#the80s

Miscellaneous | Fun Stuff

97 Facts About Generation X

The generation born between 1965 and 1980 loves nostalgia, has a ton of student debt, and hates cooking.

Entertainment | Entertainment

The 25 Highest Grossing Movies of the 1980s

The decade of excess was all about blockbusters like 'Top Gun' and franchises like 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones.' Which sounds familiar.

History | History

Viral Photo of Chernobyl Taken 14 Hours After Nuclear Meltdown

The first photo of the Chernobyl disaster taken 14 hours after the nuclear catastrophe went viral yesterday along with its fascinating story.

Music | Music

10 of the Most Valuable Cassette Tapes From the ‘80s and ‘90s

Calling all Gen Xers and elder millennials: Those old copies of Pearl Jam’s “Ten” could you earn you a bundle.

Entertainment | Movies & Other Stuff

The 10 Best Neo-Noir Movies of the 1980s

From Blue Velvet to Blade Runner, these 10 neo-noir movies are the very best of the 1980s.

Science & Technology | Tech

Three 80s Technologies That Transformed Modern Audio Production

It’s hard to overestimate the effect some innovations have had on modern
audio production. Here are three that have gone from once held studio
wishes to commonplace tech in our every day work.

Music | Music

Relive MTV's First Two Hours on the Air in Real Time

MTV launched at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981. Now you can relive the first two hours of the music network's existence.

Miscellaneous | Other Kinds of Whatnot

When ‘Voltron’ Ruled the ’80s

The cartoon from Japan was perfect for an American audience--so long as producers edited out all the beheadings.

Miscellaneous | Los Angeles Stuff

Beloved L.A. video store Vidiots set to reopen in June with bar, theater - CBS Los Angeles

The store closed in 2017, but is set to return after a number of celebrities assisted in fundraising efforts, including Aubrey Plaza, Elijah Wood and Patton Oswalt.

Music | Music

10 albums from the 1980s that changed rock history

The '70s might have been when rock came into its own, but the genre underwent a sea change when these albums came out.

Miscellaneous | Interesting Links

Downsizing: The Shrinky Dinks Phenomenon of the ’70s and ’80s

In 1973 Wisconsin, two Cub Scout leaders discovered a neat trick involving heated plastic. A classic toy was born.

Miscellaneous | Interesting Stuff

VHS Resurrection: Why Some Tapes Are Selling for Thousands

The seemingly archaic piece of physical media is making a comeback. Here's why some tapes are currently selling for thousands.

News | News

NASA's fatal Challenger launch still echoes through the agency today

NASA administrator James Beggs implored the agency to stop the launch of space shuttle Challenger. A day later, seven astronauts lost their lives.

Entertainment | Entertainment

Yes, 'Night Court' Fans—Night Court Actually Exists: The Real Court That Inspired ’Night Court’

Harried judges in Manhattan and elsewhere hear cases into the early morning hours, including allegations of cleaver attacks.

Entertainment | Entertainment

‘Die Hard’ actor, UNLV professor Clarence Gilyard dies

Clarence Gilyard, a UNLV film professor, was famous for his role as computer-terror expert Theo in “Die Hard.”

Entertainment | Entertainment

10 Great ’80s Comedies You Can Stream Right Now

From Tom Hanks to Rick Moranis, you can find some of the most popular comedic stars of the ’80s on the streaming services of the 2020s.

Entertainment | Movies

See What Remains of the Lost, 3.5-Hour Cut of ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’

John Hughes speculated that the original cut of ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’ is lost for good, but you can find remnants of it if you know where to look.

Entertainment | Movies

15 Fun Facts About ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’

John Hughes’s own hellish trip from New York City to Chicago inspired ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles,’ the 1987 Thanksgiving classic starring Steve Martin and John Candy.

Humor | Humor

15 Funny Gen X Memes That Captures The Gen X Life

There are a lot of things that make Gen X unique, and one of those things is their sense of humor. Sit back and enjoy these Gen X Memes

Music | Music

20 underrated bands from the 1980s

Perhaps they resided in the shadow of someone else within a genre, or maybe there was a lack of mainstream appreciation. Maybe they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. That could have been the case during the 1980s for these 20 bands.

