Flashback
Our classes were special and the years we spent at school were a unique time in history.
This page is dedicated to popular culture of the time. Go back in time with us!
Flashback
Our classes were special and the years we spent at school were a unique time in history.
This page is dedicated to popular culture of the time. Go back in time with us!
1979
List of 1979 Major News Events in History
* Three Mile island Nuclear Accident
* China institutes the one child per family rule
* General Knowledge Quiz Game Trivial Pursuit Launched
* Pink Floyd release "The Wall"
* USSR Invades Afghanistan
* Margaret Thatcher is elected Prime minister in the UK
* Sony released the Walkman
* VisiCalc becomes the first spreadsheet program
* Snowboard is invented in the USA
* Lord Mountbatten and three others assassinated
* 63 Americans are taken hostage in the American Embassy in Tehran
Cost of Living 1979 - How Much things cost
Yearly Inflation Rate USA11.2%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 838
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 15.25%
Average Cost of new house $58,100.00
Average Income per year $17,500.00
Average Monthly Rent $280.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 86 cents
A few More Examples
Sony Walkman $200.00
Chess Challenger Computer Chess Game $199.49
Pachinko Pinball Machine $199.49
Jox Trainers $14.99
Girls Denim Overalls $24.00
Atari Video Computer System $199.00
JVC VHS Video Recorder System $54.99
Mens Blazer, Vest and Slacks $39.99
King Size Bean Bag Chair $19.99
Toyota Corola $3,698.00
Mercury Couger XR7 $6,430.00
Popular Films
Superman The Movie
Every Which Way But Loose
Rocky II
Alien
The Amityville Horror
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Moonraker
The Muppet Movie
The Deer Hunter
Kramer vs. Kramer
Popular Musicians and songs
Bee Gees with " Love you Inside Out "
Rod Stewart
Gloria Gaynor with " I will Survive "
Blondie with " heart of Glass "
Donna Summer "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls"
Michael Jackson
The Eagles
Commodores
Pink Floyd
The Police
Village People
Boomtown Rats
Popular TV Programmes
All My Children
Masterpiece Theatre
Old Grey Whistle Test
Are You Being Served? (UK)
Emmerdale Farm (UK)
M*A*S*H
The Price Is Right
The Waltons
Last of the Summer Wine (UK)
The Young and the Restless
Happy Days
Little House on the Prairie
Saturday Night Live
Charlie's Angels
Family Feud
Quincy, M.E.
The Muppet Show (UK)
The Love Boat
Three's Company
Dallas
Diff'rent Strokes
Mork and Mindy
Taxi
1980
List of 1980 Major News Events in History
* US defeats Soviet Union in ice hockey in what was labeled the "Miracle on Ice"
* Mount St. Helens Eruption on May 18th in Washington killing 57.
* The Iran-Iraq war begins in September of 1980
* CNN (Cable News Network) began broadcasting on June 1st.
* 3M begins sales of it's latest product Post-It Notes invented by Arthur Fry and Spencer Silver.
* Former Beatle John Lennon is shot to death
* Severe Summer Heat Wave in Southern US Causes 1,117 deaths in 20 States
* US Passes "Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act" to tax high profits by oil companies
* Fire Destroys the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas
* The Killer Clown ( John Wayne Gacy Jr ) sentenced to death for the murder of 33 boys and young men.
Cost of Living 1980 - How Much things cost
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 13.58%
Year End Close Dow Jones 963
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 21.50%
Average Cost of new house $68,700
Median Price Of and Existing Home - $62,200 -
Average Income per year $19,500.00
Average Monthly Rent $300.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.19
Average cost new car $7,200.00
Ground Beef Lb $1.39
Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head $4.77
LCD Pendant Watch $34.95
Pontiac Firebird $5,992.00
Men's Casual Shirt $14.00
Magnavox VHS Recorder $699.00
VHS Home Movie Camera $1,599.00
Tomi Cosmic Combat Electronic Game $28.99
Mens 3 Piece Suit $89.95
Popular Films
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Superman II
Nine to Five
Raging Bull
Coal Miner's Daughter
Popular Music
ABBA
AC/DC
Adam and the Ants
Black Sabbath
Blondie with " Call Me "
David Bowie
The Cars
Eric Clapton
Alice Cooper
Elvis Costello
KC and The Sunshine Band
Michael Jackson
Queen with " Another One Bites the Dust "
Pink Floyd
Diana Ross " Upside Down "
Paul McCartney
Olivia Newton-John with " Magic "
Electric Light Orchestra
David Bowie
The Police
Popular TV
The Facts Of Life
General Hospital
Dallas
The Dukes Of Hazzard
Chips
1981
List of List of 1981 Major News Events in History
* In April of 1981, NASA launched the very first Space Shuttle mission.
