<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1032306">John Horgan</a> worked for Sears in the early '80s, when Cabbage Patch dolls were all the rage. "Each time the store announced we had received a shipment, the buying frenzy would start. I can recall several fights breaking out as people pushed and shoved each other." In 1983, he bought his wife and sister these Cabbage Patch kids and Koosa (the Cabbage Patch pet).
Cabbage Patch craziness —
John Horgan worked for Sears in the early '80s, when Cabbage Patch dolls were all the rage. "Each time the store announced we had received a shipment, the buying frenzy would start. I can recall several fights breaking out as people pushed and shoved each other." In 1983, he bought his wife and sister these Cabbage Patch kids and Koosa (the Cabbage Patch pet).
Courtesy John Horgan
<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1031057">Marjorie Zien</a>, seated second from right, was a computer programmer at the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company in 1985 and frequently wore skirt-suits to work. She commuted in sneakers and changed into pumps at the office. "It all seems so formal to me. It was as if we were wearing a uniform," said Zien, now 56.
Before business casual —
Marjorie Zien, seated second from right, was a computer programmer at the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company in 1985 and frequently wore skirt-suits to work. She commuted in sneakers and changed into pumps at the office. "It all seems so formal to me. It was as if we were wearing a uniform," said Zien, now 56.
"I believed passionately that women should serve in combat, because I saw the movie 'Private Benjamin.' I also was extremely self-absorbed and consumed with sorority parties, tennis practice and shopping for the latest dress by Laura Ashley," wrote <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1022953">Cynthia Falardeau, left</a>. A college student in 1986, she spent a semester abroad that expanded her world view.
Official Preppy Handbook was my guide —
"I believed passionately that women should serve in combat, because I saw the movie 'Private Benjamin.' I also was extremely self-absorbed and consumed with sorority parties, tennis practice and shopping for the latest dress by Laura Ashley," wrote Cynthia Falardeau, left. A college student in 1986, she spent a semester abroad that expanded her world view.
Courtesy Cynthia Falardeau
This picture was tucked in the pages of <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1031398">Ellen Jo Roberts</a>' eighth grade autograph book from 1985. She was the photographer, and they were her best friends, all eighth graders in a Chicago Public Schools gifted program, studying Latin, logic and philosophy and literature. "We were nerds. Though, in our own way, we felt cool, different, magnetic, with our big, adult ideas. My favorite things in 1985 were: roller skating, the Chicago Cubs, drawing cartoons and writing stories, and going on city expeditions with my younger brother via public transportation."
We were nerds on the playground —
This picture was tucked in the pages of Ellen Jo Roberts' eighth grade autograph book from 1985. She was the photographer, and they were her best friends, all eighth graders in a Chicago Public Schools gifted program, studying Latin, logic and philosophy and literature. "We were nerds. Though, in our own way, we felt cool, different, magnetic, with our big, adult ideas. My favorite things in 1985 were: roller skating, the Chicago Cubs, drawing cartoons and writing stories, and going on city expeditions with my younger brother via public transportation."
Courtesy Ellen Jo Roberts
<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1030612">Janee Blackwell Cifuentes</a>, on the left in black and blue, spent her teen years in Wheaton, Illinois. The decade brought many firsts for blacks, she wrote. "Martin Luther King's birthday was made a holiday. Harold Washington was the first black mayor of Chicago. Vanessa Williams was the first black Miss America and that was opening the doors for a lot of black homecoming queens." There were two or three black girls on her high school pom-pom squad. "To me, that was a big deal."
Black pom-pom girls were 'a big deal' —
Janee Blackwell Cifuentes, on the left in black and blue, spent her teen years in Wheaton, Illinois. The decade brought many firsts for blacks, she wrote. "Martin Luther King's birthday was made a holiday. Harold Washington was the first black mayor of Chicago. Vanessa Williams was the first black Miss America and that was opening the doors for a lot of black homecoming queens." There were two or three black girls on her high school pom-pom squad. "To me, that was a big deal."
Courtesy Janee Cifuentes
<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1030707">Heavy metal music</a> helped T. Ray Verteramo find her own voice as a teenager living in Pougkeepsie, New York, in 1985. She had a front row seat to the crusade by the so-called moral majority that was convinced the bands she loved corrupted her generation's souls. Frank Zappa went on "Crossfire" that year to talk about it.
Living heavy metal —
Heavy metal music helped T. Ray Verteramo find her own voice as a teenager living in Pougkeepsie, New York, in 1985. She had a front row seat to the crusade by the so-called moral majority that was convinced the bands she loved corrupted her generation's souls. Frank Zappa went on "Crossfire" that year to talk about it.
