When I say Burger Chef to most people, they might recognize the name from its appearance on Mad Men, but most people haven’t heard of. This, despite it being the second largest fast food chain in the United States by 1973. Its rise was dramatic, its fall, sad. On this episode of the show, I want to talk to you about this wonderful fast food restaurant.

I start the show talking about my childhood visits to the chain. They were all solo trips with my mom and I loved all of them. The place had character and tasty food, plus they had some great options for kids. All things I will talk about during the show. After my story I move on to the chain itself, I talk about its connection to Burger King, its growth, franchising, innovations, sale to General Foods and its decline.

My mom lamented the loss of this chain. She was convinced it was a higher quality offering than other chain. It just goes to show that a lot can go wrong when managing a fast food chain and that it can be difficult to recover when things go wrong.

Starting in the early eighties, they start converting Burger Chefs, mostly to Hardees. Bu the memory of BC lingered and Hardees has re-released the Big Shef a few times. Its been a decade since they release it last and I don’t see it happening again. I think that is a good indicator of people’s interest in the chain. My hope is that by talking about Burger Chef, I can inspire a few people to remember or seek out more info about it.

The hype around Santa Claus the Movie put it at the top of my must-see list in 1985. My family were big Dudley Moore fans and McDonald’s was pushing it with a Happy Meal tie-in. So we drove a few towns over to see it the weekend it opened. It was a great movie-going experience with a very well-decorated theater and an appearance by Santa Claus. I was convinced this was going to be a huge hit, but unfortunately it wasn’t in the United States (the people in the UK were more impressed).

I start the episode talking about when my family went to see the movie and how disruptive Santa’s appearance was there. How could you expect a kid to concentrate on on anything when Santa was around? Then I move on the film itself. I discuss the plot, its production, the stars of the film, its reception and much more.

There is a lot of Christmas movies and specials you can watch, but I wanted to talk about Santa Claus the Movie because it is often overlooked. In the United States it doesn’t get a lot of replays. No 24 hour marathon. Nothing. It might not be, A Christmas Store, but I think as a holiday film its charming and deserves to be remembered.

I remember seeing the trailer for Three O'Clock High and then seeing the ad in the newspaper. Luckily my best friend and I went to see it the week it opened because it wasn’t in the theater very long. For years afterwards we would try and champion the film and when we would convince people to watch it, they almost all walked away as a fan. So I am hoping to convince you to watch it by talking about it in a podcast. This episode does have some spoilers, but the movie is still great if you know the ending. Still, it might be a good idea to watch it first.

I start the episode talking about one of my many brushes with bullies over the years. This one was a little bit more interesting in retrospect, but maybe not too uncommon? Then I move on the film itself. I discuss the plot, its production, the stars of the film, its reception and much more.

This film was popular at the video store as a rental, mostly because everyone at the store would champion it. I personally rented it multiple times and was pretty excited when I finally got my own copy.

If you like the movie or some other movie that you don’t think people know about or watch enough, I encourage you to try and champion it. My suggestion? Buy them a copy of the film on some sort of physical media. Even if they don’t have the means to play it, it will act as a visible reminder that you will constantly hound them until they do.

In 1987, what is arguably the best Thanksgiving movie ever made, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles hit theaters. Like many people who saw it, I instantly fell in love with it and over the years I have watched maybe over a hundred times. Its a heartfelt comedy, that isn’t afraid to go over the top with humor (or its language). So I am very happy to be able cover it on this newest episode of the Retroist Podcast.

I start the episode talking about my brush with being the class clown and how that tied into the film. Learning you don’t have what it takes to be the funny one in class is a tough lesson, but one I needed to learn. Then I move on the film itself. I discuss the plot, its production, the stars of the film, its reception and much more.

For all the years I worked in the video store, this was one film you could count on people renting or buying during the last two months of the year. Even if they weren’t, we only needed to put it on the in-store tv to get people interested. Despite this forced watching, I never grew tired of this film. These characters, especially Candy’s is just so endearing, its just nice to have them around, even in the background.

This is a revisiting of an episode I did back in 2010. Its one that people have mentioned they might like to hear me redo. Its a bit longer than the original, so I hope you like how it turned out.

In the 1990s, I fell in love with the western genre because an amazing show premiered on FOX, The Adventures of Brisco Country Jr., starring Bruce Campbell. This show was expected to be a big hit and widely praised, but failed to find a home and sadly had only one season. Despite this, or maybe because of it, the show developed a cult following.

I start the show talking about the closest thing we had to the old west in New Jersey, Wild West City. It was a place where I could finally shine like the star that I was, but unfortunately my attempts at improv on the stagecoach did not go over well with the people trying to do their jobs and my creative urges were stifled. Which explain why I am a blogger podcaster and not a Hollywood superstar nowadays.

After I tell my story, I move onto the show itself. I explore the talented people both in front of and behind the camera, how the lead was cast, the writing came together and the shows stirring music. I also reference some interesting newspaper ads and articles I came across while researching the film’s impact and history. For those interested, I’ll be sharing those clippings over on my Patreon tomorrow.

This show was ahead of its time and attempted to reinvent the western. Unfortunately the world wasn’t ready for it and we only got the single season. Still at least we have that, and it holds up well even after all these years.

