Dr Pepper tried to drum up publicity by promising a free bottle to everyone in America if Guns N' Roses came out with their long-delayed 'Chinese Democracy' album in 2008. No one expected the band to do it. When they did, Dr Pepper suddenly had to make go

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In 1997, an episode of the 'Pokémon' animated series used a strobe-light effect during a battle sequence. Hundreds of viewers in Japan suffered seizures and other symptoms. More than two decades later, no one is exactly sure why.
In July 1979, the struggling Chicago White Sox offered cheap admission to anyone bringing in a disco record to destroy. The promotion would prove to be catastrophic.
Tom Dempsey was born with only a partial right foot, but that didn't stop him from making NFL history on November 8, 1970 in a play so amazing even the referee jumped.
As the market for licensed cereals grew, kids sat down for spoonfuls of Gremlins puffs and soggy Barbie bowls.
The soft and inanimate companion was Hasbro's attempt to create a "macho" doll market for boys. It was not a success.
The adult novelty item has a surprisingly rich history involving organized crime, food science, and the difficulties in patenting the name "Candypants."
The popular '80s spots depicted people who couldn't believe they were drinking Folgers instant coffee. Should we?
School districts around the country were unhappy with the messages of 'The Simpsons' shirts, which advised people not to have a cow and to consider eating their shorts.
The Pet Rock was the brainchild of copywriter Gary Dahl, who thought America needed a laugh during the largely humorless post-Vietnam and Watergate era.
The popular backyard toy has been a hit with kids since 1961. Unfortunately, it had catastrophic consequences for adults.
The infomercial icon has sold billions in products, including his legendary Gazelle elliptical trainer. But an errant school bus almost derailed him for good.
The colorful plastic watches did more than start a fashion trend in the 1980s. They helped rescue the Swiss watch industry from collapse.
Despite being the butt of jokes, the fanny pack has been around for thousands of years, and will likely be around for thousands more.
The novelty shirts, shorts, and pants were one of the hottest clothing items of 1991, with a special dye that changed color in response to temperature changes. Before long, Hypercolor proved to be too popular for its own good.
The faux-tobacco shredded gum has been going strong since 1980, when two ballplayers decided the real thing was too disgusting to chew.
For nearly a quarter-century, the 'ABC Afterschool Special' taught kids about the harsh realities of life. Producers had only one rule: No fairy tale endings.
In the summer of 1989, there was no escaping Tim Burton's 'Batman.' The Caped Crusader was on everything from T-shirts to bed sheets—but the studio still claimed the film lost money.
Australian actor Yahoo Serious came out of nowhere to conquer Hollywood with the 1989 hit 'Young Einstein.' Then, just as quickly as he appeared, he vanished.
The self-professed medium drew millions of callers—and millions of dollars in government fines for deceptive advertising.
In 1986, the famed news anchor spent a week defending the puzzling new way he ended his broadcasts.
Sometime during the late 1990s, consumers noticed that their credit cards with expiration dates in the year 2000 were being declined by merchants.
"What better way to dispense your candy than through the butt of a moose?"
The “Got Milk?” tagline became as popular as “Just Do It.” But did it really convince people back in the 1990s to drink more milk? Uncover the history of this iconic marketing campaign here.