After a Century, the Theremin Still Pops Up in Pop Music

In 1949, a teenager named Robert Moog was leafing through the pages of Electronics World magazine when he came across the schematic for a musical instrument called the theremin. Instantly recognizable for its ethereal, mournful voice, the theremin features two antennas that generate electromagnetic fields. Placed between the aerials, human hands act as capacitors and…

When Bugs Bunny and Cinderella Rode to Huffy’s Rescue

For a company that’s managed to stick around for over a century, there are many moments to look back on with nostalgia and pride. But for Huffy, which turns 130 this year, the year 1995 wasn’t one to remember. Struggling to compete with less expensive Asian imports, Huffy lost $10.5 million that year. It would…

Luxury Paint House Farrow & Ball Began as a Wartime Hustle

On the evening of Jan. 2, 2019, some 9 million people were watching Saturday Night Live when a skit called “New Paint” aired. It featured an unemployed bartender named Beth (Aidy Bryant) who boasts to her visiting brother Tom (Beck Bennett) how she’s covered her living room walls with Lulworth Blue from Farrow & Ball–“the…

Cadbury Creme Eggs: The Gooey Easter Treat Laid by a Bunny

For better or worse, American foods have a tendency to find their way to the far corners of the earth, which is why steak-flavored Doritos are popular in Europe and South Koreans give tins of Spam as gifts. But if there’s a notable exception to the tradition of America exporting all of its treats, it’s…

DivaCup Is Surfing the Crimson Wave From Taboo to Trendy

When it comes to periods, most menstruators want a quick, easy and painless method for dealing with their cycles. The less cleanup and waste, the better. Menstrual cups aren’t a novel idea, but they’ve hit a stride as more sustainability-minded consumers attempt to reduce single-use waste. According to a report by market research firm Facts…

After 30 Years, Mall of America Is Still Ahead of Its Time

In 1990, Minnesota Gov. Rudy Perpich, then in the twilight of his 10-year dynasty in the state house, was putting the finishing touches on his political and economic legacy. Among his exploits, two still stand out. The first was convincing Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev to swing through St. Paul on his visit to the United…

Once the Stars of SXSW, How Have These Technologies Fared Since?

As a music festival entering its 35th season, SXSW has seen the debuts of some of the biggest stars of our time: Katy Perry, John Mayer, The White Stripes and Amy Winehouse all got their major breaks in downtown Austin, Texas. But SXSW was destined from the start to be about more than music. Technology…

Those Iconic Images of Che Guevara and James Dean? Thank a Leica Camera

Let’s pretend it’s 150 years ago and you wanted to have your picture taken. You’d have to get yourself to a photo studio and be prepared to spend time and money. The photographer would get under the drape of his wet-collodion camera–a milk crate-sized box bolted to a tripod–then remove the lens cover. Since it…

Why the Super Bowl Halftime Show Wasn’t Cool Until 1993

The turning point was 1993. For the 26 Super Bowls preceding, the halftime show had been little more than a glorified station break: 20 minutes to run to the bathroom, fetch a beer and stir the onion dip. While the occasional fading star made an appearance (Carol Channing in 1972, for example), the early halftimes–however…

What Will 2022 Bring? We Don’t Know, but Zoltar Does

In 2016, a strange machine began appearing on the sidewalks of Manhattan. It was a tall wooden cabinet with glass windows, and inside, wearing a red tie and orange toupee, was the All-Seeing Trump, an animatronic character that predicted America’s future in the form of “misfortunes.” “When I’m president,” the automaton crowed at passersby, “we’re…

Piercing Pagoda Has a New Name, but Its Main Service Is Still Free With Purchase

If you grew up in an American suburb during the 1980s, there is no way you don’t know Piercing Pagoda. Maybe you never got your ears pierced there, but odds are you saw your share of other mullet-capped teens getting it done at that beige mall kiosk, just down from Waldenbooks, KB Toys and Chess…

Timeless Cool of Martini & Rossi Goes Beyond James Bond

This is the story of a famous brand that makes a famous wine. That famous wine is also an integral ingredient in a famous cocktail. However, before we can talk about Martini & Rossi vermouth, we must address a certain cocktail commonly ordered by a man named Bond–James Bond. Ian Fleming’s swashbuckling MI6 agent was…

Yankee Candle Began as a Christmas Gift of Melted Crayons

THE CONTAINER – Introduced in 1977, the apothecary-style jar has become Yankee Candle’s signature packaging. THE SCENT – Yankee Candle has 600 of them, but Spiced Pumpkin is No. 1 this time of year. THE FORMULA – The brand is known for the realism of its aromas and also their strength: One candle can scent…

Inside the Terror That Sells in the Night, Spirit Halloween

When October rolls around, millions of Americans take comfort in the familiar harbingers of fall: The leaves turn colors, the sun sets earlier, Starbucks pours pumpkin spice lattes–and a six-block line forms outside the nearest Spirit Halloween. Odds are, in fact, that you’ve stood in that line yourself. Not only do 65% of adults now…

‘Great at a Lot of Things’: The Secret to Wegmans’ Success

Oct. 27, 2019, was a rainy Thursday in Brooklyn. Despite the chill and gloom, however, crowds began assembling before daybreak. Some had risen at 5:30 a.m. for a place in line. Some had driven from as far away as the Bronx. One might think these were fans lining up to see the Black Keys or…

The Y2K Crisis Was the Aflac Duck’s Moment to Shine

For those who weren’t around for it, the first few minutes of 2000 were really scary. Throughout the late ’90s, doomsday prophets had been warning that computer programs the world over would go haywire at the stroke of midnight, as most time coding assumed that “19” preceded the year. Times Square would go dark. Planes…

Beloved but Elusive, McDonald’s McFlurry Is a Fast-Food Icon

Americans have much to thank Canada for inventing. There’s insulin, for example, and the pacemaker. A trio of Canadian filmmakers developed the Imax format in 1967, and a Nova Scotian inventor named Samuel McKeen gave us the odometer. Then there’s a pioneer named Ron McClellan, who told Canada’s CTV in 2015: “I never expected that…

Wawa’s Journey From Small-Town Dairy to Convenience Store Phenomenon

Six years ago, when the Vatican announced that Pope Francis would be stopping in Philadelphia as part of his visit to the United States, local businesses responded en masse. Manayunk Brewing Company made Papal ale. The pope’s likeness appeared on pizza boxes. Local station WZMP started a “popecast.” But no welcome stuck in local memory…

We-Vibe’s Latest Campaign Revs Up Healthier Conversations About Sex For Seniors

It’s a common myth that libido decreases to the point of being nonexistent as we age, but many seniors would disagree. Social stigma can lead to a slew of negative side effects and discourage honest discussion. Ageism in conversations around sex is ingrained in many ways, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. To…

The Olympics Is Showing Its Age as Major Brands Question Whether It’s Worth Advertising In

Last week, the 2020 Olympic Games kicked off in Tokyo with all the pomp associated with planet Earth’s premier athletic event. For anyone who’s watched the Games before, it was all familiar: the fresh-faced athletes, the spirit of competition and, of course, the brands. A who’s who of blue-chip behemoths including Coca-Cola, P&G and Visa…