Shows
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast114: B.F. Skinner; Or, Thinking Inside the Box (Classic)Have you ever tried to build a new habit? Ever find yourself reaching for your phone even when it’s not in your pocket? Ever thought about whether free will actually exists? Yeah, that last one got deep, but that’s just how we roll here at This Was A Thing. Because this week, we’re talking all about a man who devoted his life to studying whether or not humans have a say in how they behave. His conclusion? We’re all pretty much rats pressing levers. Daniel teaches Ray and Rob about B.F. Skinner, the psychol...
2024-08-201h 14
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast109: The Easy-Bake Oven; Or, Burning Down the House (Classic)We're busy behind the scenes here putting together a whole new batch episodes for the upcoming year, so while we do that, have a tasty, bite-sized treat on us - a chance to listen back to our episode all about the world's favorite mini-oven!~~~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...
2024-07-3049 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast121: First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Force; Or, Fly, Film, Win!If you’ve ever fallen into the YouTube rabbit hole of corporate training videos, then you’re our kind of listener. We could (and probably should) do a whole episode just about the glorious world of schlocky and cheesy company-produced entertainment intended to get employees the information they need - and with style! And as America prepared to enter World War II, hundreds of thousands of troops needed to quickly learn essential topics about everything from Japanese fighter planes to the perks of being an airman. What better way to teach them than to show them a movie?Ra...
2024-07-171h 04
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast120: The Death of Dorothy Kilgallen; Or, Silencing the Voice of BroadwayThis week, we’re celebrating a very important birthday here at This Was A Thing. No, not that one involving declarations of independence and tea taxes (although we do love spilling tea) - this July 3rd would have been the 111th birthday of Dorothy Kilgallen, one of the most recognized reporters and celebrities of the early 20th century. But in addition to a life filled with notable accomplishments, what might have made Dorothy most remembered in the history books was her death - because it happened in a very strange and unexpected manner…Rob teaches Ray and Danie...
2024-07-0357 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast119: Ellen DeGeneres Comes Out; Or, Yep, She’s Gay!When it comes to LGBTQ trailblazers, Ellen DeGeneres is top of that list. Her decision to come out both as a public figure and her television persona made waves across the country and her daytime talk show helped normalize the image of a gay host on public airwaves. Sadly (and unsurprisingly given the slow pace of progress) there was blowback when Ellen made her momentous decision - conservatives railed against a gay television character and its impact on “family values.” But what maybe was a surprise is that Ellen also got blowback from the LGBTQ+ community - as well as fro...
2024-06-1158 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast118: Charlie Sheen; Or, It’s The Guy of the Tiger (Blood)This week, Rob teaches Ray and Daniel about the storied biography of Mr. Carlos Irwin Estevez, better known as Charlie Sheen, including: Sheen’s origins as a child star and teen heartthrob; his breakout role in “Platoon”; Sheen’s struggles with substances and his highly publicized firing from the sitcom that revitalized his career; and how the news media all seized on Sheen’s apparent mental collapse as an opportunity to drive ratings, regardless of the impact it might have had on his state of mind.If you like what we’re doing, please support us on Patreon, or y...
2024-05-021h 01
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast117: Betamax vs. VHS; Or, Neither Can Live While the Other RewindsIn our glorious age of streaming services, we never need to worry about recording anything ourselves - we just click “Continue Watching” and chill. But in the sad, not-too-distant past, you couldn’t always just open up Netflix and binge all nine seasons of Suits whenever you felt like it. Instead, if you missed your favorite soap, tough noogies. That is, that was the way things were until the magical VCR entered the American household. Out of the house? No problem! Just pop in a cassette and you’re golden. The only problem was that two companies wanted the glory of bec...
2024-04-161h 03
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast116: "The Day After"; Or, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, M.A.D. WorldWe all get mad about things sometimes, and during the Cold War, the U.S. government was mad about “M.A.D.”. That’s because “M.A.D.” “Mutually Assured Destruction” - was a global concern on everyone’s mind. And the fear that foreign countries (/cough/** Russia cough) would use nuclear weapons wasn’t only causing chaos in the Oval Office. Hollywood and TV studios were just as interested in it, because where there’s fear, there’s an audience. And one studio - and one movie in particular - took that fear of nuclear engagement and decided to make a movie that sh...
2024-04-0259 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast115: The Church Committee and MKUltra; Or, Uncle Sam Wants YOU To Take LSDIn the age of YouTube, it feels like there’s a new conspiracy every day. Some of them are ol’ chestnuts - love how we faked the moon landing that one time, right? Some of them pop up in the seemingly most random places, like Taylor Swift’s “secret plan” to use her popularity to boost Joe Biden’s approval rating (That’s just downright silly. We all know it must have been Travis Kelce’s idea, not Taylor’s). But even with all the bonkers stuff we all come up with, the secret stuff the government actually does is sometimes even cr...
2024-03-201h 00
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast114: B.F. Skinner; Or, Thinking Inside the BoxHave you ever tried to build a new habit? Ever find yourself reaching for your phone even when it’s not in your pocket? Ever thought about whether free will actually exists? Yeah, that last one got deep, but that’s just how we roll here at This Was A Thing. Because this week, we’re talking all about a man who devoted his life to studying whether or not humans have a say in how they behave. His conclusion? We’re all pretty much rats pressing levers. Daniel teaches Ray and Rob about B.F. Skinner, the psychol...
2024-03-051h 14
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast113: The Kidnapping of Patty Hearst; Or, When Theater Kids Go Too FarHappy 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 about Patty (sorry, Patricia) Hearst's relatively mundane upbringing as an heir to the Hearst journalism fortune; the rise of the Symbionese Liberation Army (most of whom got their start...
2024-02-201h 00
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast112: Who Shot JR; Or, The Shot Watched 'Round the WorldPost-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 one TV show back in 1980, when a last-minute plot twist not only changed the trajectory of that show, but led to a cultural phenomenon that persists to this day.Rob te...
2024-02-0651 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast111: The Wrecking Crew; Or, Striking the Right ChordsTina 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 teaches Daniel and Rob all about “The Wrecking Crew,” a select group of musicians whose reliability and talent made them beloved throughout the industry; what made Phil Spector’s “Wall...
2024-01-2653 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast110: The 1988 Presidential Election; Or, The Birth of the Modern Campaign PlaybookYou 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 been around forever, there’s one year and one election in particular where they took centerstage.Rob teaches Ray and Daniel all about the U.S. presidential elect...
2024-01-101h 07
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast109: The Easy-Bake Oven; Or, Burning Down the HouseHappy 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 teaches Ray and Rob about the Easy-Bake Oven’s origins at the renowned toy company Kenner Products; how New York pretzel vendors played an essential...
