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Into nostalgia? “A Look Behind in Rewind” is a podcast series reminiscent of Jean Shepherd of WOR-Radio… like a modern-day Mark Twain. Tom’s stories range from childhood escapades to college hijinks to crazy tales from film/broadcast/ad agency days, including interviews with American Bandstand mogul Dick Clark and others. (When it comes to some of these early youthful adventures, names have been changed to protect the innocent). Podcast lengths are short, generally only 7 to 10 minutes each. ...
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Season 2, Episode 42: Ever gone behind the scenes at the filming of a commercial? This episode shares some of the crazy things that can happen in low-budget, on-location productions, especially when you travel to rural Kentucky for a TV station's new transmitter tower spot. Names have been changed, of course, to protect the innocent. In this podcas…
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Season 2, Episode 41: Been to your class reunion lately? Whether it's a high school or college reunion, there are always some good stories to come out of these occasions. Our latest podcast episode shares a few such tales, including memories from senior year, as well as the ultimate reunion to end all reunions. As always, details have been altered,…
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Season 2, Episode 40: Remember the first time your parents sent you out alone to the corner store to run an errand? This episode shares a few of those incidents from our early childhood and pre-teen days, when things were so much simpler (and cheaper!). In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, ligh…
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Season 2, Episode 39: We all have favorite teachers from long ago. This episode shares some stories about three memorable history teachers, whose odd quirks, creative teaching styles, and in one case, a mysterious social life, forever impacted our own view of the teaching profession. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memorie…
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Season 2, Episode 38: Ever been to the zoo? Or read any of the Doctor Doolittle stories? This episode blazes a trail through some childhood memories of animals that spoke -- and those who didn't. Cats and dogs, tigers and turtles, parrots and naked mole rats, oh my! In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts wh…
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Season 2, Episode 37: When mischievous kids start experimenting, you never know what will happen. In this episode, we investigate a few memorable childhood adventures in science, including static electricity, solar energy, crystal radios, chemistry sets, fireworks, science fair volcanoes, and fake UFOs. And don't worry -- the Martians have NOT land…
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Season 2, Episode 36: Who had the best hot dog? There've been a lot of contenders, including Nathan's of Coney Island, Howard Johnson's, Yocco's in Allentown, and many more. In this episode, we revisit some childhood (and adult) memories of hot dogs, frankfurters, and wieners of days gone by. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, share…
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Season 2, Episode 35: Ever go searching for pieces and parts for a DIY home repair project? Fret not, we've been there, done that. And it's not a pretty picture -- unless you have the Old Man's talent for organizing random spare parts in your home workshop. For this episode, we go screwing around with unhelpful home center salespeople as well as pl…
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Season 2, Episode 34: The hit comedy "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray, had the unexpected side effect of numerous movie industry accolades as well as making a major cultural impact on our society, serving as a symbol of being hopelessly stuck in place. In this episode, we recall some incidents in our own life that led to Groundhog Day-type tra…
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Season 2, Episode 33: Billabongs, didgeridoos, and kangaroos, oh my! G'day, mate! This episode takes a look back at some favorite high spots of Australian pop culture, including a chart-topping hit song, "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" -- which originally came out in the mid-1960s, and then, 37 years later, had an unexpected revival when it was re-re…
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Season 2, Episode 32: Continuing our winter holiday theme, we look at New Year's Eve memories from Guy Lombardo to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Includes audio of Dick Clark reporting on the Times Square ball drop, as well as a snippet from a phone interview on the subject of success in the mid 1970s. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tell…
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Season 2, Episode 31: A few holiday memories of Christmases long ago, including Mom's bread and pastry Bake-a-thon, and Dad's equivalent, the house decorating marathon, complete with outdoor holiday lights and life-size cutout figures. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, light-hearted tales in…
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Season 2, Episode 30: A quick tour of some of the rock concerts attended over the years, including the Four Seasons, Jay and the Americans, Tommy James, The Rolling Stones, Jonathan Edwards, 1910 Fruitgum Company, the Buckinghams, Peter Noone, Southside Johnny, and Bruce Springsteen. Names have been changed to protect the innocent. Tom Nielson tell…
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Season 2, Episode 29: Coincidences and synchronicity are everyday mysteries that somehow show up in our lives at the most unexpected times. In this episode, we share some of the odd coincidences that have happened in our life, from a childhood amusement park experience in Point Pleasant NJ to an adult restaurant encounter to a Disneyland meetup tha…
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Season 2, Episode 28: Ever get nervous going into a job interview? This episode delves into a few scenarios we've faced in our own employment seeking adventures, like the insecure interviewer who monopolizes the conversation, the sweatshop workplace, unforeseen financial landmines, and the "spec" free labor sometimes requested of candidates. Names …
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Season 2, Episode 27: Just in time for Halloween, we have three little tales to get you in the mood: "The Cookie Man," about a scary urban myth heard in our small town NJ neighborhood; "The Pelican Club," a story of misguided adventure, exploring an abandoned building that once housed a night club; and finally, "The Haunted Tunnel of Morris County,…
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Season 2, Episode 26: From the long-lost Boardwalk of Linden, NJ, to Revolutionary War sites in Morristown, to New York City art museums, to the monuments of Washington, DC, our school trips were a wild and crazy assortment of adventures that lived on in our memories for years afterwards. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares me…
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Season 2, Episode 25: A fond look back at a few of the popular radio stations and some of the famous DJs in the New York City area catering to teenagers in the 1950s-1970s, such as WABC, WINS, and WMCA. Featuring on-air sound bites from the Dan Ingram, Murray the K, and Gary Stevens programs, as well as a special music montage of hits from that era…
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Season 2, Episode 24: From tales of catching lightning bugs and fireflies to serving as the unofficial "bug man" saving his family from creepy-crawly critters, this episode delves into the many ways that insect friends have intersected with our lives -- including the story of a pest control brochure written for an Ohio ad agency. As always, names h…
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Season 2, Episode 23: A few summer sagas of memorable jobs from long ago, including grocery store clerk/cashier; gas pump attendant; mailroom clerk; newsletter editor at a Navy base; and security guard for a coffee factory/warehouse. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, light-hearted tales insp…
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Season 2, Episode 22: A fond look back at our first days of kindergarten -- including a "magic" act with crayons that astounded our classmates and got us in hot water with the teacher. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, light-hearted tales inspired by his life adventures, channeling the style…
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Season 2, Episode 21: From downtown shopping to huge mega-malls, we've done it all... and have a few stories to tell in the bargain. Our shopping journeys have taken us all over the country, including some stops at retailers very close to home in New Jersey, like the JCPenney store where one kid brother shocked the family with an unexpected prank. …
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Season 2, Episode 20: A lifetime of traveling via buses, cable cars, subways, and similar mass transit vehicles brings with it a whole carload of poignant memories, with musical accompaniment by Charlie and the MTA, the Wheels on the Bus, the Trolley Song, and more. Tickets, get your tickets ready! In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories,…
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Season 2, Episode 19: Recalling birthday bashes from long ago can be fun, maybe even touching. Then add a little bit of magic, some Groucho Marx, plus the provocative fad of streaking in your birthday suit, and the episode takes off from there! In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, light-hearted…
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Season 2, Episode 18: Popular Science magazine had an amazing knack for predicting the future. This episode looks back at some of the new technology it touted back in the 1980s, which is now in common use in our 21st century world. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, light-hearted tales inspir…
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Season 2, Episode 17: A special episode, just in time for National Dairy Month! We celebrate those fond ice cream memories of long ago, including Breyer's, Carvel, Good Humor, Mister Softee, Smith's Dairy of Ohio, and a local neighborhood ice cream parlor at Lampert's Dairy Farm in Linden, NJ. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shar…
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Season 2, Episode 16: Remember those toys from your baby boomer childhood? This episode looks back at a few of those youthful faves, including building blocks, Davy Crockett coonskin caps, Etch-a-Sketch, Mickey Mouse Club ukuleles, toy soldiers, Jon Gnagy paint-by-numbers, magic sets, Howdy Doody puppets, and more. In this podcast series, Tom Niels…
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Season 2, Episode 15: A brief visit to the land of comic art, comic strips, and comic books, including mentions of Mad Magazine, the Saturday Evening Post cartoons, Classics Illustrated, and other faves from childhood onwards. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, light-hearted tales inspired by…
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Season 2, Episode 14: Baby Boomer car nuts will enjoy this little detour. What is it about old cars that excites the typical red-blooded American male? Our latest episode takes a stroll through memory lane, from 1953 Buicks to present-day hybrid electric vehicles. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whim…
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Season 2, Episode 13: Monkeys, chimps, and apes, oh my! Our latest episode features a short history of apes in media, including the now-viral social media sensation, "Trunk Monkey." We even created our own Trunk Monkey TV spot, "Disco Trunk Monkey," which you can view on Youtube at bit.ly/DiscoMonkey . In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stor…
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Season 2, Episode 12: Mushrooms - friend or foe? That all depends on whether you've read Ray Bradbury's classic sci-fi thriller "Come Into My Cellar," or you're simply a mushroom foodie who enjoys fresh mushrooms on pizza or in casseroles or some fancy cuisine. This episode is about the time we visited a real mushroom farm in western Pennsylvania, …
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Season 2, Episode 11: When a health crisis hits, where do you go? The Emergency Room, of course! Tom shares his experience getting a gall bladder removed at the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Rahway, NJ... just a short hop away from Rahway Prison. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, light-hea…
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Season 2, Episode 10: Collectors, hoarders, dumpster divers -- we all know one, or have those tendencies ourselves. This episode focuses on the Old Man's unrivaled cellar treasure trove, with a side journey to Tom's own short-lived collecting days, when Mother Nature threw a monkey wrench into the works. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells st…