Entertainment | Movies & Other Stuff

Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd reunited for a Back To The Future panel at NYCC

Embracing frequently, Fox and Lloyd discussed their first meetings, the Back To The Future musical, and their decades-long appreciation for each other

Entertainment | Movies

How the 1980s Became the Golden Age of Spoof Movies (And Why It Couldn’t Last)

The arrival of blockbuster movies like 'Jaws' and 'Star Wars' and the rise of the home video era allowed '80s comedies like 'Airplane!' and 'The Naked Gun' to define the spoof genre like no films before them ever could.

Entertainment | Television/Film/Books

Roger E. Mosley, 'Magnum, P.I.' star, dies at 83 after a car crash

Actor Roger E. Mosley, best known for his role as the helicopter pilot Theodore "TC" Calvin on the 1980s hit show "Magnum, P.I.," died Sunday, his daughter announced. He was 83.

Entertainment | Entertainment

12 Facts About John Carpenter's 'Escape From New York'

Director John Carpenter set the standard for dystopian cinema with the classic 1981 flick 'Escape from New York.'

Music | Audio Equipment: SO Cool!

How the Sony Walkman changed everything

The Sony Walkman precipitated the rise of MP3 and audio players that allow us to revel in our own private auditory worlds.

Cars & Motorcycles | Cars & Motorcycles

The Legendary Ferrari Daytona From Miami Vice Wasn't A Ferrari At All

Ferraris are rare and expensive, so Universal Studios had to improvise while filming its iconic 80's show, "Miami Vice."

Music | Music

40 Years Ago: Duran Duran Release the Masterful 'Rio'

Duran Duran released 'Rio' in May 1982.

Entertainment | Movies & Other Stuff

How 1982 changed movies—and moviegoers' sense of summer—forever

Packed with essential films like E.T., Star Trek II, Blade Runner, and Tron, one legendary season transformed audience expectations and Hollywood itself

Entertainment | Movies

The Best Neo-Noir Movies of the 1980s

Noir made a comeback of sorts in the '80s, and these are some of the most hard-boiled, brilliant noir movies of the decade.

Entertainment | Movies & Other Stuff

Was Daniel LaRusso The Real Bully In The Karate Kid?

While many fans identify Johnny Lawrence as the bully in the original Karate Kid trilogy, was Daniel LaRusso really that innocent?

Cars & Motorcycles | Cars

Here Are The Most Beautiful Classics Of The '80s That Went Totally Unnoticed

While some '80s cars such as the Lamborghini Countach stood out to define the era, plenty of cool ones completely slipped under the radar.

Entertainment | Movies

Daniel Radcliffe Is Playing "Weird" Al Yankovic in a New Biopic | Mental Floss

The Roku Original movie will apparently hold nothing back and depict Yankovic's 'famously depraved lifestyle.'

Cars & Motorcycles | Cars & Motorcycles

The 19 Most Memorable Cars of the 1970s and 1980s

With the good, the bad and the ugly all accounted for, these cars from the 1970s and '80s are burned into our minds.

Miscellaneous | Interesting Links

Calling All Gen Xers: The Illinois State Museum Wants Your Help Curating a New Generation X Exhibit

If you were born during the Gen X years—1965 to 1980—the Illinois State Museum might feature your old Trapper Keeper.

Entertainment | Entertainment News!

Peter Scolari, ‘Bosom Buddies’ and ‘Newhart’ actor, dead at 66

His passing was confirmed by his manager, Ellen Lubin Sanitsky, to Fox News on Friday.

Music | Music

Tom Jones Covers Talking Heads "Burning Down the House"--and Burns Down the House (1999)

It was supposedly “the album that finally obliterates the thin line separating arty white pop music and deep black funk,” as David Fricke wrote on the release of Talking Heads’ Speaking in Tongues.

Music | Music News

'Undercover': The Rolling Stones' Dark, Exhilarating Entry Of 1983

Nineteen years, 17 UK studio albums. That was the scorecard for the Stones in November 1983, as they released their new 'Undercover' set.

