Long Live The 1980s

From Coupons to Cash: How Prices Changed in the 1980s Household Welcome to Long Live the 1980s , where shoulder pads ruled, cassette tapes rocked, and inflation slowly crept into our shopping carts. The 1980s were a decade of neon dreams, MTV revolutions, and economic fluctuations that quietly reshaped the American household. Today, we're jumping into a retro time machine to explore how much things cost at the beginning of the 1980s versus the end . From milk and bread to shampoo and TV sets, we’ll compare the prices of several household and grocery items from January 1, 1980 , to December 31, 1989 , and reflect on how these changes impacted the average family. So grab a Tab or pour yourself a glass of Tang — we’re headed straight into the heart of 1980s consumer culture. 🛒 A Tale of Two Carts: Shopping in 1980 vs. 1989 Before we crunch the numbers, let’s set the scene. In 1980, Ronald Reagan hadn't yet stepped into the White House, inflation was still reeling from the 19...

Cassette Culture: The Art of the Perfect 1980s Mixtape By Long Live the 1980s Ah, the 1980s—the era of big hair, neon colors, synth-pop, Walkmans, and… the almighty mixtape. If you were a teen or young adult in the ‘80s, chances are you spent a good chunk of your free time hunched over a boombox, fingers poised above the record button, waiting for your favorite song to come on the radio. The mixtape wasn’t just a collection of songs—it was an emotional art form, a carefully curated sonic message, and sometimes, even a love letter. Welcome to Cassette Culture: The Art of the Perfect 1980s Mixtape. This post is for anyone who has ever scribbled “Side A” in black Sharpie, agonized over song order, or hit rewind just to hear “Africa” by Toto one more time. 🎵 Mixtape 101: A Love Letter in Magnetic Tape Before Spotify playlists, before CDs, before even Napster (shhh), there was the mixtape. It was how we told our crush we liked them, how we said “Sorry I messed up,” or how we immorta...

The Hottest Concerts of the 1980s By Long Live the 1980s The 1980s were more than just a decade—they were a movement, a mood, and a magnificent explosion of sound, style, and spectacle. From glittering synth-pop to gritty rock, and from moonwalks to mosh pits, the ‘80s concert scene was a live-wire experience that has yet to be rivaled. For those who were lucky enough to score tickets, stepping into a stadium, arena, or club during the height of the '80s was like stepping into an electrified time capsule where neon dreams came alive, shoulder pads ruled, and the music was loud . Today on Long Live the 1980s , we’re firing up the DeLorean and blasting back to relive The Hottest Concerts of the 1980s —the shows that left us breathless, hoarse, and forever changed. So grab your acid-washed jeans, crank up the boombox, and let’s dive into a decade of unforgettable live music. 🎸 1. Queen – Live Aid (Wembley Stadium, 1985) Standout Songs: Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Ga Ga, We Will ...

Snacks from the 1980s That Are No Longer Available Let’s pour out a Capri Sun for our fallen flavors… Ah, the 1980s—a decade of neon windbreakers, cassette mixtapes, and Saturday morning cartoons. But if you really want to stir up some true nostalgia, skip the leg warmers and Rubik’s Cubes. Let’s talk snacks. We’re diving into those crunchy, chewy, neon-colored, sugar-laden wonders that delighted our tastebuds—and then mysteriously vanished into the snack-food graveyard. These were the snacks that defined recess breaks, after-school TV marathons, and childhood bribery deals with Mom (“If I clean my room, can I have a Pudding Pop?”). Unfortunately, these edible gems are no longer gracing grocery store shelves. Some were discontinued due to poor sales, others due to lawsuits (oops), and a few just couldn’t keep up with the changing times. So grab your Trapper Keeper and let’s take a retro stroll down memory lane—snack-style. 1. Pudding Pops (R.I.P. Chocolate-Vanilla Swirls of Joy) ...

The Best Summertime Activities from the 1980s (That You Rarely See Today) Cue the boombox, slather on some Coppertone, and dig out your favorite pair of jelly shoes—because we’re going back to a simpler time. Summertime in the 1980s wasn’t just a season. It was a vibe . A magical stretch of warm days filled with neighborhood adventures, DIY fun, and analog memories that still make us smile. Today’s summers are saturated with screens and schedules, but back then? The world felt endless, and every day was a chance to make your own kind of fun. Let’s crank up the nostalgia and revisit the best summertime activities from the 1980s —the ones that made our childhoods awesome and are now all-too-rare. Whether you were a BMX daredevil, a Slip ’N Slide champion, or the master of the mixtape, there’s something here that will bring it all rushing back. ☀️ 1. Neighborhood Bike Packs There was nothing like hopping on your banana seat bike and cruising with your crew. Helmets? Optional. Freed...

The Best Arcade Games of the 1980s By: Long Live The 1980s Welcome back to Long Live The 1980s , your neon-soaked, synth-filled, joystick-jamming trip down memory lane. Today, we're turning the lights low, the volume high, and sliding some quarters into the time machine as we revisit one of the most glorious aspects of the 1980s: the golden era of the arcade . Before we had photorealistic graphics and online multiplayer battles with strangers from 14 time zones away, we had pixelated sprites, blippy soundtracks, and a sticky joystick surrounded by a crowd of cheering kids. Arcades were THE place to hang out, impress your friends, and blow your allowance one quarter at a time. So grab a slice of greasy pizza, shake off that denim jacket, and let’s dive into the Best Arcade Games of the 1980s —those glorious button-mashing legends that defined a generation. 1. Pac-Man (1980) Let’s be honest: Pac-Man isn’t just a game—it’s a phenomenon . Released by Namco, this little yellow ...

The 50 Greatest Fictional Characters of the 1980s By Long Live The 1980s Ah, the 1980s. The decade that brought us neon leg warmers, cassette tapes, and more Aqua Net than any one ozone layer could handle. But beyond the fashion faux pas and synth-pop soundtracks, the '80s gave us a parade of unforgettable fictional characters—those larger-than-life personalities who lived on our TV screens, movie theaters, and comic book pages and, in many cases, still live rent-free in our heads. So grab your Trapper Keeper, fire up the DeLorean, and let’s take a totally tubular trip down memory lane. Here are The 50 Greatest Fictional Characters of the 1980s —counted down in reverse order because, let’s face it, suspense is radical. 50. Webster Long – Webster Tiny, lovable, and always trying to figure out the world, Webster warmed our hearts like a grilled cheese on a Saturday morning. 49. Ernest P. Worrell – Ernest Movies/Commercials Hey Vern! Ernest taught us that a denim vest and go...