History of the 90s

It's been 30 years since a back pack bomb rocked the Summer Olympics in Atlanta killing one person and injuring over 100 others.  The bomb had been left under a bench in the middle of Centennial Olympic Park on the eighth day of the games. Security Guard Richard Jewell discovered the bomb and helped to start clear the area before it went off. Jewel was hailed a hero until he became the number...

This year marks 30 years since the groundbreaking rock opera Rent opened on Broadway and revolutionized American musical theatre. In this episode of History of the 90s host Kathy Kenzora is joined by Rent's longtime musical director Tim Weil to trace Jonathon Larson’s long journey to create a musical that celebrated the lives of marginalized young artists in New York's East Village. Guest Info: Ti...

The 1990s is considered by many to be the golden age of sneaker culture and there was one catalogue sneakerheads could not get enough of. The Eastbay Catalogue was a portal into an exclusive community no matter where you lived in the world. In this episode of History of the 90s host Kathy Kenzora talks to the founders of the mail order publication that is remembered as the sneakerhead bible. Guest...

Presenting an episode of American Criminal, a podcast that takes a deep dive into the stories of America’s most fascinating, devious and shocking criminals. The show is currently running a special five part season on Eric Rudolph. He’s the guy who planted a bomb at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and you may not know this but he also bombed an abortion clinic and a couple of gay bars before hiding out i...

In April 1996, a gunman killed 35 people in what was and still is Australia's worst mass shooting. The attack by Martin Bryant devasted the nation and inspired the government to quickly enact tough new gun laws that have been a model for other countries ever since. Guest info: Claire Braund, in 1996 she was a reporter for The Examiner Newspaper in Tasmania. Today she is the Executive Director of W...

This year marks 30 years since Backstreet Boys released their debut album and kicked off the '90s boy band craze. In this episode of History of the 90s , originally broadcast in 2020, we look back at the rise of boy bands, from screaming fans and synchronized dance moves to the fierce rivalry between Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. Documentaries referenced in this episode: Backstreet Boys: Show ‘Em Wh...

If you were a kid, a young teen or even a parent in the early 1990s there’s a pretty good chance you spent most Friday nights sitting in front of the TV watching a two-hour block of programing that included some of the most iconic family friendly comedies of the era. In this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora looks back at ABC’s blockbuster Friday night line up. From Full House and...

In November 1999, a 5-year-old Cuban boy was found clinging to an innertube in the waters off the coast of Florida after surviving a tragic boat journey that took the life of his mother and ten others.    Elian Gonzalez and his mother were among tens of thousands of people who attempted to escape Cuba on small rafts and boats during the 1990s. In this episode of History of the 90s we look back at...

It’s been 30 years since FBI agents finally captured the man who mailed more than 16 bombs to unsuspecting victims in the US, killing 3 and injuring 23 others. For two decades officials searched for the elusive terrorist known as the Unabomber. His victims appeared random, his motives unclear and the only sighting of him resulted in a nowfamous composite drawing of a man in a hoodie with aviator s...

In the 1990s there was a new wave of improvisational rock groups known as jam bands. By far the biggest was the genre defying foursome Phish from Burlington, Vermont. In this episode of History of the 90s we look back at their rise from college band to a touring sensation capable of attracting tens of thousands of obsessed fans to far flung locations. This is the story of Phish and the 90s jam ban...

In July 1991 President George HW Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to the US Supreme Court. Initial reaction to the nomination suggested there would be a contentious Senate confirmation battle that would probe Thomas’s conservative views on issues such as abortion and affirmative action.  But there was no real concern that Bush’s pick might not be approved. That is until one woman’s testimony threate...

Snowboarding exploded in popularity during the 1990s, but its road to legitimacy was anything but smooth. On this episode of History of the 90s, Kathy Kenzora traces the rebellious roots of snowboarding, from outlaw status at ski hills to its mainstream breakthrough and eventual Olympic debut. Joining the show is Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati, who made history at the 1998 Nagano Games by wi...

