Description: Politithon ’70 was a groundbreaking, live four and a half hour public-service broadcast staged in Florida during the 1970 election season. Produced by Miami public television station WPBT-TV, the live statewide television and radio special aired from the Miami Beach Auditorium on October 28, bringing together candidates for every statewide office and giving voters a chance to hear directly from the people whose names would appear on the November ballot. Hosted by veteran broadcaster John Daly, the marathon program explained the duties of each office, allowed candidates to make statements and answer questions submitted by voters, and also examined the seven proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution.
Description: Formed in Dorset, England, in 1988 under the name Lord of Putrefaction, Electric Wizard established a crushing sound, blending slow doom metal with heavy, distorted '70s acid-rock vibes across nine studio albums, with Come My Fanatics… (1997) and Dopethrone (2000) widely regarded as landmarks of the genre. While 2007’s Witchcult Today never quite received the appreciation it deserved, it retained the band’s obsession with the occult, witchcraft, horror, and cannabis. The album wrapped these familiar themes in a smoother, less abrasive strain of doom without sacrificing its enormous riffs or sinister atmosphere. The result may be Electric Wizard’s most accessible record, packed with memorable hooks and several standout tracks.
Description: Dallas, Texas, earned the nickname “Big D” during its rise as a major financial and cultural center in the decades between the world wars. Fueled by booming oil, banking, cotton, and commerce, the rapidly expanding city developed a reputation for ambition, prosperity, and doing things on a grand scale. The nickname was appearing in print by the 1930s and gained even greater national recognition with Frank Loesser’s song “Big D” from the 1956 musical The Most Happy Fella. Whether you have a soft spot for the Big D or simply believe everything really is bigger in Texas, this vintage ’80s Dallas design celebrates the city in suitably oversized style.
Description: The Whistlin’ Wolf Club is a fictional 1940s nightclub owned and operated by Slick Joseph “Wolfie” McWolf, better known simply as Slick McWolf. A familiar face from the theatrical shorts of the Golden Age of American Animation, McWolf appeared in a variety of roles, sometimes as one of Droopy’s chief adversaries and other times as his unlikely friend. Whatever the role, one thing remained constant: Wolfie’s famously uncontrollable reactions. Whether spotting an attractive dame, witnessing something unbelievable, or simply being caught off guard, his eyes had a habit of practically launching from their sockets. That wild, exaggerated response became one of the era’s most memorable cartoon gags.
Description: Rocket from the Crypt (RFTC) emerged from San Diego’s thriving underground scene in 1990, blending the raw energy of punk and garage with old-school rock ’n’ roll, soul, and a distinctive horn section; the band developed a sound that was loud, swaggering, and instantly recognizable. In late 1995, RFTC dropped their fourth studio album, Scream, Dracula, Scream!, and supported it with an extensive headlining tour throughout 1996. The record received many positive reviews in both mainstream and underground music press, and it began getting regular play on alternative rock radio and music video channels. Based on artwork from the '96 tour, this 'first contact' design's colorful retro comic-style interstellar relations scene.
Description: After running Fun Magazine, the publisher's created a new title in 1990 that would be able to go head-to-head with the long-established Detroit alt weekly, Metro Times. Like Metro Times, Orbit was free at newsstands throughout southeast Michigan, but unlike its progressive, left-leaning rival, Orbit would leave politics at the door, focusing instead on Detroit arts, culture, humor, and entertainment. Orbit Magazine ran nearly a full decade before closing their doors in 1999, but they'll never be forgotten, especially their smirking mascot, Orby.
Description: Garehime Music Co. was a longtime fixture of the Las Vegas music scene, tracing its roots to 1924, when Jacob “Jake” Garehime and his wife, Edith, opened the Garehime Music and Jewelry Store. A musician and skilled piano tuner, Jake initially specialized in selling, rebuilding, and repairing pianos before expanding into records, sheet music, radios, organs, and musical instruments. By the 1940s, its North Third Street store featured a large record department and listening booths popular with local teenagers. Garehime Music later moved to Sahara Avenue and continued serving generations of Las Vegas musicians before closing in 1988.
