Thowback Now and Then

Before backpacks had laptop sleeves, there was the Trapper Keeper—a velcro-sealed fortress of organization that could make or break your social standing in homeroom. We trace its invention by Mead in 1978, its peak as a $100-million-a-year phenomenon, and the surprising reasons it disappeared from lockers everywhere. Featuring the designer who created it, teachers who banned it, and kids who still remember exactly which design they had.

Remember when 'going to the mall' was the answer to 'what are you doing today?' Then suddenly, everyone was huddled around a glowing screen instead. We're diving into the great migration from food courts to forums, from Orange Julius to instant messenger, and asking: did we lose something when our gathering places went virtual?

Remember those must-have toys that ruled the holiday season, only to be abandoned by January? We're counting down seven fads that went from 'I'll die if I don't get this' to 'wait, what does this thing even do?' in record time. From Teddy Ruxpin to Furby, let's revisit the buyer's remorse that defined a generation.

In 2022, New York City removed its final public payphones—except for one. We trace the story of this lone survivor on West End Avenue, from its installation in 1997 through the cell phone revolution, and meet the people who still dial its number today. What keeps them calling a relic that the rest of the world has forgotten?

In the early 2000s, a DVD-by-mail startup tried to sell itself to the reigning king of movie rentals for $50 million. Blockbuster said no. Two decades later, one is a cultural punchline with a single store in Bend, Oregon, while the other dominates living rooms worldwide. We're diving into the epic clash that killed late fees, ended the Friday night ritual of wandering video store aisles, and changed how we watch everything.

Remember when Dunkaroos hit different? We're counting down five iconic snacks that loyal fans swear aren't the same anymore—and investigating whether it's nostalgia playing tricks or if these treats really did taste better back in the day. From recipe reformulations to package downsizing, we've got the facts behind your favorite childhood munchies.

In 1961, IBM released a typewriter so revolutionary it dominated offices for three decades. Today, a devoted community of writers, artists, and collectors still hunt for these machines, repair them obsessively, and insist nothing digital can match the Selectric's precision. We trace the journey of one iconic object from cutting-edge technology to beloved relic.

Generational nostalgia

Take a look at generational differences!

Now and Then best of episode!