You can say a lot of things about the 1980’s, but one thing is for sure – it was truly unique and definitely not boring. Growing up in the 80’s, you watched the world change quickly, technology explode, and fell victim to a slew of horrible fashion choices.  Here are a few things you might remember…

  1. The Smurfs

Flickr/ Leonardo D’Amico They were everywhere…the cartoon, the merchandise….oh, smurfy smurf!

  1. Pegged or Tightly Cuffed Jeans

“The perfect tight roll” by Jimfox7 - picture taken in Miami. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - Yep, even the boys…

  1. Pac-Man Fever

“Pac flyer” by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - Arcades were the place to be…There were a lot of other classics like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Galaga, and so many more! Maybe you played them on….

  1. The Nintendo Gaming System

“NES-Console-Set” by Evan-Amos - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - Or perhaps you had this instead…

The Atari Gaming System

“Atari-2600-Wood-4Sw-Set” by Evan-Amos - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -

  1. The Boombox

“Akai AJ-530” by Puding Jahodový - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - Yes, it was portable. But still, kinda bulky. Notice the cassette tape player.

  1. MTV

“Mtvmoon” by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia - Remember when they used to play music videos?

  1. Crazy hair

Flickr/ ImagePros

Flickr/ Paul Townsend

So many ways to go oh so wrong!

http://sceneogkostyme.wikispaces.com

  1. Cabbage Patch Kids

Flickr/ Rambling Dream Or their more disturbing cousins….

  1. Garbage Pail Kids

Flickr/ Conrad Lawson

  1. Rubik’s Cube

“Rubik’s cube” by This image was created by me, Booyabazooka - Based on Image:Rubiks cube.jpg. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - Did you solve it? Or did you give up and take it apart?

  1. Buttons!

Flickr/ Doug Berger

  1. Strawberry Shortcake

Flickr/ Steve Berry You might have had one of the dolls that smelled like their names.

  1. Saturday Morning Cartoons

Flickr/ redondoself Yep, if you wanted to see cartoons, you’d better get up before noon on Saturday!

  1. Vidal Sasson Jeans

Flickr/ twitchery Or were they Jordache?

  1. Judy Blume Books

Facebook/ Its MeJudyBlume Honest and real, these books spoke to a lot of us growing up in the 80’s.

  1. Karate Kid

“Karate Kid (2944550918)” by Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland - Karate Kid. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - You know what “Wax on, wax off” means.

  1. The Goonies

Flickr/ Craig Duffy It’s a booby trap!

  1. The Original Michael Jackson

“Michael Jackson glove jacket 1984”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - It wouldn’t be an 80’s list without him.

  1. The Dukes of Hazzard

www.serioustoyz.com The lunchbox, right?

  1. Ewoks…and Everything Star Wars

http://iceeu1992.deviantart.com/art/Ewok-296758668 Toys, movies and everything in between. The 80’s was the original heyday of Star Wars.

  1. John Hughes Movies

Flickr/ Matt M Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and the Brat Pack.

  1. And All The Rest…

Flickr/ Paul Townsend

What are some of the things not mentioned on this list that remind you of growing up in the 80’s?  Share them in the comments below.

Flickr/ Leonardo D’Amico

They were everywhere…the cartoon, the merchandise….oh, smurfy smurf!

“The perfect tight roll” by Jimfox7 - picture taken in Miami. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons -

Yep, even the boys…

“Pac flyer” by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia -

Arcades were the place to be…There were a lot of other classics like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Galaga, and so many more! Maybe you played them on….

“NES-Console-Set” by Evan-Amos - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -

Or perhaps you had this instead…

“Atari-2600-Wood-4Sw-Set” by Evan-Amos - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -

“Akai AJ-530” by Puding Jahodový - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -

Yes, it was portable. But still, kinda bulky. Notice the cassette tape player.

“Mtvmoon” by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia -

Remember when they used to play music videos?

Flickr/ ImagePros

Flickr/ Paul Townsend

http://sceneogkostyme.wikispaces.com

Flickr/ Rambling Dream

Or their more disturbing cousins….

Flickr/ Conrad Lawson

“Rubik’s cube” by This image was created by me, Booyabazooka - Based on Image:Rubiks cube.jpg. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons -

Did you solve it? Or did you give up and take it apart?

Flickr/ Doug Berger

Flickr/ Steve Berry

You might have had one of the dolls that smelled like their names.

Flickr/ redondoself

Yep, if you wanted to see cartoons, you’d better get up before noon on Saturday!

Flickr/ twitchery

Or were they Jordache?

Facebook/ Its MeJudyBlume

Honest and real, these books spoke to a lot of us growing up in the 80’s.

“Karate Kid (2944550918)” by Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland - Karate Kid. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons -

You know what “Wax on, wax off” means.

Flickr/ Craig Duffy

It’s a booby trap!

“Michael Jackson glove jacket 1984”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -

It wouldn’t be an 80’s list without him.

www.serioustoyz.com

The lunchbox, right?

http://iceeu1992.deviantart.com/art/Ewok-296758668

Toys, movies and everything in between. The 80’s was the original heyday of Star Wars.

Flickr/ Matt M

Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and the Brat Pack.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.