Description: Carrols Drive-Ins was one of the homegrown fast-food success stories of upstate New York, rising alongside the great American burger boom of the 1960s. Herbert N. Slotnick obtained the exclusive Carrols license rights for New York in 1960 and built the Syracuse-based operation into a familiar sight across the state, serving inexpensive hamburgers, fries, shakes, and other drive-in fare. Early promotions offered hamburgers for just 15 cents, and by the mid-1970s Carrols had grown into one of the Northeast's largest regional fast-food chains, with more than 150 restaurants. Facing increasingly fierce competition from national chains, Carrols struck a franchise agreement with BK in 1975 and began converting its restaurants.
Description: Batten Heads of Romulus, Michigan, was a specialty performance-engine company known for developing serious racing hardware during the 1970s and 1980s. Operating under names including Batten Heads and Batten Corporation, the company became particularly associated with high-flow cylinder heads and other components for American V8 engines. Its offerings included lightweight aluminum heads for small-blocks and competition-oriented heads featuring large ports, raised exhaust passages, and specialized valvetrain arrangements. Batten's engineering expertise extended beyond hot rods and drag racing; the company also became involved in sophisticated racing and experimental engine programs, including development work for the Big Three.
Description: Hard Ticket to Hawaii is a 1987 action B-movie written and directed by Andy Sidaris and the second installment in his loosely connected series of films later known as the Bullets, Bombs and Babes series. Set amid the tropical scenery of Hawaii, the story follows DEA agents as they stumble upon a diamond-smuggling operation and find themselves battling heavily armed criminals, while a bizarre subplot involves a giant, cancer-infected snake loose on the island. Packed with gunfights, explosions, martial arts, gratuitous nudity, ridiculous dialogue, and some spectacularly over-the-top action—including the infamous skateboard-riding assassin—Hard Ticket enthusiastically embraces everything that made ’80s direct-to-video flicks so rad.
Description: The Regnu di Sicilia, or Kingdom of Sicily, was established in 1130 when the Norman ruler Roger II was crowned king in Palermo, beginning a kingdom that would endure in various forms for centuries. Sicily’s most enduring emblem is the Trinacria, an ancient symbol consisting of three bent legs radiating from a central Gorgoneion, or head of Medusa, representing the island’s triangular shape and its three great capes; later versions also incorporated ears of wheat symbolizing Sicily’s extraordinary agricultural fertility. The symbol has ancient Greek roots and appeared on Sicilian coinage long before the medieval kingdom, while its association with Sicilian banners became especially important during and after the Sicilian Vespers of 1282.
Description: Old Dutch Beer made its debut in 1941 in Findlay, Ohio, where it was brewed as an affordable regional lager during the golden age of independent American breweries. With its distinctive Dutch-themed branding and familiar red, white, and blue labels, Old Dutch developed a loyal following throughout Ohio and neighboring states. The brand later found a new home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where production continued after its Findlay brewing days had ended. Like many once-popular regional beers, Old Dutch eventually disappeared as consolidation reshaped the American brewing industry, but its colorful cans, bottles, signs, and advertising remain favorites among collectors of vintage breweriana.
Description: During the 1970s, Nippondenso was one of Japan’s major manufacturers of spark plugs and electrical components, supplying parts to the country’s rapidly expanding motorcycle industry. Nippondenso plugs were used by Japanese manufacturers both as original equipment and as replacement service parts. As Japanese motorcycles earned a reputation for reliability and increasingly sophisticated high-revving engines, dependable ignition components became essential, and Nippondenso competed closely with other manufacturers to stay out front. Its spark plugs became familiar sights in motorcycle shops, dealerships, racing pits, and toolboxes around the world, helping establish Nippondenso as an important name in the golden age of Japanese motorcycles.
Description: Record Mirror was a British weekly music magazine that chronicled the rapidly changing pop landscape from its launch in 1954 until its closure in 1991. One of the earliest British publications devoted specifically to popular music, it covered everything from rock ’n’ roll and the British Invasion to punk, new wave, disco, synth-pop, and dance music. Alongside interviews, reviews, photographs, and industry news, Record Mirror became particularly valuable for its extensive record charts, eventually publishing the official UK charts used by mainstream media. During the '80s, it developed an especially strong reputation for covering club culture and emerging scenes, giving space to genres and artists that received little attention elsewhere.
