Who's up for a stroll down Memory Lane? Those of us who grew up in the 80s in Pennsylvania probably have plenty of personal memories that have stuck with us through the passage of time. But, some things that happened in the 80s are just universal experiences for most of us. Here are 12 things you'll remember if you grew up in the 80s in Pennsylvania.
1. Phone Cords
Remember life before cell phones and cordless phones? If we wanted privacy during a phone conversation, we either had to kick everyone else out of the room or unfurl our extra long phone cord, go into another room, and close the door.
2. Encyclopedias
Information is no further than a smartphone or computer screen away in the 21st century, but in the 80s? We had to go to the library to conduct our research with encyclopedias. Some were lucky enough to have a full set of encyclopedias in their home.
3. Cabbage Patch Kids
Oh those cute little, dimpled Cabbage Patch Kids caused so much trouble back in the 80s in Pennsylvania (and across the country). Parents stood in line for hours and fought with others to grab the last kid on the shelf. If you grew up in the 80s, you might still have your Cabbage Patch Kids and their birth certificates.
4. High Hair
How high can you go? High hair, held stiffly in place with hairspray, was all the rage in Pennsylvania in the 80s. Skeptical? Open any high school yearbook from the time.
5. Leg Warmers
Kids of the 80s knew only one way to stylishly keep their legs warm in the winter: Leg warmers. And, if you remember that old saying everything old becomes new again...leg warmers have certainly made a comeback in the 21st century.
6. Budd Dwyer
No matter how young or how old you were in 1987, you likely remember the name Budd Dwyer and what happened on an otherwise ordinary day in January. On the 22, the Treasurer of Pennsylvania committed suicide in a room full of reporters at a press conference.
7. Pac Man
Video games were simpler back in the 80s but we could still become obsessive with them, putting our quarters in the arcade to play Pac Man until we ran out of money or sitting in front of the TV wiling away the hours as we played.
8. Bell of PA
Many of us had phone service thanks to Ma Bell back in the 80s when we also happened to still have plenty of phone booths in the state.
9. Tornadoes
Pennsylvania - as well as Ohio and upstate New York - faced epic tornadoes on May 31, 1985. The powerful tornadoes affected numerous areas of Pennsylvania, including State College, Pittsburgh, and the Allegheny National Forest.
10. George Banks
George Banks made news in Wilkes-Barre on September 25, 1982 when he went on a shooting spree that claimed 13 innocent lives. The former guard at Camp Hill remains in prison, having been declared unfit for execution several times.
11. An Era's End
The 80s proved to be disastrous in Western Pennsylvania, when the steel industry began its march toward the end of an era.
12. Beta/VHS
Back in the 80s, there were few sounds as chilling as the crinkling of the beta or VHS tape starting to twist in the VCR. As clunky as it may have been compared to 21st century technology, those beta and VHS tapes allowed us to record our favorite shows so we wouldn't miss out on life.
These are just 12 of the memories you might remember if you grew up in the 80s in Pennsylvania. What else would you add to the list? If you enjoy taking a walk down Memory Lane, plan to visit this retro popcorn shop in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
