Jul 13
Live Aid Concert
Simultaneous concerts in London and Philadelphia raised $127 million for Ethiopian famine relief. 1.9 billion watched on TV. Queen's set at Wembley became legendary.
🇺🇸United States · 80s
We Are the World
Live Aid, Windows 1.0, and Back to the Future.
What happened
5 milestones of 1985
Jan 28
'We Are the World' Recorded
45 of music's biggest stars (Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and more) recorded 'We Are the World' in one night at A&M Studios.
Jan-Nov
Space Shuttle Discovery Deploys First Satellite
NASA flew 9 shuttle missions in 1985, the most in a single year. The program's busiest — and last carefree — year before Challenger.
Nov 20
Windows 1.0 Released
Microsoft released Windows 1.0. Critics called it slow and limited. Bill Gates called it the future. He was right.
Apr 23
New Coke Fiasco
Coca-Cola changed its formula. America revolted. 79 days later, 'Coca-Cola Classic' returned. The greatest marketing blunder — and accidental win — in history.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Back to the Future
Robert Zemeckis — Highest-grossing film of 1985. McFly, the DeLorean, and 1.21 gigawatts.
The Breakfast Club
John Hughes — Five teens in detention. Hughes defined a generation.
The Goonies
Richard Donner — 'Goonies never say die!' Adventure for every kid.
Rocky IV
Sylvester Stallone — Rocky vs. Drago. The Cold War on the boxing ring.
Rambo: First Blood Part II
George P. Cosmatos — Box office hit in the US — TMDB 6.7
What was on TV
The Golden Girls
1985-1992 — Four older women in Miami. Witty, progressive, beloved.
MacGyver
1985-1992 — A Swiss Army knife and duct tape could solve anything.
Growing Pains
1985-1992 — The Seaver family and Kirk Cameron's smile.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$2.26
Gallon of gas$1.12
Movie ticket$3.55
New house (median)$84,300
Inflation: 3.6%
The Reagan recovery continued with strong GDP growth and falling inflation.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1985 (USD)
$2.26
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1985 (USD)
$1.12
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1985 (USD)
$3.55
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1985 (USD)
$84,300
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Windows 1.0
Microsoft launched its first graphical operating system.
NES
Nintendo Entertainment System arrived in the US, reviving the gaming industry.
Cellular phones
Motorola DynaTAC was available — $3,995 and the size of a brick.
CD players
Compact disc players started outselling turntables.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Shoulder padsNeon colorsLeg warmersMembers Only jackets
Slang
Rad— Really cool or awesome
Gnarly— Extreme, intense
Gag me— Expression of disgust
Behavior
- Aerobics classes exploded in popularity
- MTV dominated youth culture
- Video rental stores became weekend destinations
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