* The military leaders of Poland declare a state of emergency and place the nation under martial law
* President Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O'Connor to the US Supreme Court
* The popular film “Raiders of the Lost Ark” makes its debut
* The first DeLorean DMC-12 futuristic sports car were produced
* The first London Marathon is held in March of 1981
* Iran releases 52 American hostages, who had been held for 444 days
* The first high speed train service in Europe begins with the French TGV / high-speed train between Paris and Lyon
* Air traffic controllers strike causing chaos in the US and The US President Ronald Reagan Fires Them
* IBM in US launches it's first PC which uses Microsoft Software MS DOS
Cost of Living 1981 - How Much things cost
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 10.35%
Year End Close Dow Jones 875
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 15.75%
Average Cost of new house $78,200
Median Price Of and Existing Home - $66,400 -
Average Income per year $21,050.00
Average Monthly Rent $315.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.25
Tandy TRS 80 PC1 $149.95
Sinclair ZX80 $199.95
19 inch Color TV $399.95
Under Counter Dishwasher $249.95
Set Of Brass Bamboo Nested Tables $119.99
Plums Lb 39 Cents
Miracle Whip $1.27
Turkey Lb 55 cents
Star Wars Figure Set $29.99
Mens Leather Jacket $129.99
Popular Films
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Superman II
Nine to Five
Any Which Way You Can
Arthur
The Cannonball Run
For Your Eyes Only
On Golden Pond
Chariots of Fire
Popular Music
John Lennon
Blondie
Dolly Parton " 9 to 5 "
Sheena Easton
Diana Ross and Lionel Richie with " Endless Love "
Olivia Newton-John With " Physical "
Roxy Music
Bucks Fizz
Adam and The Ants
Michael Jackson
Queen
David Bowie
1982
List of 1982 Major News Events in History
* Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking album “Thriller” was released
* The break-up of the AT&T monopoly was ordered
* Argentina invades the Falkland Islands / Malvinas
* The first episode of Late Night with David Letterman debuts on NBC
* The popular science fiction film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” debuts during June
* Disney Futuristic Park EPCOT ( Experimental Community Of Tomorrow )is opened
* Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide kill 7 in Chicago
* The Mary Rose, flagship of Henry VIII of England is raised in the Solent
* The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC is dedicated
* The First Commercial use of Genetic Engineering is Launched when human insulin produced by bacteria is marketed
Cost of Living 1982 - How Much things cost
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 6.16 %
Year End Close Dow Jones 1046
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 11.50%
Average Cost of new house $82,200
Median Price Of and Existing Home - $67,800 -
Average Income per year $21,050.00
Average Monthly Rent $320.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 91 cents
New Car Average price $7,983.00
US Postage Stamp 20 cents
Tomatoes Lb 39 cents
Bag Cheese Puffs 89 cents
Loaf White Sliced bread 50 cents
Comodore Vic 20 $299.95
Satellite Receiver $245.95
Walking / Jogging Machine $199.95
GMC 1500 Pickup $5,400
Sony 19 inch Color TV $499
Outdoor Gas Grill $199.95
United States - Late Night Show
1. The first episode of Late Night with David Letterman debuts on NBC during February of 1982.
2. The show aired after Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show and was directed by Hal Gurney.
3. The show’s first guests were Bill Murray and Don Herbert.
4. It soon gained a reputation for its innovative offbeat humor and quirkiness.
5. The show aired for over a decade with Letterman as the host until Letterman moved to CBS to host the Late Show in 1993.
6. It has since continued with other hosts including Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers.
Popular Films
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Rocky III,
On Golden Pond
Porky's
An Officer and a Gentleman
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Poltergeist
Annie
Chariots of Fire
Gandhi
Popular Musicians
Human League with " Don't You Want Me "
Bucks Fizz
The Jam
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder with " Ebony and Ivory "
Olivia Newton-John
Vangelis
Steve Miller band With " Abracadabra "
Survivor with " Eye of The Tiger "
Chicago with " Hard to Say I'm Sorry "
Lionel Richie
Popular TV Programmes
Magnum, P.I.
The Other Arf (UK)
Dynasty
Falcon Crest
Hill Street Blues
Only Fools and Horses (UK)
Knight Rider