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KnockBack, Episode 51: Malls in the '80s and '90s

The 21st century has brought with it the slow-but-steady demise of malls across the United States (and elsewhere, of course). But in the post-World War II era, when families started sprouting up in the suburbs in huge numbers, malls weren't only centers of commerce, but centers of pre-Internet socializing, too. So today, let's chat about the mall during the latter end of its triumphant era, in the '80s and '90s. The stores we loved and hated. The people we met. The food courts. And, of course, the toy stores, game shops, and all of the other nerdy things we relied upon a great deal before the advent of Always Online.

KnockBack, Episode 51: Malls in the '80s and '90s

Comments

😂😂😂

AndyofCT

Romero's OG from 1978 is great. Zombies with a social commentary message. Zack Snyder did a remake in 2004, which is pretty good too. Not too Zack Snyderish at all. The first Dead Rising game is hugely inspired by this movie.

TrackyMatts

Not sure I've ever even seen it.

Colin Moriarty

Haters gonna hate.

Colin Moriarty

That's a good point.

Colin Moriarty

Surprised Colin didn't mention the brilliant Romero zombie movie 'Dawn of the Dead'. An ode to malls and consumerism.

TrackyMatts

I could not stand Bickford's. My dad always wanted to go there because they put coupons in the Sunday Hartford Courant...but hell no... Bickford's was always just shitty Denny's to me.

AndyofCT

In some ways the internet usurped the mall. Not just in the Amazon way but in the way young teens and adults experienced novelty. The mall opened my eyes to ideas, quirks and perversions that exists past (but within) the suburban bible

Dan Kolber

Fair enough.

Marcus Brown

Geze Louise.

Colin Moriarty

Remember forever the story of the chips and cheese.

Colin Moriarty

You don't eat a pound of cheddar cheese every three days like I do?

Colin Moriarty

Sure it is!

Colin Moriarty

I can't believe I didn't know that one.

Colin Moriarty

Thanks for listening!

Colin Moriarty

They all kinda just blur together.

Colin Moriarty

I hate shopping, too. Thank god for the Sacred Symbols sponsorships I've recently gotten for StitchFix and Mack Weldon and the like, 'cause I get to try things out for free and it's the only new clothes I get. LOL.

Colin Moriarty

Dude, it's amazing.

Colin Moriarty

Thanks ma! <3

Colin Moriarty

One of the best shows ever!

Colin Moriarty

You're not alone, I suspect.

Colin Moriarty

I just remember spending every cent I had at the mall, all the time, without any thought for my finances.

Colin Moriarty

It's sad that times are changing, but man, I love Amazon.

Colin Moriarty

I remember that game coming out when I was at IGN. I don't think it ever even came to PS3.

Colin Moriarty

Funny mall memory: A buddy of mine had a plush rooster that he shoved down his pants and had the head sticking out of his fly. He walked around the mall all day asking girls if they wanted to pet his cock. Horrible, but still funny.

Jason Stafford

I thought the chip thing was normal as shit until Colin told the terrifying story of what he does with the cheese after he makes the nachos

John Lynch

Up until the twist in the chips and cheese story, I do the same thing, but splash hot sauce on top of it all. 5+ times a week. Cheese is the best food.

bk200jj

Pepsi is not alright!

Tyson Williams

Lmao at Dagan’s story about being “Danny” at one point meeting a girl at the mall. If that relationship had worked he’d be Danny to this day

Josh in Tampa

Since the nearest real mall was 50+ miles away from where I grew up I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one. Ended up being a lot of fun! When food came up I thought of trips to Sbarro and then Dagan mentions it! Also thought the discussion on spending time with kids in other districts was cool. Made me a bit jealous as where I grew there weren’t any other bigger districts near by. Great stuff as always!

Nick DeBoer

The gymnastics was Jurassic Park 2 The Lost World and that's the best one! 3 was the plane crash one. Great episode, this was fun.

