This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast

Happy Birthday, dear Patty, haaaappy birthday to you! Who's Patty, you ask? Why, Patty Hearst, of course! Today not only happens to be Ms. Hearst's birthday, it's also the 50th anniversary of the year she was kidnapped by, and then apparently joined with, a far left domestic terrorist organization. How did that all go down? Guess you'll have to listen to find out... Rob teaches Ray and Daniel abou...

Roses are red, violets are blue, we all worship Liza and so should you. Because who is more iconic than the woman who gave us the Cabaret movie, Linda in “Arthur,” and Lucille 2 in Arrested Development? So in celebration of the marvelous Mrs. Minnelli, here’s our episode on Liza’s stint as a host on the Home Shopping Network. ~~~ We here at “This Was A Thing” LOVE Ms. Liza May Minnelli! March 12th...

Post-credits scenes are so common nowadays, it’s almost a surprise when there  isn’t  a clip teasing a sequel, or an extended universe, or the next Super Mario Bros. Movie. But cliffhangers are something special. They can entice an audience to feel the irresistable urge to watch a movie or tune into an episode just to see that lingering question answered. And nobody did it better than on...

Come and hear those dancin’ feet as we put on our flapper dresses and Charleston back in time to one of our classic episodes from Season 1: Dance Marathons. Enjoy! ~~~ Get out your tap shoes, Francis, we are going dancing tonight....and tomorrow....and for the next five months! This week we look at the swinging and sadistic world of 1930s Dance Marathons which were ways for Depression Era American...

Tina Turner, Brian Wilson, Cher - most people know those names of the iconic stars whose music defined a generation and continue to be chart-toppers. Basically, they wrote bops. But did you know that those artists probably wouldn’t have written said bops if not for a core group of session musicians who played an instrumental role (the pun was necessary, we promise) in rock and roll sound? Ray teac...

If winter’s got you down and you’re in need of some extra pizzazz to get you through the day, we’ve got just the medicine: our classic episode on the “The Super Bowl Shuffle.” Once you add this chart-topping tune to your playlist, we guarantee you’ll be bopping all the way to your weekly Fred Silverman fan club meeting (we’ll see you there). Enjoy! ~~~ There hasn’t been anything quite like “The Su...

You know that phrase, “All’s fair in love and war”? Even though “politics” isn’t on that list, nowadays I’m sure seems like it could be. The smear campaigns, the attack ads - sometimes it just feels like politician care more about making their opponents look bad rather that actually talking about their own policies and strengths (wait a second…). And even though these kind of tactics have probably...

In solidarity with the brave souls who've resolved to make 2024 a year of health and wellness, we're playing our in the fitness sphere and leading by example by doing the strenuous, backbreaking work...of publishing a podcast. But if that's too intense for you, don't worry - Suzanne Somers is here in this Classic episode from Season 1 to help you get more toned and trim than you could have ever im...

Happy holidays, listeners! We’ve got a delectable episode for you today, featuring a toy that has been a household staple for more than 60 years and is still going strong. In fact, it would be just the thing if you’re looking for some help with holiday baking, as long as you don’t mind your baked goods being on the miniature side…and possibly losing a finger or two in the process…  Daniel tea...

Alas, holiday sickness has descended upon us here at  This Was A Thing , which means we’ve needed to put some of our episode plans on hold - but never fear! We’ve picked a delicious classic episode for you fresh off the Vine. And even though it’s not six seconds, we think you’ll like this trip down viral video lane. Enjoy! ~~ Can you put together a meaningful thought or idea in six seconds or...

Since 2023 is coming to a close in a few weeks, we're bringing back an episode all about the near-catastrophe (or was it?) of Y2K. And because we care about you, this episode can also be a helpful reminder: don't accidentally set up their digital infrastructure on a system that might cause the downfall of a country. Enjoy! ~~~ In honor of the 2022 New Year,  This Was A Thing  is making s...

Happy Belated Thanksgiving, dear listeners! It’s a time of gratitude (and delicious food), and when it comes to things in our lives we’re grateful for, one thought comes to mind immediately. No, Rob, not the seven perfect seasons of “The Golden Girls,” although Bea Arthur is always the right answer. It’s the fact that we can order whatever our hearts desire and have it delivered in two days or les...