2023-12-2749 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast108: The Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue; Or, Amazon's Spiritual AncestorHappy 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 less. In fact, it’s such a cornerstone of modern life that you’re probably asking yourself, how did people even survive before we could get huge boxes of toile...
2023-12-0651 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast16: Cabbage Patch Riots of 1983; Or, The Genesis of Black Friday (Classic)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 or didn't buy, we can guarantee the day wasn't as crazy as back in the 1980s, when the rush for Cabbage Patch dolls caused literal riots...
2023-11-2845 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast107: Mark Harris Marries Martha Raye; Or, There’s Gold in Them DenturesWe’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 most notorious gold-diggers in modern history.Rob teaches Ray and Daniel all about the unconventional marriage between Mr. Mark Harris and Colonel Martha “Mag...
2023-11-211h 10
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast106: The Twinkie Defense; Or, A Whole Hostess of Legal CrazinessWe'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 1970s. So grab yourself a cream-filled cake and listen up!Rob teaches Ray and Daniel (yes, a third host's joined the gang!) about San Francisco city council member...
2023-11-071h 10
Creative ConsumptionDavid SparksIn this episode, I talk with David Sparks. David is a self-described lifelong nerd in the world of Apple technology, and for more than 15 years, has been publishing his writing, screencasts, and other content on his website, MacSparky. He's also a podcast host on several Relay.fm podcasts (Mac Power Users, Focused, and Automators), and runs a membership program on his site through which David offers even more content that others can use to help improve their lives through technology. Links to David's WorkMacSparky.comMacSparky LabsAutomators - Relay FM
2023-03-0146 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast64: Skip E. Lowe; Or, Looking At a Hollywood LegendLate-night TV celebrity interviews are fun diversions, but when Hollywood needs real, gritty, hard-hitting journalism, there's only one man for the job. And if it takes mispronouncing every single name in the business, then honey, he's way ahead of you.Rob teaches Ray about Sammy LaBella, a.k.a. Skip E. Lowe, whose dreams of stardom led him to befriend, interview, and/or bed more Hollywood personalities than most people probably know exist; how public access TV is the gift that keeps on giving; call-in show mishaps; early hot takes on the Donald; and why no star...
2022-11-2250 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast63: King Tut's Tomb; Or, Curses and CryptsHankering to travel somewhere warm? Somewhere with exciting sightseeing? Somewhere you can be cursed by the spirit of a vengeful Egyptian monarch? Then have we got a place for you!Ray teaches Rob about the archeologists responsible for the discovery of the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen, the Egyptian ruler who is now best known as King Tut; the misfortunes and maladies that befell many of those who uncovered the tomb; how Tut got so funky; and how all this mummy curse business got started in the first place, along with the many efforts to debunk those...
2022-11-1553 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast62: Murphy Brown vs Dan Quayle; Or, This Guy Was No Jack KennedyIf you turn back the clocks to the early 90s, it would be impossible to avoid all the late night jokes about Vice President Dan Quayle. Likewise, if you followed the 90s TV scene, you couldn't miss the fact that Candice Bergen was raking in the Emmys for her role as the titular Murphy Brown on CBS. So when two media behemoths like that unexpectedly went head-to-head, it was bound to be a battle for the ages...Rob teaches Ray about Dan Quayle's life and career, and his sudden rise to prominence as the running mate of...
2022-11-0850 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast61: The Satanic Panic; Or, Not Today, Satan!Parents of the United States! Listen to this podcast warning before it's too late! Have you noticed your children spending lots of time around funeral homes and coffins? Are they, per chance, drawing pentacles in their school notebooks? Do the toys they play with have any subliminally devilish aspects to them, such as (heaven forbid) flapping wings? If so, they may be under a Satanic spell that only extreme legislation and questionable tell-all books can help fix...or could all of this possibly be a bit of an overreaction?Ray teaches Rob about the origins of the...
2022-11-0156 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast60: The Dungeon Master; Or, True Crime In The Upside DownOn top of giving us the truly epic Dustin, Steve, and Eddie bromance and boosting Kate Bush's album sales, Stranger Things also deserves the bulk of the credit for bringing Dungeons and Dragons back into the zeitgeist. So, given that newfound popularity, it's hard to imagine how the very same game was once decried by a large - and largely conservative - contingent of the U.S., who condemned it for being not only a distraction from life’s realities, but an actual breeding ground for Satanic beliefs and practices. On what grounds, you might ask? Well, as you're about to...
2022-10-2549 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast59: Hair Club for Men; Or, Whip Your Weave Back and ForthWigs, plugs, toupés - so many solutions to hair loss, but all with their own issues and drawbacks. Was there any hope for real change? Was baldness an unavoidable condition? Would someone ever come along and provide a solution that truly brought satisfaction to those wanting to return to their days of luscious locks? Enter Sy Sperling: a man with a flat yet dulcet voice, a bald patch, and a dream.Rob teaches Ray a brief history of baldness in several cultures across the globe; how one man’s backup ad eventually became one of the mos...
2022-10-1846 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast58: Bat Out of Hell; Or, Meat and Jim's Excellent AdventureWe've covered our fair share of musicians and music-adjacent topics on This Was a Thing, and we'll probably cover plenty more in the future. But when it comes to the Venn Diagram of musical theatre, rock-and-roll, and cover art that includes apocalyptic motorcycles, there's only one album that should come to mind. That's because there was only one Meatloaf, only one Jim Steinman, and only one Bat Out of Hell. (Well, three, technically, but who's counting.)Ray teaches Rob about the genesis of this epic, 7-track, 46-minute rock-and-roll experience; how Jim's and Meatloaf's musical theatre roots brought th...
2022-10-1156 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast57: Dr. Feelgood; Or, Walter White Goes to WashingtonHaving a tough day? Life got you down? Does your body feel like it’s suffering from a severe lack of goat’s blood, steroids, and placenta? Oh, and also meth? Then we know just what the doctor should order, and which doctor should order it!Rob teaches Ray about the infamous Max "Dr. Feelgood" Jacobson, and his wide ranging celebrity clientele; his unsavory and unsanitary business practices; how his miracle vitamin shots played a key role in Cold War diplomacy; and the contemporary figures whose similarly flexible medical morals have earned them Mr. Jacobson’s unofficial title...
2022-10-0444 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast56: TGIF; Or, Do the Urkel, Bea!Just imagine: it's the end of the week, and all you want to do is crash on the couch, switch on the TV, and chillax. Luckily for you, it's also the early 90s, which means there's no black hole of streaming services to get lost in, so no need to stress about making that choice we all struggle with nowadays: "What should I watch?" Instead, you can just pop something into your Easy Bake oven, grab a bottle of Pepsi Blue, then flip to that channel with the cartoon mice and enjoy!Rob teaches Ray about how...
2022-09-2749 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast55: Weekly World News; Or, Bigfoot, Bat Boy, and the BizarreExtra, Extra, read all about it! Extra-terrestrial stock brokers discovered on Wall Street running a pump-and-dump scheme to boost stock prices for personal space tech investments. If you want to learn more, drop that Times or Journal - this exclusive story can only be found in a very special publication.Ray teaches Rob about the wacky and wild history of Weekly World News; its origins as a last-ditch effort to revive a moribund black-and-white printing press; Hilary Clinton's absolutely real relationship with an alien; and whether this type of "fake news" can survive in this moment when...
2022-09-2044 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast54: Shen Yun; Or, Where Are These Posters Coming From??Have you ever been on a New York subway? How about the Munich U-Bahn? Let's make it easier: have you walked down any sidewalk and/or generic walkway in any major and/or minor city in any of the six major global continents? Great! Then you've almost definitely seen a colorful poster featuring one to several dancers, all inviting you to put "China Before Communism" and see a show that could very well change your life...or at least, give you a night you'll never forget.Ray teaches Rob about Shen Yun and its foundation in the...
2022-09-1349 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro PodcastSeason 2! Or, The Second ComingOh yes, you read that right. So gird your loins and clear your Tuesdays, because we're launching next week with a the first of a whole season of new episodes that are bigger, badder, and thing-ier than ever. But you'll have to tune in to hear it! And hey, why not tell a friend while you're at it? You can both share the joy of hearing Rob tell Ray about the zaniness that was the 1989 Oscars, and listen to Ray's dulcet tones as he teaches Rob and all of us about the Napster sensation that swept this great nation...
2022-09-0603 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast53: The Jerry Lewis Telethon; Or, The Good, The Bad, and the NuttyAmerica just celebrated Labor Day, and we all know the two things that day has historically signified: it’s the last chance to wear white shoes (thank you, Elle Woods), and, until 2014, it was also the only chance to tune in to the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual fundraiser - better known to most people as the Jerry Lewis Telethon.Rob teaches Ray about Good Jerry, Bad Jerry, and all the Jerrys in between; the early days, break up, and reunion of Martin and Lewis; how Lainie Kazan earned her Actor’s Studio stripes while singing Barry Manilow...
2022-09-0655 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast52: Showgirls; Or, Jessie Spano Goes to VegasDoes your Venn Diagram of interests include Dale Cooper, Saved by the Bell, and Robocop? Also, are you 17 or older? Then you're in luck! Because in 1995, after achieving cinematic fame with Basic Instinct, Paul Verhoeven and Joe Eszterhaz teamed up for another film, this time set in the world of Las Vegas exotic dancers and show business, and the results were...controversial.Rob teaches Ray about Verhoeven's original vision for "Showgirls" as a satirical commentary on the American Dream, and how that vision went awry; the communities that sprang up to champion the movie after it bombed at the...
2022-08-3041 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast52: 1 (900) Numbers; Or, Call Me MaybeIn the ancient, pre-Google days, if someone wanted to get sports scores, or chat with a “naughty friend”, or obsess over your favorite celebrity, you couldn’t just type into a browser - the world wide web was a long ways off. But never fear! Just call this number, pay a incidental (read: exorbitant) fee per minute, and you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for.Ray teaches Rob about the meteoric rise of early 1-900 number entrepreneurs; why cats should stay away from phones; Santa’s (w)rapping skillz; and how seedy scammers gave a bad name t...
2022-08-2344 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast50: Is Elvis Alive? Or, A Little Less SpeculationOn August 16, 1977, Elvis Presley passed away and the world lost a rock and roll icon - or did it? Well, according to Gail Brewer-Giorgio and a cast of colorful conspiracy theorists, the King may not have left the building when everyone thinks he did… Ray teaches Rob about five key pieces of evidence that Gail and her gang use to support their “faked death” theory; the sketchy details behind Elvis’s partnership with the FBI to take down a notorious con-men cartel; why you should always have recording equipment handy in your garage; and how even the most far...
2022-08-1646 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast49: Carrie the Musical; Or, A Hog-Wild ShowGather 'round, listeners, and attend the tale that still leaves Broadway producers shaking in their Greek sandals. Yes, it's the truly terrifying story of Carrie: The Musical.Rob teaches Ray about the opera performance that inspired the writers of this grisly adaptation; how homophones lead to togas; the fan-base that sprang up to support (and bootleg) this flailing production; and why Carrie encapsulates the ephemeral nature of theatre in a rare way.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay...
2022-08-0953 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast48: MySpace; Or, Facebook Who?Friendster, SixDegrees, Makeoutclub - if you're a 90s kid, then you probably remember at least some of those websites (and may they all rest in peace). But there could only be one top dog, and MySpace was it. Hillary Duff, Harry Styles, Kim Kardashian - everyone had a MySpace page, and you better pray your friends put you in their Top 8. So with all the hype, how did the site go from being a 12-billion-dollar gorilla to an Internet has-been?Rob teaches Ray about how this small, music-centric social site evolved into a global behemoth; why "the...
2022-08-0251 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast47: The Chevy Chase Show; Or, A Late Night NightmareYou love Caddyshack, right? How about “Weekend Update” on SNL, or all the National Lampoon Vacation movies? Classic! Then you're bound to love a talk show hosted by the one and only Chevy Chase, right? Right?? Ray teaches Rob about the late night TV wars that followed Johnny Carson’s retirement; the perils of shooting hoops during your very first entrance as a talk show host; the air biscuit that tainted Whoopie Goldberg’s short-lived experience as a late night host; and why Fox probably wishes it did a test episode of The Chevy Chase Show… If you like wh...
2022-07-2644 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast46: Rich Little; Or, Heeere’s Johnny! (and Richie, Jimmy, and Ronnie)When you think of impressionists, you might picture the impresarios on SNL, or the wide array of Elvises with a Vegas residency. But have you ever wondered about who laid the groundwork for those performers to make their living lampooning celebrities? If you have, then you’re in luck - because if a couple of guys made a podcast about one of the very first nationally celebrated impressionists, it would probably sound a little something like this…Rob teaches Ray about Rich Little’s long career, from his humble beginnings as a kid with a love for doing...
2022-07-1948 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast45: Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure; Or, May the Merch Be With YouMerchandising cash grabs are nothing new to the Star Wars franchise. Who didn’t beg their parents for a lightsaber, or a Darth Vader helmet, or a Porg plushy? And one of the most blatant of these marketing ploys was the appearance of the fierce and fuzzy Ewoks who stole the show in Return of the Jedi. So what better way to celebrate their popularity, mine even more profit for George Lucas, and hopefully recover from the disaster that was the Star Wars Holiday Special than to make a TV movie featuring these enigmatic fur balls?Ray te...
