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Southeastern Championship Wrestling Action News Podcast Debuts on the When It Was Cool Podcast Network
December 2024 marks the debut of a new podcast on the When It Was Cool Podcast Network, Karl Stern and Tonya from WhenItWasCool.com would like to welcome Dothan, Alabama fan and memorabilia collector Aaron Gartlan to the network with his new Southeastern Championship Wrestling Action News Podcast. Read More.
Batman in Order - Detective Comics Issue 44 - The Twenty-First Appearance of Batman
Detective Comics issue 44 was a fantasy story straight from a dream that Dick Grayson had after falling asleep while reading a book. The Batman stories have changed substantially from his early appearances. The introduction of Robin and marketing toward younger children have greatly changed the stories. This is essentially a fairy tale with Batman and Robin as characters. Read More.
Film Review: Japanese Crime Classic Cash Calls Hell (1966)
Official synopsis: Facing the final days of his prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter, Oida (Tatsuya Nakadai) dreads reentering society as a ruined man with no future prospects. Sensing his street smarts, Oida's cellmate promises him a pile of loot if he tracks down and kills three men whose names are on a list. Reluctantly accepting the task, he finds himself embroiled in a web of stolen money, betrayal and other sordid vices. Torn between compassion and desperation, Oida discovers danger lurking around every corner as he navigates a treacherous path of cold-blooded fate. Read More.
When It Was Cool Newsletter - Elon Musk and Hasbro, Dave Meltzer Comments on DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era of Wrestling Book
I hope everyone is having a happy and safe December so far. Tonight, Tonya and I will be traveling to see A Charlie Brown Christmas play in Huntsville and I am sure we will either have a review of it, an article, or discuss it on the next Fireside Chat Podcast. We did not do a Fireside Chat Podcast this week and, instead, reviewed The Penguin HBO Max series. Read More.
Batman in Order - Detective Comics Issue 43 - The Twentieth Appearance of Batman
Detective Comics issue 43 is another straight by the numbers formulaic story, repetitive of several we have seen recently in the Batman in Order series: Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson have gone on a cross-country vacation when they stop for a night at a hotel in an unnamed small town. They quickly discover that the new mayor of the town rules it like a dictator using the police force to enforce his will on the townspeople. Read More.
When It Was Cool Newsletter - Green Machine, Incredible Hulk, and More
Hello everyone and thank you for your continued support for When It Was Cool. Yesterday, I posted a new article for the website about a 1970s kid riding toy called The Green Machine. I hope you enjoyed it. I am working on more articles like this for the main website. Of course, from now through the end of the year the big focus is on selling the new 700-page DragonKingKarl's Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling book. If you haven't ordered a copy yet, I encourage you to do so. Not only is there a 700-page physical book but also it is available on Kindle and as part of the Kindle Unlimited service. I am working on getting booked on some podcasts outside of WIWC and Observer and as soon as those happen I will, of course, post a link here. Read More.
The Green Machine by Marx Retro Toy Review
In the mid-1970s I was a kid in rural north Alabama far away from any major toy stores or major discount stores. However, a local general merchandise store called “Elmore’s” carried in stock the amazing kid’s riding toy called The Green Machine by Marx. Read More.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame 2024 - Tracking the Future
A poster at The Board at Wrestling Observer called 'AmericanNumbers' has put together an incredible resource that I am sure will stir a lot of discussion over the next year. This is a spread sheet with everything you need to know about the remaining candidates in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Read More.
Film Reviews: 1960s Japanese Action Classics in the Red Peony Series
Official synopsis: Produced during the heyday of ninkyo eiga (chivalrous yakuza films), the seminal Red Peony Gambler series has had a lasting influence on cult cinema. The illustrious Junko Fuji stars as the beautiful and badass Oryu, the eponymous and benevolent female gambler who uses her incredible might for right. The following reviews are based on Film Movement’s presentation of the three films that are newly restored from original film elements. Read More.
Batman in Order - Detective Comics Issue 42 - The Nineteenth Appearance of Batman
The 19th appearance of The Batman took place in the August 1940 issue of Detective Comics issue 42. The cover was very basic with a nearly generic, smiling Batman watching Robin tackle a mobster in front of a stark yellow background. Read More.
DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling Book. What’s to Know and Why Does it Matter?
I am very excited to release my new book, DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling. I have put years of work into this project which, I believe, is the most in-depth and detailed exploration of pre-1900 professional wrestling ever undertaken. The Pioneer Era Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Wrestling is sourced from hundreds of pro wrestling researchers, newsletters, books, magazines, newspapers, and years of firsthand research, and I have documented every major event in pro wrestling before the year 1900. Read More.
Check out our new video on the When It Was Cool YouTube Channel featuring Karl Stern and the new DragonKingKarl’s Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling Omnibus: The Bible of the Pioneer Era of Pro Wrestling book.
201 Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time List: Who Are the Greatest Pro Wrestlers of All Time
Compiled By: Karl Stern Sourcing Data from over 30 Historians, Vetted Greatest Wrestler of All Time Lists, Major Media Rankings, Cumulative Lists, and Major Vetted Halls of Fame. This list is not my opinion. The only input I had into ranking this list was doing the math and averaging the results and putting it together in a readable format. This, according to multiple respected pro wrestling historians, major media rankings, published books, and vetted rankings are the 201 greatest pro wrestlers of all time, with bonus points given for major vetted Halls of Fame and Wrestler of the Year Awards. Read More.