Description: A Better Version of Me is the third studio album by American indie rock band Rainer Maria, released in 2001 on Polyvinyl Records. Building on the emotional urgency of the band’s earlier work, the album found the Wisconsin trio refining their blend of intricate guitars, shifting dynamics, and deeply personal songwriting into something more expansive and assured. Caithlin De Marrais and Kyle Fischer’s intertwined vocals remain at the heart of the record, giving its songs the conversational tension and vulnerability that had become a Rainer Maria signature. While still rooted in the Midwest emo scene from which the band emerged, A Better Version of Me pushed beyond the genre’s conventions with an increasingly sophisticated sound.
Description: Van meets, often called “truck-ins,” became a defining part of America’s custom-van craze during the 1970s. Inspired partly by hot-rod gatherings but infused with the decade’s counterculture, thousands of vanners would descend on campgrounds, fairgrounds, and open fields to show off wildly customized machines covered in murals, metalflake paint, spoilers, side pipes, mag wheels, shag carpeting, wood paneling, and elaborate interiors. Events ranged from local weekend gatherings to enormous national truck-ins featuring van shows, live music, games, cruising, camping, and plenty of late-night partying. Van power forever... boogie on, baby!
Description: Mofo the Psychic Gorilla is a classic magic routine by Penn & Teller. In the bit, a fake gorilla on stage claims to have gained psychic powers from scientific research, with Teller speaking offstage as the voice of Mofo. A volunteer is chosen from the audience, and Penn tells him to write a number on a sheet of paper. Keeping the volunteer's attention directed away from Mofo, Teller clunks down his microphone, trudges out as if he’s bored, takes a look at the volunteer's number, goes back, and announces the number in the authoritative voice of Mofo. During the '90s, 'Mofo Knows' was the name of the duo's newsletter, though for some reason, Mofo was now a psychic chimpanzee sponsored by 'Mofo's Life Support Systems.'
Description: Living wild, free, and dangerously isn't about reckless self-destruction—it's about refusing to let fear, routine, or the expectations of others dictate how you experience life. It means chasing the open road, embracing uncertainty, taking chances that make your pulse race, and collecting stories instead of regrets. It's the attitude of those who would rather wear out than rust out, who find beauty in late nights, loud engines, forgotten highways, and horizons that never seem to end. Freedom comes from trusting yourself, accepting the consequences of your choices, and living boldly enough that every scar has a story. In the end, the greatest risk isn't living dangerously—it's playing it so safe that you never truly live at all. Gimme danger
Description: Lightspeed Electroid Albegas (Kōsoku Denjin Albegas) is a Japanese super robot anime that aired from 1983 to 1984. Set in the year 1999, the series follows three gifted teenagers — Hotaru, Daisaku, and Tetsuya — who each pilot a separate robot that can combine to form the mighty Albegas in humanity's fight against the alien Derinja Empire. Blending high-energy mecha battles with school-life comedy and colorful science fiction adventure, the series showcased elaborate transformation sequences and a distinctive three-robot combination gimmick that really resonated with viewers. Lightspeed Electroid Albegas remains a favorite among fans of classic 1980s mecha anime for its memorable robot design, vibrant animation, and nostalgic action.
Description: Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1962, Owl Package Liquors built its reputation around a simple promise: when everyone else was closing, the Owl was still open. Catering to shift workers, musicians, restaurant employees, and other self-proclaimed "night owls," the store became a favorite late-night stop for beer, wine, and spirits throughout central Alabama. Its distinctive owl logo and glowing storefront signs made each location easy to spot after dark, and its friendly service earned a loyal following. As the business grew, Owl Package Liquors expanded into multiple cities across the state while maintaining its reputation for convenient late-night hours and a well-stocked selection. Although the chain eventually disappeared, it remains
Description: Unicorns have long been one of the most beloved fantasy creatures among children, and many girls are especially drawn to their magical charm. With their shimmering manes, sparkling horns, and stories of kindness, courage, and imagination, unicorns inspire endless daydreams and creative play. Symbolizing a world where anything is possible, unicorns continue to capture the hearts of many girls by celebrating wonder, friendship, and the joy of believing in a little everyday magic. This early '90s Unicorn Kingdom design features a whole herd of unicorns frolicking in the clouds along a rainbow path leading to their fantasy castle.
