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Latest Episodes:

Beanie Babies | 11 Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

How did Beanie Babies go from boom to bust?

On this episode of History of the 90s, Host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the cute, colorful bean bag animals that started off as a toy but soon became an obsession for collectors who were buying and selling the furry creatures on this new thing called EBAY. Beanie Babies were traded like stocks and even became long term investments for some optimistic buyers.

Of course, where there’s money to be made there’s also crime and deception and Beanie Babies were no different. We’ll look back at how greed and hysteria over the 5-dollar plush toy also led to a wave of theft, fraud and fakery.

We’ll trace the Beanie Baby Bubble from start to finish and try to figure out if the man who invented the toy was a genius or an accidental billionaire.

Contact:

Twitter: @1990shistory

Facebook: @1990shistory

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca

Guests:

Zac Bissonnette author, The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: The Amazing Story of How America Lost its Mind Over a Plush Toy – And the Eccentric Genius Behind It

Twitter: @ZacBissonnette

Peggy Gallagher

https://peggyg.com/beanie-baby-authentication/

For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tracy Latimer - Mercy Killing or Murder | 10 Nov 13, 2019

Show notes

In October 1993, Saskatchewan farmer, Robert Latimer, pumped exhaust fumes into the cab of a pickup truck ending the life of his severely disabled 12-year-old daughter. He claimed it was a mercy killing and that he only wanted to end Tracy`s constant pain.

Host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the heated debate that surrounded the death of Tracy Latimer.

The subject of euthanasia was fiercely debated in the 90s. It seemed every few months we heard news that Dr Jack Kevorkian had helped another terminally ill person end their life in the United States.

In Canada, Sue Rodrigues asked the Supreme Court to let a doctor help her die. When the court said no Rodrigues did it anyway forcing the government to take a look at whether society was ready for legalized euthanasia.

But the case of Tracey Latimer was different because she was a child and her parent made the decision for her leading to one of the most polarizing court dramas in Canadian history.

Disabled activists weigh in on this issue along with the author Gary Bauslaugh who has written extensively about Robert Latimer’s lengthy legal battle.

Contact:

Twitter: @1990shistory

Facebook: @1990shistory

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca

Guests:

Gary Bauslaugh author of: Robert Latimer: A Story of Justice and Mercy

https://www.garybauslaugh.com/

Krista Carr, Executive Vice President of Canadian Association for Community Living

Twitter: @KristaCarrNB

https://cacl.ca/

Pat Danforth, Vice Chair of Council of Canadians with Disabilities

http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/

For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scream | 9 Oct 30, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of History of the ’90s, Scream, the movie directed by legendary director Wes Craven gave new life to the horror genre and inspired a generation of teen movies.

In the mid 90’s, the horror movie genre was almost dead, thanks in part to a slew of badly received sequels to iconic franchise like Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th.

Then Scream, with its “Ghostface” serial killer, slashed its way into theaters.

Scream was like no other horror movie before because it wasn’t just terrifying, it was also incredibly self-aware.

From the opening scene when Drew Barrymore is asked, “What’s your favorite scary movie?” it was pretty clear this wasn’t what we were used to. Scream was unique. The characters knew about slasher movies and ironically recognized they were in the middle of one.

This episode looks back at how Scream came to be, including the little-known story of its inspiration. Also did you know that scream was originally called Scary Movie? But studio execs thought it was too on the nose so they suggested Scream…which was the name of a hugely popular song and video released in 1994 starring Michael Jackson and his sister Janet.

We’ll cover all this and we’ll try to understand why it became the most successful slasher movie franchise in history and how it continues to influence horror movies over 20 years later.

If you enjoy History of the ’90s, please take a minute to rate it, tell us what you think and share the show with your friends.

Contact:

Twitter: @1990shistory

Facebook: @1990shistory

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca

Guests:

John Kenneth Muir author of Horror Movies of the 1990s

http://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @JKMuir

For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

JFK Jr. The Prince of Camelot | 8 Oct 16, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the cultural impact of John F. Kennedy Jr. After the assassination of US President Kennedy, John Jr, grew up as a living national treasure who was expected to carry on the hopes and dreams of his father.

in addition to his family’s political legacy, he was a legitimately good-looking guy who was not afraid to flaunt it.

