🧠 Inventions of 1980
Breakthroughs and everyday innovations from the year.
1 
Portable Personal Computer
2 
Compact Disc (CD)
3 
Charge-Coupled Device Camera Expansion
4 
Medical MRI Scanner Commercial Use
5 
Digital Signal Processor
6 
Electronic Spreadsheet Software
7 
Home Video Game Console Expansion
8 
Industrial Laser Cutting Systems
9 
Automatic Blood Glucose Meter
10 
Satellite Navigation Expansion
The Sounds of
The biggest hits of the year — Top 10 Pop & Country chart toppers
HEADLINES ON October 18, 1980
Full News Archive
- Headline: 'Times Square' Film Overview. Impact: The unstable teenage drifters from 'TIMES SQUARE' accidentally inspired a generation of street performers, leading to an unexpected rise in juggling and mime schools. Who knew that chaos could spark creativity?. Fact: Did you know that Times Square was once known for its seedy reputation? Now it's just a seedy reputation with neon lights!.
- Headline: 'Fade to Black' Screening with Dennis Christopher. Impact: 'FADE TO BLACK' inadvertently started an entire sub-genre of films where film buffs become killers, leading to a bizarre spike in horror movie discussions at film clubs. Thanks for that, Dennis!. Fact: Fun fact: Dennis Christopher once played a character obsessed with films, which is a stretch because who isn't? Spoiler: The real killer is poor scriptwriting..
- Headline: O'Toole's Role in 'Stunt Man'. Impact: O'Toole's portrayal of a disturbed Vietnam vet led to a wave of Hollywood films that glorified mental health struggles, which somehow made it cool to talk about feelings in action movies. Thank you, Hollywood!. Fact: Did you know that 'Stunt Man' was one of the few films that portrayed the complexities of war? Most just prefer explosions and one-liners..
- Headline: 'FOOLIN' AROUND'. Impact: 'FOOLIN' AROUND' was so bad it led to a new era of comedy filmmakers who thought they could do better by embracing their mediocrity. Congratulations, filmmakers, you proved them right!. Fact: Did you know that skipping this movie is actually a form of self-care? It's recommended by 9 out of 10 couch potatoes!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1980, here's what it would be worth in 2025.
Rank #1
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1980
$0.10
Value in 2025
$2,766,454
Apple - If you invested $1,000 in 1980, it would be worth $2,766,454 today (2766.5x return)
Rank #3
INTC
Intel
Price in 1980
$0.18
Value in 2025
$199,890
Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1980, it would be worth $199,890 today (199.9x return)
🦸 Top 5 Comics
The New Teen Titans #1
$75
The X-Men #137
$400
Savage She-Hulk #1
$276
Dazzler #1
$900
The Untold Legend of the Batman #1
$20,000
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Rubik's Cube
$150.00
Atari 2600
$2,500.00
Star Wars Action Figures
$300.00
The Empire Strikes Back Tauntaun
$150.00
LEGO Space Sets
$400.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Pac-Man
$50.00
Centipede
$95.00
Missile Command
$33,400.00
Zork I: The Great Underground Empire
$212.30
Rogue
$100.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1980 Topps Baseball Rickey Henderson Rookie Card
$138,000
1980 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky Card
$125,000
1980 Topps Larry Bird / Magic Johnson Rookie Card with Julius Erving
$500,000
1980 Panini Soccer Stickers Diego Maradona
$250,000
1980 Donruss Golf Jack Nicklaus Card
$0.00