During a warm spring day in 1990 my mind was pre-occupied as I struggled to push through my half day of Kindergarten. Although I generally enjoyed school at this young age I knew that something monumental was awaiting me at my grandparents’ house. It was this year that my grandma began a tradition of letting … More Breaking Down My Childhood NES Collection
Yesterday I read the news that Toys R Us is going to liquidate entirely rather than restructure debt meaning that the last national toy chain in the US is shuttering its doors for good. Over the years I witnessed the closures of Children’s Palace, K.B. Toys, and FAO Schwarz, and although I was dissatisfied or … More Random Memories of a Toys R Us Kid
When Hasbro and the World Wrestling Federation parted ways at the end of 1994 the WWF was without an action figure manufacturer for the first time since the company went national. Throughout the dark days of 1995 the only WWF wrestlers on toy shelves were undesirable Hasbro leftovers in clearance bins and JusToys Bend ‘Em’s … More Jakks Bone Crunching WWF Figures
A few years ago I listed my favorite Royal Rumble boxes produced by Coliseum Video from best to worst. Now that August is here it’s only fitting that I follow up that piece by giving SummerSlam the same treatment. Although SummerSlam is probably considered the WWF (e)’s second biggest event of the year behind WrestleMania, historically I … More Ranking SummerSlam’s By Box Art
From 1985 until 1997 all of the official World Wrestling Federation home video releases were distributed by Coliseum Video. This period was a golden age in both professional wrestling as well as home video as the rise of VHS coincided with the 1980’s professional wrestling boom. As video stores popped up in every neighborhood, Coliseum … More Coliseum Video Rewind: Invasion of the Bodyslammers (WF117)
From 1985 until 1997 all of the official World Wrestling Federation home video releases were distributed by Coliseum Video. This period was a golden age in both professional wrestling as well as home video as the rise of VHS coincided with the 1980’s professional wrestling boom. As video stores popped up in every neighborhood, Coliseum … More Coliseum Video Rewind: WrestleFest 88 (WF058)
The late 1990’s was a special time in video game history. The gaming industry was maturing, two dimensional graphics gave way to 3D worlds, technology was giving gamers experiences they never would have thought was possible previously, and there was intense competition between established game companies and a powerful newcomer. For me personally the late … More Summer of ’98 Part V: Video Games
Like most kids born in the mid 1980’s I was a fan of Hulk Hogan and the World Wrestling Federation. Children have a natural attraction to professional wrestling but the WWF of the 1980’s took that attraction, marketed to it, packaged it up, and as a result reached levels of popularity the sport had never seen … More Summer of 1998 Part III: WWF
Growing up our household didn’t partake in the luxury of cable television. It was pure agony. I used to see ads with Grandpa Munster shilling a local cable TV company and would tell my parents that cable was the way to go. When I’d watch WWF SuperStars and Gene Okerlund would urge the viewers to contact … More Summer of 1998 Part II: TV
Carefree summer days as an adolescent. Practically zero responsibility, late nights, plenty of time with friends, hours of solitude, and nurturing your many hobbies. There are some advantages to being an adult; like living on your own. That’s about it. Sure you can vote, drink, and smoke, but I’d trade all of those freedoms in … More Summer of 1998 Part I: Introduction
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