Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast – Pop Culture Retrorama: Recent Episodes
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Friends, we have a very special episode for all three of the podcasts, a bonus episode as it were, that is meant to act as not only my official announcement but explanation for why I am retiring. I hope you will understand that for the past 12 years that I have been fortunate enough to be considered a blogger, writer, and podcaster…I have realized recently that I am very tired. I need more however than just a break or vacation from writing daily articles and producing podcasts – I truly need to step away from the laptop and microphone – it is the appropriate time to look back at what I, as well as my fellow Pop Culture Retrorama colleagues have accomplished.
As I state on the podcast itself, I am very proud of what Allison Venezio-Preston, Ashley Thomas, Rockford Jay, Earl Green, Brett Weiss, IseeRobots, Javier Ojst, Rob O’Hara, and Gary Burton have accomplished with this site. And while I will soon shutter the Pop Culture Retrorama site and step away from writing in general, I am extremely happy to announce that Earl Green has generously offered to host not only the content on this site – but any future articles that the Pop Culture Retrorama colleagues might decide to write – on theLogBook.com. So, while I am slipping into the shadows, Pop Culture Retrorama will most assuredly live on.
I do hope that those of you who have been so kind as to visit this page, or even remember my work on the Retroist, understand that I did not come to the decision to retire lightly. Having said that, it feels like this is right path to take, thanks in no small part to my new career.
Many thanks to all of you. You have made something that I originally tackled as a hobby feel far more important, giving me a desire to write over 6000 articles and produce over 300 podcasts in the past 11 -12 years. I am grateful for your time and support, but more importantly your friendship.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
“Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!”
Feel free to keep in touch with me on Facebook or even Twitter. Or perhaps check out the Saturday Frights Facebook Page, and Diary of an Arcade Employee!
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This bonus episode for the Pop Culture Retrorama, Saturday Frights, and Diary of An Arcade Employee podcast - serves as an announcement and explanation for why I am retiring.
But it is not the end of the Pop Culture Retrorama site - as you will soon learn.
Friends, the Holidays are upon us once again and my fellow Pop Culture Retrorama contributors felt that it was the perfect time to get together and put out a second Holiday Special. As I mention on the show itself, if 2020 had not thrown a monkey wrench into my podcasting plans, this second Holiday Special would have in fact been the start of the second season of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast. At the very least we hope that this new episode of PCR will help a little in getting you into the Holiday Spirit – I am not ashamed to admit that being joined by Allison, Ashley, Earl, and Rockford – sharing thoughts and memories of some of our own favorite television Holiday Specials has really brightened my own Holidays. For what it might be worth, I start off the podcast with some information on the beloved Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town – which just ten days ago celebrated it’s 50th anniversary!
In addition on this second Holiday Special we have Allison Venezio-Preston, who talks about a memorable episode of The Hogan Family – surprisingly for a sitcom of the time – it was the only Holiday themed episode.
Earl Green joins us once again to discuss the recently released The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special – as well as giving you a glimpse at just how very much he appreciates Porgs!
Ashley Thomas aka The Nerdy Blogger of Fangirlish – talks about her love of A Disney Channel Christmas!!!! – which originally was broadcast back in 1983. This is a special that I am very sad to say that I missed, as we were not lucky enough to have The Disney Channel at that time.
Last but certainly not least is the esteemed Rockford Jay – considering he helps keep a lid on the madness over at the Haunted Drive-In, it might not shock you to learn that he has decided to discuss a classic episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker. One that just so happens to take place during the Holidays… and features a Werewolf on a cruise ship!
Grab your favorite Holiday snack and beverage and join us for the second Holiday Special of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast. And from all of us here at PCR – we wish you one and all – a very safe and happy Holidays!
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode – or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com You can also contact me on Twitter and on Facebook. In addition I certainly hope you will take the time to visit the Saturday Frights Facebook Page. There you can find posts from Rockford Jay, Preston Griffith and myself on a daily basis.
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This new episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast is our second Halloween show - and serves as a bonus episode to the Saturday Frights podcast - as Rockford, Allison, Ashley, Earl, and myself talk about various TV shows with a Halloween vibe.
Friends, as Halloween is nearly upon us, my fellow PCR contributors felt that it might not be such a bad idea to get together and produce our second Halloween Special for the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast. As the Projectionist and myself had no plans for such a special for the Saturday Frights podcast – this sounded like an excellent idea. Besides giving those of us on the site an opportunity to help you get into the spirit of the Season – this second Holiday Special when all is said and done focuses on a lot of spooky and Halloween themed television shows and specials. For example, Rockford Jay not only shares his memories of a time that his Family threw an impressive Halloween party – but catching Trick or Treat – the pilot episode for the Tales from the Darkside series.
