Retrospectacle: Ty Warner’s Beanie Baby Fad
The '90s brought us a plush little toy that promised “riches” to its collectors. Beanie Babies were small stuffed animals filled with tiny plastic beads. Their creator, Ty Warner, adopted a business strategy that was designed to increase scarcity and play into the collectible market. It worked, and brought about an unforgettable and consuming madness that skyrocketed prices and drew in even more collectors with dreams of one day cashing in big.
Retrospectacle: Surfing
Surfing moved from subculture to popular culture in the 1950s. Gone were boards made from redwood, ... more
Bill Remembers: The Sam Sheppard Murder Case
Bill Kurtis looks back on the murder trial of Dr. Sam Sheppard. Accused of killing his own wife, ... more
