all sorts of possibilities. I really believe they will enjoy the action and adventure in this movie. I know I did when I was their age.
Willow (1988)
Once again, like the NeverEnding Story this movie is filled with fun, adventure and action. Last week my kids and wife watched "The Lord of the Rings" and they really liked it. I think this movie will have the same effect on them, plus it's been a while since I have seen it and I can't wait to revisit the world of Willow Ufgood!
The Black Cauldron (1985)
I have never seen this movie! This is something I wish to rectify while we have the time at home. From what I have seen in the trailers, I may be more excited to watch this than the kids!
Well, those are the movies on the list for now. I am sure it will expand as we continue this lockdown from school. If you have any suggestions for a father of three kids under 10 years old, please shoot me a message or make a comment below. In the meantime, enjoy some movies and stay healthy!
The 80's & 90's were an amazing time to grow up! The freedom of being a kid, the delicious candies, the unbelievable action figures and of course the unforgettable cartoons. The majority of the toons on TV during this time were created to sell toys, foods and other awesome merchandise, but what do you do when the popularity of a franchise is wearing off? You introduce new characters and give them their own shows to create more toys, foods and merchandise. The shows listed below are some of my favorite spin-offs from some of the most iconic shows of my childhood. Let me know in the comments which ones you liked when you were a kid!
She-Ra: Princess of Power
The character She-Ra first appeared in the animated film "He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword in 1985". After this introduction to the world of the Masters of the Universe She-Ra was given her own cartoon series that lasted 2 seasons from 1985-1986 for a total of 93 episodes. She-Ra was created so the MOTU brand could reach the female toy buying demographic and it succeeded. Not only was the toy line and cartoon popular with girls, but boys also enjoyed the new troop of bad guys, The Horde led by the evil Hordak!
Extreme Ghostbusters
The premise of this series is pretty basic, after years of busting ghosts the Ghostbusters have seen little to no activity in the area. They all decide to go their separate ways, but Egon stays behind to monitor the containment unit, take care of Slimer and continue his studies while teaching a college course on the paranormal. So, when ghost activity picks up and Egon has no one to call for help, he recruits a team from his students. I really liked the new team of busters compiled of Kylie, Roland, Eduardo and Garrett. I thought their personalities and backgrounds really could have led to some interesting turns in the series, but unfortunately it only lasted one year in 1997 and ran a total of 40 episodes.
Pink Panther and Sons
I really liked this cartoon as a kid! So much so that I had Pink Panther and Sons bed sheets! The series focuses on the two sons of the original Pink Panther, Pinky & Panky. Panky is a toddler who was always getting into trouble and his older brother Pinky was the leader of the Rainbow Panthers Crew. This show had a close resemblance to Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, but with talking animals! Each episode contained a few Pink Panther shorts that would run before each Sons cartoon. The series had a pretty short run of 26 episodes and was on air from 1984-1985 on NBC before it switched networks to ABC in 1986.
Pinky and the Brain
Following the success of Tiny Toon adventures the show Animaniacs was launched in 1993 and ran until 1999. It was in this run of 99 episodes of zaniness that we were introduced to the lab rats turned would-be world dominators, Pinky and the Brain. As many of you know, the Brain is obsessed with taking over the world and each night he creates more and more elaborate plans to do so. When these plans almost reach their goal, somehow someway Pinky, the clumsy sidekick, finds a way to ruin it! During the 66 episode run from 1995-1998 this dynamic duo never completed their goal. I think maybe it's time to bring these guys back so they can finish what they started all those years ago.
Darkwing Duck
This one may be a little bit of a cheat, but technically this show did spin-off from the extremely popular DuckTales cartoon. It even shares a few characters including bumbling sidekick Launchpad McQuack and super hero Gizmoduck! This was one of my favorite cartoons at the time and we would go over to a friend's house to watch the episodes he recorded before we had to head to soccer practice. This series ran from 1991-1993 for a total of 91 acion packed episodes as we saw our hero Drake Mallard aka Darkwing Duck fight off the likes of Megavolt, Liquidator, Bushroot and Negaduck! This is an amazing series that I really don't think gets it's due as the other Disney Afternoon shows get. We took the kids to DisneyWorld a few years back and I was stunned at the lack of Darkwing Duck merchandise. Maybe that will change with his recent appearances in the new DuckTales reboot?
