Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries

Starting in the mid 60's teachers began to notice a concerning phenomenon where kids were losing reading skills at a rapid pace over the summer break.  In order to combat this summer slump, two separate local PBS stations partnered up to assemble the dream team that would create one of the most beloved children's shows of the 80's and 90's:  Reading Rainbow.  But, while Reading Rainbow is one of the most well-known educational shows that taught reading, was it the first?  What came before, and why didn't that program work?  

Sometimes, characters that are created don't get popular in their home countries, but are instead embraced abroad.  This episode tells the stories of several different characters that have become popular outside of the United States where they were born.  Learn the story of Pica Pau in Brazil and his American-Made Movie that catered to the Brazilian Market.  Of Top Cat, whose Mexican-Made animated film is one of the highest grossing Mexican films of all time.  Of the crude, shit-talking, weed smoking teddy bear, Ted, who has somehow found an adoring audience in Japan, and more!  

When Nickelodeon released "Blues Clues" in 1996, it was heralded as a new kind of children's show, one that was interactive, and spoke directly to its young viewers.  But, what if "Blues Clues" wasn't the first? What if there was a different interactive children's program that predated Blues Clues by several decades?    

When people mention famous figures from Nintendo, they often bring up Shigeru Miyamoto, Satoru Iwata, or even Masahiro Sakurai.  However, without Gunpei Yokoi, the world of video gaming would be vastly different.  From designing the toys that made Nintendo famous, to introducing the masses to handheld gaming, Gunpei Yokoi's many contributions to the industry are still felt to this day.  

The Walt Disney theme parks are well-known for their dazzling nightly fireworks extravaganzas, but what most people don't know is that this company, who purchases more explosives per year than many militaries, has gone extra lengths to ensure that their fireworks are not only spectacular, but that they cannot be copied by other theme parks.  

This episode's a little different mystorians!  Austin and Brenda celebrate 100 episodes of SHONM by answering a couple listener questions, sharing some favorite moments, and just overall reminiscing about the good times.  Thanks for going on this ride with us!  Here's to 100 more!  

This week, SHONM is taking part in the global strike for Palestine.  We understand that not everyone is able to participate in the strike, so please check out our socials for more information and for resources on how you can help.  Episode 100 will be released next Tuesday! 

Is the lovable beagle from Charles M. Schulz's beloved comic strip "Peanuts" actually Mexican?  The answer is more complicated than you think.  And also more straight forward than you would expect.  And also what you feel is true in your heart.  

When Mattel premiered their Hot Wheels cartoon in the 1960's in order to promote their latest line of toys, they had no way of knowing that they had just opened a can of worms that would change the landscape of children's programming forever, for better or for worse.  

In 1971, the USDA Forest Service Introduced Woodsy Owl, the anti-pollution owl, in an attempt to educate the masses about environmentalism.  Little did they know at the time, but his legacy would end in flames.  This is a story featuring potential federal crimes,  pants-wearing bears, and job-stealing owls.  This is the story, of the death of Woodsy Owl.   Featuring Music By Louie Zhong/Snake Pool:   snakepool.bandcamp.com twitter.com/everydaylouie For more Woodsy, Brenda made a Youtube Video on the subject in 2020:   https://youtu.be/2CDTCZ5yP4s?si=Ye7c5q0CMnzaZ6Ne

When Rankin/Bass' "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1964, no one who worked on it had any idea that it would become a Christmas tradition and a lasting part of American culture.  Because of this, the stop motion puppets used to make the film were lost, their exact whereabouts a mystery...until now.  

As late entries to the McDonaldland canon, the Mcnugget buddies are characters that have been mostly lost to time.  But, back in the 80's, they were the shining star of McDonald's menu, and the food they were based on helped save the restaurant during a time when American's were becoming more health conscious.   Today, they've been brought back for a new celebrity collaboration, but will it be as successful as McDonald's 2022 Adult Happy Meal?  

There's an intense resale market surrounding trading card games, but where did that get its start, and why is it so addictive to open these packs of little paper cards?  This is a story that dates back to the early 1900's, with baseball cards and the early stages of the speculative market.  

Much has happened in the world of Neopets lately.  From its parent company shutting down, to new ownership, new promises and a new baffling choice for a brand ambassador, Neopets seems to finally be making a push into the modern era.  But will Y2k nostalgia be enough to keep the struggling brand alive?  Plus, Austin shares what it's like playing Neopets for the first time ever in 2023.  

From the dawn of gaming, people have wanted to use the medium to tell stories in new and inventive ways.  But what game is the origin of this?  Was it Final Fantasy with its character customization, or Final Fantasy 7 with its groundbreaking cutscenes?  Was it Donkey Kong whose simple story has captivated gamers for decades?  Or does it go back even further than that?     Zorp zorp zorp zorp zorp

For decades, the Walt Disney Company had the theme park market cornered, creating cutting-edge animatronics and immersive ride experiences for their own parks.  That was, until a small company from Jacksonville Florida, who got their start making moving mannequins for museum and store displays, threw their hat into the ring.  Sally Corporation might have gotten their start making Chuck E. Cheese copycats, but they have managed to create a ride system capable of bringing polished experiences to theme park enthusiasts and roller coaster haters around the world.    

When mother Sheryl Leach set out to create a new type of children's entertainment for her son, she had no idea how big her creation would get, or how much people would grow to despise it.   This episode goes through the inception of the Barney character, highlights the men who brought him to life, and explores the unbelievable amount of hate that the character received from fully grown adults, a form of hate that is all too common on the modern internet.  

Bratz, the popular fashion doll line, was once one of the top-selling fashion doll brands in the world, but then they suddenly disappeared from store shelves.  Find out what was happening behind the scenes at toy company MGA, and learn the details of the decade long legal battle they've been embroiled with against Barbie's creator, Mattel.  

Hosts Austin and Brenda connect with their inner child by watching the newest Paramount + release  “Blues Clues Big City Adventure”.  It’s a movie for kids!  But it also has a lot of heart and a lot of nostalgia.  Also, Warner Bros Discovery is getting sued by the state of Ohio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week your host Brenda takes you on a deep dive into the history of the second highest selling children’s book franchises in history:  Goosebumps, the brainchild of writer RL Stein.  This episode features haunted masks, childhood traumas, lost media, and yes, another heated legal battle.  Listener beware, you’re in for a scare! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices