What Was the Most Popular Christmas Gift in the 80s?
Every era is known to have a particularly popular gift. Either due to the concept of the product, the marketing, or both. But each decade was known to have something spectacular, whether it be the tie-dye shirts in the 60s, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots and Monopoly in the 70s or the Rubik’s Cube of the 80s, each of these have withstood the test of time. Their continued popularity, along with various themes, such as Friends Monopoly and Pokémon Monopoly as well as modified versions, such as three, four, or even sixteen squares in a Rubik’s Cube.
So for the 80s, there were a ton of things you’d easily recognize today, but one in particular that is seen at almost every convenience store, big box retailer and of course, online.
The Most Popular Gift of the 1980s: The Rubik’s Cube
The most popular gift in the 1980s was indeed the Rubik’s Cube. Invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik, this was originally called the Magic Cube. It was licensed by Rubik to be sold by Ideal Toy Corp. in 1980 through businessman Tibor Laczi and Seven Towns founder, Tom Kremer. It also goes by the name Speed Cube, Puzzle Cube and just Cube.
The Purpose of the Rubik’s Cube
The goal of the Rubik’s Cube is to start with a random shuffle of colored squares on each of the cube’s six sides and then rotate the faces to make each side the same color. The concept is so simple and yet so challenging to solve, which is exactly what makes it so popular.
There is also a pattern I’ve noticed among the legendary products that have withstood the test of time, and that’s simplicity. As long as the concept is simple, anyone can use it and become addicted for hours. This is the key to success.
80s arcade games with simple concepts like Pac Man, Galaga and Super Mario as well video games and board games are legendary because of their simplicity; anyone can play them and become addicted! The Rubik’s Cube is no different.
The Success of the Rubik’s Cube
Even today, the Rubik’s Cube is the most popular puzzle toy in the world, with over 350 million units sold as of 2018. It also inspired numerous works of art and films, not to mention birthing a competitive sport in which teens would race to solve the puzzle in the least amount of time.
While it’s understandable why the Cube was so popular, the inventor was the most surprised at its success. He’s written a book called Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All. He would agree that the toy’s success is “much more interesting than the cube itself.” He said the book is about understanding its popularity and “why people love it.”
Even today, moms all over the country are dropping their kids off at cubing competitions, using a series of algorithms via YouTube tutorials, blogs and even online communities to solve them quickly. There are also cube-solving speed records, held by “speedcubers” that have been governed by the World Cube Association. If that’s not crazy enough, there are also records for one-handed, blindfolded, fewest moves to solve and more.
Rubik particularly commented on the limitless number of possible ways to solve the cube “That is one of its most mysterious qualities. The end turns into new beginnings.”
More Popular Christmas Gifts from the 1980s
1. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
What better way to play video games than in the comfort of your own home? It’s hard to think how anything is managed outside of home nowadays during the COVID-19 pandemic, but even in the 80s, things were made more popular by bringing them home. After its release in 1986, NES was known to be one of the most common things in every home during the 80s.
NES is an 8-bit 3rd generation video game that was released in Japan in 1983, known as the Family Computer, or Famicom. It was then released internationally in the following years under the new name NES.
The first and arguably best games from this system was Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda and Metroid. The NES also revived the video game industry after the huge crash of 1983.
You can now buy it directly from nintendo.com for $60, including 30 classic NES games.
2. Cabbage Patch Kids
If you haven’t read my article on Why Cabbage Patch Kids Were So Popular, you need to. In a nutshell, these unique dolls were the first of their kind to have soft but durable features that were meant for playing instead of displaying. Cabbage Patch Kids also came customized as technology was just advanced enough to incorporate random features into each doll, including hair style and color, eye color, dimple location, clothing, skin color and smiles.
The way they were marketed also played on their consumers’ emotions as they would be sold in a box with their arms up ready to be picked up and taken home. Each doll also came with an adoption certificate as if you were adopting the doll instead of purchasing it.
When Black Friday came around in 1983, things got out of hand at the stores. As people climbed over each other and ripped dolls out of childrens’ hands, they became obsessed. Some didn’t even have their preference and would buy a doll simply because it was a Cabbage Patch Kid. Some other toys have been modeled from the Cabbage Patch Kids, including Furby, Tickle Me Elmo and even the American Girl Doll.
3. Boombox
Before and even during the popularity of the Walkman, everyone was walking around with a giant boombox on their shoulders. Sure it was heavier, obnoxiously big and you could only play a few songs, but it was cool! Plus you could play your music louder than just a soft sound from your headphones.
These were best for taking to the gym, your friends houses or even to school. They were probably confiscated a lot, but it still didn’t stop them!
4. Swatch Watches
Considered to be one of the popular fashion trends of the 80s, nobody had just one. You’d load these cheap bad boys all up and down your arms, and yes they’d look ridiculous. But again, it was cool.
Swatches came in all styles and colors and were extremely thin. The name is also a derivative of “second watch” so the intention was to wear more than one. Good marketing scheme if you ask me. Why not sell one if you can sell multiple?