Courtesy T. Ray Verteramo
"MTV was the place to see, hear and learn about the world around us," said <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1020506">Beth Barret</a>, a teenager living on New York's Upper East Side in the late '80s. She saved up money babysitting and working at David's Cookies to pay for a cable box in her room. Lots of time was also spent talking on this rotary phone with her best friends Nadine, Madeline, Valerie, Netty and Katie. (But don't tell her mom!)
I wanted my MTV —
"MTV was the place to see, hear and learn about the world around us," said Beth Barret, a teenager living on New York's Upper East Side in the late '80s. She saved up money babysitting and working at David's Cookies to pay for a cable box in her room. Lots of time was also spent talking on this rotary phone with her best friends Nadine, Madeline, Valerie, Netty and Katie. (But don't tell her mom!)
Courtesy Beth Barret
"Some called me and my friends granolas. Some called us hippies. We didn't care what we were called as long as no one told us what we should do," said Hilary Ohm, left. She was 24 years old in 1982 and very active in the anti-nuclear-power movement.
Some called us hippies —
"Some called me and my friends granolas. Some called us hippies. We didn't care what we were called as long as no one told us what we should do," said Hilary Ohm, left. She was 24 years old in 1982 and very active in the anti-nuclear-power movement.
Courtesy Hilary Ohm
The movie "E.T." came out in 1982, and Janie Lambert's<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1021466"> 5-year-old, Jennie,</a> was enthralled. If there was a full or almost-full moon, the little girl would look out the window to see if she could spot the alien.
We were obsessed with E.T. —
The movie "E.T." came out in 1982, and Janie Lambert's 5-year-old, Jennie, was enthralled. If there was a full or almost-full moon, the little girl would look out the window to see if she could spot the alien.
Courtesy Janie Lambert
<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-604471">Martrese White</a> describes '80s fashions as "hideous" now, but is and was proud of all the accessories and creations she made at the time, especially this prom dress in 1986. "The senior prom was my pièce de résistance -- everything was turquoise blue and silver -- even silver nail polish. And I was SO proud of the matching handbag and shoe rosettes."
Molly Ringwald had nothing on me —
Martrese White describes '80s fashions as "hideous" now, but is and was proud of all the accessories and creations she made at the time, especially this prom dress in 1986. "The senior prom was my pièce de résistance -- everything was turquoise blue and silver -- even silver nail polish. And I was SO proud of the matching handbag and shoe rosettes."
Courtesy Martrese White
The '80s seemed to offer more opportunities for people to find jobs and pursue their dreams, says Marie Sager, who was a divorced mom of two boys in 1981. Sager loved working as a member of a Las Vegas helicopter company <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1019729">ground crew</a> (also known as a "helicopter hooker") and later started her own helicopter company.
I was a helicopter hooker —
The '80s seemed to offer more opportunities for people to find jobs and pursue their dreams, says Marie Sager, who was a divorced mom of two boys in 1981. Sager loved working as a member of a Las Vegas helicopter company ground crew (also known as a "helicopter hooker") and later started her own helicopter company.
Courtesy Marie Sager
Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1031632">William Patrick Butler</a> mostly remembers how much he and his sister loved watching "Star Wars" over and over again on HBO whenever it came on. Here they pose in their church outfits beside Ma's old Chevrolet Cavalier, which was replaced in 1983 with a more fun red Pontiac Grand Prix.
This suit was itchy! —
Growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, William Patrick Butler mostly remembers how much he and his sister loved watching "Star Wars" over and over again on HBO whenever it came on. Here they pose in their church outfits beside Ma's old Chevrolet Cavalier, which was replaced in 1983 with a more fun red Pontiac Grand Prix.
Courtesy William Patrick Butler
<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1022146">Cliff Olney</a> was more concerned with money than politics. Then the owner of a hair salon, he voted for Ronald Reagan the first time around, but switched parties after Reagan fired more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers in 1981. Olney is now a progressive Democrat, "thanks to Reagan's 'trickle-down economics' that never trickled down."
I voted for Reagan the first time —
Cliff Olney was more concerned with money than politics. Then the owner of a hair salon, he voted for Ronald Reagan the first time around, but switched parties after Reagan fired more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers in 1981. Olney is now a progressive Democrat, "thanks to Reagan's 'trickle-down economics' that never trickled down."
Courtesy Cliff Olney
Beards were still allowed in the Coast Guard in 1982, when <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1031248">this picture was taken</a>. (Furry faces were banned in the service by 1986). John Lawrence was in Port Angeles, Washington, at the time, holding his 1-year-old son. The remote control in his hand is an early model.
Inside the '80s time capsule —
Beards were still allowed in the Coast Guard in 1982, when this picture was taken. (Furry faces were banned in the service by 1986). John Lawrence was in Port Angeles, Washington, at the time, holding his 1-year-old son. The remote control in his hand is an early model.
Courtesy John Lawrence