Remember the “Dad Wagon?” It’s Making a Trendy Comeback

Fashion/trendiness is whatever looks great today, will look ridiculous in 10 years, and become “vintage cool” in 20 years.

It’s a tale as old as time. Whether it’s clothes, music, or cars, it seems that what is old will always become new again given enough time.

Take the Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon, for example. Popularly dubbed the “Dad Wagon,” it was the subject of a lot of ridicule when it first came out… and for many, many years after.

Well, these babies are back on the road – thanks largely to millennials who are quite obviously digging them in a major way.

Hagerty Insurance reported an almost 50% increase in quotes for the vintage Buicks from 2017 to 2018, meaning that the Roadmaster Estate Wagon was the most requested car by 14 percentage points.

What??

The Roadmaster Estate Wagons were produced by Buick from 1991 until 1996, and they just scream 1990s style, don’t they? The Roadmaster Wagons are a whopping 18 feet long, can seat 8 people, and feature a sunroof, which we all need in our lives. But there’s another reason why these vehicles are appealing: under the hood is a 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine that has 260 horsepower. That engine, by the way, is the same kind used in Corvettes, Camaros, and Firebird Trans-AMs.

The price tag is nice as well. The average listing price for a Roadmaster Wagon in the Kelley Blue Book is $2,990. Not bad, not bad at all.

Jonathan Klinger, a spokesperson for Hagerty, said, “It’s a fun way to stand out for not a whole lot of money. It’s like driving a couch down the road: Big comfy seats that lack any sort of real driver-oriented support, but they’re just cushy and comfortable. And with the V-8 engine, it’s got a little bit of sleeper status to it.”

What do you think? Are you going to run out and get your hands on one of these vintage beauties?

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10+ Little-Known Facts About Hollywood Actors from the Golden Age

Back in the Golden Era of Hollywood, actors weren’t under nearly as much scrutiny as they are today. Sure, there were some tabloids and paparazzi around, but not to the degree they are today and certainly without nearly the surveillance capabilities that today’s snoops have.

That means that actors back then actually had secrets they could keep… until now.

#1. Lana Turner’s daughter Cheryl was a murderer.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She stabbed Turner’s abusive boyfriend to death when she was just 14.

#2. Katharine Hepburn did accept second billing once.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She agreed to be the maid of honor at Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier’s wedding.

#3. Greta Garbo was Hitler’s favorite actress.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

He used to invite her to visit Germany, but the feeling wasn’t mutual – she used to tell people that if she had met him, she would have killed him and gotten away with it.

#4. There were rumors that Shirley Temple was a dwarf.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

People believed there was no way a child could be that talented, and the Vatican even sent someone to investigate.

#5. Lucille Ball was told to give up acting.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Her coaches said she wasn’t talented enough to make it.

#6. Rock Hudson had affairs with both of his Giant co-stars.

The rumor was that Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson had a bet to see who could sleep with James Dean first, and apparently Rock won. —bravetyper

Image Credit: Warner Bros.

The bi-sexual actor had flings with both Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean.

#7. Elizabeth Taylor once saved someone’s life.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

You already knew she was a badass, but she saved Montgomery Clift’s life after he smashed his face during a car accident. He was choking on his teeth and she pulled them out while they waited for the ambulance.

#8. The boy who voiced Peter Pan died penniless and alone.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Bobby Driscoll died unclaimed and unidentified in an abandoned apartment building at the age of 31.

#9. Hedy Lamarr invented the precursor to Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She helped develop a radio guidance system for torpedoes at the beginning of WWII.

#10. Rita Moreno knew how to make Marlon Brando jealous.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She dated Elvis. As one does.

#11. Joan Crawford became a recluse at the end of her life.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Why? She was afraid of unflattering photos surfacing like they had once before.

#12. James Dean did a PSA urging young people not to drive recklessly.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

A month later, he died in a car accident.

#13. Audrey Hepburn lived through the German invasion of Holland during WII.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She survived by eating tulip bulbs.

I’ll never look at their pictures the same!

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Vintage Question Cards from the NY Public Library

Librarians are the keepers of knowledge. They hold the keys to a treasure trove of tomes containing the wisdom of the ages. They also deal with the public every day, so you know they see their fair share of crazies.

People have asked librarians all sorts of questions over the years, including these ones received by NY librarians from the 1940s-1980s prove without a doubt.

#1. The “public eye,” as it was then…

Image Credit: Facebook

#2. Fair question, though perhaps an ill-advised plan.

Image Credit: Facebook

#3. That’s one busy day.

Image Credit: Facebook

#4. I’m guessing somewhere in Wilmington.

Image Credit: Facebook

#5. Intrigue…

Image Credit: Facebook

#6. Didn’t Adam eat the apple? Is this a trick question?

Image Credit: Facebook

#7. Girl, go.

Image Credit: Facebook

#8. Um…I’d really like to know how this was answered.

Image Credit: Facebook

#9. This is a romance novel waiting to happen.

Image Credit: Facebook

#10. Ew.

Image Credit: Facebook

You know those librarians answered each and every one of those questions. Because they’re awesome, and also hilarious.

Seriously. Go hug your librarian friend today…and then buy them a beer and listen to their stories. Everyone wins.

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Artist Converts Vintage Photos into Pop Culture Icons

Alex Gross is an artist who takes gorgeous vintage photography, then adds his own unique spin on them by turning them into modern pop culture icons.

The results speak for themselves.

