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MEMORY LANE Podcast

MEMORY LANE Podcast

Written by: MEMORY LN MUSEUM
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Preserving the past through a modern lens. MEMORY LANE Podcast explores the art, design, and culture of the 1950s–1990s. Presented by MEMORY LN MUSEUM, we archive the sounds and stories of yesterday to inspire the creators of tomorrow. Welcome to the loop.MEMORY LN MUSEUM World
Episodes
  • The Yellow Virus: The Secret History of the Smiley Face

    The Yellow Virus: The Secret History of the Smiley Face
    May 15 2026

    You've seen it on a mug, a bumper sticker, a T-shirt, your emoji keyboard. But do you actually know where it came from?

    In this episode, we trace the full journey of the Smiley Face — from a ten-minute sketch by a Worcester commercial artist named Harvey Ball in 1963, to one of the most recognisable images in human history. Harvey charged $45, never trademarked it, and gave the world something it didn't know it needed.

    We cover the full arc:

    ⭐ 1963 — How a morale problem at an insurance company accidentally produced a global icon

    🌍 1970s — The Have a Nice Day explosion, Franklin Loufrani's SmileyWorld, and how one image went truly global

    🎵 1990s — Acid House ravers, grunge kids, and the dead-eyed subversion that made the Smiley complicated

    💛 Harvey Ball's legacy — World Smile Day, the World Smile Foundation, and what it means to create something generous

    This is a story about design, pop culture, and one genuinely good man who just wanted to make people feel a little better.

    Part of the MEMORY LN MUSEUM Archival Series — Objects of Feeling.
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    9 mins
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