50 More Photos of What Life Looked Like in 1981

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 11/13/2024 in wow

1981 was a year of breakout stars, iconic music, and political unrest. From the riots of Belfast to communist Poland to Raiders of the Lost Ark, it was definitely a year to remember.

We've already given you 60 nifty pics of what the world looked like in 1981, but here are 50 more.

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1.
1981 Princess Di on cover of People mag
2.
High schoolers in 1981.
3.
“My mom got dressed up and had her cousin/roommate take this photo before her first date with my dad, 1981.”
4.
Harrison Ford in France, 1981.
5.
A teenager’s room in 1981.
6.
Christmas Day 1981. Kerri Rawson and her father Dennis Rader, better known to the world as serial killer BTK.
7.
The Rolling Stones playing through a rainstorm, 1981.
8.
Demi Moore in 1981.
9.
Workplace gymnastics, Ulyanovsk, USSR, 1981.
10.
Pablo Escobar and family at Disney World, 1981.
11.
“Friday night around 1981, Mom playing pool at the local dive bar. Dad took the pic.”
12.
A woman sweeping the front yard of a Gulf gas station at Mineral Wells, Texas, 1981.
13.
A woman protests against the wearing of bikinis in Daytona Beach, Florida, 1981.
14.
Mosh pit, Berkley, 1981.
15.
Two neighbors, an Albanian and a Serb, near Kosovo Polje, 1981.
16.
Riots in Belfast after the death of Bobby Sands.
17.
“My dad in 1981.”
18.
The Assassination of Anwar Sadat, Cairo, October, 1981.
19.
Sept 19, 1981, Simon & Garfunkel reunited for a free concert in New York's Central Park.
20.
Poland under Marshall Law. Cinema 'Moscow' playing movie 'Time of Apocalypse'. 1981.
21.
Harrison Ford and Karen Allen on the set of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." 1981.
22.
23.
A beach in Sopot, Poland, 1981.
24.
Robin Williams and Christopher Reeves. 1981.
25.
Shoe polisher, Piccadilly Circus, London, 1981.
26.
Boys in a catholic neighborhood during the riots sparked by the death of Bobby Sands, after a 66-day hunger strike. Belfast, May 7, 1981.
27.
President Reagan and members of his staff laughing and drinking champagne with CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, 1981.
28.
1981 Indy 500. Race driver Rick Mears escapes from a burning car.
29.
Ronald Reagan waves just before he is shot by John Hinckley Jr.
30.
26th Congress of the Communist Party, Moscow, 1981.
31.
A British soldier lets a young boy look through the sights of his rifle in Belfast, 1981.
32.
Brooke Shields, 1981.
33.
“My parents getting married in Yosemite, 1981.”
34.
“Mom and Dad in matching Rod Stewart tour shirts, 1981.”
35.
“My first company Christmas party 1981 with my then girlfriend, now wife.”
36.
Harrison Ford. 1981 People Magazine photoshoot at his home in Los Angeles.
37.
1981 homecoming week, Garnet Valley High in Glen Mills, PA.
38.
An elderly Polish woman sitting on the grass and crying by the gate of the former German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz.
39.
Girls at prom, 1981.
40.
Empty queues in stores in Polish People's Republic, Warsaw, 1981.
41.
Anti-Nuclear Demonstration in Bonn, Germany: "We don't want any Euroshima". 1981.
42.
The Debut of Madonna, Uncle Sam’s Blues club, Long Island, NYC ‘1981.
43.
Only remaining image from Original ending of Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining.” 1981.
44.
1981 trip to Walt Disney World.
45.
Rick James and Charlie Murphy, 1981.
46.
Drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and his son stand in front of The White House.
47.
Police charging towards protestors during the 1981 Brixton riots, London.
48.
President Reagan with First Lady Nancy Reagan in the Blue Room. 1981.
49.
The funeral of hunger striker Bobby Sands, Belfast, May 1981 by Ian Berry.
50.
“Christmas 1981. I had been begging for an Atari for months but was sure my mum couldn’t afford it. Was I ever surprised!”