Every summer the wife and I take the kids to the Amusement Park Drive In theater to catch a flick. We usually only do this once a year, so the kids get really excited about it and have to pick the movie they want to see the most. This year they all decided on Toy Story 4! So away we went. The prices were reasonable at $7 per adult and $5 per kid.
We got there around 9 pm and that gave us enough time to get the back of the van set up with pillows, cushions and sleeping bags. We also went to grab snacks at the concession stand which is always a treat in itself!
The snack barn is literally a barn that has been converted to meet our movie time snacking needs and bathroom trips. I love the old school trash cans with the lions heads on the top. You know a place is classy if they have these!
Inside was pretty nice. They must have done some renovations recently, because I don't remember it being so clean. The prices were reasonable and the crew behind the counter was friendly and helpful. We ended up getting a few extra large popcorns for us to share and a Dr. Pepper for the wife.
The Snack Barn also had some cool looking old school ride machines like this Bozo The Clown School Bus...
and this AMAZING Kermit Muppet Babies car. Neither of them were working, but that didn't stop the kids from climbing in, having some laughs and taking some pictures. I really wish these were working. It's not often now that you find these machines outside of grocery stores or other retail outlets and I want my kids to be able to enjoy them to the fullest before they get too old like I used to.
Another cool but strange sight was this wall of old TVs and a rocking horse that lined the area where the bathrooms were. Odd definitely, awesome...absolutely!!!
This place is called The Amusement Park Drive In because of the rides that are housed on the lot. They have a spinning ride and a roller coaster. In all the years we have been coming here I don't think I have seen them running once. It must be a money thing or maybe an insurance thing? Still gives the place a nice ambiance though!
The movie finally started around 10:15 pm and ran until almost midnight. The kids really enjoyed Toy Story 4, but I had mixed feelings about it. Toy Story 3 did such a great job with wrapping up the series that I felt this one was a little unnecessary. It was good, but not great in my opinion. In defense though it had some high expectations to live up to based off the original trilogy. We had a great night at the drive in and I know we will be back again for more family fun!
This past weekend my wife and her female family members took part in a women's run downtown to celebrate Mother's Day. After the run it is traditional for the girls to grab some coffee and check out the stores. My wife texted me and asked if me and my son would like to join them when they went to the antique store. I asked the boy and he said yes! I enjoy going to these kinds of stores, because you'll never know what you're going to find. Most of the time the cool stuff that I like is way over priced, but it's cool to know it's out there if I really want it. below are some of the items we found this time around.
Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Disco Album: $3.95
I recently received a record player this past Christmas and since then I have been searching for some records to play on it. When I see a stack of vinyl. I'm gonna check it out! This stack had a few old country records and this Disney Disco classic. Very cool, but not exactly my kind of jams.
Kenner Return of the Jedi Coloring Book: $9.95
This coloring book really took me back! I had a bunch of these Star Wars books back in the day and love that classic look on the cover also I am a sucker for anything that pictures the Max Rebo band! I thought the price was a little high, so I passed this time around.
Pac-Man Mini Arcade Game: $89.99
If there was one item in the whole store that I could get regardless of the price, this one might be it! Pac-Man is one of my all-time favorite video games and these mini arcade games are jam packed with nostalgia for me. I got the Donkey Kong game for around $20 and I know these are tough to find, but I could not justify buying this for myself on Mother's Day. I guess Father's Day is only a few weeks away!
Star Wars Ewok Village, Death Star & Millennium Falcon: $135, $350 & $250
My head exploded when I saw these on top of a display case. I grabbed my wife to show her and picked up my kids so they could have a clear view of the toy greatness before them! This seller always has great toys in their booth, but this time he freakin' nailed it! I had the Ewok Village as a kid, so it holds a soft spot in my heart, but damn that Millennium Falcon in box looked AMAZING!!!!
Random Display of Action Figures: $5.99 - $19.99
This display was a glass case of emotion for me. It had some of the coolest toys I remember playing with as a kid. They had Doc Ock from Secret Wars, Superman from DC Super Powers, Dino Riders, Star Wars and G.I. Joe action figures. If that Doc Ock had any of it's tentacles left, I would have taken it home with me, but just like mine and thousands of other kids who owned this toy, his mechanical arms of doom had been ripped off. Dang!
