The ’80s were characterized by an era of extravagance, marked by large hairstyles, striking fashion trends, and larger-than-life characters.
In the ’80s, a fresh wave of celebrities emerged, from screen idols to sports legends and music sensations. They would compete for magazine covers, rule prime-time television, and make headlines with just a hint or a broad smile. Those were the times indeed!
What Made Someone Famous in the 1980s?
Back then, before the era of social media, fame wasn’t solely determined by the number of followers. Instead, it was often about the “X factor” – an inexplicable charm that attracted people to particular individuals. Your level of fame could be gauged by the magazines you graced as cover stars and the posters that adorned teenagers’ bedroom walls.
Where Are These ’80s Icons Now?
Back in the day, achieving fame was more challenging because there were fewer ways to showcase one’s work. For instance, you couldn’t easily reach millions by posting a video online. Instead, it required tireless effort such as touring extensively, making appearances on talk shows, and relying heavily on traditional word-of-mouth communication.
Although numerous ‘80s celebrities have receded into the realm of nostalgia, some continue to captivate audiences, albeit with a few more years under their belts and perhaps a touch of wear from past scandals.
Guess the ’80s Faces: How Many Do You Recognize?
Guess the ’80s Face
At an event held in New York City back in February 1980, actor Matt Dillon was spotted (Photograph taken by Vinnie Zuffante of Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
In the groovy ’80s, I, a cinephile, found myself captivated by the mesmerizing performances of Christopher Walken. Known for his riveting role in ‘The Deer Hunter’ that earned him an Oscar, this American actor left an indelible mark on my movie-loving heart, as seen in this snap from 1980. (Photo courtesy: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
Image featuring American R&B and pop vocalist, Lionel Richie, during the 1980s (Photograph courtesy of Motown Records via Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
American-Austrian actor and former professional bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger, born on the 10th of January, 1947, as pictured by Steve Wood for the Daily Express. (Image courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
Eddie Murphy, a renowned comedian and actor, was born on the 21st of January, 1985. [Credit: Photo by P. Shirley/Express Newspapers/Getty Images]
Eddie Murphy, well-known comedian and actor, was born on January 21, 1965. (Image courtesy of P. Shirley/Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
A promotional photograph of the American actress Meredith Baxter-Birney, best known for her roles as Nancy Lawrence in the television series ‘Family’ and later as the mother on ‘Family Ties.’ (Courtesy of Getty Images/Columbia TriStar)
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
Image of the comedian and actor, Joan Rivers, from the 1980s (Courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
In this photo from the 1980 TV mini-series, ‘Shogun’, actor Richard Chamberlain gestures behind actress Yoko Shimada, with Toshiro Mifune (1920 – 1997) observing in the background.
Guess the ’80s Face
1980s photograph of Anne Murray, a celebrated Canadian singer, captured in a close-up portrait shot (Courtesy of Capitol Records/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
In this image, we see the beloved actors Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers, starring in their hit television show ‘Hart to Hart.’ This series follows a wealthy couple, who also happen to be private investigators, as they solve mysteries together. (Image courtesy of Central Press/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
A promotional image featuring the British rock band The Police (from left to right: Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers) dates back to 1983. This photograph is courtesy of Getty Images.”
This version maintains the original information but presents it in a more casual and conversational tone that might be easier for some readers to understand.
Guess the ’80s Face
A delightful photo captures the charming grin of American comedian and actor Billy Crystal in the 1980s. This image was skillfully captured by Hulton Archive.
Guess the ’80s Face
In the year 1980, I find myself beaming widely, attired in a fashionable plaid shirt and sporting a sleek hairstyle, as captured in this photograph by Express Newspapers (Getty Images). Here I am, none other than David Bowie.
Guess the ’80s Face
1980: On the set of “Sharky’s Machine”, actor Burt Reynolds poses for a photo during filming. [Image courtesy of Keystone/Getty Images]
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
Around 1980: The legendary actor Walter Matthau (1920-2000), known for his iconic gaze, captured in this photo. (Image by Bertil Unger/Keystone/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
In the 1980s, hip-hop trio Run DMC struck a pose at the Grammy Awards. From left to right, we see Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell), Joe ‘Run’ Simmons, and Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels.
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
Around 1980, the renowned singer-songwriter Paul Simon was seen on stage in London, gracing audiences during a run of solo performances. [Image credit: Keystone/Getty Images]
Guess the ’80s Face
1980: The acclaimed film actor, Charlton Heston, who gained global fame for his iconic performances as Moses in ‘The Ten Commandments’ (1956), and as the leading character in ‘Ben-Hur’ (1959) and ‘El Cid’ (1961), was photographed by Evening Standard/Getty Images.
