Money and Inflation 1980's
To provide an estimate of inflation we have given a guide to the value of $100 US Dollars for the first year in the decade to the equivalent in today's moneyIf you have $100 Converted from 1980 to 2005 it would be equivalent to $243.45 today
In 1980 a new house cost $68,714.00 and by 1989 was $120,00.00 Check Examples of Some of the Houses and Prices For Sale In The 80s in Our 80s Homes Section
In 1980 the average income per year was $19,170.00 and by 1989 was $27,210.00
In 1980 a gallon of gas was $1.19 and by 1989 was 97 cents
In 1980 the average cost of new car was $7,210.00 and by 1989 was $15,400.00
A few more prices from the 80's and how much things cost
Camaro Coupe $7,571 From Car Prices in the 80's
Pontiac Grand AM $9,965
Nike Air Force Basketball Shoes $54.90
Tailored Style Silk Blouse $15.99 From Prices for clothes and fashions in the 80's
Amiga 500 with Color Monitor $849 From Our 80s Electrical and Electronic Prices in the 80's
Hands Free Operating Car Phone History of Mobile Phones $788
Leg O Lamb $2.19 per pound
Milk 85 cents 1/2 gallon From Our 80s Price of Food Section
Bunk Beds with Mattress $148
Chrome Sling Chair $76.00 From Our Furniture Prices Section in the 80's
Cheer Laundry Detergent $1.59
Events 1980's
Sporting Changes In The 80's
BaseballPlayers go on strike again in 1981 they win but lose fans for the game through their actions for striking and from drugs or alcohol used by the players.
Basketball
During the eighties new stars emerge Larry Bird, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan drawing fans back to the games .
Association Football (Soccer)
24 teams fight for the World Cup in 1982 (Italy won the World Cup)
Soccer Hooliganism and the Heysel Stadium Disaster give English Football a bad name the Hooliganism continues through to the mid 90's
American Football
Miami Hurricanes win college national championships
California Teams The Raiders and San Francisco 49ers Dominate The NFL
The 80's was the decade of the quarterback and the best of them was Joe Montana
The 1985 Chicago Bears with running back Walter Payton considered by many to be one of the greatest teams of all time.
Ice Hockey
New York Islanders Dominate The First Half Of The Decade
The Great One Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier Help Edmonton Oilers Dominate The Second Half Of The Decade
For More Sporting history, Origins, Events and Changes, Please Check Out Our New Sports History Section.
Technology 1980's
- The 80's signaled the start of the computer age, following on from the creation of Microsoft and Apple towards the end of the 70's , the technology and the speed of innovation both in Hardware and Software together with the cheapness provided a speed of growth and take up . The birth of the IBM PC signaled the start of Personal Computers first in the Offices and then into peoples homes becoming an integral part of our lives. following on from MicrsoftsMSDOS on PC's to the first versions of Windows a GUI Graphical User Interface
- As well as the Hardware and Software changes a new technology was evolving starting as Bulletin boards later to become what we now know as the Internet invented by English physicist Tim Berners and the beginnings of the World Wide Web
- This was also the Decade that the Post-It was introduced which came from a glue invented in 1968 accidentally while trying to discover a stronger glue at 3M by Spencer Silver
- The 80's also signaled the age of the video game in arcades, Games Machines and PC's the most popular games being Space Invaders and Pac Man our Popular 1980s Toys reflect this.
- Another technology that was also just starting was that of cellular mobile phones , in the beginning the phones were big and heavy and hit and miss for signal strength , but as with the Internet would change our lives .
- After many years of ignoring the impact on our environment ,the world also took more notice of the impact that we were having on our planet and more research was done on the effects on global warming through population growth, land clearing of rain forests for agriculture and logging, increased use of fossil fuels for power generation together with our love affair with the car for transport .
Popular Culture 1980's
- John Lennon is shot outside his New York apartment
- MTV (Music Television) is launched
- Floppy shirts, Backcombed hair, Padded shoulders, big hairdoes and white stilettoes
- The Simpsons Is First Seen On Tracey Ullman Show April 5th 1987
- Michael Jackson releases his second adult solo album, Thriller.
Clint Eastwood
Burt Reynolds
Harrison Ford
Michael J Fox
Eddie Murphy
Tom Cruise
Dudley Moore
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Popular Musicians
- Bucks Fizz
- The Jam
- Olivia Newton-John
- Chicago
- Lionel Richie
- ABBA
- Black Sabbath
- Queen
- The Police
- Tina Turner
- David Bowie
- Whitney Houston
- Culture Club
- Bruce Springsteen
- U2
The 1980s was an important decade in the television industry. Not only were great strides made in the way of “pushing the envelope” with shows like Married…With Children, but other programs displayed a stark contrast with family-friendly issues and themes. The Cosby Show began in the mid-1980s and it enjoyed several years as the #1 television program because it was a witty and realistic rendering of family life during the era. It also destroyed the stereotype of poor African-American families that shows in the past only helped to reinforce. Heathcliff Huxtable – the father on The Cosby Show – was an obstetrician while his wife – Claire – was a successful lawyer.
