THE '80S

15 Facts of Life About The Facts of Life

You take the good, you take the bad, you take 'em both, and there you have these 15 facts about the ladies of Eastland.

Photo Illustration by Mental Floss. Woody Image: iStock. Background: IFC Midnight

9 The Shining References Buried in Pixar Films

It’s no surprise (or maybe it is) that several references to 'The Shining,' from the obvious to the obscure, have snuck into Pixar’s lineup over the years. Here are nine of them.

12 Fast Facts About Magnum, P.I.

The man who was nearly Indiana Jones helped give life to one of the most popular shows of the '80s, which ended its run 30 years ago.

A Stretchy Past: Remembering Stretch Armstrong

One sure sign of a toy craze is annoyed toy store owners, and in 1976, there were plenty of them. The reason? The Kenner Company had introduced a novel 10-inch latex doll that never remained on shelves for more than a few minutes at a time.

The 1988 BBC Report That Spelled the End for Doctor Who

Audiences weren't buying what the Seventh Doctor was selling. But they were actively wishing death upon his companion.

Unraveling the Legend of Polybius, the Most Dangerous Video Game of the 1980s

For several decades, a creepy urban legend has circulated in the darker corners of online forums devoted to vintage video games.

When Michael Flatley Was 'Lord of the Dance'

In the 1980s, Flatley aspired to run a plumbing empire with a company called Dynasewer. Life took him in another direction.

12 Facts About The Outsiders That Will Stay Gold

The movie Francis Ford Coppola called "'Gone with the Wind' for 14-year-old girls" was released 35 years ago.

When The Day After Terrorized 100 Million Viewers With a Vision of Nuclear War

Before the broadcast, viewers were warned the TV movie would bring about "feelings of depression and helplessness."

Watch Mark Hamill Sing in German in This Bizarre 1980 Star Wars Parody

In today’s social media-driven world, where everyone’s got a camera on their smartphone, celebrities know that it’s impossible to get away with anything.

Glove Story: The Freezy Freakies Phenomenon of the 1980s

The $13 gloves used thermochromic ink to make images "appear" when the temperature dropped below 40 degrees.

Where Are They Now? The Original 6 American Gladiators

Strap yourself into an Atlasphere and find out what your favorite old school Gladiators did once returning to the real world.

New Guidelines Redefine Birth Years for Millennials, Gen-X, and 'Post-Millennials'

You hear about Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and the Baby Boomers all the time, but it’s not always clear who’s a part of these groups.

11 Fun Facts About The Wedding Singer

The '80s-themed rom-com that turned Adam Sandler into a genuine leading man hit theaters 20 years ago today.

Karen Neoh, Flickr, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

20 Surprising Facts About America’s Most Wanted

In 1988, one year before 'Cops' began asking the bad boys of America “What'cha gonna do when they come for you?,” noted victims’ advocate John Walsh was turning every American with access to Fox into a potential crime-solver on 'America’s Most Wanted'.

The Controversy Behind 'The Super Bowl Shuffle'

'The Super Bowl Shuffle' was billed as a song to "feed the needy." The Chicago Bears nearly fumbled it.

25 Surprising Facts About The Wonder Years

'The Wonder Years'—the award-winning and much-beloved 1960s-set coming-of-age series—was based on 'A Christmas Story.'

18 Things You Might Not Know About The A-Team

It was only a matter of time before the television remake trend found its way back to Hannibal, Murdock, Face, and B.A. Baracus, the four mercenaries better known as The A-Team.

The Truth Is In Here: Unlocking Mysteries of the Unknown

The spooky TV ads for Time-Life's encyclopedia of the bizarre inspired the nightmares of countless '80s kids.

15 Surprising Facts About Hill Street Blues

Until the impressive record was surpassed by 'The West Wing in 2000', 'Hill Street Blues' held the title of most Emmy-awarded freshman series, with eight trophies for its debut season alone (despite its basement-level ratings).

13 Rich Facts About Dynasty

The nighttime soap you have to thank for the 1980s shoulder pad trend made its debut on this day in 1981.

Sally Died of Dysentery: A History of The Oregon Trail

Classrooms didn't have computer monitors when the game debuted in 1971, so kids had to use more of their imagination when shooting deer or succumbing to typhoid fever.

15 Amazing Fashions From 1987, According to Neiman Marcus

The famed retailer's Christmas 1987 catalog had something for everyone—including someone with $10,000 to shell out on a pair of alligator jeans.

15 Facts About the First Episode of The Simpsons

The Simpsons—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie—and their fellow Springfield residents made their Fox debut on December 17, 1989.

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