1. Fried Ice Cream Balls There was something magical about watching a scoop of ice cream disappear into the fryer for just a few seconds, then come out still perfectly cold inside. These crunchy little balls were rolled in cornflakes […]

1. Paste Pots with Built-In Brushes Those squat little paste jars with the attached brush feel almost ceremonial now, like something you’d find behind glass. In the ’60s, they were a classroom standard, especially for art projects and book reports.

1. Three’s Company – Jack Pretends to Be Gay to Live With Two Women When Three’s Company premiered in 1977, the central premise depended on Jack Tripper pretending to be gay so he could legally live with Janet and Chrissy

1. Lye Soap If you grew up around older relatives, there is a good chance lye soap was treated like a miracle worker. It was tough on grease, stains, and pretty much anything else that dared to exist. People used

1. When the Phone Was Always on the Kitchen Wall (All in the Family) Archie Bunker shouting across the house to answer a ringing phone feels oddly specific now, but back then, it was just life. The whole family knew

1. McDonald’s Changeables Back in the late ’80s, McDonald’s Changeables toys turned fries, shakes, and burgers into transforming robots, which already sounds like a lot of small moving parts in one tiny hand. Kids were expected to snap, twist, and

1. The Town That Wouldn’t Start Anything on Fridays There was a small community in the Midwest where Fridays were practically considered off limits for new beginnings. Folks avoided signing papers, starting projects or even opening a new box of