TV Shows 1980s
- Married with Children 1987 - 1997.
- Baywatch 1989 - 1999.
- Chips 1977 - 1983.
- Hill Street Blues 1981 - 1987.
- Highway to Heaven 1984 - 1989.
- Knight Rider 1982 - 1986.
- Dukes Of Hazzard 1979 - 1985.
- The Benny Hill Show 1969 - 1989.
- Fame 1982 - 1987.
- Cagney & Lacey 1982 - 1988.
- Dallas 1978 - 1991.
- Matlock 1986 - 1992.
- MacGyver 1985 - 1992.
- Little House on the Prairie 1974 - 1983.
- Doctor Who 1963 - 1989.
- Columbo 1968 - 2003.
- The A Team 1983 - 1987.
- Laverne & Shirley 1976 - 1983.
- The Cosby Show 1984 - 1992.
- Happy Days 1974 - 1984.
- Cheers 1982 - 1993.
- Taxi 1978 - 1983.
- Benson 1979 - 1986.
- Growing Pains 1985 - 1992.
The 1980s also saw the creation of a number of cable networks that viewers still enjoy today. The Weather Channel – based in Atlanta, GA – premiered in 1982 as a cable network that covered the weather 24 hours a day. The Cable News Network, better known as CNN, was also created as television’s first 24-hour news network. It created a trend and today you have the option of several 24-hour cable news networks to choose from. Rupert Murdoch also created the Fox Network in the 1980s as a challenge to the only three major networks at the time – NBC, CBS, and ABC. Even though many people scoffed at the idea of Fox being a major competitor, it has since created several popular and award-winning shows in its more than 20 year existence. Music Television (MTV) was also a major breakthrough network in the 1980s and today viewers can choose from a large number of music-based television channels.
Other shows that began in the 1980s that are still memorable and popular today include Cheers, The Golden Girls, Miami Vice, and Family Ties. Along with The Simpsons, many of these programs are available as DVD box sets for those who lived through the era and want to experience a feeling of nostalgia by experiencing these shows again.
Other shows that began in the 1980s that are still memorable and popular today include Cheers, The Golden Girls, Miami Vice, and Family Ties. Along with The Simpsons, many of these programs are available as DVD box sets for those who lived through the era and want to experience a feeling of nostalgia by experiencing these shows again.
And Here are some of the most import and History that has happened since the begining of 1980 to the end of 1989...The Most Shocking one is the.... will follow right at the end
1980
February 22: | Miracle on Ice Mike Eruzione, on the U.S. hockey team scores the winning goal against the heavily favored Soviet team in the 1980 Winter Olympics. |
March 21: | U.S. boycotts Moscow Summer Olympics The United States refuses to participate in 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, because of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. |
April 24: | Iran hostage crisis A U.S. air raid fails to rescue the hostages when a rescue plane and a helicopter collide in the Iranian desert. |
May 18: | Mount St. Helens erupts Long-dormant volcano erupts after a week of smaller volcanoes and earthquakes. |
November 4: | Ronald Reagan elected as 40th U.S. president Ronald Reagan (R) defeats incumbent Jimmy Carter (D) in a landslide victory. Reagan wins 489 electoral votes, vs. Carter's 49 electoral votes. |
November 20: | Who Shot J.R.? 83 million viewers tune in to Dallas learn who shot J.R. Ewing. It's audience size is second only to the final episode of M*A*S*H. (By the way, Sue Ellen's sister, Kristin shot him) |
December 8: | John Lennon is assassinated Lennon is shot to death outside his New York City apartment by deranged fan, Mark Chapman. |
1981
January 20: | Ronald Reagan inaugurated Reagan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. His Vice President is George Bush. |
January 20: | Iran Hostage Crisis ends After 444 days, Iran releases all 52 American hostages, minutes after Reagan is sworn in as President. (You can debate why in our forum) |
March 30: | President Reagan is shot John Hinckley Jr. attempts to assasinate Reagan. Reagan survives and quickly recovers. |
May 13: | Pope John Paul II shot Escaped Turkish killer, Mehmet Ali Agca, shoots the Pope, who is waving to the crowds in St. Peter's Square. The Pope undergoes surgery for five hours and survives. By October, John Paul fully recovers. |
July 7: | Sandra Day O'Connor nominated to Supreme Court President Reagan nominates O'Connor, making her the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice. |
July 29: | Diana and Prince Charles Wedding |
August 1: | MTV launches The first 24 hour-a-day music television station is born. |
August 3: | Air Traffic Controller's Strike When air traffic controllers illegally strike, President Reagan fires them. |
December 13: | Martial law declared in Poland (-1983) After a summer of strikes, the Polish government declares martial law. |
1982
January 8: | AT&T broken up |
