The Green Machine – Childhood Bliss
Ok, so this toy is technically from the late 70s (see the awesome commercial below from 1978), but for those of us that were teens in the 80s, we played with the toys of the late 70s! The Green Machine was so cool – so much cooler than its ride-on-vehicle-rival, the Big Wheel. It left a regular ole Big Wheel in its dust; the nimble Green Machine’s rear wheel swivel action design ran circles around the lumbering, clunky Big Wheel....
Chat with Author of Totally Tubular 80s Toys
We recently had the good fortune to review a copy of Mark Bellomo’s newest book, “Totally Tubular ‘80s Toys” and ask the author a few questions. If you haven’t seen this book, it is a veritable treasure trove of information on the toys of the 80s. With great photography of the toys and a year-by-year structure, this is as much a reference work as it is a fun trip down memory lane. For each year, he leads off the chapter with all the...
Bronze and Beautiful: Tanning, 80s Style
DISCLAIMER: Getting a Tan = Sun Damage. Regular tanning, from the sun or from a tanning bed/booth, is a cancer risk. We all know that nowadays, right? The following article describes how we tanned in the 80’s when we were younger and foolish-er. It is NOT meant to instruct you to actually run out and do it today. Like, if I told you to jump off a twenty-story building, would you do it? I DIDN’T THINK SO. Anyway! It’s almost...
Fashion Plates
By Julie Anderson My mom was a career woman; she earned two Master’s degrees and was (and is) a computer systems analyst. So, it may not surprise you that she wasn’t all into girly toys for me when I was growing up. Macintosh computer and calligraphy set = YES Barbie = NO French horn and piano lessons = YES Princessy dress-up outfits = NO Add to that the fact that my dad was a structural engineer and I didn’t have a sister, and you...
Make it a Totally Awesome 80s Valentine’s Day
If you’re looking for ways to spend Valentine’s Day with that special red-carnation person, we at Like Totally 80s have some great ideas! The 80s are chock-full of great love songs and movies so welcome to the Love Shack and get ready as we Never Say Goodbye to love and romance 80s-style. To help you put a retro twist on Valentine’s Day, we have compiled all the resources you need. We have gift ideas, mix tape song lists in the...
Feeling the Burn
By Julie Anderson Aerobics were a big part of my 1980s experience. My parents, like so many others in the 80’s, caught fitness fever. They were enthusiastic charter members of The Prime Health and Racquet Club near our home. In 1986, I got my first job there at the tender age of thirteen. Mom and Dad were friends with the owners, so I had an in. I worked in the juice bar. The Prime is now closed, but back in its day, it was all the...
80s Anti-Valentine’s Day List
Not feeling the Valentine’s Day vibe? There’s not a bit of sap or saccharine in this mix of 80s anti-love songs. Instead, it takes a look at the darker side of love when things have left the hearts and roses stage (or was never there to begin with). It runs the gamut from cheating to lusting for your best friend’s girl to breaking up to plain ole sadism. Cuz, let’s face it, sometimes Love Stinks. Love Stinks, J. Geils Band...
80s Inspired Valentine
Electronic 80s Valentine That’s right; the day for mushy cards, chocolate, and flowers is almost upon us again. This year, why not skip the sappy sentimentality and get right to the point. We are making it easy for you with this 80s-inspired electronic Valentine. Save this image file and send via email, text, or post it to your Valentine’s Facebook wall. Or, you can kick it 80s style and print and deliver it by hand or...
80s Pop Love Songs
Nothing brings back memories of first loves and crushes quite like the music that was on the radio at the time. It has the power to take you right back to the time and place that you associate with that song. We’ve put together a list of 80s love songs that are guaranteed to do just that. Thanks so much to our Facebook fans for suggesting many of the awesome songs shown here. There are so many to choose from that it was hard to keep...
80s New Wave / Alternative Love Songs
If your 80s musical tastes tend more towards new wave and otherwise alternative music, this is the love mix for you. Here are 16 80s alternative love songs for your Valentine that are sure to have him or her melting with you. What did we miss? What is your favorite new wave love song? Send us an email and we’ll add it to the list. Click the song names below to see the music videos for these awesome new wave love songs. Here’s hoping...
The Wonder Years’ Winnie Cooper Grows Up
If you thought Winnie Cooper was cool in The Wonder Years (1988-1993), just look at her now. Danica McKellar is a bona fide math whiz, and she’s written best-selling math books for girls. After her run as Kevin Arnold’s love-interest/buddy on the classic 80s sitcom The Wonder Years, McKellar went to UCLA. She explains on her website (www.danicamckellar.com) that she was afraid of math, but took some classes to challenge herself. It’s...
Top 5 Costume Ideas for Halloween
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here, back again with a Top 5 for you 80s lovers. Just in time for the spooky season, I wanted to share my top 5 costume ideas for Halloween this year – 80s style! So check that flex capacitor, because we’re going Back to the Future! 5. Hair Band Member The 80s brought us a long list of unforgettable Hair bands. Warrant, Poison, Winger and the list goes on and on. It’s a genre to celebrate, and what...
Interview with “A Line Through the Desert” author William Stroock
“A Line through the Desert” is a Gen X story of love set among the realities of the first Gulf War. William Stroock does an excellent job of evoking the feeling of being there in the desert and of being adrift and unsure like every post-high school person must feel regardless of time and place. The late 80s cultural references will be very familiar to anyone coming of age during this time. We had a chance to ask Will some...
MTV’s Origins in the 80s
On August 1, 1981, something happened to cable television – something that would define pop culture, change generations, and shape an industry. That something had a name. The name was MTV. It launched at 12:01 in the morning, ushered in by John Lack (then the Executive Vice President of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment) saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” And so it began. Prior to 1981, MTV didn’t...
Top 5 80s Summer Fashions
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here! Back again with the Top 5 Countdown. This time it is Top 5 80s Summer Fashions. As Buster Poindexter would say, it’s “Hot, Hot, Hot!” and so are these summertime fashion trends. 5. Members Only Jackets Yes, I know these aren’t too summer-ish. But hey, sometimes there are cool summer nights, and if the night chill gives you the need to be ill, you can slip on the M.O. You know how you...