2022-07-1237 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast44: SNL ‘80; Or, Jean Jean the Dancing Machine“Lorne Michaels” and “SNL” are essentially synonymous in this day and age, and his successful run as the show’s producer has been legendary. But if we turn the clocks back to 1980, the view from the top of the Rock at NBC wasn’t so rosy. Why, you might ask? Great question, you listener reading these notes!Rob teaches Ray about the falling out between Lorne and Fred Silverman that led to Lorne’s departure from the very sketch show he had created; the short-lived tenure of his wildly unpopular replacement, Jean Doumanian; why Eddie Murphy is an MVP; and ho...
2022-07-0548 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast43: “The Asylum” Films; Or, Mockbuster VideoEver stopped your Netflix scrolling to click on that new Marvel movie you’ve been dying to watch, only to realize that the dude playing “Almighty Thor” has absolutely no resemblance to Chris Hemsworth, and his hammer looks more like a dog bone stuck onto a baseball bat? (Obviously this is a purely hypothetical situation with no basis in reality.) Well then, friend, you have been duped by the marketing savvy of the infamous film production company, “The Asylum.”Ray teaches Rob about how seriously The Asylum takes its mission of producing crappy movies; the dangers of mixing sha...
2022-06-2837 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast42: Maude’s Dilemma (Abortion); Or, Bea Arthur Is a GoddessOn January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court ruled on the landmark case, Roe V. Wade. Only two months earlier, TV’s cynical and spectacular Maude Findlay found herself in a position where she was forced to reckon with the exact choice upheld by the courts. And in 2022, the Supreme Court is again poised to take up the issue of abortion and a woman’s right to choose, making this a topic that is still scarily relevant. Rob teaches Ray about Norman Lear and his signature approach to television; Bea Arthur's comedic genius; the controversy that arose when “Maude’s Dilemma”...
2022-06-211h 00
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast41: The Macarena, Or - Wait, This Song’s About That??The Macarena. You know it, you’ve heard it, you’ve probably danced it with your parents, your cousins, your middle school BFFs, and/or your local rabbi. But - have you ever listened closely to the lyrics?Rob teaches Ray about the singing duo who brought this catchy tune to the world; the questionable origin of the song’s title; why Al Gore’s got the moves; and the many remixes and parodies that have kept this ear worm alive for decades.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAM...
2022-06-1439 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast40: The Marlboro Man, Or, Save a Horse, Buy a Cowboy’s CigaretteFilter, flavor, pack or box - Marlboros have everything cigarette-lovers could want. But how could the company broaden their consumer base from primarily women, and prove that their cigarettes were just as manly as any ol’ Winston or Chesterfield? Well, hop on yer saddle, throw on a ten-gallon, and let’s head on down into advertising history, ‘cause that there question is exactly what Ray and Rob are gabbin’ about in this here episode.Ray teaches Rob about the history of the Marlboro Man campaign; the many men who donned that iconic cowboy garb; a Flintstone-endorsed cigarette brand; a...
2022-06-0741 min
Creative ConsumptionBrandon GauthierIn this interview, I speak with Dr. Brandon Gauthier about his newly published book, “Before Evil.” In the book, Brandon writes about the lives and formative experiences of six terrible dictators (Adolf Hitler; Joseph Stalin; Benito Mussolini; Mao Zedong; Kim Il Sung; and Vladimir Lenin) and, through that lens, seeks to answer the question: “Should we humanize the world's most inhumane leaders?” Through his writing, Brandon brings a level of emotion to the work of historiography that helps emphasize the difficulty of the topic. He challenges readers to consider what evil means, and what commonalities the lives of these awful lea...
2022-06-0344 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast39: Can't Stop The Music; Or, Village People Put On A Movie!Listeners! There’s no need to feel down! I said, Listeners! Pick yourself off the ground… and get ready for the story of when Village People made a movie!“Can’t Stop The Music” was released in the summer of 1980 at the tail end of the Disco Craze. Producer Allan Carr, fresh off his success with the film “Grease”, was ready for his next smash hit. He paired a fresh-faced Steve Guttenberg with Village People and a movie was made… It’s a Disco, Musical, Fever Dream… But it certainly qualifies as a film, nonetheless.This week...
2022-05-3141 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast38: St. Elsewhere Finale; Or, How a Snow Globe Erased M*A*S*HWhat’s the perfect reward for loyal viewers of a beloved TV show? How about a finale that not only obliterates the preceding 136 episodes, but puts in jeopardy more than 400 other series, including “I Love Lucy” and “Cheers?” In 1988, NBC did just that when it aired the final episode of "St. Elsewhere," a medical drama whose legacy is best described as “what the hell did they just do?”Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of the best and worst television series finales; Bobbi Wygant’s interview techniques; the far-reaching impacts of crossover episodes; and how the Mother of Dr...
2022-05-2458 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast37: From Justin to Kelly; Or, 2003 - A Review on Fashion“American Idol” season one was an entertainment behemoth in the 2002. It introduced us to sassy judges and gave the world the multi-hyphened legend, Ryan Seacrest. But besides that, it also introduced the world to Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, the heroes of this episode.After season one was done, the next logical step was taken – LETS MAKE A MOVIE! And a movie, they made… “From Justin to Kelly” was a musical/rom-com/beach flick released in the summer of 2003. Considering how popular “American Idol” was, the film HAD to be a success, right?...This week Ray...
2022-05-1751 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast36: Flossie Harding; Or, The First Lady Becomes The First SuspectShe was the First Lady for only three years but she did more in those three chauvinistic years than most women were allowed to do in their lifetime.....perhaps even killing her husband.This week Rob teaches Ray about Florence "Flossie" Harding who was one of the most influential first ladies most people have never heard about. They crack open the history books and explore look at how Flossie made her first husband disappear, how she kept Warren Harding on a short leash, the Presidential Love Child, why Flossie would've shived Grace Coolidge, and the Teapot Dome...
2022-05-1052 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast35: The Aloha Shirt; Or, Boomers Go BoomGrab some sunscreen, flip-flops, and get ready to cool down because we are going to Hawaii to explore the origins behind the Aloha Shirt. Learn about the Hawaiian Craze of the 1910s, the Fashion Father Alfred Shaheen, Elvis Presley's fashion choices, and so much more! Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of how the Aloha shirt came to be, the political activism behind the shirt, what elements make your Aloha Shirt worth money, and why this shirt gave birth to Casual Friday. If you like wha...
2022-05-0446 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast34: Crystal Pepsi; Or, Things Have Gone Clear Crazy!Right Now! You’re reading a description for this week’s episode, Crystal Pepsi. Right Now! This particular episode is a little different, let’s be CLEAR. Right Now! Crystal Pepsi was a flash in the CAN (and bottle!) and we’re going to teach you all about it! Right Now! They also ran a Super Bowl commercial for it that featured a Sammy Haggar lead Van Halen, singing their hit song, “Right Now!” Right Now!Crystal Pepsi was released to the public in 1992 and (SPOILER WARNING!) was off of store shelves by early 1994. It was part of the “Clea...
