RETRO

The End Is Near for Microsoft Paint

The program has been standard on Windows since 1985.

The Hole Story: A History of Skee-Ball

Remarkably, the beloved game has remained largely unchanged for the past 110 years.

Man's Personal Ad from 1865 Goes Viral More Than 150 Years Later

The listing is proof that courtship rituals come and go, but the power of a good smile endures forever.

Chakka-Chhh: The Hidden History of View-Master

William Gruber made one of the definitive toys of the 20th century. He also thought Hitler was a pretty solid guy.

Museum Exhibit Features Original Hand-Drawn Sketches of Mac Icons

Before Susan Kare's symbols revolutionized home computers, they were sketches in a notebook.

What 1969 Thought the Office of the Future Looked Like

James Burke showed how anxiety, boredom, and FOMO would be the future of remote work. Nailed it!

On Smurf Turf: Remembering the Snorks

The sea-dwelling excuses for a toy line bore a strong resemblance to the Smurfs. It was not unintentional.

13 Facts About Richard Simmons

An anonymous note left on Richard Simmons’s car window changed the soon-to-be-superstar’s life forever.

Candy Crush: The Bizarre History of Those '90s Mentos Commercials

The series of slightly disturbing ads annoyed some, but paid off for the "Freshmaker" candy company.

Charlene McBride via Flickr // CC BY 2.0

Penny Pinching: A History of Coin Elongation Machines

"Squishin' Missions" to obtain flattened pennies are a popular hobby.

Hunter Desportes, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0

Coming Soon: Two Unreleased David Bowie Albums

The limited edition LPs will be released in honor of Record Store Day's 10th anniversary on April 22.

10 Self-Defense Tips From Boxer Jack Dempsey, Circa 1950

"Even an innocent little baby can become a dangerous missile when its body weight is set into fast motion.”

Watch Technologists Get Excited About Pen Computers in 1991

You'd "touch" the screen with a stylus, of course.

A Bubbly History of the Heart-Shaped Hot Tub

You can still buy Morris Wilkins's Sweetheart Tub today, for $2395 plus installation fees.

Time to Zelebrate: Zima is Making a Comeback!

The ‘90s libation, and longtime punch line, is coming back to liquor stores.

Oakland's First All-Black, All-Harley Biker Club

They called themselves the East Bay Dragons.

A Hidden Coin in Donkey Kong 64 Went Undetected for 17 Years

Players now need to collect 977 coins to complete a full run.

An Exhibition of Retro Screensavers Opens in the Netherlands

From 3D pipes to flying toasters.

10 Playful Facts About Neopets

Neopets introduced many kids to economics, HTML, and the challenges of pet care.

Lemonie via Instructables // CC-BY-NC SA 2.5

15 Uses for Obsolete Technology

Why toss your old CRT computer monitor when it's a perfectly good kitty condo waiting to happen?

15 Fitness Tips From 1800s Bodybuilder Eugen Sandow That Are Still Good Today

Sandow was one of the first fitness icons of the modern age, and he had some pretty solid advice for getting fit.

How to Get Your Hands on an NES Classic This Tuesday

Here are the details of Best Buy's anticipated flash sale.

Watch How Libraries Were Organized in 1951 (Card Catalogs!)

Nothing was Google-able, and we had to walk uphill both ways.

WordArt Generator Transports Your Text Back to the '90s

The perfect way to say whatever's on your mind.

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