History of the 90s

1990 was a year of monumental change. The Milli Vanilli lip-syncing scandal rocked the music world while Mike Tyson faced a shocking defeat. The Hubble Telescope made groundbreaking advancements, and the fall of Manuel Noriega marked a crucial moment in U.S. history. Significant events like Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the collapse of the Soviet Union reshaped global politics. Notably, Germany celebrated its reunification, signaling the end of the Cold War and setting the stage for a new era in Europe.

In July 1996, a back pack bomb rocked the Summer Olympics in Atlanta killing one person and injuring over 100 others. The bomb had been left under a bench in the middle of Centennial Olympic Park on the eighth day of the games.On this episode of History of the 90s, host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the tragedy that struck the 100th games and the police investigation that followed.  Security Guard Richard Jewell who discovered the bomb before it exploded was first hailed a hero. Then just a few days later he was identified as the main suspect by the media who had a field day with his reputation. This is the story of Richard Jewell, a cautionary tale about what happens when the police and the media rush to judgment.  Contact: Twitter: @1990shistoryFacebook: @1990shistoryInstagram: @that90spodcastEmail: 90s@curiouscast.caGuests:Kent Alexander, former US Attorney for the Northern District of GeorgiaTwitter: @KentbaleKevin Salwen, JournalistTwitter: @KevinSalwenThey co-authored: The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, The FBI, The Media and Richard Jewell, The Man Caught in the Middle.www.TheSuspectbook.comFor exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did Beanie Babies go from boom to bust?On this episode of History of the 90s, Host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the cute, colorful bean bag animals that started off as a toy but soon became an obsession for collectors who were buying and selling the furry creatures on this new thing called EBAY. Beanie Babies were traded like stocks and even became long term investments for some optimistic buyers.  Of course, where there’s money to be made there’s also crime and deception and Beanie Babies were no different. We’ll look back at how greed and hysteria over the 5-dollar plush toy also led to a wave of theft, fraud and fakery. We’ll trace the Beanie Baby Bubble from start to finish and try to figure out if the man who invented the toy was a genius or an accidental billionaire. Contact: Twitter: @1990shistoryFacebook: @1990shistoryInstagram: @that90spodcastEmail: 90s@curiouscast.caGuests:Zac Bissonnette author, The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: The Amazing Story of How America Lost its Mind Over a Plush Toy – And the Eccentric Genius Behind ItTwitter: @ZacBissonnettePeggy Gallagherhttps://peggyg.com/beanie-baby-authentication/For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In October 1993, Saskatchewan farmer, Robert Latimer, pumped exhaust fumes into the cab of a pickup truck ending the life of his severely disabled 12-year-old daughter. He claimed it was a mercy killing and that he only wanted to end Tracy`s constant pain.Host Kathy Kenzora looks back at the heated debate that surrounded the death of Tracy Latimer. The subject of euthanasia was fiercely debated in the 90s. It seemed every few months we heard news that Dr Jack Kevorkian had helped another terminally ill person end their life in the United States.In Canada, Sue Rodrigues asked the Supreme Court to let a doctor help her die. When the court said no Rodrigues did it anyway forcing the government to take a look at whether society was ready for legalized euthanasia. But the case of Tracey Latimer was different because she was a child and her parent made the decision for her leading to one of the most polarizing court dramas in Canadian history. Disabled activists weigh in on this issue along with the author Gary Bauslaugh who has written extensively about Robert Latimer’s lengthy legal battle. Contact: Twitter: @1990shistoryFacebook: @1990shistoryInstagram: @that90spodcastEmail: 90s@curiouscast.caGuests:Gary Bauslaugh author of: Robert Latimer: A Story of Justice and Mercyhttps://www.garybauslaugh.com/Krista Carr, Executive Vice President of Canadian Association for Community LivingTwitter: @KristaCarrNBhttps://cacl.ca/Pat Danforth, Vice Chair of Council of Canadians with Disabilitieshttp://www.ccdonline.ca/en/For exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of History of the ’90s, Scream, the movie directed by legendary director Wes Craven gave new life to the horror genre and inspired a generation of teen movies.In the mid 90’s, the horror movie genre was almost dead, thanks in part to a slew of badly received sequels to iconic franchise like Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th.Then Scream, with its “Ghostface” serial killer, slashed its way into theaters.Scream was like no other horror movie before because it wasn’t just terrifying, it was also incredibly self-aware.From the opening scene when Drew Barrymore is asked, “What’s your favorite scary movie?” it was pretty clear this wasn’t what we were used to. Scream was unique. The characters knew about slasher movies and ironically recognized they were in the middle of one.This episode looks back at how Scream came to be, including the little-known story of its inspiration. Also did you know that scream was originally called Scary Movie? But studio execs thought it was too on the nose so they suggested Scream…which was the name of a hugely popular song and video released in 1994 starring Michael Jackson and his sister Janet.We’ll cover all this and we’ll try to understand why it became the most successful slasher movie franchise in history and how it continues to influence horror movies over 20 years later.If you enjoy History of the ’90s, please take a minute to rate it, tell us what you think and share the show with your friends.Contact:Twitter: @1990shistoryFacebook: @1990shistoryInstagram: @that90spodcastEmail: 90s@curiouscast.caGuests:John Kenneth Muir author of Horror Movies of the 1990shttp://reflectionsonfilmandtelevision.blogspot.com/Twitter: @JKMuirFor exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this captivating discussion, Steven M. Gillon and Randy Taraborrelli delve into the life of John F. Kennedy Jr., a charismatic figure hailed as America's reluctant prince. They explore his ascent to fame in the 90s, marked by tabloid scrutiny and his designation as Sexiest Man Alive. The pair unveil details about his marriage to Carolyn Bessette and the creation of George magazine, which merged lifestyle with politics. Tragedy strikes with their untimely death, ending an era of Camelot and highlighting the stark shift in celebrity culture pre- and post-social media.