1. I dream of…

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

2. The north remembers

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

3. Peter Parker

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

4. Bruce Wayne

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

5. Look at that

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

6. Singing star

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

7. Uncanny

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

8. Aqua

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

9. Deadly

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

10. Wolverine

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

11. Vader and kids

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

12. C3PO

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

13. Kid heroes

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

14. Black Panther

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

15. More Star Wars

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

16. Saruman

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

17. Beetlejuice

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

18. Coneheads!

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

19. Groot

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

20. Spot on

Photo Credit: Instagram,artofalexgross

These are really amazing!

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Twitter Users are Sharing Photos of Their Grandparents, and They’re Absolutely Stunning

Not too long ago, one of the co-hosts of Buzzfeed Newsshared an old photo of his grandfather, calling him “a goddamn stunner” in the caption.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Fitzgerald’s next tweet invited others to share photos of their grandparents. Soon came a flood of images of grandpaps and nonnis, all looking amazing and virile enough to grab some elk on the way home for dinner.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Our grandparents were quite glamorous. No one wore their pajamas on the street. Imagine.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Someone even began restoring a few of the old photos just to be nice.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Twitter saw many wedding photos that looked like Hollywood events. The Kardashians should look so good.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Grandpa sure was rugged.

Photo Credit: Twitter

And had a spirit for adventure.

What was it about that long ago era that made everyone look like they stepped out of a magazine? Any way to get that kind of mojo back? We could use it.

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These Rare Photos of Vintage Grocery Stores Are Surprisingly Cool

There are about a hundred ways you’d be able to spot a vintage photo from a modern one, and that goes double (or triple) for snapshots of old grocery stores. For one thing, people back in the day would not have been caught dead shopping in their pajamas. The stores were also more elegant with wider aisles, and so on and so forth.

You won’t be sorry you took this stroll through eras gone by!

#15. Check out these cashiers.

Photo Credit: Reddit

#14. A self-service Piggly Wiggly in 1918.

Photo Credit: Public Image

#13. The early to mid-70s.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

#12. The Jitney Jungle, 1962

Photo Credit: Florida Memory

#11. Proof that kids haven’t changed since the ’50s.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

#10. Late 19th Century

Photo Credit: Reddit

#9. I guess wearing curlers in public was okay in the ’60s.

Photo Credit: Reddit

#8. Where shopping is a pleasure…and so are those cars!

Photo Credit: Florida Memory

#7. James Dean shopping in the mid-50s. And looking cool in the process, obviously.

Photo Credit: Richard C Miller

#6. Chicago, 1941.

Photo Credit: Public Use

#5. Even in the ’80s, people still dressed nice.

Photo Credit: American History SI

#4. Extra-wide aisles at a Publix.

Photo Credit: American History SI

#3. A Japanese-owned store in the days after Pearl Harbor.

Photo Credit: Public Use

#2. 1925 – so neat and tidy.

Photo Credit: Reddit

#1. Check out that price for ground beef in the ’40s.

Photo Credit: Public Use

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12 Toys from the 1980s That Will Blast You Straight to the Past

There’s no disputing that the 1980s were an iconic time – hair, rock, and fashion, sure, but mostly it was the toys that set our childhoods apart from the others. They might have been liable to kill us, but man…they were awesome.

If you’re in the mood for a quick hit of nostalgia, take a scroll through these 12 toys – the likes of which we’re not likely to see again.

#12. Voltron

Photo Credit: RC Toy Memories

What’s not to love about 5 robotic lions that combined to form a gigantic, sword-toting robot? Nothing, that’s what.

#11. He-Man (Masters of the Universe)

Photo Credit: Pinterest

These uber-masculine, sword-toting action figures were popular enough to spawn comic books, two feature films, and three television series, all within the same decade.

#10. Nintendo Entertainment System

Photo Credit: Nintendo

They weren’t the first, but many 80s kids will argue with game series like Zelda, Mario, and Final Fantasy, NES was the best 80s gaming had to offer.

#9. Glo Worms

Photo Credit: Blogspot

I brought these up a few months ago and no one remembered them, but these toys with light-up worm bodies and human heads were a massive hit in the 8os.

#8. Cabbage Patch Kids

Photo Credit: YouTube

Though they were introduced in the 1970s, it was the 1980s that had Cabbage Patch Kids flying off shelves.

#7. Jem

Photo Credit: YouTube

Before there was Hannah Montana, there was Jem – a teenager who lived a double life as a holographically-enhanced rock singer named Jerrica. Both sported amazing 80s fashion, of course.

#6. Strawberry Shortcake

Photo Credit: Vermont Country Store

I myself had a sleeping bag featuring the little lady, but the dolls and other items that smelled like strawberries were seriously the best.

#5. Popples

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Why just have a stuffed animal when you could have a stuffed animal that zipped into a furry ball? Two toys are always better than one, right?

#4. Rainbow Brite

Photo Credit: Wharble

What little person doesn’t harbor a fantasy of riding a white unicorn across a glittering rainbow? All of us – and Rainbow Brite let us live out our dreams through her adventures.

#3. Star Wars Everything

Photo Credit: Vulture

We are the original Star Wars generation, and we owned everything from action figures to sleeping backs and a whole bunch of crap in between.

#2. My Little Pony

Photo Credit: MLP Merch

They were officially branded in 1982, and the line of horses featuring different colored manes and an array of decorations on their rumps have hardly fallen in popularity since.

#1. Transformers

Photo Credit: Nothing But Nostalgia

The cartoon manifested in the 80s, and even though the most recent iteration is more high-tech and fancy, ours were just as awesome.

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