Entertainment | Celebrities!

Michael J. Fox plans ‘second retirement’ as health declines. More revelations from his book

In "No Time Like the Future," Michael J. Fox opens up about the progression of his Parkinson's disease, painful moments and his message of hope.

Music | Audio Equipment: SO Cool!

Retro cassette players for people who like it old-school

Cassette tapes are making a comeback, probably because you can’t beat them for making a mixtape or recording the weird things you hear on the radio.

Entertainment | Entertainment

THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Back to the Future' 35 years later

The first "Back to the Future" movie first hit theaters in July 1985, and starred Michael J. Fox as a teenager who travels back in time.

Music | Music

Summer Soundtrack: 20 Great Songs From the Ultimate '80s Movies

As familiar—even iconic—as many 1980s movies have become in audiences’ minds, there are always a handful that get overlooked, or thankfully rediscovered, thanks to re-releases and anniversaries.

Miscellaneous | Other Kinds of Whatnot

Casio Is Releasing a Retro-Style, NASA-Themed G-Shock Watch

Just because you’re not headed to the Moon doesn’t mean you can’t flaunt your passion for space exploration.

Entertainment | Entertainment

Back to the Future Screenwriter Weighs in on One of the Film’s Most Notorious Plot Holes | Mental Floss

The fact that Marty's parents don't recognize him at the end of the 'Back to the Future' has been bugging fans for years. But according to the screenwriter, this isn't a plot hole.

Miscellaneous | This is stuff I like

Take a Look: LeVar Burton Will Livestream Readings on Twitter

The former 'Star Trek' star and 'Reading Rainbow' host is taking his popular podcast, 'LeVar Burton Reads,' to Twitter.

Entertainment | Entertainment

7 Things That Don’t Make Sense About Die Hard

I begrudgingly have to admit that, while it is widely considered the finest film in the action genre, Die Hard is not perfect. The 1988 box office smash, which had explosive results for Bruce Willis’ career...

Entertainment | Entertainment

Do Yourself A Favor And Watch David Byrne's Two Stunning SNL Performances

David Byrne performed Talking Heads’ Once in a Lifetime and Toe Jam during Saturday Night Live, hosted by John Mulaney.

Music | Music

The Violent Shootout That Led to Daryl Hall and John Oates Joining Forces

One of the biggest duos in pop music history, Daryl Hall and John Oates first encountered one another during a dance hall riot in 1967 Philadelphia.

Music | Music

Huey Lewis & the News Debuts 'Her Love Is Killin' Me' Video on 'Kimmel'

The video features appearances by Michael Keaton, Jimmy Buffett and Brandon Flowers

Entertainment | Entertainment

Quentin Tarantino: I owe my career to 'The Golden Girls'

The classic 1980s sitcom "The Golden Girls" is legendary for the hilarious antics of Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia. But what about director Quentin Tarantino?

Entertainment | Entertainment

Eddie Money Dead: ‘Two Tickets to Paradise’ Singer Was 70 – Variety

Eddie Money, the prolific hitmaker whose songs "Baby Hold On" and "Two Tickets to Paradise" soundtracked the 1980s, has died. He was 70.

Entertainment | Entertainment

Welcome to the Party, Pal: A Die Hard Board Game Exists

John McClane got a machine gun, and now he has a board game. The 1988 action film 'Die Hard' is getting the tabletop game treatment.

Business & Finance | Advertising/Marketing

These Vintage Diet and Food Ads From the 80s and 90s Will Actually Shock You

We rounded up the most shocking food and diet ads from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, so you can see what food trends we’re so glad we put on ice.

Entertainment | Movies & Other Stuff

Eggo waffles take a trip back to the 80s for Stranger Things season three | The Drum

Eggo frozen waffles, the preferred treat of Stranger Things’ Eleven character, are channeling the 80s with retro ads in the lead up to season three of the Netflix series.

Entertainment | Entertainment

A 'Spenser: For Hire' reboot is coming with Mark Wahlberg

Spenser and Hawk are coming back to small screens soon.

