SEATTLE BLUES, JELLIES, SNORKS... TOTALLY TUBULAR! READY TO RELIVE THOSE 80S MEMORIES?
Ahh. The 1980s. A time when the more swatches on your wrist the better and kids’ cartoons were just 30 minute advertisements for toys.
My parents couldn’t afford much when we were growing up. So if we wanted name brand clothing, we had to save up birthday and chore money, which amounted to about 50 cents for washing the car. Otherwise we chose from whatever clothes were on sale or clearance at the local Montgomery Wards or K Mart.
I remember my sister saving her money to buy a pair of Seattle Blues jeans for her back to school outfit. At one point in time, I saved up for a pair of LA Gear high tops: Fashion Athletic Footwear. Mine were the ones with mesh on the side. The ultimate kicks, before ‘kicks’ became slang for sneakers.
Saturday morning cartoons were the highlight of our weekends. Once I start thinking back to those days of circling which cartoons we were going to watch in the local newspaper tv schedule, I am flooded with memories of jumping off the coffee table as He-Man & She-Ra. Activating our Wonder Twins powers to fight the bad guys. And, waiting for the day the kids from Dungeons and Dragons finally made it home. (Spoiler: They didn’t.)
Sidenote: When is Netflix going to reboot the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon?
Enough of my ramblings about my childhood. Here’s a random list to take you down memory lane. Kids of the 80s… this one's for you!
SATURDAY MORNING LINE-UP
Several of the following originally aired in the 60s/70s and others continued into the 90s. But, these are the shows that helped make the 80s a great time to grow up.
GOOD VS EVIL: Superfriends, He-Man, She-Ra, Gummi Bears, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thundercats, Voltron, Transformers, The Real Ghostbusters, GI Joe, Dynomutt, Inspector Gadget, 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo
LIVE ACTION: Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Land of the Lost, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Kids Incorporated, Captain Kangaroo
TALKING ANIMALS: Pound Puppies, Shirt Tales, Alvin & the Chipmunks, Heathcliff, Yogi Bear, The Pink Panther, Tom & Jerry, Care Bears, Muppet Babies,
OTHER WORLDLY: Fraggle Rock, Smurfs, Rainbow Brite, The Littles, Snorks, Monchhichis, The Jetsons, Galaxy High School, Jem, Johnny Quest
INSIDE THE GAME: Dungeons & Dragons, Pac-Man, Pole Position, Laff-a-Lympics
KIDS WILL BE KIDS: Scooby Doo, Richie Rich, Flinstone Kids, Fat Albert, The New Archies
And, last but not least
SATURDAY MORNING STAPLE SINCE 19...: American Bandstand
Strawberry Shortcake, Pup Named Scooby-Doo, The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, Jonny Quest, Looney Tunes, Star Wars Ewoks, Mister T, Kidd Video
FASHION TRENDS & FADS
NAME BRANDS: Seattle Blues, Jordache, Gitano, Guess, Members Only, Underoos
FOOTWEAR: Keds, Vans, jellies, LA Gear, Nike Air Jordans, Doc Martens, penny loafers (no socks, of course), Reebok high tops, Converse, huarache sandals
ACCESSORIES: Swatch, jelly bracelets, plastic bangles, leg warmers, headbands, hair bows, suspenders, banana clips, costume jewelry, wide belts, fanny packs, Ray Bans
HAIRSTYLES: perms, mohawks, shag, feathered, side pony tails, mullets, rattails
TRENDS: punk, new wave, heavy metal, preppy
FADS: bold colors, geometric patterns, paint splatters, neon, lace, spandex, oversized shirts, shoulder pads, ruffles, mesh, heavy makeup, acid-washed, stirrups, slouched socks, pegged jeans