Description: Founded in 1988 in the village of Piermont, New York, Piermont Pictures Video was a neighborhood video rental store that embodied the golden age of the VHS era. While they carried all the latest releases, Piermont's biggest strength was its extensive library of over 4000 titles that included cult classics, foreign films, hard-to-find independent titles, and everything in between. Like many independent video stores, Piermont Pictures Video offered a personal touch that larger chains couldn't match, including knowledgeable staff making recommendations and regular customers discovering hidden gems on every visit. The shop became a popular destination for movie lovers throughout Rockland County. Although the rise of DVDs, mail-order rentals, an
Description: The Wild Rebels is a 1967 American biker-crime film directed by William Grefé, one of the key independent filmmakers behind Florida's low-budget exploitation boom of the 1960s. The story follows former stock car driver Jeff Cameron, who agrees to infiltrate a notorious motorcycle gang for law enforcement after the bikers become involved in a string of violent robberies and murders. Blending outlaw biker action with undercover crime drama, the film capitalized on the popularity of biker exploitation movies while showcasing the sun-soaked highways, back roads, and small towns of Florida. Packed with roaring choppers, bar fights, and psychedelic-era style, The Wild Rebels has since become a cult favorite among fans of vintage cinema.
Description: For generations of kids, one of the best parts of buying candy or cereal wasn't the food — it was discovering the toy hidden inside. Beginning in the early 20th century and reaching its peak during the 1950s through the 1980s, countless products included prizes ranging from tiny plastic figures and stickers to puzzles, whistles, decoder rings, temporary tattoos, and collectible miniatures. From breakfast cereals to snack foods, brands turned packaged toy surprises into powerful marketing tools that kept children coming back for more. Although modern safety regulations have largely eliminated toys packaged directly inside food in many countries, these tiny prizes remain a nostalgic reminder of a time when kids lived for unexpected treasures
Description: Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and one of Christianity's most recognizable figures. Born in Britain in the late fourth century, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders as a teenager and enslaved in Ireland before escaping. After becoming a missionary, he returned to Ireland, where he spent decades preaching and establishing churches. Legends credit him with driving the snakes from Ireland and using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity, though these stories are symbolic rather than historical. Patrick died on March 17, A.D. 461, and his feast day has evolved into a worldwide celebration of Irish heritage, marked by parades, music, and the wearing of green.
Description: During the custom van boom of the 1970s, Los Angeles stood at the center of the West Coast scene, but talented builders were making their mark throughout Southern California. One of the lesser-known outfits was Nighthawk Custom Shop, which operated from an unassuming warehouse just north of San Diego International Airport along Pacific Highway. While many competing shops aggressively promoted themselves through magazine ads and national van shows, Nighthawk kept a remarkably low profile, letting its craftsmanship speak for itself. The shop built a number of award-winning street vans during its roughly decade-long run, yet little remains of its legacy today beyond some faded spare tire covers and a few well-worn T-shirts.
Description: Lucky Deli was one of Los Angeles Chinatown's best-kept culinary secrets for decades, earning a loyal following with its no-frills approach, generous portions, and remarkably low prices. Located on North Broadway, the tiny takeout spot became famous for its steam table loaded with Cantonese favorites, fresh dim sum, roast duck, barbecue pork, buns, dumplings, and other Chinese comfort foods that attracted everyone from neighborhood residents to late-night diners. Long celebrated as one of the city's best bargains, Lucky Deli embodied the unpretentious spirit of old Chinatown, where quality and value mattered more than décor. Its enduring popularity has made it a neighborhood institution and a nostalgic stop for generations of Angelenos.
Description: Quaalude was the brand name for methaqualone, a sedative-hypnotic medication introduced during the 1960s to treat insomnia and anxiety. Originally marketed as a safer alternative to barbiturates, it became one of the most widely prescribed sedatives of the '70s. Its relaxing, sleep-inducing effects also made it a popular recreational drug, leading to widespread misuse and growing concerns about dependence, overdose, and impaired driving. 'Commander Quaalude' was created as an unofficial mascot of the recreational methaqualone crowd, and quickly became a top seller at head shops on t-shirts, hats, and stickers. Of course, all good things come to an end, and by the early '80s, evidence of abuse prompted the U.S. to ban methaqualone.
