Inventions & Breakthroughs of October 1980
Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.
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
Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year
HEADLINES ON October 20, 1980
Full News Archive
- Headline: 'TIMES SQUARE' WITH A BEAT. Impact: As these two teenage drifters danced through Times Square, they accidentally inspired a generation of street performers, leading to an explosion of New York's busking culture. Someday, a mime will be a millionaire. Thanks, guys!. Fact: Did you know that Times Square was once nicknamed 'Longacre Square'? Because nothing screams iconic like a name that sounds like a boring suburb!.
- Headline: Fade to Black: A Cult Classic's Impact. Impact: The film buff turned killer inadvertently led to a series of poorly made horror films that glorified the 'artistic' journey of a killer. Who knew that bad acting could inspire a new genre of slasher flicks?. Fact: Fun fact: Dennis Christopher is best known for his role in 'Breaking Away' – which ironically, is about not breaking into a life of crime. Oops!.
- Headline: O'Toole's Disturbing Role in 'Stunt Man'. Impact: The disturbed Vietnam vet's journey on a war-movie set led to a decades-long conversation about the impact of war on mental health, eventually inspiring a slew of films that treat veterans with the sensitivity of a sledgehammer.. Fact: O'Toole's role in 'Stunt Man' is often seen as a comment on the absurdity of Hollywood – but let's be real, it's more like a mirror reflecting the industry’s own insanity!.
- Headline: 'FOOLIN' AROUND'. Impact: The existence of 'Foolin' Around' created a ripple effect in the film industry where studios realized that if they just slapped 'comedy' on a film, they could get away with anything. We are still living with the consequences.. Fact: Did you know that 'Foolin’ Around' was so forgettable that even the popcorn in the theater felt betrayed? Talk about a cinematic tragedy!.
Wall Street Time Machine
The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1980, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
AAPL
Apple
Price in 1980
$0.10
2025 dataset value
$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
2025 dataset value
$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