Cyber Monday and Black Friday: the essential American holidays of buying stuff we don't need but really want. Maybe you got yourself something nice (Ray made sure to get his eighth copy of "Liza With a Z", and Daniel bought enough ice cream pints to stay stocked for at least another three months), or maybe you picked up a gift for a friend or loved one, you thoughtful, kind soul. Whatever you did...

We’re idealists here at  This Was A Thing , and what’s more idealistic than the American Dream? And if there’s one person who personifies that embodies that dream to a tee, it’s this week’s subject. A man who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, as well as by the wheelchair handles of his much older spouse, and who went to extraordinary lengths to secure his legacy: becoming one of the mo...

It’s that happy, happy time again - voting season! Since many of us hit the polls last week to do the whole democracy thing, we figured it’s a perfect time to re-air one of our earliest political episodes when the American political system encountered a crisis of epic proportions. Good to know things have changed, right? Enjoy! ~~~ You are a new country. You have a constitution. If anything goes w...

We're back, baby! Since it was just Halloween, and we've all been gorging ourselves on sweet treats, we've probably also experienced the inevitable crash that comes after a huge sugar high. And it just so happens that the aftereffects of eating too much junk food is exactly the topic of today's episode, because that's the defense that lawyer settled on in one of the most notorious crimes of the 19...

Hang up the fake cobwebs and throw on a witch’s hat - the spookiest day of the year is here! Everyone’s got some skeletons in a closet, and there’s no better day to proudly display those skeletons than Halloween. So we’re giving the Frankenstein treatment to one of our favorite episodes and republishing our deep dive into the wonderfully wacky hour of TV that was the Paul Lynde Halloween Special....

Ah, autumn - a season of change, of sipping a piping hot PSL, and of people starting to play Christmas music way too early (seriously, Halloween is still weeks away). It’s also when the MLB World Series captivates baseball lovers across the nation. So to celebrate the start of the national pastime’s premier event, and as a nod to spooky season, we’re republishing our episode on the 1919 World Seri...

Whether it’s Agatha Christie or  Only Murders  (#bloodymabel), murder and mystery always seem to fascinate the public. So in recognition of that fascination, and in remembrance of a cultural icon, we’re republishing our episode on Lana Turner’s trial for the murder of Johnny Stompanato and revisiting a scandal that turned Tinsel Town on its head… ~~~ In the 1950’s, Lana Turner was one of...

Some child actors seem like they’re just born to be stars (we’ve all watched that one kid’s audition video for E.T., and if you haven’t, put that in the queue for the weekend). But way back before we got movies like  The Goonies , producer Hal Roach had already revolutionized cinema’s approach to incorporating kids in the motion pictures. Instead of just having them be set dressing, or using...

If you’ve listened to some of our previous episodes, you know we love a TV variety show here at “This Was a Thing.” So to celebrate a truly iconic version of that now-defunct performance format, we’re republishing our episode on “The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.” It’s got it all - singing, dancing, American Flags, fake Jan. What’s not to love? And stay tuned for new episodes coming soon! ~~~ The Brad...

You know a company’s made it big when its name or brand makes it into everyday vocabulary, and history’s full of great examples. We Google things, we use Kleenex, and how would we cover our boo-boos without Band-Aids? And one camera company’s name became synonomous with capturing a perfect memory - a perfect  moment , you might say - so it could be preserved forever. Unfortunately (and ironic...

We’re celebrating Labor Day this week by republishing a classic episode from last year all about the television event that became synonymous with not only this holiday, but also its enigmatic (and problematic) host - Mr. Jerry Lewis. Enjoy! --- It’s that time of year again - Labor Day Weekend. And we all know the two most important things about that day: it’s the final chance to wear white clothin...

You know what really makes people want something? Tell them they can’t have it. If your goal is to cast some reverse psychology incantation, you’re golden! But in the 1980s, when a group of concerned parents with close political affiliations (read: married to politicians) wanted musicians to put content warnings on their albums, reverse psychology was not intended. Instead, we got a big ol’ battle...

If you’re like most people, you’ll want to find a job you’re pretty good at, you enjoy, doesn’t require a huge amount of work, and also makes you a decent living. And it’s a nice bonus if other people think we’re decent at it, too. As it happens, a tall red-haired comedy writer and performer found that perfect niche for himself: hosting late night TV. But when behind-the-scenes tensions rose and c...