Fad Files

Business in the front, party in the back, glorious all over. It's a fun one to close out Season 2. On this episode, Adam and Erin discuss how ancient warriors sported the Kentucky Waterfall, the surprising recent history of the actual term "mullet", and the thrilling international scene of hairstyle competitions. Although, as a 12-year-old Australian might tell you... "It's...

We're pointing at our ears, and then giving you a big creepy smile. Art! In this episode, Erin tells Adam about the ancient origins of "the clown's silent cousin" (terrifying), Marcel Marceau's badass World War II heroics, and whether or not you have to "get it" to appreciate it. Select Sources: Mime.info and SeatUp articles on the history of Miming Marcel Marceau&#...

Ever been stuck with nothing good to wear to a party? Then ever quickly cut something out of felt, slap a patch on it, and have it become an international fashion sensation? In this episode, Erin tells Adam about the inspiring DIY history of poodle skirts, the Dior "New Look" femininity of it all, and the long-lasting impact of three little sassy dachshunds. Select Sources: Folkwear and...

Gee, gosh, and golly, Mister - get ready to take down the secret message for next week's exciting presentation of the Fad Files. Set your secret society pins to code O4! That's a O as in Ovaltine, 4 as in the number of times you should drink it per day. On this episode, Erin teaches Adam about the covert spy history behind these popular decoder toys, Little Orphan Annie's arms dealer o...

Who can resist that sexy triangle silhouette? On this episode, Adam teaches Erin about what "JNCO" actually stands for, corporate marketing teams once again deviously vying to capture "the youths", and the heyday of shopping malls. Select Sources: Mental Floss history of JNCO Jeans The Cut's The Rise and Fall of the JNCO Empire Todd Lyon's JNCO Jeans Commercial ⁠Youth r...

Ah, the classic American pastime of blowing stuff up. On this episode, Erin teaches Adam about the proper safety precautions for smashing two locomotives together, desert pop up towns, and the man, the myth, the legend: "Head-On Joe" Connolly. Select Sources: Columbus Dispatch Article⁠ Lancaster Eagle Gazette Article Smithsonian Article The Vintage News Article Atomic Accidents Hometown...

Oh look, another fad from the 1970s that was unnecessarily sexualized. On this episode Adam teaches Erin about the long-winded history of beds, before finally getting to when a guy got the bright idea to make one out of water. Select Sources: ⁠History of Beds - Tuft & Needle Waterbeds are Returning - Seattle Times

Nothing's sexier than a steaming pot full of melted cheese. On this episode, Erin teaches Adam about why you should never drop the bread, the dreaded Swiss Cheese Mafia, and a dairy-and-ski-fueled 1970s swinging culture. Bow-chicka-wow-wow. Select Sources: Ilana Gordon's amazing article on fondue in the Takeout Did someone call for the Cheese Professor? Is Fondue a Sex Thing? Spruce Eat&#3...

So... they don't actually look like monkeys. But there is an even greater disappointment lurking in the history of these aquatic pets that is guaranteed to ruin your childhood. On this episode, Adam teaches Erin about some lovable brine shrimp and their problematic "father". Select Sources: Brief History of Sea-Monkeys (Mental Floss) Sea-monkeys.com Hitler and the Sea-Monkeys (SPLC)

(Mostly) gone, but not forgotten. The Palm Pilot solitaired, so that the iPhones and Androids could... fully take over our lives. Simpler times. On this episode, Erin teaches Adam all about the transitionary tech that was Personal Digital Assistants, while Adam works through his childhood trauma of being bullied for having a Palm Pilot in the 8th grade. Select Sources: PC Mag: The Golden Age of PD...

Listen to this episode and forward it to five friends in the next five minutes or... you know... else! Adam guides Erin through the ancient history of chain letters - and that one time they became a mini version of the stock market. We'll be taking a quick break after these first ten episodes to enjoy the holidays with family, catch up on research, and invest in a slightly improved audio setup...

Adam teaches Erin a thing or two about some of the best of men's fashion and the hippest of slang. However, there's so much more than padded shoulders, feathered caps, and slick watch chains to the history of Zoot Suits. Trigger warning: racialized violence, as it pertains to the infamous LA Zoot Suit Riots of 1943. Select Sources: The legendary Cab Calloway performing in a zoot suit LA Ti...

Head bang along as Erin teaches Adam about power ballads, teased hair, and the Velvet Underground of Glam Metal. But you're f-f-f-oolin yourself if you think this was an easy one (so much misogyny, so little time). Rock of Love fans, rejoice. Select Sources: T-Rex performance on Top of the Pops (birth of the glam aesthetic) Jobriath (first openly gay rock musician signed to a major label) Roll...

Adam and Erin reach for new heights and a quick fifteen minutes of fame as they explore the phenomenon of pole sitting - by way of a few Byzantine monks, Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, and a human cannonball... absorber. Our upstairs neighbors make an appearance. Select Sources: Oxford Cult of Saints Database: Life of *Symeon Stylites the Younger Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly (My Journal C...

Will Tommy win the surf competition? Will Sandy find true love? Will Adam and Erin give up on the counter-cultural lifestyle and accept the squares' definition of success? Select Sources: New Yorker article about scary teens from 1958: "Inventing the American Teenager: A Caste, A Culture, A Market” by Dwight McDonald" by Dwight McDonald A Brief History of American Teenagers (Saturday...

Can you believe the kids these days? They're dancing like turkeys - only the most seductive of animals! Adam and Erin try to keep their sinful toes from tapping as they dig into the scandalous Animal Dances of the Ragtime era. Select Sources: Vintage movie clip of couples dancing the Turkey Trot Professional dancers doing the Grizzly Bear Stanford article on Ragtime Dances with a photo of Iren...

On episode 4, Adam and Erin head out into the wild, open frontiers of hat history. Did they finally land on a name for the podcast this week? (Spoiler: They did!) Select Sources: Native American man wearing a traditional Raccoon Skin Cap Disney's Davy Crockett Show opening theme The Saga of Usher's raccoon skin cap FurHatWorld.com's Coyote Fur Mountain Man Hat... For Men

On episode 3, Adam and Erin weigh the pros and cons of Tamagotchi grind culture. Did they settle on an official name for the podcast? Still no. Select Sources: What's Your Story, Caleb Chung? (Magical Inventory of Furbies) Wired article on the legacy of Tamagotchi Atlantic Article: Why Doesn't Every American Have a Robot Dog? 1986 LA Times piece on weird new microchip toys Creepy Furby Hac...

She's witty! She's charming! She perpetuates an unrealistic beauty standard! In episode 2, Adam and Erin ogle at the Gibson Girl. Will this be the week they finalize the name of the podcast? No. Select Sources: The "New Woman" Revised: Painting and Gender Politics on Fourteenth Street by Ellen Wiley Todd Library of Congress collection of Gibson Girl images Very sexy army transmit...

On the inaugural episode of the Fad Files, Adam and Erin comb through the soft, sensual history of shag carpet. Select Sources: Rug Warehouse Nazmiyal Antique Rugs Retro Renovation Interview with Emily Morrow Curbed 2021 Florida Family Purchases Home Jayne Mansfield's Pink Palace Jackie O & Flokati Rugs