1.
1981 Princess Di on cover of People mag
2.
High schoolers in 1981.
3.
“My mom got dressed up and had her cousin/roommate take this photo before her first date with my dad, 1981.”
4.
Harrison Ford in France, 1981.
5.
A teenager’s room in 1981.
6.
Christmas Day 1981. Kerri Rawson and her father Dennis Rader, better known to the world as serial killer BTK.
7.
The Rolling Stones playing through a rainstorm, 1981.
8.
Demi Moore in 1981.
9.
Workplace gymnastics, Ulyanovsk, USSR, 1981.
10.
Pablo Escobar and family at Disney World, 1981.
11.
“Friday night around 1981, Mom playing pool at the local dive bar. Dad took the pic.”
12.
A woman sweeping the front yard of a Gulf gas station at Mineral Wells, Texas, 1981.
13.
A woman protests against the wearing of bikinis in Daytona Beach, Florida, 1981.
14.
Mosh pit, Berkley, 1981.
15.
Two neighbors, an Albanian and a Serb, near Kosovo Polje, 1981.
16.
Riots in Belfast after the death of Bobby Sands.
17.
“My dad in 1981.”
18.
The Assassination of Anwar Sadat, Cairo, October, 1981.
19.
Sept 19, 1981, Simon & Garfunkel reunited for a free concert in New York's Central Park.
20.
Poland under Marshall Law. Cinema 'Moscow' playing movie 'Time of Apocalypse'. 1981.
21.
Harrison Ford and Karen Allen on the set of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." 1981.
22.
23.
A beach in Sopot, Poland, 1981.
24.
Robin Williams and Christopher Reeves. 1981.
25.
Shoe polisher, Piccadilly Circus, London, 1981.
26.
Boys in a catholic neighborhood during the riots sparked by the death of Bobby Sands, after a 66-day hunger strike. Belfast, May 7, 1981.
27.
President Reagan and members of his staff laughing and drinking champagne with CBS anchor Walter Cronkite, 1981.
28.
1981 Indy 500. Race driver Rick Mears escapes from a burning car.
29.
Ronald Reagan waves just before he is shot by John Hinckley Jr.
30.
26th Congress of the Communist Party, Moscow, 1981.
31.
A British soldier lets a young boy look through the sights of his rifle in Belfast, 1981.
32.
Brooke Shields, 1981.
33.
“My parents getting married in Yosemite, 1981.”
34.
“Mom and Dad in matching Rod Stewart tour shirts, 1981.”
35.
“My first company Christmas party 1981 with my then girlfriend, now wife.”
36.
Harrison Ford. 1981 People Magazine photoshoot at his home in Los Angeles.
37.
1981 homecoming week, Garnet Valley High in Glen Mills, PA.
38.
An elderly Polish woman sitting on the grass and crying by the gate of the former German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz.
39.
Girls at prom, 1981.
40.
Empty queues in stores in Polish People's Republic, Warsaw, 1981.
41.
Anti-Nuclear Demonstration in Bonn, Germany: "We don't want any Euroshima". 1981.
42.
The Debut of Madonna, Uncle Sam’s Blues club, Long Island, NYC ‘1981.
43.
Only remaining image from Original ending of Stanley Kubrick's “The Shining.” 1981.
44.
1981 trip to Walt Disney World.
45.
Rick James and Charlie Murphy, 1981.
46.
Drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and his son stand in front of The White House.
47.
Police charging towards protestors during the 1981 Brixton riots, London.
48.
President Reagan with First Lady Nancy Reagan in the Blue Room. 1981.
49.
The funeral of hunger striker Bobby Sands, Belfast, May 1981 by Ian Berry.
50.
“Christmas 1981. I had been begging for an Atari for months but was sure my mum couldn’t afford it. Was I ever surprised!”