March23: April 2: | Leonardo Dario Rey Was born at 6.25am Miss Alicia Beatriz Dogliani give to the world the only Child...After weeks of regeation, finally just understood than was the only thing for her to fight for. Falkland Islands War Argentina invades the British-occupied Falklands. After two months, Argentina surrenders to British forces on June 14. |
June 30: | Equal Rights Amendment defeated The ERA, that would prohibit discrimination by sex, falls short of ratification when the deadline passes. |
July 9: | Pan Am crash |
August 5: | Spontaneous human combustion A Chicago woman burst into flames and dies. She is the eighth recorded victim of human spontaneous combustion, based on records dating back to the 18th century. |
September 29: | Tylenol tampering scare In the fall of 1982, seven people die from taking cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules. The nation panics and Johnson and Johnson quickly recalls over 30 million bottles. |
November 13: | Dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial |
1983
February 28: | Final episode of M*A*S*H airs The final episode is seen by the largest audience ever to watch a televsion program. |
March 23: | Strategic Defense Initiative (-1993) Reagan announces initiative to develop a space based system, also known as "Star Wars", to defend the U.S. from ballistic missiles. |
March 24: | First test tube babies in America born Heather Jean and Todd McDonald Tilton become parents of first set of twins conceived in vitro and born in the United States. |
June 18: | Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space |
September 1: | USSR shoots down commercial Korean airliner Soviet fighters shoot down KAL Flight 007 after it enters Soviet airspace. 269 people on board are killed. |
October 23: | Beirut terrorist bombing attack A truck bomb kills over 200 in a U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. |
October 25: | U.S. invades Grenada The United States invade Grenada to rescue 1,000 Americans on the island, days after a military Marxist government seized power in a bloody coup. |
December 2: | Dr. Barney Clark receives first artificial heart implant Dr. Clark receives artificial heart implant, but dies 112 days after. 1984 |
January 27: | Michael Jackson's hair catches on fire During shooting of Pepsi commercial, sparks from a special-effects mishap ignite Jackson's hair. |
April 1: | Marvin Gaye is killed The Motown legend is shot by his father in a domestic dispute. |
May 7: | Soviets boycott Los Angeles Summer Olympics Citing "undisguised threats" against their athletes, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, and East Germany do not attend the Summer Games. |
July 18: | McDonald's massacre After telling his wife he was going "hunting for humans", James Huberty shoots 40 people at a McDonald's in San Ysidro, California. He kills 21 people before he was shot to death by police. |
October 26: | Surgeons implant baboon heart into "Baby Fae" The 12 day old baby, born with a malformed heart, gets a baboon heart. She dies three weeks later. |
October 31: | Indira Gandhi assassinated Prime Minister Gandhi is shot to death by two of her Sikh bodyguards, resulting in anti-Sikh riots that killed more than a thousand people. |
November 25: | Band Aid Bob Geldof and 35 artists record "Do They Know It's Christmas" to raise money for famine relief. |
December 22: | Bernhard Goetz opens fire The "subway vigilante", Goetz, shoots four young men on a New York City subway, after they allegedly threatened him. |
1985
January 28: | "We Are The World" by USA For Africa is recorded The song, written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, was recorded to aid famine relief in Africa. 45 artists participated, and the song was a huge hit, raising $50 million. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April 23: | New Coke debuts Coca-Cola replaces its original formula with "New Coke" recipe to compete with Pepsi-Cola. Public outcry quickly develops and the company brings back the original Coke. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
May 20: | Hear 'n Aid 40 heavy metal artists joined to make a record to raise money for famine relief around the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
July 13: | Live Aid The all-star rock concert, held in Philadephia and London, raises $70 million for African famine relief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
August: | Ryan White barred from school 14 yr. old Ryan is barred from school in Kokomo, Indiana, because he had AIDS. He was finally allowed to return. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 1: | Titanic wreckage found The Titanic wreckage is discovered on the ocean floor of the North Atlantic. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 19: | Mexico City earthquakes For two days violent earthquakes strike Mexico City, killing 7,000 people and causing more than $4 billion in damage. 1986
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