The Super Bowl of retail — Black Friday. It’s the one day a year when holiday cheer takes a backseat to consumer chaos.

What began in the 1950s as a clever post-Thanksgiving sales boost has morphed into a high-stakes shopping spectacle, complete with long lines, doorbuster deals, and a hearty dose of madness.

Back in the day, shoppers braved freezing temps to snag the hottest items — Playstations, TVs, or even $2 kids’ pajamas — while packed parking lots and marathon lines turned malls into battlefields.

(Fox/Screenshots)

I still remember digging through stacks of $5 DVD box sets while others swept entire shelves into their carts without a second glance.

From store to store, we raced, chasing deals until exhaustion kicked in. Was it worth it? Maybe. Was it fun? Absolutely.

In recent years, online shopping and Black Friday “week” sales have shifted the action to scrolling screens, but the stress, frenzy, and absurdity live on.