In one of the most shocking scandals in sports history, figure skating collided with true crime. This episode dives into the bitter rivalry of Olympic skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding , and the 1994 attack that stunned the world just weeks before the Winter Olympics. Kathy Kenzora unpacks what really happened, how the media shaped the narrative, and why this story still sparks debate more...

The 90s delivered iconic moments year after year and 1996 was no exception. It was a year marked by tragedy and triumph at the Atlanta Summer Olympics -- as well as high profile murders that continue to be surrounded by questions and conspiracy theories decades later.  In this episode of History of the 90s we pick up where we left off at the end of the last episode as we continue counting down ten...

Like every single year in the 90s, 1996 was jam packed with unforgettable events and cultural moments. It was an era when the world seemed smaller and slower because without social media, news stories lasted longer and dominated headlines for weeks and months as information came to us in dribs in drabs. In this episode of History of the 90s we are going to dig a little deeper into the stories that...

Whispers echo through the halls of this 1840 resort and not every footstep belongs to the living. The Briars Resort and Spa in Georgina, Ontario is a beautiful location for a Christmas getaway and a perfect place to savour what the season has to offer. It is also a fabulous go-to destination if you wish to experience unexplained phenomena or to perhaps see a ghost or two. Support the Show: Donate...

The 1990s were loaded with great holiday movies. From "Home Alone" to "A Nightmare before Christmas" there was something for everyone. In this episode of History of the 90s we look back at five Christmas classics that have stood the test of time. Show Info:  Instagram:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email:   ⁠1995podcast@gmail.com⁠ Tik Tok:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠@historyof...

In the early 1990s David Duke became one of the most famous racists in the United States. After winning a seat in the Louisiana House of Representatives the former leader of the KKK, mounted multiple political campaigns seeking higher office, including President of the United States. His rising popularity revealed a growing racial divide in the United States. In this episode of History of the 90s...

After winning the World Series in 1992 Blue Jays GM Pat Gillick did another major overhaul of the Toronto baseball team in an effort to win the Commissioner's Trophy for a second year in a row. In this episode of History of the 90s we continue looking back at Canada's baseball team with Part Two of The Toronto Blue Jays. Show Info:  Instagram:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email:   ⁠1995p...

In the early 1990s the Toronto Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series with legendary players like Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar and John Olerud. Over the next two episodes of History of the 90s we look back at the first Canadian team to win the Major League Baseball championship. Show Info:  Instagram:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email:   ⁠1995podcast@gmail.com⁠ Tik Tok:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠90sp...

Taj Khyber Rowland knows he’s not who people think he is but he can’t quite remember how his life went so off course. He decides to spool backwards, to his younger self. A daredevil seven year old Chellamuthu, living happily, but in abject poverty, with his large family in rural India. But when Chellamuthu disobeys his mother and goes to play at the bus station, he’s persuaded to board a bus with...

If you were around in the 90s it may have felt like the Y2kcomputer problem came out of nowhere.  But in fact it was something that programmers were always aware of. In this episode of History of the 90s we’re looking back at the steps taken to make sure a problem with the world’s computers didn’t wreak havoc on society on January 1,  2000. And depending on who you talk to it was either a major su...

In 1995 a small community in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley was rocked by the brutal attack on two teenage girls by a mysterious man armed with a bat.  Misty Cockerill escaped but her friend Tanya Smith was found dead the next morning in a nearby river.  Over the next seven months the killer led police on a wild game of cat and mouse as he taunted them with phone calls and other disturbing messa...

Released in 1994 and directed by Alex Proyas, The Crow is more than just a revenge tale. It’s a journey through grief, justice, and the supernatural. Based on James O’Barr’s graphic novel, the film tells the tragic story of Eric Draven and Shelly Webster who are murdered by a Detroit gang. A year later Eric is resurrected from his grave to avenge their deaths and soothe the guilt he feels for fail...

This year marks 35 years since Vanilla Ice released a song that, whether you like or not, had a huge impact on rap music To mark the occasion we are revisiting an episode of History of the 90s that dives into the lore of Ice Ice Baby. Including a famous story that involves Vanilla Ice being dangled from a balcony by a certain rap mogul. Watch Vanilla Ice at the 1991 American Music Awards: https://...