In addition on this second Halloween Special we have Ashley Thomas aka The Nerdy Blogger of Fangirlish – who shares her love for the 1993 animated adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s The Halloween Tree. A Holiday treat that I have shared my love for many times in the past.
Allison Venezio-Preston joins us once again, this time to talk about an episode of Quantum Leap, one that surprisingly wasn’t released in time for Halloween back in the day. But after hearing her segment, I think you will agree that it is a perfect episode to watch during the Season.
Earl Green shares his thoughts on the recently released Doctor Who: Fury From the Deep – a formerly lost episode during the Patrick Troughton era of the television show. A story that involves the Doctor and his companions getting mixed up in an investigation of an odd sort of seaweed – one capable of both mind control and even poisoning it’s victims.
As for myself, I talk a little about Walt Disney’s The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, the 1963 adaptation featuring Patrick McGoohan (The Prisoner) as the Reverend Dr. Christopher Syn aka the Scarecrow. The character who first appeared in the 1915 book entitled Dr. Syn: A Tale of Romney Marsh by Russell Thorndike.
While the official release of the second season of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast is still a month or so away – we hope you are enjoying the new direction of the show so far. Without further ado, have a safe and Happy Halloween as you listen to our second Halloween Special.
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode – or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com You can also contact me on Twitter and on Facebook. In addition I certainly hope you will take the time to visit the Saturday Frights Facebook Page. There you can find posts from Rockford Jay, Preston Griffith and myself on a daily basis.
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For this new episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast - not only do I talk about 1978's Godzilla - but you get a taste of what the second season of the show will be like.
Friends, as the last episode of the first season for the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast was back in March – I am willing to bet that waking up to find a brand new episode was pretty low on your list of things to expect today. The reason for this new show as I mention in the podcast itself, is to not only remind folks that the show is still being produced – but to also give you a taste of the new direction the podcast is taking. I will still be doing in depth episodes on all manner of pop culture related subjects – case in point for this show – the animated Saturday Morning Godzilla series from 1978. However, for the second season of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast I will be joined by fellow writers from this site – all discussing their own subjects. For example, Rockford Jay shares some history on Queen’s memorable “Don’t Stop Me Now” – which just so happens to have been released in 1978.
Also joining us on this episode we have Ashley Thomas aka The Nerdy Blogger of Fangirlish – who shares the sad news that we have lost Norm Spencer – the voice of Cyclops from the X-Men animated series. Thomas provides her own memories of the talented Spencer but also provides some remembrances of those who worked with him – such as Cal Dodd (Wolverine) and Lenore Zann (Rogue).
Allison Venezio-Preston has decided to give everyone the lowdown on the updated Mall Madness board game – which includes new characters and stores – but still sounds like it is just as fun as the original 1989 game.
The esteemed Earl Green is also on this episode – taking time out of his busy schedule at The Log Book and writing for this site to discuss 1978’s Star Bird by Milton Bradley. A science fiction toy that I too coveted in my youth.
Bear in mind that the second season of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast will not start until we are finished with the current season of the Saturday Frights podcast. So we hope you will enjoy this sneak peek at how the new PCR show will presented in the near future.
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode -or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com You can also contact me on Twitter and on Facebook. In addition I certainly hope you will take the time to visit the Saturday Frights Facebook Page. There you can find posts from Rockford Jay, Preston Griffith and myself on a daily basis.
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Friends, with the end of March fast approaching I’ve found myself running out of time on producing the latest Pop Culture Retrorama podcast – which means in the end that it has been nearly two months since the last episode. Quite frankly with the way things have been going of late I haven’t quite felt I possessed the energy to do all of the research for the new show – that goes for both Diary of An Arcade Employee as well as the Saturday Frights podcast. So I thought I would sit down in front of the microphone and talk about the state of the shows and what has been weighing on my mind in regard to their direction and possible futures. Don’t worry, as I state in this bonus episode for all three podcasts (crosses fingers that it uploads to all three properly) – I’m not doing anything drastic like quitting writing or podcasting. This is just a situation where I can sit down and say “Hey, let’s talk about the podcasts”!
In addition I hope besides acting as an apology to all of you that have been loyal to the podcasts – you will understand the circumstances that have delayed the shows. As well perhaps as some new directions I might take – if you the listeners think that is prudent – with each podcast. As always with an episode I am honest with you – although in this case I hope in addition I been able to properly explain the situation I find myself in as a creator. Actually even though it is addressed in this bonus episode, if you possibly have thought about becoming a writer and might like to share your personal memories and experiences on pop culture or retro related subjects – throw me a line at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com!
All right then, I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to this Let’s talk about the podcasts episode – to say nothing of your support and understanding in the matter of tardiness of said shows.
