Every time I go to the library to look at women spin some microfilm, I am always enthralled with the simple details of daily life – ads, job section, headlines – the things I routinely overlook in today’s newspaper paint a captivating picture of the recent and not so recent past.

I didn’t live here in the 80’s, so it’s even more interesting to me, but I am sure for many of you some of these random clips of the Kansas City Star from July 19th, 1981 may feel nostalgic, curious or funny. It’s amazing how much has changed in 30 years and, at the same time, many things are still the same.

Some headlines may still be recognizable…



…but your clothing is not…

…do they still call it aerobics?…

…good thing you bought the Betamax…

…wireless remote, remember when you had to send your kid to change the channel?…



…and electronics that needed a special shelf…..

…or when “portable” video recoders didn’t fit into your hand…

…at least two people were needed to move a TV…

…uniperm?…

…or not…

…or whatever that is…

…Captain D’s is still around…

…but not too many of these places, especially the Forbidden City with live entertainment at the buffet…

…or this…

…”executive” pay started at $20K…



…and “senior” typist didn’t mean “old”…

…working in the cafeteria offered “fantastic” rewards…

…fuel costs were stable…

…people knew what COBOL is…

…before they invented “staycations” there was this…

…paid long-distance?…

…9%!!!!….

…your self-help books…

…furniture still looks the same but the Levitz is gone…

…movies. still the same, but Zorro, the Gay Blade will probably never again appear on a poster…

…is this on Netflix?…

…or this?…

…remember the 80’s?