Miscellaneous | Other Stuff

Remember When You Could Call the Time?

You still can, and thousands of people do it every day.

Music | Music

The English Beat's Ranking Roger Dies At 56 | Billboard

The English Beat and General Public vocalist Ranking Roger --real name Roger Charlery-- has passed away at the age of 56 after a battle with cancer.

Entertainment | Entertainment

Good news, would-be game show masterminds: ABC is bringing back Press Your Luck 

30 years after it originally went off the air, syndicated game show mainstay Press Your Luck is mostly known for two things: Its irritating, cash-gobbling, Noid wannabe mascot The Whammy, and Michael Larson, the guy who set a long-standing record for game

Entertainment | Entertainment News!

Jan-Michael Vincent Dead: 'Airwolf,' 'The Mechanic' Star Was 73 | Hollywood Reporter

Jan-Michael Vincent, who starred in such action fare as 'The Mechanic,' 'White Line Fever' and TV's 'Airwolf' before a raft of personal problems and illness sent him on a downward spiral, has died. He was 73.

Music | Music

The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s | Pitchfork

Kate Bush, N.W.A., Brian Eno, Madonna, Prince, and the other icons who defined a decade

News | The News

David Horowitz, Legendary Consumer Journalist, Dies at 81

Longtime consumer journalist David Horowitz passed away at age 81, his wife told NBC4.

Music | Music

The Cure Hint at New Album, Share 2019 Tour Dates

In addition to announcing new tour dates, The Cure also said that they're finishing up work on their first new album in over a decade.

Miscellaneous | Other Kinds of Whatnot

When WWF Wrestling Figures Ruled the '80s | Mental Floss

Test your knowledge with amazing and interesting facts, trivia, quizzes, and brain teaser games on MentalFloss.com.

Music | Music

Two new reissues of the Cars' landmark albums capture a band for whom precision was everything.

An anomic interzone at the nexus of disco and new wave, 1981 needed the Cars more than ever.

Entertainment | Entertainment News!

Night Court Actor Harry Anderson Dead at 65

Actor Harry Anderson was found in his North Carolina home, dead at the age of 65. He was most famous for his roles in Night Court, Cheers, and Dave’s World.

Entertainment | Television/Film/Books

They're demolishing the house where Hawaii Five-O's final showdown went down

The house that Jack Lord built is coming down.

Miscellaneous | Interesting Stuff

The Overwhelming Emotion of Hearing Toto’s “Africa” Remixed to Sound Like It’s Playing in an Empty Mall | The Ne

Jia Tolentino writes that editing a song to sound like it’s coming from a specific space—such as “Africa,” by Toto, as if it were playing in a mall—fights against the digital isolation of our times.

Entertainment | Entertainment

When The Day After Terrorized 100 Million Viewers With a Vision of Nuclear War | Mental Floss

Test your knowledge with amazing and interesting facts, trivia, quizzes, and brain teaser games on MentalFloss.com.

Music | Music

Back to the ’80s | My Rick Springfield crush

Oh, how I wish I was in Florida preparing to embark on a trip back to that totally tubular time of the 1980s. Yes, the '80s cruise that we heard about last year starts this weekend, with none other than Rick Springfield as its captain. Or host. Let's go w

Miscellaneous | Other Stuff

Whatever Happened to Generation X?

As they head into middle age, the “slacker” generation of Philadelphians — sandwiched between the never-say-die boomers and the all-about-us millennials — is feeling overlooked, overworked and overwhelmed. But their chill, pragmatic approach to li

Music | Music

The Three Members Of The Smiths Not Named Morrissey Or Marr Teased A New Collaboration

Drummer Mike Joyce took to social media to share an image of his name aligned with bassist Andy Rourke and guitarist Craig Gannon.

Entertainment | Television/Film/Books

Tom Selleck pays tribute to his 'Magnum, P.I.' costar John Hillerman

The actor honors the grand side of "The Great Hildini."

Entertainment | Entertainment

About that one time Quentin Taratino played Elvis on 'The Golden Girls'

It was almost as weird as the Elvis-themed Twilight Zone episode written by George R.R. Martin.