You can also contact me on Facebook or even Twitter. Or perhaps check out the Saturday Frights Facebook Page, Diary of an Arcade Employee, and Pop Culture Retrorama Facebook page?
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Friends, Let's Talk About The Podcasts Bonus Episode concerns all three shows I produce.
For this first episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast of 2020 – we are taking a trip back to 1987 to discuss Hasbro’s Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light toy line. An action figure series that managed to combine both a science fiction and fantasy setting with a line of medieval action figures who were sporting holographic stickers. As I explain in the episode itself by 1987 3D hologram stickers were quite in fashion – giving kids and fans of pop culture the ability to slap holographic images of their favorite Autobots and Decepticons or members of The A-Team on whatever they might wish. Although as I attempt to explain on this show – that popularity sadly did not extend itself to the Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light line of toy and vehicles.
Now I am obviously not saying that Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light was a bad toy line – quite the opposite – it was quite amazing, however it failed back in 1987 to find the audience that Hasbro was seeking. One other thing I feel I need to add is that compared to most of the shows I’ve done for the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast – this was one a beast to research. With the Visionaries not finding success it was like pulling teeth to find any real information on who was responsible for the creation of the toy line – as well as those stunning 3D holograms used on the toys and vehicles themselves. Thankfully I stumbled upon The Visionaries.Net – who gave me my first big piece of knowledge to work with. As promised in the episode I also must give thanks to Bot Talk.Com for a wonderful interview with one of the sculptors for said holograms – David Dann.
Also on this show I reveal that for 33 years I was under the impression that Marvel Comics had a hand in the creation of The Visionaries – much like they had with both G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and The Transformers. Turns out I’ve been quite wrong all these years… sort of… but in the show I share how Hasbro and Marvel Comics did become successful partners – a story shared by Jim Shooter with the Graphic NYC site.
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode – or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com You can also contact me on Facebook or even Twitter. Or perhaps check out the Pop Culture Retrorama Facebook page? There you can find posts a couple of times a day – featuring vintage commercials, comic book ads and toys.
The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
As always I have done my best to give you information on those behind the scenes who made the Visionaries a memorable brand – in particular with the excellent animated series. That includes letting you know the ridiculous amount of talent they had with the voice actors – such as Roscoe Lee Brown, Jonathan Harris, Jim Cumming, Neil Ross, Chris Latta, Peter Cullen, Susan Blu and more.
All right then, I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to the show – now come with me to the Planet Prysmos and learn of the Visonaries: Knights of the Magical Light!
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1987's Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light is the subject of this episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast!
Happy Holidays! For this episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast I am tackling 1977's A Cosmic Christmas.
While this latest episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast was indeed intended to be published on Christmas Eve, it just did not work out that way – having said that the message of the 1977 A Cosmic Christmas obviously is perfect for today. With the Holidays upon us it just felt right to tackle this particular television Holiday special that was produced by Nelvana Ltd. for the Canadian Broadcasting Company back in the day – although as I mention in the episode itself, I came to love it thanks to a local video store in the early ’80s. It was packaged with three additional Holiday TV specials that Nelvana had produced… it was a VHS tape that I was so attached to that my Father at one point refused to ever rent it for me again. As I attempt on every podcast – I shine a light on the creation of not only A Cosmic Christmas but in this case the founding of Nelvana – the extremely prolific Canadian animation studio. In addition I share with you a little history on the original three founders of the studio and the rather impressive projects they had a hand in. A Cosmic Christmas is an animated treat for the Holidays with a delightful and most assuredly different style of animation!
As a first fully animated half hour project for Nelvana – A Cosmic Christmas has a few rough spots but the amount of talent involved with the special shines through. Not the least of which includes having Sylvia Tyson providing the songs – she is probably best known for penning the incredibly catchy “You Were On My Mind” – a chart topping ditty covered by The We Five!
Video Provided by Classic Performances 2. I point this out on the show itself but for some reason A Cosmic Christmas is not available on DVD or Blu-Ray at this time but at the very least you can pick up a copy on Amazon Streaming. And for what it’s worth if you really want a deep dive into the history of Nelvana, you will want to put aside a little bit of time and read this 2001 article from Kidscreen – like with many groundbreaking ideas – it is kind of amazing just how much luck and self-confidence played into the company making it big.
The story for A Cosmic Christmas involves three alien visitors arriving on Earth in modern times – trying to find an answer to a question their people have been seeking for a very long time. The good news is thanks to Keep It Weird‘s YouTube Channel you can actually watch A Cosmic Christmas for yourself – although there are some slight edits to this version of the animated special.
Video Provided by Keep It Weird! If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode – or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com You can also contact me on Facebook or even Twitter. Or perhaps check out the Pop Culture Retrorama Facebook page? There you can find posts a couple of times a day – featuring vintage commercials, comic book ads and toys.