In 1980, Charlton Heston, a renowned film actor known for his memorable roles as Moses in ‘The Ten Commandments’ (1956) and the main character in ‘Ben-Hur’ (1959) and ‘El Cid’ (1961), was captured on camera by Evening Standard/Getty Images.
Guess the ’80s Face
1980s: The well-known American actor Sylvester Stallone, best recognized for his tough guy roles in movies like ‘Rocky’ and ‘Rambo’, as seen in this photo (by Keystone/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
Around 1980, renowned pianist Liberace (1919 – 1987) showcased his collection of jewelry at London Airport. [Photograph by David Ashdown/Keystone/Getty Images]
Guess the ’80s Face
Around the year 1980: The British pop sensation Adam Ant, originally known as Stuart Goddard, had an encounter with singer Dame Vera Lynn, affectionately known as ‘the forces’ sweetheart.’ (Image courtesy of Express/Express/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
Around 1980: A studio portrait headshot featuring the television news anchor and sportscaster, Bryant Gumbel. (Photograph courtesy of NBC Television/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
1980 found pop artist Barry Manilow, originally known as Barry Alan Pinkus, in the limelight (Photo credit: Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
In the 1980s, Bruce Springsteen is captured in a photograph, standing on stage with an electric guitar casually at his side during one of his concerts (Image courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
1980: Brooke Shields takes on the role of Emmeline, stranded on a deserted island in the film ‘The Blue Lagoon,’ helmed by director Randal Kleiser. [Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
Guess the ’80s Face
1980s: The attractive actress, Sheree North, known for her roles in numerous television movies from the 1970s. (Image courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
1980: Pictured from left to right, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and Kim Novak, all starring in Agatha Christie’s mystery ‘The Mirror Crack’d’. Notably, the two actresses are adorned in the Elizabethan attire from the period film they were acting within. (Courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
On January 30, 1980, the American actors Meryl Streep and Alan Alda were photographed by the Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
OR
On January 30, 1980, Meryl Streep and Alan Alda, two American actors, had their picture taken by the Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
OR
In a photo taken by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images on January 30, 1980, Meryl Streep and Alan Alda, both American actors, were captured.
Guess the ’80s Face
In the early 1980s, renowned Irish musician Bob Geldof, known for The Boomtown Rats and his work with Band Aid and Live Aid, was pictured in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, alongside his mother and another relative. (This image was captured by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.)
Guess the ’80s Face
In the movie “Caddyshack,” released in 1980 and directed by Harold Ramis, you see American comedian and actor Rodney Dangerfield (who lived from 1921 to 2004). This photograph of him is provided by Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Guess the ’80s Face
In the year 1980, American actress and dancer Shirley MacLaine posed playfully with a stylish herringbone jacket and a bow tie (Image courtesy of Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
Bianca Jagger made an appearance at a press gathering in Munich related to the movie titled ‘The American Success Company’ (or ‘The Ringer’), where she played a role, around 1980. [This photo was captured by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.]
Guess the ’80s Face
In the Wimbledon finals of 1980, it was John McEnroe who faced off against Bjorn Borg, as captured in this photograph from Fox Photos/Hulton Archive. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
1980s: From left to right, musicians Minnie Pearl, Ray Charles, and Willie Nelson share a friendly smile at an undisclosed occasion. The photograph was taken by Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Guess the ’80s Face
1980s photograph capturing American rock band Heart’s lead singer, Ann Wilson, in a portrait setting
Guess the ’80s Face
1980s photograph capturing iconic musician Nancy Wilson, a member of the rock band Heart. (Courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
On January 28, 1980, Paul McCartney was captured on camera at his rural estate close to Rye, Sussex (Photograph by David Harris/Keystone/Getty Images).
Or
January 28, 1980 saw Paul McCartney being photographed at his farm in the vicinity of Rye, Sussex (Courtesy of David Harris/Keystone/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
1980: Behind the wheel, embodying his role in the TV show ‘Hart to Hart’, American actor Robert Wagner (central press photograph from Getty Images)
Or
1980: Driving and playing his part perfectly for his TV series ‘Hart to Hart’, the famous American film and television star, Robert Wagner (photograph by Central Press/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
On the 26th of September, 1980: Actress Angie Dickinson held a press conference for the premiere of her film, ‘Dressed to Kill.’ (This event was captured in a photograph taken by Colin Davey for the Evening Standard.)
