Hazardous History with Henry Winkler

In the season two premiere, viewers will be taken back in time to explore Killer Crazes. 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. These over-the-top obsessions were risky, and impossible to resist. It's a jaw-dropping, head-shaking trip back to the fads that pushed the limits and made our hazardous history must-see mayhem.

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.

Henry Winkler explores the era when travel was a death trap. From exploding steam engines to seatbelt-free cars, find out how your commute used to be a high-stakes gamble with your life.

Henry dives into the hidden hazards found in and around the home. From backyard trash fires and the flood risks of waterbed mishaps to finger-pinching fans and toxic garden hoses, this episode explores the risky domestic conveniences of the past that are now unthinkable today.

The bone-breaking fun of vintage amusement parks and fairs. From rickety wooden coasters to zero-safety carnival rides, see how our quest for a cheap thrill used to be a one-way ticket to the ER.

Remember when hobbies were more than just a way to pass the time - they were a chance to push the limits? From making model planes with glue that gets you high, to cooking up explosive rocket fuel in the backyard, to strapping ourselves to homemade kites and launching into the unknown, these hands-on pursuits often came with a dangerous edge. It's a thrilling, hair-raising trip back to the crafty obsessions that prove our hazardous history was never just a hobby.

Remember when popular tourist attractions came with real danger? From climbing onto the backs of live alligators, to feeding hungry bears, to scoring front-row seats to atomic blasts.

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? From launching our bikes off homemade ramps and braving amusement park rides held together by only thrills and scarce safety regulations, to streaking naked through the streets and falling asleep on flammable waterbeds, 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.