The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
As always thank you for taking the time to listen to the show – from all of us at Pop Culture Retrorama we wish you a very Happy Holiday!
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While it is most certainly a couple of days after Thanksgiving I felt I should do my best to get a Pop Culture Retrorama podcast out today – a look at the top 5 Thanksgiving Specials that helped me through this month. If you are a fan of the Saturday Frights podcast you might have realized that sadly there was no new show for the month of November, in this Pop Culture Retrorama special episode I explain why that is. It is a very valid reason and as I mention in the show itself – this special today is in part an apology for not being able to get more podcasts out this month. As I also mention, not all of the specials are the kind we think of during this Holiday season – say like 1968’s The Mouse on the Mayflower – in fact some of the offerings on this top 5 list are just Thanksgiving themed television episodes. I do feel however after saying all of that you won’t be too shocked by what made my list of must-see Thanksgiving Specials.
Being a special podcast episode, this year’s Top 5 Thanksgiving Specials runs just a little shorter than a standard show. I have done my best to give you a brief synopsis for each entry on the list as well as bring along a few audio treats for your listening pleasure. In addition I fervently hope you will share your own must-see Thanksgiving Specials that you watched this Holiday season in the comments section below. Furthermore I hope there might be one or two on the list that you’ve not had the pleasure of catching before – maybe you can track them down while you are taking a break from shopping or throwing that big Thanksgiving get together.
As I always do I share my personal recollections and connections with each of the entries on the Top 5 Thanksgiving Specials list. I also take a moment at the end of this podcast to share a few of the things that I am extremely grateful for – which not to be a spoiler most assuredly includes you – for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to the show.
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode -or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com You can also contact me on Facebook or even Twitter. Or perhaps check out the Pop Culture Retrorama Facebook page? There you can find posts a couple of times a day – featuring vintage commercials, comic book ads and toys.
The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
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For this episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast - I take a look at the Top 5 Thanksgiving Specials I watched this Season.
As I made mention on the previous Pop Culture Retrorama podcast for 1980’s The Blues Brothers – I felt that since this was the month of October, there needed to be a special episode. Which is why I chose to talk a bit about the 1980 monster-themed Saturday morning animated series known as the Drak Pack. A show in which the teenage descendants of the likes of Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein’s Monster have teamed up to protect the World their forefathers menaced. As I touch upon in the podcast the Drak Pack was part of CBS’ line up for 1980 which actually included quite a few animated shows that I used to watch. Personally what stands out about the Drak Pack is the almost ridiculous amount of talent in regards to the actors who lent their voices for the characters. I want to add that since this is a Halloween Special – the format of this particular podcast is a little different than the standard show, for one thing it is not as long as the other Pop Culture Retrorama podcasts. Furthermore I felt there should be more examples of the voice work of that talent on the Drak Pack – perhaps you should think of this as a bonus episode.
As I point out on this show, the Drak Pack was a very short lived Hanna-Barbera animated series. Only 16 episodes were produced but I still find it to be quite fun – I do however give my theory on why the show wasn’t picked up for a second season. Unlike some of the other subjects I have tackled for the podcast there is not a whole lot of behind the scenes information to share with you. Although having said that there is one in particular I discovered about the Drak Pack that will probably surprise you as much as it did me.
As I always try to do on the Pop Culture Retroram shows, I share my personal connections to the subject matter – in this case how I first learned of the The Drak Pack and how it influenced me as a child. I hope you will enjoy this brief look at that 1980 animated series and perhaps it might cause you to seek it out for yourself – it is at least the perfect thing to check out on Halloween!
Speaking of things you should check out on Halloween – I mention a handful of podcasts that you will probably enjoy:
Anthony Rotolo’s TV Terror Podcast – focusing on made for TV horror films and series.
Post Mortem with Mick Garris – the Director, Writer, and Producer of many horror films as well as some made for TV fare always has interesting guests on his show – from the likes of Tony Todd to Stephen King. Be warned there is sometimes adult language from Mick’s guests so it might be considered NSFW.
The Retroist – one of the oldest and most well respected retro podcasts that you will find – his latest show is about 1987’s Werewolf.
The Horrified Chicken Podcast – featuring both Sean and Nicole Johnson who tackle all manner of horror films from all eras – the likes of Silver Bullet to Rob Zombie’s take on the Halloween franchise. It too has adult language and should be considered NSFW.
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode -or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com You can also contact me on Facebook or even Twitter. Or perhaps check out the Pop Culture Retrorama Facebook page? There you can find posts a couple of times a day – featuring vintage commercials, comic book ads and toys.
