TechnoRetro Dads: Retro Tech…No Problem
Tech is everywhere! But in the 80’s we looked at it with a little wonder, a little excitement, and a lot of neon. We look at the technology our heroes used to save the day and the toys that helped us grow.
Technology in our favorite TV shows and the tech toys that kept us entertained and edumacated.
In the NEWS
- The Princess Bride is coming to a board game near you
The Princess Bride board game looks epic!
- A Knight Rider movie is in the works!
- TRON 3 gets a new director
Could Garth Davis be the next TRON director?
- The last Blockbuster Video is available for a sleepover! Pack those PJs
- Space Camp may just be around for a bit longer!
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Please consider helping to save Space Camp for future generations of young scientists by donating to savespacecamp.com
Please help by going to SaveSpaceCamp.com and donate to preserve science for the future.
TechnoRetro Cereal – Junior Spoonster
Jay brings us news of a new type of breakfast; Mac and Cheese…wait, that can’t be right. Mac and Cheese?!?!?! Would you indulge in this traditional kiddie meal as a morning feast? Let us know. And you’ve gotta check out the Teachable Machine Lucky Charms Marshmallow extractor. It’s sure to change your late night snacking habits.
Would you eat Mac and Cheese for breakfast?
Click here to watch the marshmallow extractor in action!
Saturday Mornings – Retro TV with Tech-Centered Stories
We loved our TV heroes! In the 80’s those heroes often got to use cool new tech to save the day. Automan was a hero straight out of TRON. He is a complex computer construct that partners up with a police computer expert. And he’s got a sweet glowy car! Max Headroom was a one of a kind piece of technology that helped shape the 80’s without ever leaving a TV screen (or having a body). The Street Hawk was a super fast, super cool motorcycle. And Airwolf saved the day from the sky while Stringfellow Hawke piloted the powerful helicopter. Finally, Michael Knight was a faithful partner to KITT, the computer powered super car whose legacy lives on to this day. How cool were they? And how much did they influence the future?
Automan was the first Siri
Max Headroom, 20 minutes in the future
The Street Hawk was cool, but did he have valid license plates?
The team from Airwolf kept our skies safe!
KITT, the ultimate car
Toys in the Attic – Tech Toys
Was there anything more exciting for a kid to get a toy that needed batteries? Electronic toys became more accessible to kids in the 80’s. They kept us entertained and helped us learn. The Little Professor calculator was where Shua learned his numbers and the Speak and Spell built his words. Most kids enjoyed their Mattel Electronic sports games, even though it was really just a few little red LED lights. But blinking lights could be fun, and be the basis of games like Merlin and Simon. The Microvision was the granddaddy of the handheld games we love today. And if you like games of fantasy, Dark Tower and Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game sparked our imagination.
The Little Professor taught a generation about math
The Classic Speak and Spell
Mattel had a lot of cool games like this Electronics Football
Is he scared of his Merlin?
Dark Tower Electronic Game
Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game
Thanks for continuing to tune in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds! Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com. Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic. Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.
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Join Jovial Jay and JediShua each week for a look back at the ’70s and ’80s as they share the fun and also fandom of their youth with their families, friends, and EarBuds. Topics include TV, film, music, toys, and games of the ’70s and ’80s like Atari, Nintendo, Sega, and arcade games as well as franchises which have continued into the 21st Century, especially Star Wars, Tron, and Back to the Future. The TechnoRetro Dads create new stories as old legends are passed down from one generation to the next.
If you’re a TechnoRetro Dad, the child of one, or just appreciate the ’70s and ’80s, then this podcast is definitely for you!