5. High-Waist Acid-Washed Jeans
Another essential item from the popular 80s fashion trend: high-waist acid-washed jeans. It was edgy, bold and different, which is why it fits that style. Even the name sounded dangerous, but of course none of the denim even touched acid; it’s just all in the name.
These jeans are also making a huge comeback as one of the 80s fashion trends that are back in style today. You can find them on Amazon and most likely your favorite clothing retail store.
6. Members Only Jackets
Members Only Jackets came in all different colors and they promised on the commercials “When you put it on, something happens.” Even though we all knew it wasn’t true, the marketing message worked as most consumers opted for the racer-style jacket.
They were distinguished by their collar straps, knitted trim and narrow epaulettes. Even in the 2010s, Members Only continued launching seasonal collections through online retailers (no surprise, Amazon), as well as in-store like Urban Outfitters.
7. Vans
Vans were first in style in the 80s, then left throughout the 90, 2000s and now they’re back. Most popular in the checkerboard color, they competed with Keds, LA Gear, Nike, Reebok and more.
Vans shoes are most popular among athletes as its owner, VF Corporation sponsors, surf, snowboarding, BMX and motocross teams. They were also the primary sponsor of the Vans Warped Tour traveling rock festival.
8. Fanny Packs
Wallets and satchels were over-rated. Fanny packs were super easy to grab your money and carry it around as it sat right on your waist. Popular before tourists ruined the fashion trend, these money belts were also great for stashing your quarters to use at the arcade, selling in all different colors and patterns. A great way to spend money on something to store your money!
9. Cassette Tapes
Before recording your own music on Garage Band or even on your phone, we used cassette tapes. They’re like digital software that you can store on your phone, but its physical and you need a larger piece of machinery to play it.
There was also a lot of music that came out on this. Even before CDs, you had to plug these babies into a stereo, boombox or your Walkman to play something. And you only had maybe 12 songs to choose from, usually from a single band. Unless it was a mixtape. Someone must’ve really liked you to put together a list of songs on one cassette tape.
10. Leg Warmers
One of the best stocking stuffers, leg warmers were super trendy and warm! These little pieces of fabric were made popular from the movies Fame and Flashdance as well as from dancers to keep their muscles from cramping after stretching. It first started among teenage girls and even spread to boys in Berkeley, CA near San Francisco.
Leg warmers also go great with leggings, tight jeans, tights and even as part of exercise clothing. They were popular all over the world, not just the states.
More recently, they’ve become popular among parents to keep their babies and toddlers while making it easy to change diapers. They’re also back in style among girls, teens, college students and women.
11. Roller Skates
If you were a teenager in the 80s, the skating rink was your nightclub. They were also filled with people wearing parachute pants and people went around and around in circles with the music from Madonna, Michael Jackson, Journey, Prince and other popular 80s music artists.
So if kids weren’t at the arcade on Saturday nights, they were definitely here. It was more than just a place to skate around in circles for a few hours, it was a chill place to hang out with friends.
So getting a pair of skates for Christmas was a big deal! They came in all different colors, including white, black, pink, grey and neon!
12. Red Leather Jacket
Made famous by Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, everyone had to have a red leather jacket. Even better if it had a V shape on the front. It was mostly worn by men, but some women wore them too.
13. Slap Bracelets
Invented by a high school shop teacher in 1983, the trend of having a flimsy piece of plastic automatically curl around your wrist blew up quickly. Slap bracelets first look like an ordinary piece of fabric-covered plastic, but when smacked around your arm or wrist, it quickly binds itself to you. Radical! They also make great stocking stuffers and party favors.
14. Jams
There’s not a whole lot of research on how Jams came to be so popular. They were extremely expensive, selling for $100+, so many families opted to craft their own or even buy them on clearance. The company’s founder, Dave Rochlen, was a beach surfer and lifeguard who lived in Santa Monica, CA and then moved to Hawaii. The idea came to him after reading an article in Life magazine that showed Russians looking uncomfortable in bathrobes on the beach.
So he bought some bright-colored floral fabric and asked his wife to make a pair of short, baggy pair of pajamas with a sewn-up fly and cut off at the knee. The first pair of jams came out on December 25th, 1964.
After realizing he was sitting on a gold mine, Rochlen quit his day job to make and sell his new product at his new company called Surf Line Hawaii. The product was called Jams, which was a shortening of the word “pajamas”. After the airing of his first commercial of the jams worn in Mākaha, HI, Life magazine featured him in a two-page article on him and his friends in the June 1965 issue. It was then that his Jams were sold in Bloomingdale’s, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s.
15. MTV Logo Shirt
Any young person in the 80s fell in love with MTV. It had its own channel as all the popular artists like Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson were on it, and we all followed their fashion trends. MTV quickly caught on to this game, so they came out with their own MTV shirts that were gifted to millions of people all over the world. It’s also a great gift that’s not too expensive but any young adult would love.
Which of These Did You Have?
If you had any of these items as Christmas gifts or even in general, we’d like to see! Please let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