The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
Subscribe to the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast:
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For this Pop Culture Retrorama show - it is a Halloween Special - with 1980's the Drak Pack!
Friends, this particular Pop Culture Retrorama podcast is running a bit late to say the very least. The show today is all about 1980’s The Blues Brothers in addition to how the likes of Dan Aykroyd and the late and great John Belushi came up with the characters of Elwood and Jake Blues. In truth this show should have been out weeks ago but as I touch upon in the episode itself there was quite a bit of research to be done in addition to the fact there is a whole lot of stories that have been told about the making of this cult classic musical. That is what The Blues Brothers is by the way, sure there is comedy and some amazing car chases and a record breaking number of vehicle pile-ups – but at it’s heart this still amazing film is 100% a musical. If nothing else after listening to the podcast I hope I am able to help you see the light on that matter.
Thank you, Jake! For this podcast on The Blues Brothers I delve into the rather interesting backstory of how John and Dan met and became friends – it might surprise you how long the basic idea of the characters were gestating in the mind of Aykroyd. I also discuss some of the hurdles the duo had to overcome before getting the chance to bring Jake and Elwood to the big screen – as mentioned in the show some of the mind-boggling troubles with the production of the film itself was revealed thanks to an amazing 2012 article I found from Vanity Fair by Ned Zeman. If you really want to learn about some of the more heavier aspects of 1980’s The Blues Brothers you owe it to yourself to read Zeman’s article.
As I always do with the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast – I have shared my personal connection to the subject matter. In this case when I first saw the film and my happy recollections of how my Father responded to the film’s humor. In addition I have provided a few brief clips from the film itself and even a little bit of audio goodness by way of the Blues Brothers band.
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode -or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com You can also contact me on Facebook or even Twitter. Or perhaps check out the Pop Culture Retrorama Facebook page? There you can find posts a couple of times a day – featuring vintage commercials, comic book ads and toys.
The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
I want to thank you as always for taking the time to listen to the show – I would like to ask that if you do enjoy the podcast, help to spread the word to those you know who appreciate pop culture. I hope you will enjoy my discussion of The Blues Brothers! Subscribe to the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast:
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Friends, this is a very special episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast – not only am I discussing 1954’s I Am Legend but once again I have been graciously invited to take part in the Super-Blog Team Up. That gathering of like-minded individuals who blog or produce podcasts that focus on various subjects of pop culture. As always there is a central theme that ties all of the Super-Blog Team Up articles and shows together – this time the subject is Immortal – which immediately made me think of vampires. Personally I believe there is no better piece of vampire and post-apocalyptic literature than Richard Matheson’s 1954 masterpiece – I Am Legend. A horrific look at one man’s survival that is equally terrifying and at the same time a thrilling sci-fi/horror offering. One that Hollywood has since it’s publication attempted to adapt into big screen motion pictures – starring the likes of Vincent Price, Charlton Heston, and back in 2007 there was I Am Legend starring Will Smith. As I point out in the show itself though for my money I prefer Price’s 1964 version – The Last Man on Earth.
For I Am Legend I do my best to provide a mostly non-spoiler overview of Matheson’s book – hitting on some of the highlights of the novel and even providing some excerpts from the novel. I also briefly touch upon the life and career of Richard Matheson, especially in regards to his membership in that writer’s group known as the Southern California Sorcerers – a membership that included the likes of Ray Bradbury among others. As I point out in the podcast – there is an absolutely exceptional article about that really special group of fellow writers and friends that I found on the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation page.
And while the majority of the show is most certainly devoted to Matheson’s I Am Legend, I couldn’t help but add a few interesting tidbits on the movie adaptations – including what Charlton Heston of The Omega Man though about the 1964 film.
1971 TV trailer courtesy of Robatsea2009 If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode -or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSage@Retroist.com. You can also contact me on Twitter and on Facebook. In addition I certainly hope you will take the time to visit the Saturday Frights Facebook Page. There you can find posts from Rockford Jay, Preston Griffith and myself on a daily basis.