Or more casually:
Angie Dickinson, an actress, unveiled her new movie, ‘Dressed to Kill,’ on September 26, 1980. This was at a press conference, and the image of this event is courtesy of Colin Davey from the Evening Standard.
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
Born between 1925 and 1990, the versatile entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., known for his singing, dancing, and humor, was also a part of Frank Sinatra’s famous group, the ‘Rat Pack’. (Image courtesy of Central Press/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
Guess the ’80s Face
Actor, filmmaker, and entrepreneur Larry Hagman (1931 – 2012) endorsed a $100 bill from the series Dallas, where he portrays ‘JR Ewing’, outside the Metropolitan Police Department in London, UK, on June 10th, 1980. (Photo by Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
1980 Melody Maker Pop Awards winner for best female singer, Kate Bush, a renowned singer-songwriter, as captured in this image by Colin Davey. (Image courtesy of Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
During the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in London, 1980, American tennis player Billie Jean King was captured on camera (Photograph courtesy of Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
American actor Martin Sheen was born in the United Kingdom on May 30, 1940. [Image by Mike Moore/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]
Guess the ’80s Face
Born in the United States on January 17, 1942, Muhammad Ali – a renowned professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist – was captured in this photograph on February 15, 1980, in the UK. (Photo credit: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
Back in the vibrant year of 1987, I found myself captivated by a snapshot featuring the charismatic Bo Derek and her beloved husband, John Derek. The image, skillfully captured by the lens of Vinnie Zuffante, showcased them in all their glory at an enticing event.
Guess the ’80s Face
Backstage at Live Aid in Philadelphia, on July 13th, 1985, musicians Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were captured in a photo following their performance with a revitalized Led Zeppelin (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
In this image from around 1981, actors Jerry Lewis (deceased, 1926-2017) and Robert De Niro were filming ‘The King of Comedy’. The photograph was taken by Vinnie Zuffante.
Or more casually:
In the early ’80s, Jerry Lewis (who passed away in 2017) and Robert De Niro were busy shooting ‘The King of Comedy’. This cool snapshot is from Vinnie Zuffante.
Guess the ’80s Face
In this photo taken on January 21st, 1987, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, music legend Sting is seen posing with American blues guitarist B.B. King, who lived from 1925 to 2015. The picture was captured during King’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Courtesy of Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
On September 2, 1989, Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, along with his wife Cassandra Harris and their son Sean, were spotted at the Eighth Annual Malibu Kiwanis Chili Cook-off Carnival and Fair in California. (Photo credit: Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
During a Pacific Division basketball match between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors on December 29, 1989, at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, Earvin “Magic” Johnson (#32) engaged in conversation with Michael Cooper (#21). This historic game concluded with a victory for the Lakers, with a final score of 130 – 111. This photograph captures the moment, courtesy of Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images.
Guess the ’80s Face
1986 found me as part of the star-studded team hosting the Comedy Relief variety benefit special, a role I shared with none other than Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, and Billy Crystal. (This photo was captured by HBO/Getty Images.)
Guess the ’80s Face
At the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, on November 13th, 1985, Christie Brinkley, a renowned American model, and her husband, Billy Joel – an accomplished American singer-songwriter and musician – were present at a party commemorating the release of ‘Biograph’. This event was in honor of Bob Dylan’s career retrospective box set titled ‘Biograph’. (The image is by Vinnie Zuffanate/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
In this setting, legendary English musician Keith Richards performed alongside The Rolling Stones at a concert in Syracuse, New York State, during November of 1981. [This image was captured by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.]
