Description: Penn & Teller introduced Mofo the Psychic Gorilla as a bizarre blend of magic, comedy, and theatrical deception. The routine features a costumed gorilla supposedly endowed with psychic abilities through scientific experimentation, while Teller secretly supplies the character’s voice from offstage. A member of the audience is invited to write down a number, which Teller discreetly observes before returning to his position and dramatically revealing it through Mofo. The character later became connected to “Mofo Knows,” the name used for Penn & Teller’s newsletter during the 1990s, when Mofo was portrayed as a psychic chimpanzee backed by the fictional “Mofo’s Life Support Systems.”
Description: Founded in 1987 by rapper Eric "Eazy-E" Wright and veteran music manager Jerry Heller, Ruthless Records quickly became one of the most influential labels in hip hop. The label launched the careers of several groundbreaking gangsta rap artists and played a major role in bringing West Coast hip hop from the underground into mainstream popular culture.
Description: Founded in New Orleans in 1905, K&B (Katz & Besthoff) grew into one of the Gulf Coast's most beloved drug store chains before being acquired by Rite Aid in 1997. Famous for its signature "K&B Purple" branding, the company became a lasting cultural icon, remembered for its distinctive stores and popular private-label products.
Description: In 1982, KFOG introduced a major programming change, replacing its easy listening format with a "Timeless Rock" playlist that blended album-oriented rock (AOR) and classic rock while continuing to broadcast from its Ghirardelli Square studios. The transition officially began on September 16, opening with "Rock This Town" by The Stray Cats. The refreshed format combined legendary acts such as Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane with contemporary artists including Prince, Eurythmics, and Thompson Twins, creating a diverse mix that appealed to both longtime rock fans and newer audiences.
Description: Originally signing on as WAFM on December 1, 1947, the Birmingham station later became known as WAPI and spent decades broadcasting various Adult Contemporary formats. A change in ownership in 1980 led to a major programming shift, and in August 1981 the station rebranded as 95 Rock, becoming Birmingham's second station dedicated to Album Rock. As Top 40 music surged in popularity during the mid-1980s, the station abandoned its rock format in 1984. It briefly adopted the name 95 FM before relaunching later that year as I-95, promoting itself as"Birmingham's Hit Rock." Within a year, I-95 had grown into Birmingham's leading Top 40 radio station.
Description: Since its founding in 1925, Napa Automotive Parts has earned a lasting place in the automotive world. What began as a network serving the replacement parts market evolved into one of the industry's most recognizable brands, trusted by generations of mechanics, restorers, and car enthusiasts for quality parts and reliable service.
Description: WZMF was a Milwaukee, Wisconsin radio station that operated from 1966 to 1979. Originally broadcasting a Middle of the Road (MOR) format, it evolved into one of the Midwest's first **freeform progressive rock stations in 1968. Remembered as a pioneer of progressive FM radio, WZMF signed off on March 23, 1979, ending an influential chapter in American rock radio history.
Description: Celebrate the legendary world of secret aerospace development with this vintage-inspired Skunk Works design. Featuring a classic aviation badge style, bold typography, and the iconic skunk theme, this design pays tribute to the pioneering spirit of experimental aircraft and advanced aerospace engineering beginning in 1943. Perfect for aviation enthusiasts, aerospace history fans, aircraft engineers, pilots, and lovers of vintage military aviation aesthetics.
Description: From the 1970s through the 1990s, Chapter 3 Records became a familiar name among music lovers across the Southeast. What began as a small Atlanta-area record store chain expanded to locations in Buckhead, Smyrna, North Springs, Morgantown, Greensboro, and Gainesville. Despite its multiple locations, Chapter 3 retained the personal, neighborhood feel of an independent record shop—while building its reputation as “The Lowest Priced Record Chain in the Southeastern United States.
Description: Camelot Music was a mall-based retailer of prerecorded music and accessories and was one of the largest music retailers in the United States based on store count. Camelot Music was founded in 1956 in Massillon, Ohio, by Paul David and his brother Robert David. It operated 305 stores with a significant store base concentration in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States.
Description: Cordell Jackson was a true rock ’n’ roll pioneer—a guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, and founder of Moon Records. Decades before the DIY movement, she built one of Memphis’s earliest independent record labels and personally handled everything from recording and pressing to promoting and distributing music, breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry.
Description: Mammoth Mart was a popular discount department store chain in the Northeastern United States, operating from 1956 until the early 1970s. Known for its friendly elephant mascot, Marty, and bargain prices, the stores offered everything from clothing and toys to home goods. Though the chain eventually disappeared after bankruptcy and rebranding, Mammoth Mart remains a nostalgic favorite among fans of vintage retail history and classic American department stores.
Description: Founded in 1962, Geri’s Hamburgers was a beloved fast-food chain based in Rockford, Illinois, that grew to more than a dozen locations throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. At its peak, the chain operated several restaurants in the Rockford area and expanded into markets such as Madison, Wisconsin. Inspired by the early McDonald’s model, Geri’s focused on quick, affordable service with limited indoor seating and a strong emphasis on take-out dining. By 1980, the chain had grown to at least 13 locations. The Geri’s corporation officially closed in 1981, though some restaurants continued operating independently for years afterward. The final Geri’s location, in Beloit, Wisconsin, remained open until it closed its doors in 1999.
Description: Penguin Feather Records & Tapes opened in Annandale, Virginia, in the 1970s and became a beloved destination for music lovers throughout the Washington, D.C. area. The store expanded to locations across Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, offering a wide selection of vinyl records, cassette tapes, CDs, and music collectibles. A symbol of the golden age of independent record stores, Penguin Feather closed all locations in 1989, leaving behind a nostalgic legacy for fans of vintage music culture.
Description: The Uncle Floyd Show aired in New Jersey and New York from 1974 to 1998. It can be read as a children's show or a parody of a children's show. Much of the humor has a twist aimed at adults. The show featured character comedy, puppetry, some audience participation, musical guests, and Floyd's piano playing. One of Floyd's puppet sidekicks – actually a ventriloquial figure – was named Oogie. The show made its debut on UA-Columbia Cable TV of New Jersey, now part of Cablevision, on January 29, 1974. Beginning in November 1974 it aired on UHF-TV station WBTB-TV in Newark, New Jersey, broadcasting on channels 68 and 60.
Description: On September 16, 1982, KFOG abandoned its easy listening format and introduced a mix of album-oriented rock (AOR) and classic rock branded as "Timeless Rock." At the time, the station's studios were still located at Ghirardelli Square. The new era began with "Rock This Town" by The Stray Cats as the first song played. KFOG became known for its broad and eclectic playlist, featuring artists ranging from Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane to Prince, Eurythmics, and Thompson Twins. KFOG switched from easy listening to its signature "Timeless Rock" format on September 16, 1982, blending album-oriented rock (AOR) and classic rock. The station remained a Bay Area favorite for more than 25 years before ending its legendary rock era in 2019.
Description: KSJO adopted a free-form progressive rock format in 1968, becoming a favorite among Bay Area rock fans for more than three decades. Its rock era came to an unexpected end at 7:00 p.m. on October 28, 2004, when the station aired its final rock track, **"Mexican Radio"** by Wall of Voodoo, before immediately switching to a Mexican oldies format under the name **"La Preciosa."** The abrupt transition disappointed many longtime listeners, who saw the change as the loss of one of the San Francisco Bay Area's last iconic rock radio stations.
Description: WPFM underwent several format changes during the early 1990s. It adopted the "Power 108" identity in 1992 with a Top 40 format, briefly rebranded as "Kiss FM" in 1993, then shifted to alternative rock as "107.9 The Zone." By 1995, the station returned to Top 40 music under the name "Mix 108."
