Toys
In this board game, released in the U.S. in 1982, players answer trivia questions to fill pie-shaped wedges — it became a massive fad almost overnight.
Trivial Pursuit
In December 1980, this former Beatle was shot and killed outside his New York City apartment building, the Dakota.
John Lennon
In 1978, this Polish cardinal became the first non-Italian pope in 455 years
Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła)
Introduced nationally by McDonald's in 1983, these bite-sized fried poultry pieces became a fast-food sensation.
Chicken McNuggets
Introduced by Sony in 1979, this portable cassette player let people carry their music with them on headphones for the first time.
Walkman
Invented by a Hungarian professor, this twisty puzzle cube became a worldwide obsession around 1980.
Rubix Cube
In 1980, this young British Columbian ran partway across Canada on an artificial leg to raise money for cancer research, in a fundraising run known as the Marathon of Hope.
Terry Fox
In 1979, this Catholic nun, founder of the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mother Theresa
This popular Doritos flavor, blending buttermilk and herbs, hit shelves in 1986 and remains one of the brand's best-sellers.
Cool Ranch
This package-delivery company's 1982 ad campaign, promising delivery "when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight," turned it into a household name.
Federal Express (Fed-ex)
This talking teddy bear, whose mouth and eyes moved in sync with an inserted cassette tape, was the best-selling toy of 1985.
Teddy Ruxpin
In April 1986, a reactor explosion at this Soviet nuclear plant became the worst nuclear disaster in history, spreading radioactive fallout across Europe.
Chernobyl
Written in 1979 by Michael Joncas and drawing on Psalm 91, this hymn's refrain promises "I will raise you up on the last day" — a common choice at Catholic funerals ever since.
On Eagle's Wings
Approved by the FDA for tabletop use in 1981 and for soft drinks in 1983, this artificial sweetener was marketed under the brand name NutraSweet.
Aspartame
In a controversial 1980 ad, teenage actress Brooke Shields declared "nothing comes between me and my" this brand of designer jeans.
Calvin Klein
This toy line and cartoon about robots that disguise themselves as cars and trucks debuted in 1984.
Transformers
In 1982, seven people in the Chicago area died after this popular pain reliever was laced with cyanide, leading to tamper-proof packaging becoming standard nationwide.
Tylenol
Composed in 1981 by Jesuit priest Dan Schutte, this hymn features God asking "Whom shall I send?" and the response, "I will go, Lord, if you lead me."
Here I am Lord
This sparkling French mineral water became a status symbol among health-conscious American yuppies in the early 1980s, often ordered by name instead of tap water.
Perrier
In 1985, this athletic brand launched a signature sneaker line named for a rookie Chicago Bulls guard, despite the NBA briefly banning the shoe's colors on court.
Nike Air Jordan's
In 1985, this athletic brand launched a signature sneaker line named for a rookie Chicago Bulls guard, despite the NBA briefly banning the shoe's colors on court.
Garbage Pail Kids
This nuclear plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, suffered a partial meltdown in March 1979, the worst commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history at the time.
Three Mile Island
Based on the Angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary, this hymn has been set to music by both Schubert and Gounod and remains a staple at Catholic weddings and funerals.
Ave Maria
Wendy's 1984 ad campaign featured an elderly woman demanding to know this now-famous three-word question.
Where's the beef?
This Swiss watchmaker launched colorful, inexpensive plastic watches in 1983 that became a fashion craze and helped save the struggling Swiss watch industry.
Swatch