Guess the ’80s Face
In the year 1986, in New York, the renowned actor and dancer Patrick Swayze and the acclaimed actress Brooke Shields were seen manning telephones at a local radio station. [Image credit: Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images]
Guess the ’80s Face
British actress, writer, and commentator Joan Collins puffing on a cigarette, United Kingdom, November 5, 1980. (Photo by Mike Lawn/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
19-year-old Diana Spencer (born in 1961 and later known as Princess Diana), was captured on camera during a press interview while entering a car, in London, United Kingdom, on November 12th, 1980. (Image by John Minihan/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
American Olympian Greg Louganis, adorned with two Olympic Gold medals, poses on August 7, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, USA. (Photo credit: Tony Duffy/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
In August 1980, Italian actress Sophia Loren was pictured with baby Anita Cookson. In the movie ‘Sophia Loren: Her Own Story’, Anita portrayed Sophia’s on-screen son, Carlo Ponti Jr, during the childbirth scene (Photograph by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
Guess the ’80s Face
At a screening of the movie ‘Back to the Future’, starring Michael J. Fox as character Marty McFly, took place in London on the 3rd of December, 1985. (Image by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Guess the ’80s Face
1986 photograph captures talk-show host and comedian David Letterman seated at his desk during the TV show ‘Late Night with David Letterman’, in New York City, as captured by NBC Television. [This image is courtesy of Getty Images]
Guess the ’80s Face
As a passionate movie-goer reminiscing about moments that left an indelible mark on sports history, I can’t help but be transported back to the XXIII Olympic Summer Games in 1984. Specifically, I find myself standing at The Forum in Inglewood, California, USA, where I had the privilege of witnessing Michael Jordan before the United States secured their impressive 97–49 victory against China during the men’s Basketball competition on July 29th. The iconic image of this moment, captured by Scott Cunningham/Allsport/Getty Images, remains etched in my memory as one of the most memorable sports events I’ve ever experienced.
Guess the ’80s Face
14th November, 1980: The artist Andy Warhol (1926-1987) was pictured with German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt at the Federal Press Ball in Bonn. [This image was captured by Keystone/Getty Images.]
Guess the ’80s Face
Born on November 8, 1983, was the renowned British singer-songwriter George Michael, hailing from the pop duo Wham! of the UK. [This photo was taken by John Rogers for Daily Express in 1983.]
’80s Foods We Wish They Still Made
Bonkers
In the 1980s, a chewy fruit-flavored confection called Bonkers was a common sight in stores. It gained fame for its peculiar advertisements, where a spectacled, frumpy woman debunked misconceptions about the candy (it’s not gum!) while giant fruits rained down on her family members. The ads were quite odd, and so was the fact that Bonkers remained popular throughout the decade only to abruptly lose market share and halt production just a few years later. The most prevalent flavors of Bonkers were grape, strawberry, and my favorite, watermelon, which creatively utilized the candy’s two-tone design, with a green exterior and a chewy red center.
C-3PO’s
If you’re a first-generation Star Wars fan, it’s likely that you recognize this breakfast cereal. In the wave of merchandise tied to Return of the Jedi, C-3PO figurines were quite popular during the mid-1980s. The cereal itself was ordinary – the oat, wheat, and corn pieces resembled two squashed Cheerios and had no connection with Star Wars. However, what made it special were the boxes. They captivated ’80s kids with the cut-out masks of popular characters on the back. Many children would wear these masks instead of eating the cereal, which often remained untouched in pantries across the galaxy for months.
Disney Pops
At Disney Parks and global grocery stores, Mickey Mouse Ice Cream bars continue to be a beloved traditional snack. However, during the 1980s, Disney also offered ice pops in various stores. These fruit-flavored treats were available in grape, cherry, and orange flavors and were shaped like Mickey, Donald, or Goofy. It’s a mystery to me why these ice pops are no longer available. Nonetheless, the affection for Disney and ice pops remains strong, as I would go to great lengths for a grape-flavored Donald ice pop today.
Ecto Cooler
As a devoted fan, I can confidently say that in the annals of movie-themed food products, there’s nothing quite like Ecto Cooler. This vibrant, citrus-flavored, almost juice-like beverage, with its neon green hue, emerged in the late ’80s, riding the wave of popularity for the beloved Ghostbusters cartoon series. Even when the show was canceled and the movies seemed to have run their course, Hi-C continued producing this iconic Ghostbusters drink well into the early 2000s.
In more recent times, it’s made a comeback, gracing store shelves around the releases of Ghostbusters reboots and legacy sequels. The demand for Ecto Cooler is so immense that when it’s back on the market, bottles of this sweet nectar can fetch prices ranging from dozens to hundreds of dollars. Now, that’s downright chilling!
Five Alive
When we’re discussing citrus-based drinks, if you’d rather not connect it with Ghostbusters, there’s another option – Five Alive. Its name is derived from the five juices within the drink: orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, and lime. Regrettably, Five Alive was taken off the shelves in America during the 1990s, but it seems to still be available in Canada. (If you happen to visit our northern neighbors, could you possibly pick up a carton for me? I’m craving a Five Alive at the moment.)
Fruit Corners Fruit Bars
In the 1980s, the debut of Fruit Roll-Ups ignited a fruit snack craze that lasted the entire decade. Companies like Fruit Corners, who originally produced Roll-Ups, and their competitors rushed to cash in on the booming market for what seemed to be a healthy alternative to children’s junk food. The allure of fruit in the name made it hard to believe these treats could be unhealthy!