2022-04-2635 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast33: Reefer Madness; Or, Hearst v. HempREEFER MADNESS! It’s taken over this fine country, so we decided it was time to cover it! Run for your life, marijuana is polluting the minds of America’s youths!“Reefer Madness”, originally titled “Tell Your Children”, was an exploitation and propaganda film released in 1936, 1938, or 1939…. Seriously, they didn’t keep an accurate record of the film’s release. It was meant to teach about the dangers of grass, dope, ganja, that sticky icky icky icky… And the film worked! People were terrified!What’s even more interesting than the film is The Marihuana Act of 1937. (Yes, tha...
2022-04-1940 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast32: Miss Cleo; Or, Call Her Now!Do you feel lost? Like you need some direction? Do you have $2000 ready to throw away? Then call me now! Learn about the fortune teller who couldn't forsee the police knocking on her door: 1990s icon Miss Cleo. Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of TV psychics, the brilliance of late night marketing, Dionne Warwick and the Psychic Friends Network, the worst dialect work ever committed to screen, the dissolution of tv psychics, and why you should never listen to Sylvia Browne. If you like wha...
2022-04-1245 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast31: Smell-O-Vision; Or, The Scent of a GimmickDo you smell that? We’re not saying its you! It’s Smell-O-Vision! That’s right, Smell-O-Vision! When you were looking for a movie with a gimmick, and 3-D has ran it’s course, then Smell-O-Vision just may be for you!Invented by Hans Laube in 1939 and brought to a wider audience by Mike Todd Jr. in 1960, Smell-O-Vision certainly left a smell with audiences and critics alike. It’s not like Mike Todd Jr. was a nobody… his father helped create the Cinerama Dome, he produced films like “Michael Todd’s Around The World In 80 Days.”, AND married Elizabeth...
2022-04-0540 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast30: Stairway To Stardom; Or, The World of Public Access TelevisionTurn your dials to station Manhattan Neighborhood Network station 13 because we are going to explore the confidentially, untalented denizens of Stairway to Stardom.Learn about the most optimistic master of ceremonies, Frank Masi, who unwittingly gave birth to America's obsession of televised shock and awe.Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of public access television and how the Government's attempt to connect communities went horribly awry, the dreams of Frank Masi, the song stylings if Lucille "Hairdresser" Cataldo, debating if Star Search stole Frank's idea, and why YouTube took over the realm of...
2022-03-2951 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast29: Transatlantic Accents; Or, What Is That Old Timey Movie Voice?Ever watch one of those old movies and wonder why in the world the actors are speaking in such an old timey way? Well, that way is actually called the TransAtlantic Accent and was not at all how most real people spoke in the 1930s, but in the movies they did.This week Rob teaches Ray about the origins of the transatlantic accent, how two men wanted the world to speak in World English, the "good breeding" of Jackie Kennedy, Bette Davis speaks like a lady, Mr. Feeney brings the accent back, how to speak TransAtlantic, and...
2022-03-2244 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast28: Liza Minnelli on Home Shopping Network; Or, A Bonanza of Sequin and VelvetWe here at “This Was A Thing” LOVE Ms. Liza May Minnelli! March 12th just happened to be her birthday, so we wanted to throw her a little birthday celebration! The woman DESERVES it, for heaven's sake!Liza isn’t just known for being the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, for her Oscar-winning performance in “Cabaret”, or for the greatest concert of all time, “Liza with a Z”. Ms. Minnelli isn’t even just known as one of the few EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, & Tony) winners.Liza is also remembered for her collection of clothing and...
2022-03-1539 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast27: The Lana Turner Murder Trial; Or, Don’t Stompanato On My HeartTo start off the second half of season one, we decided to go for the most popular kind of podcast: TRUE CRIME! Hollywood is filled with scandals, but there haven’t been many bigger Tinsel Town scandals, than The Lana Turner Murder Trial.In the 1950’s, Lana Turner was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Sadly, she was dating a violent mobster named Johnny Stompanato. Mr. Stompanto’s violence came to an end when he was discovered stabbed to death in 1958 in Turner’s home. The person holding the knife… Cheryl Crane, Lana Turner’s 14-year-old daughter.
2022-03-0850 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast26: Howard The Duck; Or, George Lucas' Fowl PlayImagine if Marvel and Lucasfilm teamed up to make a movie nowadays. It would be huge! Well, back in 1986, that wasn’t the case… In fact, “Howard The Duck”, was the opposite of huge. What was supposed to be a comedy, hardly had audiences QUACKing up. Most Audiences thought it was rather FOWL. It wasn’t a success and Universal Pictures was stuck with the BILL.George Lucas was the man that decided to turn a Marvel comic about a sassy, wise-cracking anthropomorphic duck into a summer blockbuster. Universal was ALL IN after previously turning George down for his pr...
2022-03-0146 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast25: Pogs; Or, When Circular Cardboard Took Over the 90sPogs… or Milk Caps if you’re a boomer…. were like a flash in the pan in the mid 90’s. Collectable pieces of cardboard that ended up fading out just as quicky as they were introduced. Just like marbles before them, Pogs got banned from schools. Pogs caused schoolyard scuffles and because kids were playing for keeps, they were essentially gambling… Playgrounds were becoming Las Vegas… Kids couldn’t get enough of that sweet, sweet circular cardboard. This week, Ray teaches Rob all about how Pogs is an acronym for Passion Fruit, Orange, G...
2022-02-2241 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast24: The History of Personal Ads; Or, Desperation for PosterityThis week love is in the air and nothing says love like downloading Hinge, Tindr, Grindr, and FarmersOnly to find that perfect mate for you….until someone better comes along. But before the technological revolution how did people meet one another? Through the personal ads of course. This week Rob teaches Ray about 17th Century ways of mating, coded sexuality needs in Europe, why it was frowned on for women to seek love, the assholery of Benjamin Franklin, how people scammed others through love, and The Lonely Hearts Killer, of course.
2022-02-1555 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast23: The Super Bowl Shuffle; Or, Dick Meyer's Magnum OpusThere hasn’t been anything quite like “The Super Bowl Shuffle”… And for good reason. Professional athletes can be boastful from time to time, but in 1985, it was taken to a whole new level! All lead by Bears Wide Receiver, Willie Gault.The Chicago Bears would produce a single (the first of its kind on Audio Cassette), film a music video (Second in sales to “Thriller”), and win a Super Bowl (beating those darn Patriots!) all in the course of an NFL season. “The Super Bowl Shuffle” was a sensation! Most of the team wanted in, but there were some...
