World Events in 1980
Iranian Hostage Crisis Continues
52 American diplomats and citizens remained held hostage in Tehran since November 1979. The crisis dominated US politics and contributed to Jimmy Carter's election defeat.
Soviet-Afghan War Begins
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, triggering a decade-long guerrilla conflict. The US and UK boycotted the Moscow Olympics in protest.
Mount St. Helens Erupts
On 18 May, the volcano in Washington state erupted catastrophically, killing 57 people and devastating 230 square miles of forest. It was the deadliest volcanic event in US history.
John Lennon Assassinated
On 8 December, the former Beatle was shot and killed outside his New York apartment by Mark David Chapman, sending shockwaves around the world.
Solidarity Movement Founded in Poland
Lech Walesa led shipyard workers in Gdansk to form the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc, beginning the slow unravelling of communist control in Eastern Europe.
Iran-Iraq War Begins
In September, Iraq invaded Iran, beginning a devastating eight-year conflict that would claim over a million lives.
Music in 1980
"Don't Stand So Close to Me"
The Police
The Police were at the height of their powers in 1980. This was the best-selling single of the year in the UK, blending new wave energy with Sting's literary references.
"Call Me"
Blondie
Written by Debbie Harry and Giorgio Moroder for the film American Gigolo, 'Call Me' spent six weeks at number one and became the best-selling US single of 1980.
#1 Film of 1980
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Box Office: $538 million
The darker, more complex sequel to Star Wars cemented the franchise as the biggest in cinema. 'I am your father' became one of the most quoted lines in film history.
Born in 1980
Ryan Gosling
Actor (The Notebook, Drive, La La Land)
Kim Kardashian
Media personality and businesswoman
Macaulay Culkin
Actor (Home Alone)
Jake Gyllenhaal
Actor (Brokeback Mountain, Nightcrawler)
Zooey Deschanel
Actress and musician (New Girl, She & Him)
Lost in 1980
John Lennon
Musician, founding member of The Beatles
Age 40
Alfred Hitchcock
Director (Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window)
Age 80
Steve McQueen
Actor (The Great Escape, Bullitt)
Age 50
Peter Sellers
Actor and comedian (The Pink Panther, Dr. Strangelove)
Age 54
Mae West
Actress, singer, and cultural icon
Age 87
Technology in 1980
Home computing was in its infancy. The Sinclair ZX80 launched in the UK, and the Commodore VIC-20 was on the horizon. Most people still used rotary phones. VHS was winning the format war against Betamax. Pac-Man arrived in arcades and became a cultural phenomenon.
- ● Sinclair ZX80 home computer launched
- ● Pac-Man released in arcades
- ● CNN launched as first 24-hour TV news channel
- ● Sony Walkman began spreading globally after 1979 Japan launch
Cost of Living in 1980
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £23,500 | $68,700 |
| Average salary | £6,500 | $19,500 |
| Pint of milk | 17p | $0.58 |
| Loaf of bread | 33p | $0.50 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | £1.25 | $1.19 |
| Pint of beer | 35p | $1.00 |
| Dozen eggs | 52p | $0.84 |
| Cinema ticket | £1.50 | $2.69 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1980
The optimism of the late 1970s gave way to a harder-edged conservatism. Punk had faded into post-punk and new wave. Shoulder pads appeared, synthesisers hummed, and the Cold War cast a long shadow. Reagan was coming, Thatcher had arrived, and the mood was one of anxious reinvention.
In the News in 1980
The Iranian hostage crisis dominated US headlines for most of the year. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan triggered a Western boycott of the Moscow Olympics. Mount St. Helens erupted spectacularly in Washington state. CNN launched as the first 24-hour news channel.