Fads & Trends In 1983

The Rubik's Cube - Erno Rubik was an Architecture Professor at the Budapest School of Commercial Art in Hungary - the world, however, knows him as the father of the cube - Rubik's Cube. Originally, Professor Rubik designed the small puzzle as a way of teaching his students about three dimensional objects, but after securing a patent for it in 1975, he began marketing it throughout Hungary, Europe and the United States. When the toy manufacturer Ideal Toys contracted with him to produce it in the United States, the cubes sales and popularity skyrocketed. It's 42 quintillion (!) combinations kept us guessing - until we figured out how to take them apart.

Hacky Sack - Mike Marshall created the Hacky Sack in 1972. He was recovering from knee surgery at the time and developed the toy as a way to increase the flexibility of his still-healing knee. Basically, this toy was a small, bean-filled bag and the game it was used in was just as simple: keep the bag from hitting the ground using anything except your hands. This game, which he called "Hack the Sack," attracted the interest of John Stalberger. The two began playing the game and, realizing it could be a hit, began selling the tiny beanbags under the brand name Hacky Sacks. Marshall died in 1975 but his friend Stalberger kept the Hacky Sack concept alive by forming a National Sack Association to promote the game. He sold the license for the Hacky Sack to Wham-O in 1983, and this is when the Hacky Sack truly began to spread its wings as a phenomenon. The boost that the Hacky Sack got from the kid-friendly name of Wham-O made it a must-have toy for kids. By the 1980's, it was a familiar sight on playgrounds and in school halls as kids ended their between-class boredom with a quick round of Hacky Sack.

And who can forget the Boom Box? Did you ever want to let the rest of the neighborhood share in the sure enjoyment of the latest Police album? Get a Boom Box and a crate full of batteries and blast away! Remember seeing kids walking down the street with a Boom Box sitting on their shoulder and music blaring from the speakers? Man, those were the days!

Cabbage Patch Dolls - The poverty level was at it's highest in 18 years in 1983, and the yuppies needed something to take their minds off other peoples problems. Behold: The Cabbage Patch Doll. Abandoned children of a house of prostituting cabbages wormed their way into the hearts of kids and adults alike in the early 80's. For just $40 you too could adopt a Cabbage Patch Child. If you could find one. these little dolls who all had "Xavier" stamped on their bottoms were harder to get a hold of then Elmos during the disasterous Tickle Me Elmo riots.

Remember when we were supposed to avoid hitting the cars with the "Baby on Board" signs on them? In 1983 those "Baby on Board" signs were all the rave. Well guess what? It's open season on them now!!

Do you remember these Cliques?
The Popular Group
The Jocks
The Nerds
Valley Girl
Rapper
Skater
Surfer
Hacker

Losers
Outcasts
Which Clique did you belong to?

Breakfast Food You Were Eating In 1983:
General Mills Pac-Man Cereal

Post Smurf-Berry Crunch
Picture from commercial
Ralston Donkey Kong Junior Cereal

Something you might not know is that in 1983 Ocean Spray introduced the very first "juice box" to America. Now we see them in all the grocery stores.

Fashion in 1983

Clothes Fashions For 1983
Off-Shoulder Outfits	3/4 Sleeves
Crop Top	Primary Colors
Pink Sweater	Sweater on Waist
Neon Matching Socks	Thick Belts
Long T-Shirts	Mini Skirts
Rock Band Shirts	Black & Neon
Leather or Jean Jackets	Chains on Leather
Rolled Sleeves	Pastels
Sleeveless Shirts	Ocean Pacific T-Shirts
Tight Stonewashed Jeans	Zippered Legs
3/4 Length Legging	Legwarmers
Scrunch Socks	Exercise Gear
Super Tight Minis	Colored Hose w/Rips Spandex
Bright Colors Spandex	Tight Leather Pants
China Flats	Jellie Shoes
Parachute Pants	Corduroy Pants
Cyndi Lauper Look	Michael Jackson Style