Gum with the consistency and heft of chewing tobacco—it was shredded and came in a big aluminum foil pouch—Big League Chew felt somehow more significant than mere bubble gum. Created by a Swiss watchmaker in the early '80s, these colorful and tubular timepieces became essential for any '80s kid who wanted to stand out.
If you've ever wondered, “What was popular in the 80s?” then know that neon colors, big hair, the Brat-Pack, iconic toys and games like Nintendo and Transformers, as well as Madonna, Duran Duran, and MTV videos helped define the decade.
The fashion world of the Eighties is known for its bright colors, big hair and shoulder pads. In the last decade before the Internet and mobile phones, globally successful TV series such as Dynasty and Miami Vice shaped the style of fashion as much as the stars of pop music.
The 1980s, often remembered for its materialism and consumerism, also saw the rise of the "yuppie," an explosion of blockbuster movies and the emergence of cable networks like CNN and MTV, which introduced the music video and launched the careers of many iconic artists.
It was a period marked by defining events that continue to resonate. The Soviet Union began to collapse, AIDS emerged as a deadly epidemic, and work began on a little thing called the Internet. The decade is also remembered for its contributions to pop culture, which included the debut of MTV.
The 1980's were filled with fun candy introductions like Nerds, Cow Tales, Big League Chew and many more iconic confections. Break out the Rubik's Cube and cassette tapes and relive this awesome era! BarNone Chocolate Bar 1.48 oz.
Bleached and ripped jeans or black leather pants will bring back all those '80s vibes! To complete your outfit, throw on a tight t-shirt with ripped-off sleeves or a spandex tank top - then accessorize with a long-haired wig for that iconic hair metal style.
Rainbow Brite dolls are one of those toys that practically every kid in the '80s owned, and it's easy to see why: They had colorful iridescent outfits, yarn hair, and a plush-filled body that made them basically indestructible.
Velour, velvet, and polyester were popular fabrics used in clothes, especially button-up and v shirts. Looser pants remained popular during this time, being fairly wide but straight, and tighter shirts were especially popular, sometimes in a cropped athletic style.
Colour TV was common in every house and there were many more children's programmes. Writing letters to other children, called penpals, became very popular in the 1980s. Children still spent most of their time outside playing traditional games and on their bikes.
Popular 80s Toys and Games to Collect
Joe action figures, and My Little Pony probably come to mind. These toys weren't just fun to play with; they were also well-made and have become highly collectible.
Some of those include the fantasy epic (NeverEnding Story, Princess Bride), teen movies (Breakfast Club, Weird Science), the new corporate overlord (Wall Street, Trading Places), women making strides in the workplace (Baby Boom, Working Girl), and rising hip-hop culture (Krush Groove, Do the Right Thing).
Recreating the look of a famous icon is a popular choice for many attending an 80s themed party. Baywatch, Ghostbusters, Madonna, Prince and Pulp Fiction to name but a few.
The decade, characterized by eye-straining fabric colors and patterns, acid wash jeans, shoulder pads, massive, dramatic earrings, pearls, and big hair, had people confidently expressing themselves with their Style. Big, vibrant, and brilliant certainly capture the essence of 1980s fashion.
They may not have looked like much, but Fruit Wrinkles were a pretty tasty snack for the '80s. A sister product to the famed Fruit Roll-Up, the bite-sized bits were supposed to look like wrinkly fruit.
Bones Puzzle Candy With Coffin. Foods you could play with were the best. Mr. Bones came in a plastic coffin filled with little PEZ-like candy pieces that you could assemble into a full skeleton.
Skittles, Skittles bite sized candies, taste the rainbow of fruit flavor! 1986 TV commercial has a great jingle! Skittles have always been my favorite candy! Swipe ⬅️ to see a 1984 Skittles package from my retro food collection... when green was still lime, instead of apple!
1980: Rubik's Cube
The twisty-turny puzzle cube became really popular in 1980 when it debuted at the New York toy fair. The toy was immediately popular, and about 100 million cubes were sold in the next three years.
From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifts off in 1981; US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ease tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 is considered to be one of the most momentous events of the 1980s; ...