The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
So thank you as always for taking time out of your busy schedule to listen to the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast and I hope you enjoy I Am Legend! Subscribe to the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast:
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As I am a member of the Super-Blog Team Up – the fun continues on: The Superhero Satellite: IMMORTAL Peter LOVES Mary Jane (One More Day)
Between The Pages Blog: Big Finish – Doctor Who’s Finest Regeneration
The Unspoken Decade: Opposites Attract – Archer & Armstrong
Comic Reviews By Walt: TMNT and Highlander
Comics Comics Comics Blog: Dr. Fate
Chris Is On Infinite Earths: Podcast Episode 26 – Resurrection Man 1997 & 2011
The Source Material Comics Podcast: Vampirella “Roses For The Dead”
Radulich Broadcasting Network: TV PARTY TONIGHT – Jupiter Ascending commentary
Magazines and Monsters: Podcast episode – Kang/Immortus: Avengers-Kang: Time and Time Again TPB (Avengers 69-71)
Dave’s Comic Heroes Blog: Multi-Man
In My Not So Humble Opinion : It Came from the 1990s – Ivar the Timewalker
The Daily Rios: Arion the Immortal (1992 Mini-Series)
Black, White and Bronze: What Price Immortality? A Review of Red Nails
DC in the 80s: Young Animal’s Bug
For this seventh episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast we are taking a look at an incredibly popular animated series – The New Scooby-Doo Movies! That long running show from Hanna-Barbera that was originally broadcast on CBS on September 9th of 1972 and managed to be seen on Saturday Mornings until 1976. As I point out in the podcast itself, the big difference between the first Scooby-Doo series, which was Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? and The New Scooby-Doo Movies is the fact that there were guest stars featured on the show – such as The Harlem Globetrotters, The Three Stooges, Speed Buggy, and many more!
Since I am tackling such an iconic series with the discussion of The New Scooby-Doo Movies I have made sure to devote a little of the show to the creation of Scooby-Doo franchise itself. I can assure you there is some rather interesting history involved with the likes of Hanna-Barbera bringing the show to television. I talk about the animated series creators – Joe Ruby and Ken Spears as well as another important factor in the show’s success, character designer Iwao Takamoto. An animator, character designer and film Director that not only had great success at the Hanna-Barbera studios but actually got his start in the industry at Walt Disney! In fact thanks to this YouTube video from Tristincole you can watch Takamoto whip up a drawing of none other than Fred Flintstone!
Video courtesy of Tristincoe. With this show I give a brief rundown of all of the celebrities featured in the 24 episodes of The New Scooby-Doo Movies – including some celebrities that you might not have known had a hand in Saturday Morning Cartoons. Not to give it all away but did you know that Scooby-Doo and other animated shows of the time have connections to Taxi Driver, The Shining, One Day At A Time, and even Caddyshack?
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For the sixth episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast we are presenting the first of our Summer Specials. Like the special guests upon our show today – I am more than positive you too have some favorite memories that involve Summer. I am just as positive that some of them will mirror those recollections of our guests for this Summer Special 1 podcast – or at least close enough you’ll be able to identify with the guest and the stories they’ve chosen to tell. From visiting the local arcade to recalling a scenic vacation spot of your youth, this Summer Special 1 has it all and we hope you will enjoy this latest episode.
Someone tell Bobcat that the Summer Special podcast finally went live!! On this Summer Special 1 episode I share my memory of the Summer of 1981 when I was able to first see Raiders of the Lost Ark – including the rather harrowing ordeal I went through at a local fair before seeing the movie.
Video Courtesy of Movieclips Classic Trailers Ashley Thomas was kind enough to share her memories of her favorite food during Summer as well as one of her favorite television shows at the time. Ashley as you probably already know was not only an Author on the Retroist but can be found on Facebook and Twitter as well as her own spot on the internet – The Nerdy Blogger!
I See Robots shares two memorable recollections of his youth during Summer, a hilarious anecdote involving his younger brother and the magic of seeing Nickelodeon for the first time. You probably are already listening to the many shows that I See Robots produces – you can check them out at I See Robots.Com
Our third guest is none other than Earl Green – not just a fellow writer here on the site but a kind soul who shares his favorite birthday from back in 1982. Earl has for the longest time provided all manner of pop culture podcasts, videos and books – which can be located at TheLogBook.Com
Last but certainly not least is Anthony Rotolo – who you might very well recognize from the exceptional TV Terror podcast. If you like the Saturday Frights Podcast – you owe it to yourself to be checking out Anthony’s own show – for one thing he frequently has some amazing guests on his podcast. You can check all of that out at the official TV Terror Podcast site!
Make sure to put on some sunscreen, grab your favorite beverage and join us on the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast for the Summer Special 1 If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode -or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSage@Retroist.com. You can also contact me on Twitter and on Facebook. As always the music at the beginning and ending of the Pop Culture Retroram Podcast was provided by Earl Green!
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For this fifth episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast I dive into the origins of one of the greatest pulp heroes of all time – The Shadow. A character that is certainly a true icon – featured in radio as well as novels and even comic books and film. In the show I give a broad overview of the The Shadow from a humble beginning as narrator for Street & Smith’s Detective Story Hour old time radio show to selling out on the newsstands thanks to the 282 pulp novels written by Walter B. Gibson. In addition I share in this podcast how I was first introduced to The Shadow as well as where I developed my love of old time radio.