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Season 2, Episode 9: Perfectionism has a price. But there's another side to this coin, and it ain't pretty. This episode takes us back to some early experiences that shaped our young lives, for better or worse, including a stint as classical music DJ and a newscaster wannabe. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and c…
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Season 2, Episode 8: Which is better -- down the shore vs. up to the lake? This episode delves into the eternal debate over which are the preferred New Jersey beach destinations, including Asbury Park and Lake Hopatcong. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, light-hearted tales inspired by his l…
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Season 2, Episode 7: When five rowdy high school buddies get together for a night of cruising, which they called a "Bus Tour," anything can happen -- and it did! This episode describes their journey on New Jersey's famous Route 22, including dealing with a failed muffler, dinner at a Chinese restaurant, and their attempt to return home. In this pod…
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Season 2, Episode 6: A long, long time ago in Cleveland, Ohio, a very young, inexperienced politician took the helm at City Hall. To mark the occasion, a political satire radio series about his escapades was produced, in hopes of getting onto a local radio station. We dug up three of these old episodes from our files, to entertain our present day p…
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Season 2, Episode 5: Too many holidays, too little time? This podcast episode offers a wild, wacky solution: combine them all into one gigantic holiday called Hallowethankrisukkah. We revisit the subject of holiday consolidation, first proposed in a high school newspaper article back in the late 1960s. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stor…
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Season 2, Episode 4: Jean Shepherd fans will appreciate this brief review and mini-tribute on the occasion of "A Christmas Story Christmas" making its debut on HBO Max. This episode hits some of the highlights of the new sequel, without giving away too many spoilers -- including a short discussion of "Easter eggs" to be found in the movie, and a me…
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Season 2, Episode 3: In the 1960s, going out to watch submarine races was a clever euphemism or polite term for "making out." New York City disk jockeys like Murray the K and Cousin Bruce Morrow promoted it on their radio shows, and area teenagers eagerly took the bait. This episode offers a short history of "submarine races," featuring a few perso…
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Season 2, Episode 2: Our conversation with former high school classmate Don Krueger continues. Don was Student Council president during our senior year, and so was privy to many interesting, behind-the-scenes encounters with administrators, teachers, students, and community residents. Today's concluding episode delves into topics like diversity in …
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Season 2, Episode 1: We check in with a former high school classmate, Don Krueger, who was Student Council president during our Senior Year. In part one of the conversation, Don talks about dress codes, student protests, and other aspects of high school life in the 1960s-70s. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and c…
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Episode 52: It's funny how names - real, made-up, or falsely assumed - have played such a big part in movies, radio, and TV through the years. This episode features a few such examples, including Romper Room, Shirley Ellis' Name Game, and Spartacus, which all served as formative influences growing up...even in high school gym class! In this podcast…
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Episode 51: Crashing the NBC Radio studios at Rockefeller Center to visit the legendary DJ Wolfman Jack in his NYC lair in the early 1970s. A tale of bravado, b.s., and broadcast baloney. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, light-hearted tales inspired by his life adventures, channeling the st…
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Episode 50: Take yourself out to the ballgame, and hear some stories about the Cleveland Indians, the New York Yankees, and an ill-fated, calamitous softball game in middle school -- which explains why Tom Nielson avoids baseball games to this very day. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, ligh…
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Episode 49: Remember the days when fireworks were the big climax of the summer? This belated story about July 4th, illicit fireworks, cap pistols, punks, cattails, and other home-made flammables is a good way to finish out this summer season with a bang. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, lig…
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Episode 48: Transplant the humor of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In to a high school in northern New Jersey, and what do you get? Maybe a "Senior Follies" stage production that socks it to teachers, classmates, and administration in a zany parody of the original NBC TV series? You bet your sweet bippy! In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, s…
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Episode 47: What do The Sweathogs and Ben Franklin have in common? How about a middle school field trip to see Ben Franklin on Broadway? A rowdy 7th grade class learns history in an unconventional setting, thanks to a singing and dancing Founding Father. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, hum…
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Episode 46: Once upon a time, in the days before internet, online gaming, and other high tech activities, kids used to entertain themselves with whatever was available. So to aid in role-playing games, we scrounged for materials in the old man's workshop in order to make the experience even more authentic. Staging a pretend space launch was no exce…
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Episode 45: When high school pals start their own history club and begin collecting World War II artifacts to validate their town's heritage, trouble ensues in the classroom as the wild kingdom of Mother Nature asserts itself. In this podcast series, Tom Nielson tells stories, shares memories, and concocts whimsical, humorous tales inspired by his …
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