2022-02-0847 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast22: Zima; Or, the Zailure of the 90zZhere once waz a drink zhat made ze world ztand up and zake notice......Ok, we can't do this anymore. It was Zima, a clear malt beverage that intoxicated, barely, the entire world for a brief and shining moment.This week Rob teaches Ray about the Clear Beverage Craze of the 1990s, the very bizarre commercials of Bartles & Jaymes, how the Russians changed the game of marketing, the sad trajectory of the Zima Man, the urban legend of breathalyzers and Zima, and how gender norms played a part in the failure of Zima. Zo zad....
2022-02-0137 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast21: The Husbands of Elizabeth Taylor; Or, Modern Marriage in MovielandShe was an Academy Award winning actress, one of the first AIDS activists, and an icon around the world for her stunning beauty. She also broke gender norms and societal expectations with eight trips down the aisle with seven different men.....not all at the same time, of course.Rob teaches Ray about Elizabeth Taylor and her eclectic group of husbands which include: The great Uncle of Paris Hilton, a social climbing actor, an indomitable showman, America's sweetheart, an alcoholic Welshman, a Republican Senator, and a down on his luck construction worker. Not to mention a torrid...
2022-01-2551 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast20: The Trials of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle; Or, Hollywood's First Major ScandalRoscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was one of the most popular silent film comedy stars of the 1910’s. After signing a big contract in 1920, it seemed that Arbuckle was on top of the world! That is until a wild party ended in the very suspicious death of a young actress named Virginia Rappe. Tabloid papers took the story and ran with it....without a true investigation. Faced with sexual assault and manslaughter charges....was Arbuckle able to prove his innocence?This week Ray teaches Rob about the insane tactics of William Randolph Hearst’s newspapers, a woman named Bambina Maude Del...
2022-01-1854 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast19: Treasure Hunt Comedies; Or, Million Dollar MoviesIt's a mad, mad, mad, mad story about money, movies, and madcap mysteries! In 1963, one of the most serious film directors decided to prove to the world he could be funny......well, sort of........What he ended up creating was the The Treasure Hunt Comedy, a forgotten staple of film comedies.Rob teaches Ray about It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Scavenger Hunt, Million Dollar Mystery, and Rat Race. Along the way we learn that Milton Berle's ego was as big as his cigar, the pretentiousness of Method Acting in comedy, Dino De Laurentiis' love of...
2022-01-1153 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast18: ThighMaster; Or, The Empire of Suzanne SomersHappy New Years, dear listener! Getting healthy is a classic New Years Resolution and what better way to get trim than with Thigh Master! Thigh Master had a major grip on early 90’s fitness, but it wouldn’t get to the top without the help of a wonderfully peppy spokesperson Suzanne Somers. Yes, Chrissy Snow from “Three’s Company”, herself! She “used to do aerobics ‘til she dropped! Then she found Thigh Master!”This week, Ray teaches Rob the secret to shapely thighs, talks about an important meeting in Palm Springs, Suzanne’s storied career, and how a device designed...
2022-01-0444 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast17: 1930s Dance Marathons; Or, The First U.S. Reality ShowGet 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 Americans to make some money dancing for hours on end....while other Americans watched and waited for injuries, blood, and violence! Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of dancing in America, how Vernon and Irene Castle made sinful partner dancing wholesome, the Endurance Crazes of the 1920s, the sadistic Emcees and promoters w...
2021-12-2846 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro PodcastBonus Episode: Competitive Walking Competitions, Or PedestrianismOur listeners have been nice this year so Santa has told us to give you all a gift!Brody Karn, Esq. teaches us about one of the most intriguing fads of the 19th Century: Pedestrianism. There is a doping scandal, cheating accusations, Walkers becoming the faces of trading cards, ethnic turf walking wars, women breaking the glass ceiling of athleticism, and so much more! Plus, Nathan Lane stars in.......everything!This episode is part of our Patreon only episode library so if you like this one then head over there, become a Patron, and get...
2021-12-2549 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast16: Cabbage Patch Riots of 1983; Or, The Genesis of Black FridayRemember Cabbage Patch Kids..... those odd looking dolls with hard plastic heads that took the 80’s by storm? And how that storm turned into riots? In 1983 Cabbage Patch Mania ruled the holiday season and parents just HAD to get their hands on one for Little Carol and even Littler Patti.This week, Ray teaches Rob all about Bunny Bees, BabyLand General Hospital, and how creator Xavier Roberts MAY have stolen the idea for these dolls from a woman named Martha Nelson Thomas who he met at a small Kentucky craft fair. Plus discovering that Roberts' signature was on...
2021-12-2145 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast15: Life With Lucy; Or, Lucille Ball Gets FiredA legend stuck in the past or a victim of ageism?To celebrate Being the Ricardos, we take a look at Lucille Ball's last sitcom, Life With Lucy,...from which she was fired. Yes, the Queen of Comedy was fired!Rob teaches Ray about Lucille Ball's career post I Love Lucy, her bizarre television movies in the 1970s (including Lucy becoming President of NBC), how Lucy was courted by ABC, why The Cosby Show and The Golden Girls created Life with Lucy, Lucy's loyalty to her staff, and how she was brutally dismissed by a...
2021-12-1444 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast14: Vine; Or, Entertainment in Six Seconds or LessCan you put together a meaningful thought or idea in six seconds or less? What about a moderately funny video? It’s hard! But there was some GOLD in them there Vine hills!Ray teaches Rob about how Vine helped launch the careers of Shawn Mendes, King Bach, and yes, even Jake and Logan Paul. We also revisit some of our favorite Vines of years past including Rob’s favorite – a teacher’s reaction to having a piece of paper thrown at them. “Whoever threw that paper, your mom’s a…”If you like what we...
2021-12-0732 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast13: The Benny Hill Show; Or, The First Victim of Cancel CultureA dirty old man or the first victim of cancel culture?Benny Hill was one of the world's most recognizable comedians. In the 1970s, he dominated UK television. In the 1980s, he was either loved/loathed in over 140 different countries. By the 1990s, he was cancelled, metaphorically and physically.Rob introduces Ray to the naughty world of Benny Hill, how Benny revolutionized television comedy, the international acclaim of Benny's visual brilliance, the little bald man Benny loved to slap on the head, the hypocrisy of "comedian" Ben Elton (Bio Pic starring John Oliver needed ASAP...
2021-11-3058 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast12: Mike Love vs. The Beach Boys; Or, Bad VibrationsThe Beach Boys were pioneers of the 1960s Surf Rock movement. When they felt it was time to move on from the sound the world loved, there was one main person standing in the way: Founding Member Mike Love.Mike Love wasn’t keen on changing their sound….to be honest, Mike Love wasn’t really keen on much of anything.....well except for Meditation and material possessions… Oh, and lawsuits! Mike Love really enjoyed taking his bandmates to court…...Ray tells Rob why Mike Love said things like “Don’t f**k with the for...
