The Rise & Fall of Radio Shack

Before Amazon, before Best Buy, there was Radio Shack--and in the 1980s, it was your one-stop shop for all things electronics.

Today, we look at the origins of the company--which go back to the early 19th century--then witness its rise through the 60s and into the 70s, culminating in its presence in every mall in North America in the 80s.

But despite being such a prominent part of the retail landscape, Radio Shack couldn't stay on top forever in a rapidly changing world.

From the CB Radio craze to the rise of the TRS-80, Radio Shack was not just at the forefront of the PC revolution, but was a cultural touchstone of 1980s consumer culture.

• Check out the old catalogs: radioshackcatalogs.com
• Support the show and get bonus 1980s audio content: Patreon.com/80s