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What Happened in 1980? |
1980 Pop Culture, History, and Memorable MomentsTable of Contents The year 1980 marked the dawn of a new decade, bringing with it fresh cultural trends, groundbreaking entertainment, and unforgettable historical events. From the rise of new music genres to iconic films that continue to captivate audiences, 1980 was a year that set the stage for the defining moments of the 1980s. It was a time when technology began infiltrating everyday life, political shifts shaped the global landscape, and pop culture became a dominant force in identity and connection. Entertainment in 1980 was electrifying. Audiences packed theaters for cinematic blockbusters, while music lovers embraced innovative sounds that blurred the lines between rock, pop, and emerging new-wave influences. On television, enduring classics shared the spotlight with groundbreaking premieres, creating a diverse lineup that kept viewers tuning in week after week. Meanwhile, fashion, toys, and technology trends reflected a spirit of experimentation and individuality. On a global scale, 1980 was a year of dramatic shifts. Pivotal elections, sporting triumphs, and technological advances dominated headlines, highlighting successes and challenges that shaped the modern world. Whether it was a bold, scientific achievement or an underdog story in sports, the year offered countless moments that left a lasting impression. Ready to test your knowledge of 1980? Take our trivia quiz and relive the moments that made this year unforgettable. From pop culture highlights to historical milestones, see how much you know about the start of this iconic decade! 80 Trivia Questions For 1980 History(answers) 1. What was the most popular portable music device in 1980? 2. This movie bad guy wears a hockey mask and has appeared in at least a dozen films. 3. Name the syndicated by Chronicle Features and then Universal Press Syndicate, which ran from December 31, 1979, to January 1, 1995. 4. This term was coined by William Casey when he served as campaign manager of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. What phrase? 5. People stopped buying 45s to hear single songs. What did they buy instead? 6. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1980? 7. This comic strip by Berkeley Breathed initially ran from December 8, 1980, until August 6, 1989. Name that comic. 8. In 1980, what was the average life expectancy in the United States? 9. What is a “young urban professional” or “young upwardly mobile professional”? Short form of the term. 10. A Star Wars question. Who is the administrator of Cloud City on the planet Bespin? 11. Muppet Animal played drums for what band? 12. This TV show stars Bonnie Franklin as a divorced mother raising two teenage daughters, played by Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli, set in Indianapolis. Name it. 13. This character was created by novelist Robert Ludlum and starred Mat Damon in a series of films. 14. Who said, “And don’t call me Shirley”? 15. What was the mind-bending phrase Darth Vader said about his relationship with Luke? 16. Name the expected trio briefly performed at Eric Clapton’s wedding? 17. Harold “Harry” Monroe and Skipper “Skip” Donahue are two unemployed friends who are given 125-year prison sentences after getting framed for a bank robbery in this film. Name it 18. This ABC television show featured a cartoonist (played by Ted Knight) who authors a comic strip called Cosmic Cow with a hand-puppet version of “Cosmic Cow.” 19. Who won the “Miracle on Ice”? 20. Who was the biggest Musical Artist of 1980? 21. How many people lived in the World in 1980? 22. How many people lived in the United States in 1980? 23. Who played the leading man in 1980’s Popeye? 24. Who played the leading lady, Olive Oyl, in Popeye? 25. Who was the first British female artist in the UK album charts to reach number one? 26. Name the biggest-selling video game of all time. 27. This type of wire/cord computer networking technology became the standard in 1980. 28. What 1980 rock album is the second-highest-selling original album of all time and the highest-selling studio album by any band to date? 29. This show focused on Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae) as she becomes a housemother at the fictional Eastland School in Peekskill, New York. Name it 30. Name the six colors on the side of a Rubik’s cube 31. This 1980 film involved transporting an elephant to the GOP National Convention. 32. You get one point for each of the four members of rock band U2. 33. This musical fantasy film featured music by Newton-John, the Electric Light Orchestra, Cliff Richard, and the Tubes. 34. Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager’s famous dance club in New York closed on February 4, 1980. What was that nightclub called? 35. The Federal Reserve reached its highest rate in December 1980. What was it? 36. what was the biggest company in the US in 1980? 37. Who shot J.R.? 38. Name the second highest-grossing film of 1980. 39. Who were the leading actresses in 9-5? You get one point for each, which you can name. 40. Who played the role of sexist vice president Franklin Hart in 9-5? 41. Name the highest-grossing film of 1980 42. Who murdered John Lennon? 43. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1980: 44. American actor Jim Varney portrayed this fictional character in a series of television commercials, a television series, and a series of feature films. 