Vintage Lunch Boxes: $12.99 each
I always stop and check out vintage lunch boxes when I see them on a shelf. Usually I will crack them open to check for a Thermos. 99.9% of the time the Thermos is missing. These boxes were reasonably priced, but had no Thermos. Since I was not attached to any of these, I passed. The lunch boxes I would grab in a minute would be Thundercats, The Real Ghostbusters and Super Mario Bros. Those were the ones that carried my lunches for years during that formative time in my life. If anyone has one of these lunch boxes hit me up, and let's see if we can make a deal!
This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...
DUCKTALES #0
DuckTales (woo-hoo) returns! Featuring beloved characters like Uncle Scroohge, Donald Duck, and Huey, Dewey, and Louie, this new #0 issue is the perfect jumping-on point for fans old and new in anticipation of the brand-new Disney XD TV series coming Summer 2017! Experience the wackiest, quackiest hijinks in two brand (Duck) Tales!
(W) Joe Caramagna (A) Gianfranco Florio, Paolo Campionoti, Andrea Greppi, Roberta Zanotta (CA) Marco Ghiglione
I work for an affiliate television station and just recently our art director of 34 years retired. It was tasked upon me to clean out his office to make room for a new employee. I was told to keep anything that might have some historical significance to the station. It almost took a week to clean up that office. 34 years is a long time to accrue stuff! Of course some things were not needed for the station, but had some value to me. Here is part 1 of what I dug up:
Newspaper ad layouts for Mr. Belvedere & Sledgehammer from the 1986/87 season
Mr. Belvedere was one of my favorite shows growing up. It seemed so adult at the time and having a kid around my age in the show gave me someone to relate to. Once I found out that Bob Uecker used to play Major League Baseball, my mind was blown! And that theme song...where do I begin! It has to be one of the greatest and catchiest of all time. The piano notes in the beginning alone give me goose bumps. Whatever happened to good ole Mr. Lynn Aloysius Belvedere? I imagine he is with some exotic diplomat, serving blue drinks with umbrellas on a beach with beautiful women right now.
The Cosby Show and Alf/Valerie's Family Ads
We all know what's going on with Mr. Jell-O Jiggler right now, but before all that he was the dad everyone secretly wanted. Delivering babies, reppin Temple University and making hoagies Philly style! This was, is and always will be one of the best shows on television. Not that I knew it at the time but between the laughter and lessons, The Cosby Show broke stereotypes and showed educated, high standing African Americans every week, killing all previous stereotypes and teaching a generation that no matter what race you are, you can achieve your goals and succeed. Did I go to far with this "The More You Know" moment?
The Disney Sunday Movie & Monday Night Football Logos
The Disney Sunday Movie was an opportunity for families to sit together and enjoy a program before a new week full of school, work and sports practices began. This series of films that ran from 1986 to 1988. I wish they would bring this back to ABC. I would watch it with my kids. Some of the standout films I remember recording on VHS and watching over and over and over where: Mr. Boogedy, Robin Hood and Fuzzbucket. Also, who could forget the intros to each movie with Michael Eisner and Mickey Mouse as the hosts?
Television/Radio Age Magazine (August 19th, 1985)
How could I not save this from the trash? I really liked the Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors toy line as a kid, but never really got into the show. Why can't they make theme songs like this anymore? Me and my brother would switch parts to our machines all the time and then argue about whose piece belong to who. Now that I think about it, it was kinda a pain in the ass! The Spider-Man ad on the back was also fun to see. What kid didn't love Spider-Man? This was around the time where Secret Wars was blowing up big time and everyone had at least one action figure to play with in the back yard. I'll get deeper into this magazine in a latter post to show you what's inside.
C-3PO & R2-D2 Coloring page
Found an old coloring book that must have been used as a giveaway at appearances for the station. Other pages included the Ewoks, Super Friends, Scooby-Doo and the Looney Tunes! Fun fact: The opening theme, "Trouble Again" was performed by Stewart Copeland of The Police!
I hope you enjoyed this look back on TV advertising from the 80s. Part 2 is coming soon.
