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Yeah...We Remember That!

RetroStatic is an online cultural encyclopedia listing television shows and related material in an informative and insightful way. Our current focus is Generation X. Through the usage of our site, you can truly see the progression of television programming, advertising styles, and cultural landmarks by sifting through each show synopsis or television commercial. Whether you use our site as an educational reference, or just to bring back old memories, we hope it provides you with everything you've been looking for!

Early Site History: 1997-1999

8ca.homepage.com:
The site that started it all

The concept for this website was first implemented in November of 1997. The initial site was created in raw HTML format, and hosted on an AOL membership account website (In fact, it was intended as nothing more than simple HTML programming practice...and a time-killer between college classes!). The original idea for it arouse during a simple search for "Transfomers." Due to the lack of concrete information on the topic of individual 80s cartoons on the internet, the site started off as a one-page list of cartoons with descriptions. At that moment, it was the first (and only) site on the internet that provided detailed descriptions of 80s cartoons and sitcoms in list format - and within one single location - with screenshots and detailed information.

The site, simply termed "80s cartoons," underwent various hosting and URL name changes between 1997 and 1999, in the constant fight to find a better free host (due to the high cost of server hosting at the time, and a total lack of funds). Finding a decent free host was a daunting task, as the site jumped amongst free hosts such as Crosswinds.net, Namezero, and Homepage.com. JT, a regular visitor of the very first incarnation of the website, joined in the craze of finding rare and long-lost television shows on tape, and soon after became the hosting provider of the site.

In November of 1999, the site's first notable success was 8ca.homepage.com [reference @ archive.org], with all original content being overhauled and presented in a more logical format, with the inclusion of video clips for cartoon intros and ending credits in RealMedia format. 8ca stood for "80s Cartoon Alliance." The site had the attention of several background characters from sitcoms in the 80s, as well as a full-feature interview with Sherilan Weinhart - an original animator from Filmation, who personally drew cels of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Bravestarr. Demand for the site was at its peak - since most cartoons were only available through the private tapetrading market, and virtually none had made their DVD debuts yet.

8ca.net:
The largest pre-RS site

Later that year, the site re-emerged under a new format as 8ca.net [reference @ archive.org

], featuring a more user-friendly format and expansive content, and the slogan "The Official Site for Today's 80s Kid." Within its debut year, the site enjoyed 4 million hits through word-of-mouth and natural internet searches, and was featured in the now-extinct Yahoo Internet Life Magazine that Spring. During that time, 80s commercials, station IDs and other miscellaneous clips were introduced as the new site addition. The site exceeded its bandwidth limit due to the large number of RealMedia cartoon intros, and was closed down for renovations. Unfortunately, the site did not re-emerge until several years afterwards, due to college graduation and a complete lack of the funds needed to maintain a server account.

Current Site: 2006-Present

The RetroStatic logo.

The name "RetroStatic" was established in 1999, and was later trademarked along with the "three rounded rectangle" design, under the United States Patent & Trademark Office. "Retro," meaning "pertaining to a style of earlier times," and "Static," meaning "a fixed or stationary condition," composed the rationale for the name. The logo itself represents "a cross between TV screens and cartoon thought bubbles." The same year, the official slogan: "Yeah, we remember that" was adopted, along with "Bringing Back the 80s and 90s."

"RetroStatic" became the official (and final!) name of the business itself. With a new focus of presenting cartoon intros, classic commercials of the 80s and 90s, and the TV show descriptions it has been known for amongst its community of visitors - Retrostatic re-emerged as a beta in the Fall of 2006, and moved on to a release candidate version in January 2007.

Who runs the place?

Mark founded the site in 1997, and has been collecting rare television shows and commercials since the early '90s. He graduated in 2000 as a Marketing Manager major, and has also been a graphic and web designer & desktop publisher since `97. He later went on to get a MBA in September of 2006.

JT was with the site from the very beginning as a visitor and tape trader. He later went on to start a server hosting business and became the webhost, as well as the co-webmaster. JT is a biochem major and also holds a degree in financial planning, and is now pursuing an MBA.