Online magazine, Mental Floss, extends its trivia-focused pop culture content to nostalgic objects with the Throwback playlist on its YouTube channel.
How did the brine shrimp now known as Sea Monkeys come to be a children’s toy? What was the appeal of Garbage Pail Kids? Why did VHS tapes become the de facto VCR technology when Betamax was the superior option for home entertainment? These are just some of the questions tackled on the Mental Floss Throwback videos.
Pop culture toys and trends of past decades are analyzed for what made them significant and why they continue to hold a place in the hearts and minds of those who experienced them first-hand. Other topics include Nintendo, Mad Magazine, and the Unsolved Mysteries television series.
The channel’s Food History playlist may also be of interest to those wanting to learn the fascinating origin stories of familiar foods.
