Jesse Singer articles

You turned on the TV because you couldn’t sleep. Half an hour later, you were seriously considering buying something you hadn’t even known existed. These 80s infomercial products could make almost anything seem essential. But how many would anyone born after 2000 even recognize?

You’ve heard it in churches, Christmas songs, movies, and probably a few situations that had nothing to do with religion. But here’s a question you might never have asked: What did his mother actually call him? It sounds simple enough—until you follow the answer through history and discover how much happened before that name reached your Bible.

You probably remember the toy you begged for every Christmas. But what about everything sitting beside it on the shelf? The 60s had some strange ideas about keeping children entertained—and plenty of them disappeared. Let’s see how many still ring a bell.

Before you could buy something with one click, a man on television could convince you that your entire household was doing everything wrong. Fortunately, he had just the thing to fix it. These 60s and 70s products promised an easier life—and somehow always made the perfect Christmas gift.

Remember when these names were everywhere? Then, somewhere along the way, they became “old people’s names.” Well, apparently they’re cool again. Younger parents are giving their babies names the older generation probably remembers from school. Do any of these sound familiar?

Looking good in the 60s and 70s apparently required patience, questionable chemicals and several appliances that looked borrowed from a laboratory. Women rubbed, sprayed, taped, heated and occasionally shocked themselves in the name of beauty. How many of these ridiculous products do you remember?

Back in the 70s, getting into the right college gave you something to brag about. Your parents were impressed. Your guidance counselor was pleased. And your friends wanted to know how you pulled it off. But mention those same schools today, and...nothing. How many do you remember?

England had been told its former king was gone. There had been a funeral, and his son was on the throne. More than two years later, a letter surfaced that threatened to upend the whole story. The person behind it had attended the funeral himself.

Edward V’s father had just passed away, and the boy was travelling to London to be crowned. The adults around him knew what was supposed to happen when he arrived. Then his uncle appeared on the road. At first, there was an explanation for everything he did.