Personally, I was there during this time, consuming every imitation Roll-Up that hit the shelves. In my opinion, Fruit Corners Fruit Bars were the cream of the crop. They combined the essence of a Roll-Up with the shape of a granola bar. The initial flavors offered were strawberry, cherry, grape, and orange-pineapple. I’ve been on a quest for a replacement for the cherry Fruit Bars flavor for decades now, and I’m not kidding when I say that. Fortunately, Today’s That’s It Apple and Cherry bars come pretty close.
Fruit Wrinkles
Fruit Wrinkles. These little gems resembled jelly beans in their shape. Advertisements for this product boasted about its high fruit content and low sugar levels compared to similar products available at the time. I suppose they were named “Wrinkles” because of the texture, with more grooves or wrinkles than other options.
However, as fruit snacks began to morph into more intricate shapes, inspired by popular children’s media, simple snacks like Fruit Wrinkles started losing their charm and eventually disappeared from the market not long after.
Giggles
Today, Oreos dominate the sandwich cookie market, boasting an extensive section of their own in snack aisles filled with numerous flavors. (The introduction of Sour Patch Kids Oreos was the last straw for me, I must admit.) In contrast to this current situation, the sandwich cookie market in the 1980s offered more variety. One of the key players during that time was Giggles, which were essentially Oreos with both chocolate and vanilla cream filling, as well as a smiley face cookie (available in vanilla or chocolate versions). Frankly, given that Oreos are releasing approximately 60 new flavors each week, it’s quite surprising they haven’t introduced one with a vanilla and chocolate center. It’s truly a missed opportunity for a fantastic idea.
Hostess Pudding Pies
Despite Hostess continuing to dominate the snack food market with their popular items like Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, and various single-serve cakes, some beloved classics have seemingly disappeared. Specifically, the pudding pies from the ’80s, available in Vanilla or Chocolate flavors, have become hard to find.
With such delicious taste, who needs to worry about health concerns?).
Jell-O Pudding Pops
In the 80s, pudding seemed to be an obsession among many. Was it because there were no other dessert options? Regardless of the cause, pudding could be found everywhere – in cups, pies, and even as a drink. Jell-O invested heavily in advertising their Pudding Pops line, which came in vanilla, chocolate, or swirl flavors, and were often advertised by Bill Cosby. (Believe it or not, they’ve held up well over time.) According to Wikipedia, Jell-O sold an astounding $100 million of Pudding Pops in a single year, but eventually, the trend faded out.
Kudos
In the ’80s, I fondly remember devouring Kudos granola bars – one of the most popular options back then. The original lineup included Chocolate Chip, Nutty Fudge, and Peanut Butter flavors, all produced by Mars. They were a unique blend of being somewhat healthier than your average candy bar, yet more indulgent than traditional granola bars. I’d give kudos to the genius who created them! These tasty treats continued production until the 2010s when, sadly, they were taken off the market.
Mr. T Cereal
During the 1980s, not many celebrities held as significant or perplexing a place in popular culture as Mr. T, largely due to his appearances in “Rocky III” and “The A-Team,” and his distinctive style featuring a mohawk, denim clothing, and an impressive collection of gold chains. This popularity among children led to the creation of an unusual animated TV series where he played the role of a gymnastics coach who collaborated with his pupils to unravel mysteries.
Later on, the Mr. T character from this show became the mascot for a highly popular cereal produced by Quaker, which was available for sale from 1984 to 1993. The cereal pieces were shaped like Ts and consisted of corn and oats. Notably, the cereal featured prominently in the opening sequence of Tim Burton’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” contributing to its enduring popularity for many years.
O’Grady’s Chips
In the 1980s potato chip rivalry, O’Grady’s unfortunately lost its ground. Advertised for its “thicker-cut” potatoes and a more robust cheese flavor (though the term ‘heartier’ may be subjective), loyal patrons still vouch for their Au Gratin chips, claiming they were significantly superior and cheesier than any comparable chip option available today.
Peanut Butter Boppers
This Reddit user articulates the charm of this snack item quite well: “Boppers were like taking the best parts of granola bars without the inconvenience of granola. As a fan of peanut butter, I still yearn for Boppers today.” Indeed, those crunchy logs filled with peanut butter should make a comeback, even though their original manufacturer, Nature Valley, provides a recipe for homemade Boppers on their website if you wish to try your hand at making them in the interim.
