The '80s

Bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger was once thrown in a military prison for running away to pose in a competition.

For Gen Xers and elder Millennials, there’s nothing like the scent of Strawberry Shortcake and her dessert-themed friends for bringing back fond childhood memories.

This 1984 sci-fi thriller launched more than just a film franchise.

The low-budget sci-fi slasher from James Cameron became a huge movie franchise. Here's how it all got started.

Calling all Gen Xers and elder millennials: Your old cassettes could be worth a bundle.

Back in the 1980s and ‘90s, audio cassettes were everything. Here are some of the most valuable cassette tapes today from those eras, including Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” and more.

Consumers could go through bags of Frito-Lay's fat-free chips. Then the bag would go right through them.

After decades of development and $200 million spent, Procter & Gamble thought they had the perfect snack food additive with olestra. Too bad it caused “rectal urgency.”

'Odorama' scratch and sniff card from the John Waters movie 'Polyester' (1982).

Like a pineapple-scented sticker on a lunchbox, the scratch and sniff fad wasn’t built to last.

On January 16, 1988, Tina Turner performed for approximately 188,000 fans at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—and made history.

Vintage Barbie accessories can be worth just as much as the dolls.

Discover the most valuable Barbie accessories from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, and beyond, like the 1990 Barbie’s Magical Mansion and more.

There was nothing understated about the ’80s—and that included the most popular perfumes of the decade.

MTV launched at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981. Now you can relive the first two hours of the music network's existence.

Although “Careless Whisper” just might be George Michael's most enduring hit, the singer (who also wrote it) wasn’t a huge fan of the song.

Nickelodeon's animated doo-wop segments will look familiar to anyone who grew up on the channel in the 1980s and ‘90s.

Voltron Defender of The Universe | Final victory | Kids Cartoon | Videos for Kids

The cartoon from Japan was perfect for an American audience--so long as producers edited out all the beheadings.

Richard Pryor | Pryor's Place | Episode 1 | High Noon at 5:30 P.M. | 1984

In 1984, the explicit comic turned his attention to Saturday morning kid’s television.

With their fifth and final album, 1983’s 'Synchronicity,' The Police were on the verge of something big.

These 'bots really knew how to throw a party.

Before Chuck E. Cheese was officially a mouse, he was a rat. And the backstabbing around him was epic.

Hoverboard from 'Back to the Future: Part II' (1989).

Mattel hasn't invented real hoverboards yet, but soon you can bid on the next best thing.

Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran rocks a mull—er, bi-level haircut.

Whether you lived through the ‘80s or merely have absorbed some details via 'Stranger Things,' take a look at some of the myths surrounding the "me decade."

Tiffany, Michael, Heather, Josh, and Jessica (or something like that).

Are you a woman born in the 1980s? If so, there’s a pretty good chance your name is Jessica.

With 'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' hitting theaters, it's easy to forget the game's controversial past.

Otto, Leslie Nielsen, and Robert Hays in 'Airplane!' (1980).

From Tom Hanks to Leslie Nielsen, you can find some of the most popular comedic stars of the ’80s on the streaming services of the 2020s.

Morton Downey Jr. in a typically subtle attempt at publicity.

In the 1980s, provocative talk show host Morton Downey Jr. traded barbs (and fists) with guests. Then he took it a step too far.

The device that could turn TVs and lights on with a couple of claps became a pop culture sensation, even though its makers worried people would associate it with venereal disease.

In 1973 Wisconsin, two Cub Scout leaders discovered a neat trick involving heated plastic. A classic toy was born.

10 Surprising Facts About Arnold Schwarzenegger

10 Facts About Strawberry Shortcake

18 Things You Might Not Know About ‘The Terminator’

10 of the Most Valuable Cassette Tapes From the ‘80s and ‘90s

May Cause Anal Leakage: The Olestra Fat-Free Snack Controversy of the 1990s

Scratch and Sniff: The Fad That Was Destined to Fade

When Tina Turner Set a Guinness World Record

10 of the Most Valuable Barbie Accessories

11 Iconic Perfumes of the 1980s

Relive MTV's First Two Hours on the Air in Real Time

"Careless Whisper": How George Michael's "Flippantly" Written Song Became a Career-Defining Hit That Still Endures

This Compilation of Nickelodeon Promos From the ‘80s and ‘90s Is Pure Nostalgia

When ‘Voltron’ Ruled the ’80s

When R-Rated Comedian Richard Pryor Debuted His Children’s Show, ‘Pryor’s Place’

10 Facts About The Police's 'Synchronicity'

Remembering the Chuck E. Cheese and ShowBiz Pizza Robot Wars of the 1980s

Michael J. Fox's 'Back to the Future: Part II' Hoverboard Can Be Yours—for $80,000

7 Misconceptions About the ‘80s

The 100 Most Popular Baby Names from the ’80s

See How People Reacted to 'Dungeons & Dragons' in the 1980s

10 Great ’80s Comedies You Can Stream Right Now

A Mouthful: When 'The Morton Downey Jr. Show' Ruled the Airwaves

‘Clap On ... Clap Off!’ The Clapper Sensation of the ’80s

Downsizing: The Shrinky Dinks Phenomenon of the ’70s and ’80s