John’s fame peaked in the 90s, after being deemed the Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. His every move was chronicled by the tabloids, with the media keeping close tabs on him, whether it was at work or play.

On this episode we’ll take a closer look at, George, the political magazine he founded in 1995 as well as his marriage to Carolyn Bessette.

We’ll talk to people who knew him and you’ll hear new details about his life and his short marriage that ended in tragedy in 1999 when John and Carolyn, along with her sister Lauren were killed in a plane crash.

Their deaths not only marked the end of Camelot they also marked the end of a paparazzi driven 90s celebrity culture that existed in a world before social media.

Contact:

Twitter: @1990shistory

Facebook: @1990shistory

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca

Guests:

Steven M. Gillon author of: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr.: America’s Reluctant Prince

Randy Taraborrelli author of: The Kennedy Heirs: John, Caroline, and the New Generation –A Legacy of Tragedy and Triumph

jrandytaraborrelli.com

Twitter: @JRTaraborrelli

Instagram: @jrandytaraborrelli

For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The OJ Simpson Verdict | 7 Oct 02, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of History of the 90s we are looking back at one particular day in 1995 that was the climax of a trial that gripped the public’s attention. October 3rd marks 24 years since 95 million people watched live on TV as the verdicts were read in the OJ Simpson Murder Trial.

After an eight month trial, the country waited anxiously to find out what would happen on the streets of Los Angeles If OJ was found guilty. Police were on standby outside the L.A. county courthouse in case there was a riot similar to the recent Rodney King related riots.

Host Kathy Kenzora takes a look back at that day from a special perspective. She was outside the L.A. County courthouse with a microphone and tape recorder covering the reaction for a Toronto radio station. This episode, which first aired on her previous podcast The History of 1995, recreates a day that lives on in infamy.

Contact:

Twitter: @1990shistory

Facebook: @1990shistory

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca

For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Girl Power | 6 Sep 18, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of the History of the 90s, Host Kathy Kenzora looks back at Girl Power, a 90’s phenomenon that introduced a generation of young girls to feminism and empowerment.

If you think of the Spice Girls when you hear Girl Power, you are not wrong. But before the Spice Girls were kicking it for the girls with hit songs like “Wannabe,” the Riot GRRL movement in the Pacific Northwest was advocating for Girl Power.

We’ll talk to authors Alison Yarrow and Anne T. Donahue as we track the Girl Power movement from Riot Grrl to the Spice Girls and try to understand how it impacted music and society in the 90s and today.

Contact:

Twitter: @1990shistory

Facebook: @1990shistory

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca

Guests:

Anne T. Donahue

Twitter: @annetdonahue

Instagram: @annetdonahue

Allison Yarrow, author of 90s Bitch: Media, Culture and the Failed Equality Promise of Gender Equality

Twitter: @Aliyarrow

Instagram: @Aliyarrow

For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The TTC Subway Crash | 5 Sep 04, 2019

Show notes

On this episode we are digging into the archive of Host Kathy Kenzora’s previous podcast the History of 1995 to bring you the incredible life and death story of the Toronto subway crash.

On August 11, 1995, a TTC subway train crashed into the back of a stopped train killing three women and injuring dozens of others in Canada’s deadliest accident on a rapid transit system. The driver of the train that caused the crash was on his second day on the job after receiving just 12 days of training.

Rescuers worked for hours to free trapped passengers from the twisted metal, in unbearably hot conditions. A trauma doctor had to be called in from a nearby hospital to amputate the legs of two passengers who could not be freed by firefighters.

Kenzora covered an inquest into the crash that revealed that the rookie driver at the centre of the crash ran three red lights before his train smashed into the back of the stopped subway. The inquest also revealed a host of safety problems and malfunctioning equipment at the TTC which all played a part in the collision.

Contact:

Twitter: @1990shistory

Facebook: @1990shistory

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca

For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The One About "Friends" | 4 Aug 21, 2019

Show notes

We take a deep dive into Friends, one of the most Iconic TV shows of the decade. Host Kathy Kenzora will try to understand how the show about six 20-somethings in New York became a global phenomenon and why it continues to capture the hearts of fans around the world 25 years later.