2021-11-2354 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast11: Batman & Robin (1997); Or, the Death of The Action Hero FilmBatman has defeated countless crooks and criminals but there was one he could not defeat: Consumerism. Learn about the the 1997 summer blockbuster that made people question the merits of super hero movies and one so poorly received, it nearly killed the genre: Batman & Robin (1997) Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of the Caped Crusader, the brilliance of Tim Burton, the Danny DeVito nightmares of McDonald's happy meals, bat nipples, the villainous toy manufacturers who became screenwriters, the body shaming of Alicia Silverstone, and Arnold Schwarzenegger bullies Richard Kind....
2021-11-1654 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast10: McFailures; Or What In The Hula Burger?!McDonald’s. One of the most beautiful words in any language. It’s a franchise known around the world for all of it’s success! Sometimes they’ll even bring back menu items that are fan favorites, because that’s what the people want! McRib, anyone?But for all of this success, there were bound to be some failures… Or as we like to call them, McFailures.This week Ray teaches Rob about everything from the Hula Burger to McSalad Shakers. Onion Nuggets to the McLobster. Mighty Wings to the McPizza. You’re taste buds a...
2021-11-0954 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast9: The Death of William Henry Harrison: Or, The Foundation of the 25th AmendmentYou are a new country. You have a constitution. If anything goes wrong, don't worry, the constitution will tell us what to do.......or will it? Learn about the death of President William Henry Harrison, the first time a President died in office, and the forgotten constitutional crisis that followed, as well as a deep dive into the 25th Amendment that tried to correct those errors.Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of the all too brief Presidency of William Henry Harrison, the controversial elections that got him into office, The C...
2021-11-0255 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast8: The Paul Lynde Halloween Special; Or Fred Silverman's Main WitchIt’s a Halloween Extravaganza this week on This Was A Thing. Who’s hosting, you ask? TV Funnyman Paul Lynde, of course!Ray teaches Rob all about The Paul Lynde Halloween Special. Who was there to share a drink (or six) with Paul? Well, just about every spooky TV personality you could think of: Carol Brady, Mr. Wiggins, Witchy Poo/Wicked Witch of the West, Donnie and Marie, Billy Barty, Sue Ann Nivens, and Halloween favorite Roz “Pinky Tuscadero” Kelly! We even get to see KISS’s first national television appearance! And, guiding the spooky special is Brady Bu...
2021-10-2653 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast7: Hummels; Or How To Stop The Nazis With PorcelainYou know those weird looking figurines on your grandmother's shelves? Those little Aryan children clad in leiderhosen and looking adorable against bucolic backdrops? They are not only worth a "fortune" they were the bane of Hitler's existence....well.....one of them. Learn about female entrepreneur Sister Maria Innocentia Hummel who sought to create beautiful pieces of art celebrating her students but was hijacked by a greedy convent and thwarted by the Third Reich. Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of Hummel figurines, which are worth the most, why they ad...
2021-10-1941 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast6: The 1919 World Series Scandal; Or, The Rise of Judge Kenesaw Mountain LandisYou’ve heard of the “Curse of the Bambino”, “Curse of the Billy Goat”, and even “Merkle’s Boner." But the case that changed baseball forever was The 1919 World Series Scandal, better known as "The Black Sox Scandal," because itt was discovered that players were betting against their own team!Ray teaches Rob about players like “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, “Buck” Weaver, and “Chick” Gandil who had enough of their Manager, Charles Comisky, which led them to engaging in the first baseball scandal, the naming of the first commissioner of baseball (named. Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis....You read that correctly...
2021-10-1257 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast5: The Scandals of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker; Or, Praise The Lord and Pass The CashCan you feel it? Can you feel the spirit? Can you feel the spirit moving your money right into the bank accounts of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker? To coincide with the brilliant "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" we are doing a deep dive into the scandal that brought down the PTL ministries and how Jim Bakker got away with embezzlement for so long.....he had some help from the man upstairs.....Ronald Reagan. Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of evangelism, how televangelists were able to be exempt fr...
2021-10-0552 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast4: The Brady Bunch Variety Hour; Or Shake That Brady!Don’t worry folks, the Bradys are BACK! But this time the whole bunch is singing and dancing! Yes, even Alice. This week, Ray tells Rob all about “The Brady Bunch Variety Hour” a show that may have been panned back in the 70s, but is loved in 2021, and how The Bradys became America's first franchised family. And don’t worry! You don’t just get Mike, Carol, and the kids! No, no! A slew of A-Listers wanted to come along for the ride! You like Tony Randall? He’ll be there! Donny a...
2021-09-2853 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast3: The Davy Crockett Craze; Or, How Baby Boomers Went AwryGrab your coonskin cap (and your checkbooks) because the Patron Saint of Consumerism, pioneer Davy Crockett, is here and he's ready to turn his name into a brand and his checkered past into an economic boom. Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of how Davy Crockett wasn't all who he was cracked up to be, the greatest economic loss of Walt Disney, the oh so stiff acting of Fess Parker, the brilliance of branding, Hollywood's ability to rewrite history, and how Davy Crockett unknowingly has committed to the hostile political climate of the 21st...
2021-09-2153 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast2: The Balloon Boy Incident; Or Falcon's Big Adventure!What would you do if your six-year-old child was suddenly suspended over 7,000 feet in the air and traveling solo over the treacherous terrain of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado? Call the media, of course! Doesn't make sense? Well, very little about this 2009 Balloon Boy Incident does.This week, Ray fills Rob in on all the juicy details of an event that took the news by STORM. Why would the Heene Family even set off a large weather balloon? And how could little Falcon have gotten in there? What does the bearded Wolf Blitzer have to do with...
2021-09-1445 min
Creative ConsumptionRebecca MurilloRebecca Murillo is an actor, singer, dancer, composer, writer, choreographer and assistant director. She's performed in New York City on legendary stages like the Green Room 42 and Feinstein’s/54 Below, and has also traveled internationally to perform in a Tokyo production of West Side Story. Rebecca has also received acclaim for her original musical, Not Quite Extinct, and in her most recent project, she was a member of the writing and composing team for the new musical “Breathe,” which was conceived and created by Jodi Picoult and Timothy Allen McDonald. Links to Rebecca's WorkRebecca's Website ...
2021-09-0849 min
This Was A Thing: The Retro Podcast1: Jazzercise; Or, Female Empowerment Through Toe TappingStrap on those leg warmers and get ready to break the glass ceiling because we are going back to the 80s and doing a deep dive into the history of Jazzercise! Learn about the Patron Saint of Sweat, Judi Sheppard Missett, who not only broke the exercise glass ceiling but built it through sweat, tears, and a funky beat. Rob gives Ray a lesson in the history of female exercise including how women were encouraged not to sweat, the retroactive philosophies of Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, forgotten “fitness” coach Debbie Drake...