45. This Sesame Street character may arguably be the most beloved by children. Name him. 46. Introduced on The Muppet Show, this Muppet is not as beloved and often performs with Gonzo. 47. What is the Olympic Village used at Lake Placid 1980 Olympics currently used as? 48. True or False? Many, if not most, public toilets in the US were “Pay Toilets” until 1980. 49. Paul McCartney spend over a week in jail in what country for possession of marijuana? 50. This TV show featured a family living on a Plum Creek farm near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1800s. 51. Who was the President of the United States in 1980? 52. Who was the Vice President of the United States in ZZZZ? 53. This 1980 film featured a pampered woman who unexpectedly joined the U.S. Army after her husband died on their wedding night. Name that film 54. This comic book character first appeared in an insert preview in DC Comics Presents #26. 55. Another new comic book character also appeared in the same comic book insert. Name her. 56. What was the first “modern” live touring show, premiering in 1980? 57. These soft dolls were first introduced in 1980 by Xavier Roberts. 58. What was the leading video game console in 1980? 59. In Poland, the Solidarity movement began in 1980 as the first independent labor union in a Soviet-bloc country. Who led it? 60. In April, Brian Johnson was made the new lead singer of AC/DC, replacing whom? 61. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1980? 62. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1979/1980 season? 63. Who played the lead role in Coal Miner’s Daughter? 64. Who was Coal Miner’s Daughter about? 65. This volcanic eruption killed 57 people and caused $3 billion in damage. Name that volcano. 66. What was the name of the Blues Brothers’ car in their 1980 film? 67. Ted Turner launched the first 24-hour news channel on June 1, 1980. What was it called? 68. This term describes a person with an ardent or refined interest in food. NOT “gastronome” or “gourmet.” 69. Introduced in 1980, this brand of bubble gum is made to resemble chewing tobacco. What is it called? 70. What was Han Solo frozen in? 71. Who won Super Bowl XIV? 72. Suzanne Sommers left Three’s Company over a salary dispute. What was the name of her character? 73. Chrissy Snow’s character was replaced by her Cousin, Cindy Snow. Who played the role of Cindy Snow? 74. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1980 75. Name the TV show that included Officer Francis (“Frank”), Llewellyn “Ponch” Poncherello and Larry Wilcox as his partner, Officer Jonathan (“Jon”) Andrew Baker. 76. Who replaced Charlie’s Angel Tiffany Wells (Shelley Hack) in 1980? 77. Who won the 1980 World Series? 78. These guys are a pair of fictional Canadian brothers who hosted “Great White North,” a sketch that was introduced on SCTV. 79. You get one point for each of the Pac-man Ghosts you can name. 80. This infamous bounty hunter debuted on the big screen in The Empire Strikes Back. Name him. Trivia Team Bonus Questions: 1. Albert Einstein’s face was an influence when creating what Star Wars Character? 2. Who was the Pope in 1980? 3. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1980? 4. In what comic book did Star Wars, Boba Fett make his first appearance in December 1980? 5. MTM Enterprises (Mary Tyler Moore) had a mascot that resembled MGM’s lion mascot. What was it? 6. What was the name of MTM’s mascot? 7. When the world ends, what song will CNN play, according to founder Ted Turner? 8. What was the Mariel boatlift? 9. What 1957 movie was 1980’s Airplane! based on? 10. What was the name of the Red Hat that rock band Devo and some of their fans wore? 80 Trivia Answers For 1980 History1. What was the most popular portable music device in 1980? 2. This movie bad guy wears a hockey mask and has appeared in at least a dozen films. 3. Name the syndicated by Chronicle Features and then Universal Press Syndicate, which ran from December 31, 1979, to January 1, 1995. 4. This term was coined by William Casey when he served as campaign manager of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. What phrase? 5. People stopped buying 45s to hear single songs. What did they buy instead? 6. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1980? 7. This comic strip by Berkeley Breathed initially ran from December 8, 1980, until August 6, 1989. Name that comic. 8. In 1980, what was the average life expectancy in the United States? 9. What is a “young urban professional” or “young upwardly mobile professional”? Short form of the term. 10. A Star Wars question. Who is the administrator of Cloud City on the planet Bespin? 11. Muppet Animal played drums for what band? 12. This TV show stars Bonnie Franklin as a divorced mother raising two teenage daughters, played by Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli, set in Indianapolis. Name it. 13. This character was created by novelist Robert Ludlum and starred Mat Damon in a series of films. 14. Who said, “And don’t call me Shirley”? 15. What was the mind-bending phrase Darth Vader said about his relationship with Luke? 16. Name the expected trio briefly performed at Eric Clapton’s wedding? 17. Harold “Harry” Monroe and Skipper “Skip” Donahue are two unemployed friends who are given 125-year prison sentences after getting framed for a bank robbery in this film. Name it. 18. This ABC television show featured a cartoonist (played by Ted Knight) who authors a comic strip called Cosmic Cow with a hand-puppet version of “Cosmic Cow.” 19. Who won the “Miracle on Ice”? 20. Who was the biggest Musical Artist of 1980? 