On this episode of History of the 90s we are looking back at one particular day in 1995 that was the climax of a trial that gripped the public’s attention. October 3rd marks 24 years since 95 million people watched live on TV as the verdicts were read in the OJ Simpson Murder Trial.After an eight month trial, the country waited anxiously to find out what would happen on the streets of Los Angeles If OJ was found guilty. Police were on standby outside the L.A. county courthouse in case there was a riot similar to the recent Rodney King related riots.  Host Kathy Kenzora takes a look back at that day from a special perspective. She was outside the L.A. County courthouse with a microphone and tape recorder covering the reaction for a Toronto radio station. This episode, which first aired on her previous podcast The History of 1995, recreates a day that lives on in infamy. Contact:Twitter: @1990shistoryFacebook: @1990shistoryInstagram: @that90spodcastEmail: 90s@curiouscast.caFor exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the History of the 90s, Host Kathy Kenzora looks back at Girl Power, a 90’s phenomenon that introduced a generation of young girls to feminism and empowerment.If you think of the Spice Girls when you hear Girl Power, you are not wrong. But before the Spice Girls were kicking it for the girls with hit songs like “Wannabe,” the Riot GRRL movement in the Pacific Northwest was advocating for Girl Power.  We’ll talk to authors Alison Yarrow and Anne T. Donahue as we track the Girl Power movement from Riot Grrl to the Spice Girls and try to understand how it impacted music and society in the 90s and today. Contact:Twitter: @1990shistoryFacebook: @1990shistoryInstagram: @that90spodcastEmail: 90s@curiouscast.caGuests:Anne T. Donahue Twitter: @annetdonahueInstagram: @annetdonahueAllison Yarrow, author of 90s Bitch: Media, Culture and the Failed Equality Promise of Gender EqualityTwitter: @Aliyarrow Instagram: @AliyarrowFor exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode we are digging into the archive of Host Kathy Kenzora’s previous podcast the History of 1995 to bring you the incredible life and death story of the Toronto subway crash. On August 11, 1995, a TTC subway train crashed into the back of a stopped train killing three women and injuring dozens of others in Canada’s deadliest accident on a rapid transit system. The driver of the train that caused the crash was on his second day on the job after receiving just 12 days of training. Rescuers worked for hours to free trapped passengers from the twisted metal, in unbearably hot conditions. A trauma doctor had to be called in from a nearby hospital to amputate the legs of two passengers who could not be freed by firefighters. Kenzora covered an inquest into the crash that revealed that the rookie driver at the centre of the crash ran three red lights before his train smashed into the back of the stopped subway. The inquest also revealed a host of safety problems and malfunctioning equipment at the TTC which all played a part in the collision. Contact:Twitter: @1990shistoryFacebook: @1990shistoryInstagram: @that90spodcastEmail: 90s@curiouscast.caFor exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take a deep dive into Friends, one of the most Iconic TV shows of the decade. Host Kathy Kenzora will try to understand how the show about six 20-somethings in New York became a global phenomenon and why it continues to capture the hearts of fans around the world 25 years later. Friends was created by three ex-New Yorkers who remembered what it was like when they were trying to navigate an uncertain future after college when friends were family. We’ll take you behind the scenes as creators put together the cast and prepared for the pilot episode which aired on September 22, 1994. We’ll look at all of the ways that Friends impacted culture, from fashion and music to the legendary Rachel haircut. We’ll also talk to author Kelsey Miller about the surprising impact that Friends has had on people around the world who have learned to speak English by watching the show. We’ll address some of the questions and controversies that have arisen about Friends, since the recent resurgence of the show and try to explain why it still stands up for an entire new generation of viewers.Contact:Twitter: @1990shistoryFacebook: @1990shistoryInstagram: @that90spodcastEmail: 90s@curiouscast.caGuest:Kelsey Miller, author of I’ll Be There for You: The One About FriendsTwitter: @mskelseymillerFor exclusive bonus content subscribe to History of the 90s Patreon page.: https://patreon.com/historyofthe90s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices