If you grew up in the 80s, you will know that your childhood consisted of some of the best-selling toys, films and music of all time.
The decade had everything from classic play kitchens to cutting-edge video games, cartoons , boardgames and more – which massively differs from the Iphones, Xbox’s and Netflix in kids lives today.
But back before the days of high tech equipment, many people found entertainment in the likes of Rubik’s cubes, Pac-Man and Pogo Ball.
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But people in Merseyside can now travel through the cultural landscape of 1980’s Britain through the eyes of a child – revisiting everything from BMX to Betamax, Dirty Dancing to Donkey Kong and Thompson Twins to Transformers.
Following the success of his hit Star Wars themed exhibition, May The Toys Be With You, The Atkinson welcoming collector and cultural commentator Matt Fox back to Southport this month.
In the exciting new exhibition, I Grew Up 80s, Fox explores his childhood through a variety of iconic objects from the 1980s and has carefully curated a time capsule of over 200 treasures.
Matt Fox said: “The world is fast paced. Each new year seems to bring a fresh revolution; in technology, globalisation, entertainment, and in the way we socially interact.
“When so much changes in just one year for the children of today’s Britain, then how much has changed in one whole generation? Those like myself who grew up, pre-internet, in the 1980s can genuinely state that life was very different then.
“This exhibition showcases the objects and treasures that 80s kids held dear. Toys, technology, music, sport, film, fashion and even food! It’s a really family friendly exhibition and I hope parents will bring their kids and share the experience of a decade that was so much fun to grow up in!”
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Here, we take a brief look at some of the 1980s treasures loved on Merseyside that you can revisit and why they capture the decade.
Walkman TPA-L2 (Sony Japan 1979)
(Image: The Atkinson/Matt Fox)
Sony’s Walkman was the original ‘personal stereo’ of the 80s and so definitive that the multitude of rival products which followed were often nick-named Walkman’s too.
As the first personal tech, it prepared the market for today’s smartphones.
Now That’s What I Call Music (Virgin / EMI UK 1983)
Compilations albums of the 70s consisted of cover versions by session singers.
In 1983, Richard Branson’s Virgin and EMI joined forces to release thirty original chart hits together.
‘Now’ went triple platinum and is still going strong to this day.
BMX Raleigh Burner (Raleigh UK 1982 – 1988)
(Image: Scott Bairstow Photography/ The Atkinson/Matt Fox)
BMX bikes began to appear in Britain around 1980 and Raleigh, the country’s top bike manufacturer, released its first BMX the ‘Raleigh Burner’ in 1982.
Although BMX biking was still new to the UK, Raleigh was a trusted household name with a solid reputation and the Burner proved a huge hit, helped fortuitously by box-office smash E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial that same year.
What is your favourite treasure of the 1980s? Let us know in the comments section below.
80s Books (Various)
(Image: Scott Bairstow Photography/ The Atkinson/Matt Fox)
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ is the first book in the series of comedic fiction, written by Sue Townsend.
The book is written in a diary style and focuses on the worries and regrets of a teenager who believes himself to be an intellectual.
The TV series based on the book began in 1985, and starred Gian Sammarco as the title character Adrian Mole, Stephen Moore as Adrian’s father George Mole and Julie Walters as Adrian’s mother Pauline Mole.
Confectionery (Various UK 1980s)
(Image: Scott Bairstow Photography/ The Atkinson/Matt Fox)
Peanut Treets were discontinued in 1988 due to competition from Peanut M+Ms. 5,4,3,2,1 (with its catchy advert jingle) was discontinued in 1989.
Marathon and Opal Fruits were rebranded as Snickers and Starburst in the 90s.
Raleigh Vektar (Raleigh UK 1985)
The electronic Vektar appears like a mash-up between a BMX and a ZX Spectrum – a bike with an onboard computer and styled with the sort of retro-futuristic look that could only have come from 80s design.
Riding the zeitgeist of popular TV shows; Knight Rider, Air- wolf and Street Hawk, the red LED control panels allowed kids to check their speed, distance and duration, listen to the radio, and unleash a flurry of arcade-style sound-effects as they cruised along.
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Dir. Steven Spielberg 1982)
(Image: Must credit Dustin Jack/ The Atkinson/Matt Fox)
John Alvin’s poster for E.T. echoes Michelangelo’s Creation Of Adam, and crucially preserves the mystery of what E.T. looked like.
This moving tale of a boy’s friendship with a stranded alien is the highest grossing film of the 80s.
80s Music (Various)
(Image: The Atkinson/Matt Fox)
“Britannia rules the airwaves…” The 1980s was a period in which British music achieved a level of worldwide success that it hadn’t since the height of The Beatles popularity in the 1960s.
This was a combination of old talent and new. A number of veteran artists successfully transitioned to the synth-rock sound – Queen, Genesis, Elton John, Paul McCartney, David Bowie – in some cases having their greatest commercial success in the 80s.
Whilst a host of new British acts broke through with spectacular sales on the inter- national stage, including; Duran Duran, The Police, Eurythmics, UB40, George Michael and Dire Straits.
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The ECHO has launched a 56-page nostalgia supplement in print. It’s packed with photos from the recent past and the not-so-recent, from shopping, fashion and music to the Albert Dock – plus an elephant on parade in Woolton. You can order a copy here.
The I Grew Up 80s exhibition will run at The Atkinson from November 13, 2021 to March 19, 2022 and will be open Monday to Saturday from 10am till 4pm with free entry.
To find out more, click here.
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