Description: Video Ezy was one of Australia's most recognizable video rental chains, opening its first store in Sydney in 1983 and quickly expanding across Australia and New Zealand during the home video boom. Known for its bright blue and orange branding, the chain offered thousands of VHS tapes before transitioning to DVDs and video games as technology evolved. At its peak, Video Ezy operated hundreds of franchised locations, becoming a Friday-night destination where customers browsed new releases, grabbed popcorn and candy, and hoped their favorite movie wasn't already rented out. Like many video rental businesses, the company struggled with the rise of online streaming and digital downloads in the late 2000s and ultimately folded.
Description: Eve cigarettes debuted in 1971 and were marketed as the choice for women who embraced elegance and femininity, taking a noticeably different approach from competing brands that emphasized independence and women's liberation. The cigarettes and their distinctive packs featured intricate Art Nouveau-inspired floral artwork in soft pastel colors, giving the brand a refined, almost psychedelic aesthetic. Advertising leaned heavily into this visual identity with the memorable slogan, "Flowers on the outside. Flavor on the inside," reinforcing Eve's image as a stylish, sophisticated cigarette for fashion-conscious female smokers.
Description: Founded in 1889, the Seattle Cedar Lumber Manufacturing Company (SCLMC) was one of the many mills that helped transform Seattle into the lumber capital of the Pacific Northwest. Located on Salmon Bay, the company milled Western red cedar, a wood prized for its natural resistance to rot and insects and widely used for shingles, siding, poles, and boatbuilding. The mill benefited from the region's abundant old-growth forests and easy access to rail and maritime shipping, allowing its products to reach customers throughout the US and overseas. Like many early Seattle lumber mills, the company played a key role in the city's rapid growth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, supplying the lumber that literally built the city.
Description: Released in 2007, Build a Nation marked a powerful return for Bad Brains, the legendary Washington, D.C. band whose explosive mix of hardcore punk, reggae, metal, and Rastafarian spirituality helped reshape underground music. The album reunited the classic lineup of H.R., Dr. Know, Darryl Jenifer, and Earl Hudson and deliberately tapped into the ferocious energy of their early work. Blistering tracks like “Give Thanks and Praises” and “Jah People Make the World Go Round” sit alongside deep reggae grooves, capturing the musical contrasts that always made Bad Brains impossible to neatly categorize. More than 25 years after their earliest recordings, Build a Nation proved the band could still summon the speed, intensity, and positive vibes.
Description: Introduced in 1967 as Mercury's answer to the growing "personal luxury" car market, the Cougar combined 'stang performance with a more refined, upscale personality. Riding on the same basic platform, the Cougar featured a longer wheelbase, distinctive hidden headlights, sequential rear turn signals, and a more luxurious interior. The 1968 model refined the formula that made the original an instant success, combining sporty performance with premium styling and comfort. Buyers could choose from a wide range of V8 engines ranging from the venerable 289 mill all the way up to the legendary 428 Cobra Jet, which transformed the Cougar into a formidable muscle car. The performance-oriented GT-E package paired the 428CJ with heavy-duty suspension.
Description: Mineral was an influential emo band from Austin, Texas, formed in 1994, and while the band existed for only a few years before disbanding in 1997, their emotionally charged songwriting, dynamic arrangements, and deeply introspective lyrics helped define the second wave of emo. Mineral released two highly acclaimed albums, both of which became underground classics. While they achieved little commercial success during their initial run, Mineral's heartfelt sound and melodic intensity profoundly influenced countless emo, indie rock, and post-rock bands that followed, cementing their reputation as one of the genre's most respected and enduring acts. This design is named after track nine from the band's 1996 release, The Power Of Failing.
Description: Founded in Chicago in 1958, Bandera Records was a small independent label run from the home of mother-and-son team Violet Muszynski and Bernie Harville. Overshadowed by local giants Chess and Vee-Jay, the pair built the label on determination and hustle—Bernie even drove a bus to help pay the bills. Known on Chicago's Record Row as "Vi the Record Lady," Violet discovered and developed countless artists, most notably The Impressions with Jerry Butler, whose success helped finance Bandera's launch. Named after Slim Whitman's Bandera Waltz, the label released eclectic regional sounds spanning blues, doo-wop, gospel, rockabilly, and country, making it a truly small but mighty label.