Product 19
In the ’80s and ’90s, I fondly remember the intriguing red-boxed cereal known as Product 19, a mystery even in its name (though it’s rumored to be Kellogg’s 19th recipe). Back then, Kellogg’s marketed it by emphasizing its superior vitamin content, although you wouldn’t guess it from the taste. Health-conscious cereal buyers might have been attracted to it in the ’80s, but those days are long past, and Product 19 was unfortunately discontinued permanently in 2016.
Quackers
For many years, kids have savored the crunchy, cheesy taste of Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish crackers. In the 1980s, Nabisco attempted to rival this product with Quackers, which, as their name implies, had a duck shape instead of fish and carried a similar cheese flavor. (Notably, they also offered sour cream and onion flavors, which were surprisingly tasty.) However, by the late 1980s, Quackers had disappeared, leaving Goldfish to swim solo once more.
Slice
Periodically, Pepsi launches a new lemon-lime soda to challenge Sprite and other competitors from Coke and other brands. At present, they sell Starry; previously they marketed Sierra Mist, and before that it was Slice (which was a replacement for Teem). A couple of years following its launch, Slice introduced additional flavors such as Mandarin Orange and Apple (a flavor I believe is underrepresented in sodas).
When first introduced, Pepsi emphasized the natural quality of Slice due to its 10% fruit juice content. This tactic proved effective for some time, but later they altered the drink’s formula, significantly reducing the juice content. Despite these changes, Slice persisted through the ’90s, experimenting with different packaging designs and taglines, before Sierra Mist replaced it in Pepsi’s product lineup during the early 2000s.
(Additional perspective: There are not enough apple-flavored sodas.)
Sunkist Fun Fruits
Did you think our trip down memory lane with forgotten fruit snack ideas was over? Not a chance! Sunkist Fun Fruits, much like Wrinkles in appearance, were available in flavors such as cherry, orange, strawberry, and grape. Contrary to their name, these weren’t actually made by Sunkist but by Leaf Confections, who obtained the rights to use the Sunkist brand to lend an air of genuine, juicy deliciousness to their product. Today, the modern Sunkist Fruit Snacks are manufactured by General Mills.
Tato Skins
In the 1980s, Keebler was the sole manufacturer of a unique potato chip product known as Tato Skins. These chips were made from whole potatoes, including the skins, mimicking the taste of a baked potato. Flavors such as Original, Sour Cream & Chives, Cheddar & Bacon, and Bar-B-Que were available. Although there’s a product resembling Tato Skins on store shelves today (labeled as “TGI Fridays Potato Skins Snacks”), diehard fans of the original Tato Skins claim that they don’t compare to the authentic taste.
WWF Superstars of Wrestling Bars
In the 1980s, when Hulk Hogan and his WWF peers ruled the wrestling scene, it was an ideal moment to cash in on the sport’s appeal among kids with a branded food item – the WWF Superstars Ice Cream Bars. These frozen desserts consisted of vanilla ice cream between a vanilla cookie and a chocolate layer, with the cookie adorned with images of popular wrestlers such as “Macho Man” Randy Savage or the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase.
Though these bars were initially created to ride the wave of wrestling’s popularity on weekend TV during Hulk Hogan’s peak, they remained delicious even after the WWF lost its shine in the early 90s. Nostalgia for the bars sparked a brief revival in 2020 when Good Humor reintroduced a similar concept called “WWE Super Stars,” featuring modern wrestlers like John Cena and Roman Reigns on vanilla ice cream sandwiches (regrettably, not popsicles). Despite being enjoyable, they didn’t stay on store shelves nearly as long as the original WWF bars.
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Xbox’s Forza Horizon 5 Sold an Outrageous 2 Million Copies on PS5 in a Month
- Lewis Capaldi Details “Mental Episode” That Led to Him “Convulsing”
- xAI’s $300/month Grok 4, billed as a “maximally truth-seeking AI” — seemingly solicits Elon Musk’s opinion on controversial topics
- How Much Does a PS5 Equivalent PC Cost in 2025?
- Why Stephen Baldwin Is “Blessed” By Justin & Hailey Bieber’s Marriage
- Ryan Lochte Gets Cozy With New Woman Amid Kayla Reid Divorce
- Microsoft has a new way to use AI in OneNote — but a “dumb” feature excites me more
- Wrestler Marcus “Buff” Bagwell Undergoes Leg Amputation
- Anime’s Greatest Summer 2024 Shonen Hit Drops New Look Ahead of Season 2
2025-07-28 00:06