21. How many people lived in the World in 1980? 22. How many people lived in the United States in 1980? 23. Who played the leading man in 1980’s Popeye? 24. Who played the leading lady, Olive Oyl, in Popeye? 25. Who was the first British female artist in the UK album charts to reach number one? 26. Name the biggest-selling video game of all time. 27. This type of wire/cord computer networking technology became the standard in 1980. 28. What 1980 rock album is the second-highest-selling original album of all time and the highest-selling studio album by any band to date? 29. This show focused on Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae) as she becomes a housemother at the fictional Eastland School in Peekskill, New York. Name it. 30. Name the six colors on the side of a Rubik’s cube 31. This 1980 film involved transporting an elephant to the GOP National Convention. 32. You get one point for each of the four members of rock band U2. 33. This musical fantasy film featured music by Newton-John, the Electric Light Orchestra, Cliff Richard, and the Tubes. 34. Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager’s famous dance club in New York closed on February 4, 1980. What was that nightclub called? 35. The Federal Reserve reached its highest rate in December 1980. What was it? 36. what was the biggest company in the US in 1980? 37. Who shot J.R.? 38. Name the second highest-grossing film of 1980. 39. Who were the leading actresses in 9-5? You get one point for each, which you can name. 40. Who played the role of sexist vice president Franklin Hart in 9-5? 41. Name the highest-grossing film of 1980. 42. Who murdered John Lennon? 43. Which celebrity was NOT born in 1980: 44. American actor Jim Varney portrayed this fictional character in a series of television commercials, a television series, and a series of feature films. 45. This Sesame Street character may arguably be the most beloved by children. Name him. 46. Introduced on The Muppet Show, this Muppet is not as beloved and often performs with Gonzo. 47. What is the Olympic Village used at Lake Placid 1980 Olympics currently used as? 48. True or False? Many, if not most, public toilets in the US were “Pay Toilets” until 1980. 49. Paul McCartney spend over a week in jail in what country for possession of marijuana? 50. This TV show featured a family living on a Plum Creek farm near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1800s. 51. Who was the President of the United States in 1980? 52. Who was the Vice President of the United States in 1977? 53. This 1980 film featured a pampered woman who unexpectedly joined the U.S. Army after her husband died on their wedding night. Name that film 54. This comic book character first appeared in an insert preview in DC Comics Presents #26. 55. Another comic book character also appeared in a comic book insert. Name her. 56. What was the first “modern” live touring show, premiering in 1980? 57. These soft dolls were first introduced in 1980 by Xavier Roberts. 58. What was the leading video game console in 1980? 59. In Poland, the Solidarity movement began in 1980 as the first independent labor union in a Soviet-bloc country. Who led it? 60. In April, Brian Johnson was made the new lead singer of AC/DC, replacing whom? 61. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1980? 62. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1979/1980 season? 63. Who played the lead role in Coal Miner’s Daughter? 64. Who was Coal Miner’s Daughter about? 65. This volcanic eruption killed 57 people and caused $3 billion in damage. Name that volcano. 66. What was the name of the Blues Brothers’ car in their 1980 film? 67. Ted Turner launched the first 24-hour news channel on June 1, 1980. What was it called? 68. This term describes a person with an ardent or refined interest in food. NOT “gastronome” or “gourmet.” 69. Introduced in 1980, this brand of bubble gum is made to resemble chewing tobacco. What is it called? 70. What was Han Solo frozen in? 71. Who won the Super Bowl XIV? 72. Suzanne Sommers left Three’s Company over a salary dispute. What was the name of her character? 73. Chrissy Snow’s character was replaced by her Cousin, Cindy Snow. Who played the role of Cindy Snow? 74. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1980? 75. Name the TV show that included Officer Francis (“Frank”), Llewellyn “Ponch” Poncherello, and Larry Wilcox as his partner, Officer Jonathan (“Jon”) Andrew Baker. 76. Who replaced Charlie’s Angel Tiffany Wells (Shelley Hack) in 1980? 77. Who won the 1980 World Series? 78. These guys are a pair of fictional Canadian brothers who hosted “Great White North,” a sketch that was introduced on SCTV. 79. You get one point for each of the Pac-man Ghosts you can name. 80. This infamous bounty hunter debuted on the big screen in The Empire Strikes Back. Name him. Trivia Team Bonus Answers: 1. Albert Einstein’s face was an influence when creating what Star Wars Character? 2. Who was the Pope in 1980? 3. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1980? 4. In what comic book did Star Wars, Boba Fett make his first appearance in December 1980? 5. MTM Enterprises (Mary Tyler Moore) had a mascot that resembled MGM’s lion mascot. What was it? 6. What was the name of MTM’s mascot? 7. When the world ends, what song will CNN play, according to founder Ted Turner? 8. What was the Mariel boatlift? 9. What 1957 movie was 1980’s Airplane! based on? 10. What was the name of the Red Hat that rock band Devo and some of their fans wore? |