Halloween is just around the corner, and I wanted to talk about a made-for-TV movie that I first saw as a kid: Dark Night of the Scarecrow. This spooky revenge film revolves around a terrifying scarecrow and has haunted me ever since I first watched it. It’s a perfect film for this time of year, with its eerie atmosphere and unsettling themes, so I hope you’ll consider giving it a watch.

I kick off the episode by sharing a personal experience, an encounter I had with a scarecrow at my uncle’s house when I was younger. This scarecrow was positioned just outside the window, its creepy presence looming over the yard. For a long time, it became the subject of our family’s spooky tales, passed between me and my cousins. We’d often dare each other to get close, but then, one evening, things took a much darker, more sinister turn, and it’s a memory that still sends chills down my spine.

After sharing that story, I dive deep into the film itself. I explore the talented people both in front of and behind the camera, how the film’s production came together, and the chilling score that sets the perfect tone for the story. I also reference some interesting newspaper articles I came across while researching the film’s impact and history. For those interested, I’ll be sharing those clippings over on my Patreon tomorrow.

This is a solid, scary movie, and what makes it even more special is that, since it was made for television, it’s not overly graphic. It can actually be enjoyed by older kids who don’t get too scared, making it a great pick for a family movie night during the Halloween season. If you’re on the hunt for something spooky but not too extreme, Dark Night of the Scarecrow might just be the perfect fit. So, if you’re looking for something to watch, please, check it out and let me know what you think.

Back in 2009, I recorded a podcast about It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It was a childhood favorite and a podcast that many people have emailed me about over the years. So now that I am committed to revisiting some of my older episodes, this one went straight to the top of the list. It's a great subject to cover at this time of year, and I hope you enjoy it.

I start the episode by talking about a memorable time when I watched the show. If you've listened to the podcast or read the blog, you probably know that I like to make an event out of things. This story demonstrates the lengths I would go to. I wouldn’t recommend anyone try what I did, especially at the age I was, but in the end, it was rewarding.

Then I dive into the special itself. I discuss the people in front of and behind the camera, its production, music, and much more. I also reference some newspaper articles, and I will share my clippings over on Patreon tomorrow.

It really isn’t Halloween without watching the Peanuts special, and I make sure to watch it every year. Schulz was a brilliant cartoonist, and as I mention in the episode, it’s amazing how much of what appeared on the screen originated in his comic strip. He was a prolific creative genius who, for half a century, helped define and interpret American pop culture.

The Retroist Podcast is back with an episode I promised to release during my first year of the podcast, The Goonies. On this episode, my first of the new season, I am happy to finally have covered this classic and beloved film.

I start the show off by talking about how the film was inspiring to me in unexpected ways that have had a positive long-term effect on me. Then I move onto the film itself, I talk about the people in front of and behind the camera, its production, location, video games, music, and much more.

This film, when it finally came out on cable and VHS was pretty much on a loop at my house at the time. That, combined with showings at video stores, make it difficult for me to estimate how many times I have seen it, but it is proudly, a lot. I wanted to say this because it took me a while to get around to making this episode not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t think I could do it justice. I hope you enjoy the episode and more importantly watch or rewatch the movie.

Welcome to the 400th episode of the Retroist Podcast. On this episode, my last of the season, I decided to talk about the 1984 Summer Olympics. These Los Angeles games were a big deal for me. I don’t remember any Olympic activity before it, and no other Games have been as enjoyable for me.

I begin the show discussing my bit of bootleg patriotism that I wore proudly that summer. Then I move onto the games itself, covering the lead up to the games, its finances, successes, failures, designs, sponsorships, and much more. Because they were very important to me at the time, I also talk about the McDonald’s game and the very cool mascot, Sam the Eagle.

This 1984 Olympics were not a guaranteed success. It was only through careful planning and innovative handling of the event that they were not only able to succeed, but set a new standard for the games. Its legacy went beyond a successful broadcast. It raised funds that have lasted for decades to support sports in the area.

The Olympics are about to start and will return to LA in 2028. I hope that everyone can enjoy them and appreciate the rich history of this optimistic international event.

On the newest episode of the Retroist Podcast, I am revisiting a subject I dealt with over a decade ago, the VCR. The original episode I did, had always been a favorite of mine, but I have wanted to revisit it to update the audio, mix, music, and information. It was fun to not just redo the episode, but listen to the original and see how much has changed with how I do the show. Still, I think the DNA of the show is pretty much the same. It has just evolved (and I got a better microphone).

I start the show talking about my family’s first VCR. It was beautiful and a centerpiece of family life for years. It almost wasn’t though because of an accident that occurred while I was attempting to learn how to set it up to record. This involves grape soda, and what should have been electrocution.

Then I talk about the VCR itself, tracing its evolution from reel-to-reel to cartridge format. The rise of Sony and how their superior format was somehow not so superior. Once VHS triumphs, I talk about the VHS, VCR Plus, the rise of DVD and so much more. Metagrrrl is back to revisit her top 5 list.

I am enjoying the revisited episode, and I hope you do as well. I am going to be doing one more episode this season before taking a short break. During the break, I will continue to put out some shows on Patreon in the meantime, so check out the extra content on there, and I look forward to bringing you more retro fun next season.