Who knows what Evil lurks in the hearts of men… As always I do my best to share with you the elements of The Shadow that hooked me from my youth. Mainly the fact that many of the things I love about the character of Batman all began in 1931 when newspaperman Walter B. Gibson began to build the mythos for this avenging and dark agent of justice – such as having a dual identity – being wealthy and using various gadgets in his effort to wage war against criminals. Although in thee case of The Shadow as I point out in the show itself – his alter-ego is entirely a different person – at least that is how it went down in the original pulp novels. In addition I was able to find some facts about Gibson and the character I wasn’t aware – courtesy of the ShadowSanctum.Net!
I do touch upon the numerous creators that helped bring The Shadow to not just the printed page but on the airwaves – a radio series that ran for 17 years and featured the likes of Orson Welles for a brief time in the role of Lamont Cranston and the Shadow as well as Bewitched‘s Agnes Moorehead who played Margo Lane. I give a rundown of some of the differences from the pulp incarnation and the radio versions – and explain why when all is said and done I actually prefer the old time radio character of The Shadow.
Having said all of that I will admit that I managed to avoid going to much into the 1994 big screen adaptation for The Shadow – not because I didn’t care for the film but because I’ll probably devote an episode to it in the future.
Video courtesy of Taylor Daynes Vevo channel.
Now then, it is time to delve into the history of The Shadow… here on the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast!
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover
in a future episode -or possibly you have comments on the current show
itself, email them to me at VicSage@Retroist.com. You can also contact
me on Twitter and on Facebook. The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
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Episode Mirror #1 (MP3)
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On this latest episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast I tackle 1968’s The Banana Splits. That long running – at least in syndication – mix of live-action comedy skits with Hanna-Barbera animated shows that featured a charming cast of anthropomorphic musicians. In addition I attempt to explain how this classic and beloved television series was a key part of my youth – including sharing some of my memories of a certain Christmas where I received a Whitman coloring book.
Video courtesy of The House of Dracula – Monster Model Museum. On this show, I do my best to provide you with some of the important behind the scenes facts on how Joseph Hanna and William Barbera were able to bring the show to life – with a helping hand by none other than Sid and Marty Krofft. In fact it’s fair to say that without The Banana Splits we never would have seen the likes of Sigmund and the Sea Monsters or even Land of the Lost.
Sorry, Sleestak – that last statement is totally true! Surprisingly there is an amazing amount of legendary voice actors tied to The Banana Splits and I made a point on this show to give you a taste of the legacy of these actors – as well as peppering the show with some vintage audio treats for your listening pleasure. I even share my personal feelings on the upcoming horror reboot of The Banana Splits franchise… and while I will save final judgement until it’s actually released – I will tell you that I’m not too happy about what I have been hearing.
So without further ado, let us take a look at the fascinating history of The Banana Splits – here on the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast!
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover
in a future episode -or possibly you have comments on the current show
itself, email them to me at VicSage@Retroist.com. You can also contact
me on Twitter and on Facebook. The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
Subscribe to the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast:
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Friends, welcome to a new episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast – this time I will be discussing 1982’s epic sword and sorcery film Conan the Barbarian. The feature film that was directed by John Milius and helped to catapult Arnold Schwarzenegger into international fame as the film embodiment of Robert E. Howard’s most famous literary creation – Conan of Cimmeria. Just a heads up about this particular episode – there was a lot of info I felt needed to be shared so it runs a little longer than one of my standard podcasts. But it’s had to condense all of the fascinating facts and anecdotes that went into making Conan the Barbarian such a classic film. Before we dive straight into this show, here is something I am quite excited to share with you all, for this episode I was fortunate enough to be able to provide an advance copy to Arnold Schwarzenegger himself… who sent me back this message.
In this show I reveal just how long Conan the Barbarian took to reach the big screen – all the recognizable names behind the scenes that were at one time or another attached to the picture. In addition I made sure to give a little bit of backstory on the works of Robert E. Howard that were used in the 1982 big screen adaptation – such as Sandahl Bergman’s character of Valeria originating in the 1936 novella of Howard’s entitled Red Nails. I also used some facts taken from this excellent 2015 article from io9’s Abhimanyu Das – definitely a worthy read if you want even more behind the scenes information on how the Conan the Barbarian film came to be.
I’ve made sure to talk about the actors who made Conan the Barbarian stand out as well as Director John Milius – but I couldn’t tackle this particular film and not discuss the incredible music by Basil Poledouris. The master composer – who sadly passed away in 2006 was also responsible for the scores for such films as Robocop, The Hunt for the Red October, and Iron Eagle to name a few. While I didn’t mention it in this show I have to go on record as saying three of the scores he crafted rank in my top ten of all time.
Video courtesy of The Flep.