2021-09-0744 min
Creative ConsumptionCharlie AltermanCharlie Alterman is a Broadway music director, conductor, and orchestrator who has worked on shows like the original and recent Kennedy Center productions of Next to Normal; the 2013 revival of Pippin; and the out-of-town productions of Half-Time, among many others. Most recently, Charlie headed to Vancouver where he worked as a music consultant and vocal coach for the NBC musical comedy "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist." Enjoy!Links to Charlie's Work & SocialCharlie on iBDBCharlie on SpotifyCharlie's InstagramCharlie's Inspirations & RecommendationsSuccession on HBODead to...
2021-07-0648 min
Creative ConsumptionGavin CreelGavin Creel is a Tony- and Olivier-Award-winning performer, actor, songwriter, and fantastic human. He's performed across the world in numerous Broadway shows and concerts, including Hello, Dolly!; the West End production of The Book of Mormon (the Olivier); the 2016 revival of She Loves Me, and many more. Gavin's also composed and produced several albums and personal musical works (you can hear his melodious tones in a variety of live and animated films and TV), and he’s been an advocate for and active participant in organizations like Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids; the Actors Fund; Broadway Inspirational Voices; and many mo...
2021-06-2145 min
Creative ConsumptionCaroline Portu and Marty MillerThis week's guests are Caroline Portu and Marty Miller - or "Carol and Mart," as their fans know them. Both prolific creators, Caroline and Marty have a fan following on Instagram, where they share solo and duo videos of hilarious escapades and skits starring themselves as wonderfully weird characters. Caroline also works as an actress, a singer-songwriter, and a writer. Marty is a published writer in publications like Paper, and his social media videos have been featured on Ellen. Together, they are the creators of the "Carol and Mart Show," in which they perform original comedic songs....
2020-09-2943 min
Creative ConsumptionLindsay HackneyLindsay Hackney is the founder of Lindsay Hackney Photography, her wedding photography business based out of New England that she runs, along with her husband and “second shooter” Tim. Prior to starting her own business, Lindsay’s career in acting brought her around the country, performing in the national tours of The Drowsy Chaperone and The Great American Trailer Park Musical, and also in productions at notable regional houses like the Ogunquit Playhouse. Her photography business has flourished and Lindsay has been published in places like “Green Wedding Shoes,” “Style Me Pretty,” “Magnolia Rouge,” “The Knot,“ and “BRIDES.” Links to Lindsay’s Work
2020-09-0756 min
Creative ConsumptionMason ReevesThis episode, we spoke with Mason Reeves. Mason is a young actor whose resume is already impressively full. He’s worked in theaters across the US, playing historic houses like the St. Louis MUNY; the Connecticut Repertory Theatre; and the Bucks County Playhouse, where he’s spent part of this summer as an artist-in-residence. He’s also a dancer, a musician, a writer, and is currently a cast member of the 1st national tour of the Disney musical, Frozen, in which Mason is starring as Kristoff. Links to Mason’s WorkMason’s WebsiteInstagram...
2020-08-311h 02
Creative ConsumptionJacob TischlerJacob Tischler is a professional actor, writer, and baker. He's performed in the national tour of "Flashdance," in numerous productions across the country, and has been seen on the screen in everything from "The Deuce" to "Broad City." On top of that, Jacob has written several plays and musicals that have been produced in NYC and elsewhere, he's got a background in circus arts, and he's just started his MFA in Screenwriting (remotely, of course) at USC. And this past spring, Jacob founded "Starter: A Social Justice Bakery," where he used his skills as a baker to raise funds...
2020-08-2456 min
Creative ConsumptionAbel GarrigaAbel Garriga is a music director and orchestrator, a conductor and piano teacher, and composer. Abel played on the international Spanish tour of "Next to Normal," and at the time of this interview, he was working as a rehearsal pianist for the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge.Links to Abel’s WorkLinkedinInstagramArts Equity and Antiracist Support ResourcesBroadwayWorld Collection of LinksJustice For George (NYC Racial Justice Events)Playwrights Horizons Google DocCollection of Antiracism ResourcesLesson Plan fo...
2020-08-171h 02
Creative ConsumptionBarrett RigginsBarrett is a New York-based actor, singer, and songwriter who's worked in theaters across the country. His debut album “Good Ol’” is available through all major streaming locations (links below). Barrett also recently released a demo album for the musical "The Moderators," which he co-wrote for a theatre festival earlier this year.Links to Barrett’s WorkListen to “Good Ol’” on SpotifyListen and Download “The Moderators” on BandcampInstagramFacebook“Bodies in Seats” (Article about Facebook Content Moderators)MoviePass-Movie MovieCastArts Equity and Antiracist...
2020-08-1050 min
Creative ConsumptionAnton VolovsekAnton Volovsek is a set designer who's worked either as the head designer or associate designer for theatrical institutions like the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Vineyard Theatre, and the Cherry Lane Theatre. Anton's also worked for educational arts programs and is earning his M.F.A. in Scenic Design at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Anton's newest project is as a founding member and creator for the New Phase Collective, which is a novel theatrical experience whose creators "are following the evolving truths of what performance is now, has always been, and can be in the future." NP...
2020-08-0342 min
Creative ConsumptionAline MayagoitiaToday's guest is Aline Mayagoitia, a New York-based actress, educator, and musician. Aline has worked across the country in professional theatre productions, and was most recently starring in the latest incarnation of the Broadway staple, Forbidden Broadway. It was titled: "Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation," and at the time of our interview, was still running in New York. Aline and I also talked about her early inspirations (which included both Jersey Boys and Harry Potter podcasts), her approach to creating impressions for her roles in "Forbidden Broadway," and how YouTube stars can be a stabilizing force in tough times...
2020-07-2749 min
Creative ConsumptionZoey EngelbertZoey Engelbert is an Emmy-nominated musician and songwriter, a craftsperson who does wonders with crocheting, and all-around wonderful human. Zoey is known for her solo music career and her work with her siblings, with whom she’s performed nationally and on screens across the world, as the stars of two nationally syndicated TV shows, "Steal the Show" and "Ariel & Zoey & Eli, Too." Zoey's recently been performing as a member of the S.N.O.T. (Super Nerds of Tomorrow) Chamber Orchestra, an a'cappella group, and she also runs her own Etsy store! Zoey and I talked about everything from he...
2020-07-2746 min
Creative ConsumptionWelcome to Creative Consumption
Welcome to Creative Consumption, an interview podcast with creators about how and when they do their essential job of creating something, and how and when they enjoy other stuff in their lives. I’m Daniel Schwartzberg, host and co-creator of the show along with my brother, Nathan. This show started from a core question we both had: how do people balance and maintain creativity in a culture that's saturated with material for us to watch, read, and listen to? From streaming media - like music, TV shows, and yes, podcasts - to social media, blogs, and books, the Internet-age an...
2020-07-1301 min