Tuesday’s Ten: 10 Things I Miss From the 1980s

Ronald Reagan

I cast my very first presidential vote for Ronald Reagan in 1980.  Dubbed “The Great Communicator” for his ability to connect with his audience using folksy wisdom and empathy, Reagan restored the confidence of the American public in the office of the president.  It was a time of hope and optimism and the economy was booming. Who can forget his 1987 speech, standing at the Berlin Wall demanding “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall.”  Or the feeling of solace two years later when the wall came down.

Blockbuster Video

In the early 1980s when the VCR was first introduced, the ability to go pick out a movie to bring home and watch at our own leisure was incredibly exciting.  Walking into a Blockbuster with VHS tapes lined up as far as the eye can see and carefully making a selection for the evening was entertainment in itself.  Remembering to rewind and return the tapes on time to avoid a fee seems like an added nuisance in today’s world where we can scroll through Netflix and Hulu from our couches. But at the time, it was a small price to pay.

We Are the World & Live Aid

Back in 1985 musicians from every genre and walk of life came together to raise money for the famine happening in Africa.  Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson teamed up to write We Are the World which was recorded by 46 vocalists and released as a single.  Later that year Live Aid was held at two locations simultaneously, Wembley Stadium in London and John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. In addition to great entertainment, it was moving to see the biggest names in music come together to aid mankind in an hour of need. 

Mix Tapes

Years ago before Spotify and Apple Music, we painstakingly constructed our playlists on blank audio cassettes.  The tapes were made from different music sources and It was a tricky process, especially if you were recording from the radio which involved waiting finger ready for the DJ to spin our favorites.  These amateur recordings didn’t always sound great with songs starting and ending abruptly.  Nonetheless, it was a rewarding endeavor and often a labor of love if you were gifting it to someone special.

Jane Fonda Aerobics

If you were a lady of the ‘80s you probably had at least one of Jane Fonda’s Workout tapes in the house.  Becoming best-selling VHS tapes they changed the fitness landscape.  Prior to this challenging physical exercise wasn’t readily available to women. These videos made aerobic exercise fun. And Jane, in her belted leotard and leg warmers was an inspiration, showing us how fabulous we could still look at 40 and beyond.

Music

For me, possibly the best decade for music. The ’80s was a decade of incredible musical innovation and diversity. This pop music explosion happened with artists like Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston becoming hugely successful. Bon Jovi, Journey, and John Mellencamp were personal favorites in rock. The 1980s saw the rise of the music video with MTV launching in 1981 and transforming the way that people consumed music and becoming an essential part of the music industry.

The Original Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack

The birth of my fascination with true crime shows.  The series covered missing people, unexplained deaths, and other strange phenomena which often left me a little spooked.  The stories were presented with the host clad in a trench coat and accompanied by spine-chilling music.  In today’s world true crime shows are hugely popular and everywhere on both network TV and streaming services but this one is still hard to beat.

Jellies

Who didn’t love a great pair of jelly shoes? Made of PVC plastic they were soft, durable, and extremely comfy. I wore mine with every outfit, from pants and shorts to skirts and dresses. You could find them in every color imaginable and some even had glitter, delivering some sparkle to our step. Jellies have never completely gone away and rumor has it they are making a resurgence in popularity. A girl can only hope.

Princess Diana

What an innocent time it was when Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles. We all believed in her happily-ever-after fairytale and were disappointed years later when the marriage fell apart. But Princess Diana became one of the most influential and admired people of the 1980s and we all mourned, heartbroken and shocked, when the People’s Princess met an untimely death in 1997.

The KC Royals Baseball Team

You may not believe it watching them today, but the Kansas City Royals had a winning team throughout most of the 1980s, taking the World Series in 1985. They were compelling to watch with stars like George Brett, Hal McRae, and Frank White. Being a small market team poses a challenge in obtaining and keeping talent in today’s game but they managed to put together another incredible squad 30 years later taking the title again in 2015. Even so, the 1980s remain the most exciting time for this fan.