So come join us on the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast as we journey back to the days of high adventure and take a look at 1982’s Conan the Barbarian!
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Friends, welcome back to a new episode the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast, I apologize about this second show being a little late – but I was under the weather for a good amount of January. This show I focus on James Robinson, Tony Harris, and Peter Snejbjerg’s incredible Starman comic book series that originated back in 1994. If you’ve not had the pleasure of reading the comic – in a nutshell – Robinson manages to craft a story that beautifully connects and pays homage to the then 50+ year history of Starman characters that have been published by DC Comics.
In this episode I attempt to do my best to boil down the many elements that made Starman so stellar. It was not just from the power of Robinson’s writing because the series was certainly boosted by the artwork of Tony Harris (Ex Machina) and later on in the comic’s run, the illustrations provided by Peter Snejbjerg. The basic story of Starman focuses on the Knight Family – while Superman has Metropolis and Batman protects Gotham City – it is Opal City that the Knight’s call home. Ted Knight was the original hero to call himself Starman and managed to secure a place for himself at the table of the Justice Society of America alongside the likes of the Flash, Green Lantern, the Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite, Hourman, Hawkman, The Spectre, and the Atom to name a few members of that team of Golden Age heroes.
After the events of a DC Comics miniseries known as Zero Hour, Ted was forced into retirement and what occurs when his Son’s take up the mantle – is the main story for James Robinson’s Starman. It is however so very much more, Robinson’s writing on the series was definitely different than your standard comic book back in the early ’90s. Managing to make the comic about not just the legacy of the Golden Age heroes of the DC universe but making a statement about Family, Love, and even taking responsibility for yourself and others.
This was a hard episode to nail down, in fact I feel it was the toughest show I’ve ever managed to produce. Trying to take a comic book series that ran seven years and give enough information about it – about the comics that came before it and inspired Robinson – and NOT dip into major spoilers was hard for me. Hopefully by the end of this show you’ll want to seek out Starman and add it to your own personal collection.
If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode -or possibly you have comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSage@Retroist.com. You can also contact me on Twitter and on Facebook. The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
Now then, join me as I point out some of the beauty of Opal City and it’s inhabitants featured in DC Comics’ Starman on the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast!
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Hello there, friends – welcome to the first episode of the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast! I know what you must surely be thinking…Vic…why in the world would you try creating yet another podcast? That is a valid question and the answer is this came about because of necessity. While the podcasts I am affiliated with cover horror movies, arcade and video games, old time radio shows, and even an upcoming one that focuses on classic animated shorts – what do I do when I get the itch to release a podcast talking about The Transformers? That is why the Pop Culture Retrorama podcast was created and since this is most definitely the Season – our first episode happens to be a Holiday Special!
From all across the internet I have been fortunate enough to receive audio submissions from friends of the former Retroist site – each discussing their favorite Holiday memory. For this Holiday Special we have recollections focusing on beloved Star Wars toys to favorite television specials and even Family gatherings. I even manage to squeeze in my own memory of those glorious Shogun Warriors toys from the late ’70s!
Video Courtesy of The Museum of Classic Chicago Television. Besides those Holiday recollections I have done my best to add vintage audio treats for your listening pleasure. While I may happen to be the sole host on this particular podcast – I’ve no doubt you will be entertained by all of the hard work our friends have put into the show itself.
Now then, let me give thanks to the generous individuals who shared their memories for this Holiday Special:
Allison Venezio can be found writing for this very site as well as Facebook and her own site – Allison’s Written Words.
Ashley Thomas aka The Nerdy Blogger also has set up a spot on the internet for you to check out.
Gary Burton and Lon Mills can frequently be seen sharing various vintage items of interest over at the Retroist Clubhouse on Facebook.
Last but not least, The Robot’s Pajamas has not only a Facebook page but a website of his very own.
A very Happy Holidays to you, friends! Now grab a plate of cookies and a glass of eggnog and enjoy this 2018 Holiday Special for the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast! As this is the first episode and the 2018 Holiday special at that – bear in mind future episodes will be different – focusing on a specific subject. If you have any suggestions for topics you would like for us to cover in a future episode -or comments on the current show itself, email them to me at VicSagePopCulture@gmail.com
You can also contact me on Twitter and on Facebook. In addition I certainly hope you will take the time to visit the Saturday Frights Facebook Page. There you can find posts from Rockford Jay, Preston Griffith and myself on a daily basis. The theme used at the beginning and ending of this episode was provided by Earl Green, if you enjoy his work, make sure to check out his exceptional spot on the internet – TheLogBook.com – let him know we sent you.
Subscribe to the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3)
Directly download the Pop Culture Retrorama Podcast:
Episode Mirror #1 [MP3]
Episode Mirror #2 [OGG]