Hazardous History with Henry Winkler

Remember when "everybody's doing it" was reason enough to dive in headfirst? From gravity-defying flagpole sitting and phone booth cramming, to pet skunks and goldfish gulpers, we reveal the wildest crazes that once swept the nation.

Remember when looking your best meant risking life and limb? From dentures that could explode at the dinner table and stiff shirt collars that strangled us to death, the pursuit of the perfect look once pushed us to surprisingly dangerous lengths.

It's a mind-blowing, bone-rattling trip through the toys of yesteryear that remind us of a time when childhood was wilder, freer, and far more hazardous.

Remember when hitting the road meant flirting with disaster? It's a high-speed, white-knuckle ride back to a time when the rules of the road were still being written...and safety was an afterthought.

Remember when having a modern home meant living on the edge... of danger? It's a hair-raising, eye-opening trip back to the homegrown hazards that will make you wonder... what were we thinking?

Remember when we would do just about anything for an adrenaline fix? It's a heart-pumping jolt back to a time when a big rush was worth a little spill...and that's why our hazardous history still holds up.

Remember when hobbies were more than just a way to pass the time - they were a chance to push the limits? A thrilling, hair-raising trip back to the crafty obsessions that prove our hazardous history was a risk we couldn't resist!

Remember when popular tourist attractions came with real danger? From climbing onto the backs of live alligators, to hand-feeding hungry bears, these heart-pounding experiences promised irresistible thrills you'd never forget.

Remember when being part of the crowd meant taking your chances? A wild, edge-of-your-seat trip back to the gatherings that prove our hazardous history was anything but orderly.

Remember when earning a paycheck meant risking life and limb? A pulse-pounding, jaw-dropping trip back to the dangerous hustles that prove our hazardous history was built by those brave enough to risk it all for a buck.

Remember when being young meant testing the limits of what our bodies could survive? A bruising, adrenaline-fueled trip back to the reckless rites of passage that shaped a generation--and proved our hazardous history was all part of growing up.

From personal jet packs that promised to send us sky high, to electrified exercise machines that shocked us into shape, yesterday's boldest inventions were packed with promise - and risks nobody saw coming.

From racing atop ostriches and wrestling wild bears, to raising pet skunks at home and ordering monkeys through the mail, we once welcomed the wild into our lives in some truly staggering ways.

From chocolate eaten out of the gutter, to a single cup of ice cream shared by the entire neighborhood, to breakfast cereal that produced colorful consequences, yesterday's culinary delights weren't always as wholesome as they seemed.

These are the engineering feats and automotive innovations that transformed the journey… even if not every bright idea belonged in the fast lane.

From babies suspended in window cages and kids bouncing in the backs of pickup trucks, to expectant mothers being encouraged to smoke, drink, and relax, the parenting playbook once looked very different.

These are the curious cures and questionable treatments that offered hope to generations of patients… along with a host of side effects nobody expected.

These are the classroom customs and schoolyard rituals that generations of students accepted without a second thought… for better or worse.

These are the everyday habits, grooming rituals, and routine remedies that promised to keep us fresh… but often went afoul. It's a headshaking, eye-opening trip back to the hygiene habits that prove our hazardous history was always a close shave.

Remember when growing up in the '70s meant embracing the risk as much as the fun? It was an era when freedom often outran caution, and danger was simply part of the experience. It's a wild, hair-raising trip back to the close calls of the decade.