Entertainment | Television/Film/Books

12 Fast Facts About ‘Magnum, P.I.’ | Mental Floss

Test your knowledge with amazing and interesting facts, trivia, quizzes, and brain teaser games on MentalFloss.com.

Music | Music

Prince's Epic 'Purple Rain' Tour: An Oral History - Rolling Stone

Members of the Revolution look back on Prince's massive, awe-inspiring 'Purple Rain' tour in our exclusive oral history.

Music | Music

The YouTube generation is listening to . . . cassettes? - The Boston Globe

Today’s young music fans are used to getting what they want to hear anytime anywhere, and their tastes are algorithm-assisted. It’s 2017, and your Sony Walkman needs new batteries. Why? Because cassettes are back.

Cars & Motorcycles | Cars

It's Finally Time for the Chevrolet Fiero

If there's going to be a mid-engined Corvette, there should be an accessible Chevrolet with the same layout.

Entertainment | Entertainment

A Stylish Supercut of Dance Scenes From '80s Movies

The supercut is an infectious celebration of some of the most iconic dance scenes in 1980s movies.

Entertainment | Entertainment News!

See Photographer Dafydd Jones's Party Photos From the 80s and 90s | Vanity Fair

Jones recently decided to go back through his archive and reprint photos taken for *Tatler* and *Vanity Fair.*

Music | Music

‘Hard to Hold’: 32 years ago | My Rick Springfield crush

Rick Springfield's film debut "Hard to Hold" came out 32 years ago today. I'm pretty sure I know what was on my 14-year-old mind that day. Today we have access to so many interviews via the Internet, but in those days, it was all about the teen

Miscellaneous | Interesting Links

Growing up in arcades: 1979-1989

  Goddamn, do these photos bring back memories! I mean, this is exactly what it looked like in the ‘70s and ‘80s hanging out at arcades. I never really played the games back then as I wasn’t very good at them, but I did hang out wit

Music | Music

Caught On Tape: Stevie Ray Vaughan Rehearses “Let’s Dance” With David Bowie | Society Of Rock

Serious Moonlight Tour Rehearsals, 1983 Despite David Bowie's generous offer to take him on tour, in 1983 Texas blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan declined the offer just before the start of Bowie's Serious Moonlight Tour in pursuit of his own interests. Ste

Miscellaneous | This is stuff I like

'Pretty in Pink' to Return to Theaters for 30th Anniversary

Re-release will contain bonus footage, including cast discussing alternate ending

Entertainment | Television/Film/Books

"The Doors" Sing "Reading Rainbow" Theme (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

The legendary Jim Morrison (Jimmy Fallon) and The Doors stopped by 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' to cover the

Music | Music

Rick Springfield fandom in the 1980s vs. today | My Rick Springfield crush

Here are some memories from being a teenage Rick Springfield fan in the 1980s: Checking the magazine stand at the neighborhood drugstore to see if the current issue of Tiger Beat, 16 Magazine or Bop was there so I could add another Rick Springfield post

Music | Music

Yes, so much more than 'Jessie's Girl'

There was a great article circulating online this week, which basically said what Rick Springfield fans have known for years, he's really talented and there's so much more to him than

Entertainment | Entertainment News!

This Karate Kid video argues Daniel LaRusso is the movie's villain | EW.com

If you thought the hero of the 1984 film The Karate Kid was Daniel LaRusso, think again. A new video argues that Daniel (Ralph Macchio) is actually the film’s top bully, a “violent sociopath who moves to a California town and begins tormenting a local

Music | Music

‘True story’ behind ‘Jessie’s Girl’ | My Rick Springfield crush

When MTV debuted 34 years ago - on Aug. 1, 1981 - "Jessie's Girl" was the No. 1 song in the country. And for 34 years, music fans everywhere have wondered - "Was there really a Jessie's girl?" This week, Jimmy Kimmel unearthed never-b

Music | Music

30 days till showtime | My Rick Springfield Crush

In 30 days, Rick Springfield will appear on the big screen in his first feature film since “Hard to Hold” in 1984. His film debut didn’t get very good reviews, but at age 14, I didn’t care about things like that – it was Rick Springfield on the big screen and (giggle, giggle) you got to see almost all of him. Plus you got to listen to his newest songs.

