TBT

The Fuzzy Dice Fad That Conquered the Car World

The dice sprung up as part of 1950s car culture. But how did they get furry?

The Robosaurus must eat, preferably economy sedans.

When the Car-Eating, Airplane-Devouring Robosaurus Roamed the Earth

With 12,000 pounds of bite force, this 40-foot-tall robot ate cars like candy—and audiences ate it up.

Bob Geldof (L) and Midge Ure (R) outside a London recording studio while working on "Do They Know It's Christmas?" on November 25, 1984.

Band Aid: The Charitable—and Controversial—History of “Do They Know It's Christmas?”

Band Aid's charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" enlisted everyone from Sting to Bananarama, but its efforts to help the Ethiopian famine didn't go exactly as planned.

Robert Brian Wilson in 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' (1984).

Santa Slays: When 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' Caused a Public Panic

'Silent Night, Deadly Night,' 1984's killer Santa slasher, led some psychologists to worry kids might develop panic disorders and even regress in their toilet training.

It Slices, It Dices: When Ginsu Knives Cut Through the As-Seen-on TV Competition

How an Ohio-made kitchen knife was reimagined as a piece of Japanese steel—one endorsed by Lorena Bobbitt, in a manner of speaking.

1987 Micro Machines Car & Playset Commercial (Featuring John Moschitta the Micro Machine Man)

When Micro Machines Took Off

The thumbnail-sized cars were a hit thanks in large part to John Muschitta Jr., the world's fastest-talking pitchman.

The Unlikely Origins—And Rapid Rise—of Chili’s Iconic “Baby Back Ribs” Jingle

It’s 1995, and Guy Bommarito has just bungled an ad campaign so badly that he’s begging Chili’s not to fire him. They give him one last shot.