Friends was created by three ex-New Yorkers who remembered what it was like when they were trying to navigate an uncertain future after college when friends were family. We’ll take you behind the scenes as creators put together the cast and prepared for the pilot episode which aired on September 22, 1994.

We’ll look at all of the ways that Friends impacted culture, from fashion and music to the legendary Rachel haircut. We’ll also talk to author Kelsey Miller about the surprising impact that Friends has had on people around the world who have learned to speak English by watching the show.

We’ll address some of the questions and controversies that have arisen about Friends, since the recent resurgence of the show and try to explain why it still stands up for an entire new generation of viewers.

Contact:

Twitter: @1990shistory

Facebook: @1990shistory

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca

Guest:

Kelsey Miller, author of I’ll Be There for You: The One About Friends

Twitter: @mskelseymiller

For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Columbine | 3 Aug 07, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora takes you back to the shootings at Columbine High School. She'll share the timeline and details from documents released by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and will talk to people who were there that day. She also addresses some of the myths about Columbine and look at the profound impact of one of the most tragic school shootings in US history.

After the shootings started, student Laura Farber, hid under a table in the cafeteria, unsure if it was real or a prank. Farber and others eventually ran from the cafeteria into a nearby neighbourhood, banging on the front door of several houses before someone let them in to safety.

Columbine Principal Frank DeAngelis, came face to face with one of the shooters as he escorted a group of students into the gym change room. Later he would assist police outside the school as they worked to contain the situation.

While all this was happening the world watched the drama unfold live on TV. A school shooting in the era of 24 hour news coverage created continuous coverage which left a permanent scar on our collective psyche.

Immediately following the drama the media reported that the shooters were bullied loners who were part of a group called “The Trench Coat Mafia.” It was suggested that they were taking revenge on jocks and others who had picked on them.

Professor James Densley from the Metropolitan State University in Minnesota, explains that in the years since the shooting we have learned that this narrative was incorrect and that the notoriety given to the shooters has reared a Columbine Generation.

If you enjoy the History of the 90s, please take a minute to rate it on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts, tell us what you think and share it with your friends.

Contact:

Twitter: @1990shistory

Facebook: @1990shistory

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 90s@curiouscast.ca

Guests:

Laura Farber, Columbine survivor and documentary film maker

Twitter: @Lionessprod

https://wearecolumbinefilm.com/

Frank DeAngelis, Former Columbine Principal and Author of They Call Me “Mr. De”: The Story of Columbine’s Heart, Resilience and Recovery

Twitter: @FrankDiane72

https://www.amazon.ca/They-Call-Mr-Columbines-Resilience-ebook/dp/B07NRDDZK1

James Densley, Professor of Criminal Justice at Metropolitan State University

https://www.jamesdensley.com/home

Twitter: @theviolencepro

For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lion King | 2 Jul 24, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of host Kathy Kenzora looks at the story of the ultimate underdog or maybe...under cat? This is the little known story of the 1994 animated feature, The Lion King.

Despite being one of Disney’s most cherished movies of all time, the Lion King was never expected to be such a massive hit. The Lion King was considered a filler movie to tide people over until Disney released Pocahontas.

Lion King was the first Disney animated movie based on a completely original story, it had a smaller budget and lesser known directors working on the film.

Most of Disney’s “A-Team” animators chose to work on Pocahontas instead of Lion King because they worried a movie about a talking lion cub would be a flop.

Those that ended up working on it were so dedicated that when an earthquake shutdown Disney studios in 1994, animators worked from their homes to make sure the film was completed on time.

Despite these obstacles, The Lion King was a massive hit, making nearly a billion dollars at the box office and winning several awards including two Oscars. In addition, it spawned the highest grossing Broadway production of all time and of course this year’s live action reboot with Beyoncé and Childish Gambino.

The original Lion King also attracted its fair share of criticisms, including concerns that it portrayed hyenas in a negative light and some suggested it was knock off of a Japanese made American cartoon called Kimba the White Lion.

Contact:

Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: 1995podcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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