Ah, the 80’s. A thoroughly rad time. And the media – especially the kids media – from the era is lodged deep in our cultural psyche, as evidenced by the recent cycle of revisiting television a la Stranger Things and the like.
It’s easy to take for granted now, but the 80’s was when the era of home video began. As VCR’s became more affordable to the average family, buying and taping entertainment to watch on our own time became the new normal. Before that, if a movie came out, you just saw it in the theater once and it went away forever.
Pretty hard to imagine now, right?
Enjoy these nostalgia-inducing bits and bobs from 80’s media.
15. The Hanna-Barbera Logo
Them and Warner Brothers practically invented cartoons.
Via: Hanna-Barbera
14. Serendipity books
Look at all those giant eyes.
Via: hitsthespot on Etsy
13. Bruce Coville books
Remember when kids would like…read?
Via: Scholastic
12. Pound Puppies
I always thought that was a really harsh and unpleasant name for such a cute franchise.
Via: Golden Books
11. The Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
In the pre-internet days, the underwear section of a catalogue like this could be very…formative for a young person.
Via: Back in Time Books
10. Animalia
Peep all that detail.
Via: Kultur on Etsy
9. Noozles
No weekday was complete without them.
Via: Viacom
8. My Secret Identity
Every kid wants to be a superhero, after all.
Via: tvtropes.org
7. The Munsters Today
Few remember this strange little reboot, but it did manage to run for 73 episodes.
Via: Music Corp of America
6. The Mouse and the Motorcycle
The animation and sound design in this movie bordered somewhere between amazing and nightmarish.
5. The 9Lives commercials
Morris the Cat is most certainly dead by now. There. Now you’re sad and my job is done.
Via: 9Lives
4. The Ewoks cartoon
Yes, this was a thing. With writers who would go on to work on legendary projects like Batman Beyond and LOST.
Via: 20th Century Television
3. Sports bloopers tapes
It’s mostly just people falling down while playing sports. For some reason, this was considered extremely entertaining at the time.
Via: HorrorFinds on Etsy
2. Herself the Elf
If you say “1980’s” into a mirror three times, this is what appears behind you.
Via: Amazon
1. Smurfs on ice
Why? Because shut up, that’s why.
Via: Frank Lennon / Getty Images
I have so many old theme songs stuck in my head now. This is gonna take a while to reverse.
What’s your favorite thing about the 80’s?
Tell us in the comments.