Marcus Brown

Really enjoyed this ep, as someone who grew up in the countryside in England (literally in Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz (he went to same school as me and so filmed it there)...Therefore as a kid I dreamed of a place like the mall as depicted in all those US tv and films. It all seemed so exotic and exciting... Now a days I live in Birmingham (UK) and can't stand shopping usually leaving wife to shop as I chill in a little pinball place that serves hot tea and specialist beers. For me shops hold no interest for we with nothing outside of retro gaming I ever fancy buying.. most of the time is spent at charity shops and finding good vinyl albums... hmm as I dissect myself.. i clearly never left the 80s or 90s 😂😂

Paul Driscoll

Marsha Mellow, amazing name! She must have really loved that guy to take that name on!

Craig Pelat

‘Tommy’, you and ‘Danny’ did a great job! Fun memories. ❤️❤️

BettyAnn Moriarty

👏🏻

BettyAnn Moriarty

😂 😉

BettyAnn Moriarty

You had ‘business cards’!? Ingenious. Sorry it didn’t work out too well... 😞

BettyAnn Moriarty

P.s just watched all of dawton abbey as well in the last couple of months and it was awesome :-)

Matthew Perry

In the spirit of admitting to stuff that I'm embarrassed about ..... I also have watched all of the Gilmore girls !!! :-)

Matthew Perry

I like how many times Colin was done talking about Malls and Dagans like nope!

Owen

So Owens never been much of a common name, and when I was a freshmen there was this cool kid that was a junior, really popular guy and he thought my name was Nolan. Always talked to me and everything “hey Nolan!” So I just never corrected him. - one day someone’s like “why are you calling him Nolan” - “Nolan cmon... your name is Nolan right?” — so Dagan I understand just not bothering.

Owen

Loving this episode more than I thought I would. Wasn’t a big mall person but definitely had some good memories there. And can relate to Dagan with the different phases of my life being in the mall. For sure the girls part. Now late in my life (I’m not as old as Dagan but ....jk lol) I go with my fiancé. We have fun shopping and I don’t see it dying just yet. Here in Jersey at least. Keep up the good work guys !

Anthony Longo

Great episode guys. I was definitely a mall rat of the late 90s with such greats as: Sam goody, suncoast, kB (which I even worked at), and of course the arcade. Instead of malls being built every year, it feels like we have a new amazon distribution center. I don’t know which is a worse symbol for American consumerism.

Chris B

I remember when I was in high school and I had Water Polo tournaments away in Roseville, we always made it a tradition to go to the giant mall that was there and my mom and I would go get Mongolian BBQ at the food court. I also remember going to a GameStop there and saw a game that was literally called “Black College Football” for the Xbox 360. Lol. Good times.

Will Hahn

Germans settled much of Pennsylvania.

Colin Moriarty

No doubt.

Colin Moriarty

You get it.

Colin Moriarty

Enjoy!

Colin Moriarty

Thank you so much! We appreciate that.

Colin Moriarty

It'll be here when you're ready (unless an EMP goes off first).

Colin Moriarty

When I first heard of that place I always wanted to go in their dressed as a 19th century Prussian soldier and yell at the people in German. What is the etymology of it being named that?

Erik Peterson

😐😂

BettyAnn Moriarty

Never do it Dagan! Stay away from King of Prussia mall. It's everything that you fear it is...

Fred Bence

"No one's a bigger 70 year-old woman than Colin Moriarty." Quote of the episode. Haha. Also after hearing you describe your nacho habits, Colin, I can't help but come to the conclusion that you are indeed a fucking psychopath...

Alex Gates

🤔

BettyAnn Moriarty

I do the nacho thing also with Lucerne cheese or sargento if its been a good month. I will actually add more cheese, mid meal to keep the cheese:chip ratio as even as possible. I'm also lactose intolerant so there you go!

Andrew Mendoza

HERE IT IS!!! My original campaign failed, but like any good initiative it didn't die, just needed to wait till the next election😁!! So hype!!

Jeshua Anderson

Knockback topics have been on FIRE lately!!! This one will bring back some great memories for me. :)

Lou & Rei Loper

How significant was the change between the 80s and 90s mall culture

Peter Mark

Awesome, I'm so excited for this one. I spent a lot of time in Malls here in Southern California as a kid in the 90's, I'm behind an episode but I'll get to it soon.

Michael Candelaria


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