Music | Music

A new look for Rick Springfield | My Rick Springfield crush

Last week there was a paparazzi photo posted on Twitter of Rick Springfield "shopping in Beverly Hills." It didn't really look like he was shopping, as he only had his phone in one hand and his keys in the other but that was how it was portraye

Music | Music

The 15 Struggles Of Being A Music Fan In The '80s

The '80s weren't all perms and Rubik's Cubes. So take off the rose-colored aviators and get real ...

Entertainment | Entertainment News!

Jimmy Fallon Went to Bayside High with "Saved By The Bell" Cast - YouTube

While in L.A., Jimmy reminisces about his time at Bayside High with the gang from "Saved By The Bell." Subscribe NOW to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallo...

Gaming | Gaming

11 Fascinating Facts About Space Invaders

Space Invaders was a flop on its release, and in its early version, had you shooting at planes and people instead...

Miscellaneous | Chicago Events

'Dear John Hughes' coming to Chicago, a show celebrating his movies

A multi-media, concert-style show designed to celebrate the movies of the late John Hughes — including such nostalgic titles as “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Weird Science,”

Science & Technology | Tech

Sony is trying to make the Walkman cool again

Sony's latest take on its classic music player, the ZX2, supports high-resolution audio playback, and is Wi-Fi-, Bluetooth- and NFC-enabled.

Entertainment | Entertainment

Netflix Releasing a New Original Movie Starring… Pee-Wee Herman?

You’re reading that title correctly, we can confirm that an upcoming Netflix original will be a rehash of the 80s children’s show Pee-Wee Herman as a feature film.

Gaming | Gaming

A young boy plays through video game history - Boing Boing

At The Message, BB pal Andy Baio wrote a fantastic piece about the experiment he is running with his ten-year-old son: What happens when a 21st-century kid plays through video game history in chronological order?

Miscellaneous | I Like This

1989, America's malls: The places where nothing — and everything — has changed

In 1989, Michael Galinsky, then a 20-year-old student, took a month to traverse the U.S. Everywhere he went, he documented the same place: the shopping mall. The results are now an archive of a vanished world, simultaneously familiar and foreign, trivial and full of meaning.

Humor | Humor

Kevin Bacon Explains the '80s to Millennials

Awesomeness: Kevin Bacon Explains the '80s to Millennials! Kids today man.

Humor | Humor

Teenagers Just Can't Figure Out the Original NES | Mental Floss

Video game technology has come a long way since the Nintendo Entertainment System debuted in the 1980s, so it's no surprise that the teenagers examining the device in the Fine Brothers' latest React video are kind of bemused by the device. "Is this a projector?" one asks. Game of Thrones' Maise Williams thinks it might be a video player; another guesses that it's a Gameboy 1. "I've played with a PlayStation 2," one girl notes, "but this is as old as it gets for me!"

Gaming | Gaming

Chubby Checker's Lost "Dig Dug" Atari Commercial | Mental Floss

In 1982, Chubby Checker recorded a song about Dig Dug, the classic Atari game.

Entertainment | Entertainment News!

The '80s - Los Angeles magazine

How the 1984 summer Olympics and pop and punk and rap and Melrose Avenue could all happen in one city

Music | Music

U2's 'Bad' Break: 12 Minutes at Live Aid That Made the Band's Career

The complete story behind the historic performance, 29 years ago this week

Miscellaneous | Other Stuff!

8 Items from the 1985 Montgomery Ward’s Catalog We Wish Were Still for Sale

It is true that some of these things can still be found, either old and faded on eBay or earnestly reproduced on specialty sites like The Vermont Country Store. But these products and deserve more; they have timeless appeal that would suit our 21st centur

Miscellaneous | Interesting Links

What Old Sharper Image Catalogs Tell Us About American Life in the '80s

These products were all sold in Sharper Image catalogs in the late '80s. Even the fake cellphone antenna.