59 Old School Photos of How the World Looked In 1981

Carly Tennes Published 11/08/2024 in wow

What do attempted assassinations, crazy tech innovations, and cool skaters all have in common? No, it's not the plot of a dark, gritty Dynasty reboot but rather some of the many defining moments of 1981.

From space shuttle takeoffs to Brad Pitt's prom photos, here are 63 pics of what the world looked like in 1981.

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1.
"Roller skaters, Central Park, NYC, July 1981 ."
2.
":A 13 year old Tony Hawk styling a frontside air at Pomona Pipe & Pool, 1981."
3.
4.
5.
Dolly Parton performs her #1 hit, “9 to 5” at the 1981 Academy Awards.
6.
A 1981 Chevrolet Camaro as seen in 2023.
7.
A McDonald’s location in the early 1980s.
8.
A still from the first episode of “Dynasty.” “Oil - Part 1" premiered in January 1981.
9.
“January 20, 1981 - President Reagan waves from his limo during inauguration parade.”
10.
Peter Sutcliffe — a.k.a. The Yorkshire Ripper — shortly after his arrest in January 1981. After sparking one of the most elaborate manhunts in the history, Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder 7 more. He died in prison in 2020 at the age of 74.
11.
David Roeder, who was held hostage in Iran for 444 days, smiles upon landing on the United States’ Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Frankfurt, Germany, January, 1981.
12.
An ad for Philippine Airlines, 1981.
13.
A still from longtime “CBS Evening News Anchor” Walter Cronkite’s final broadcast, March 1981.
14.
MTV’s original VJs.
15.
The motherboard for “Donkey Kong,” which was released in 1981.
16.
An ad for Totino’s pizza products, 1981.
17.
Pope John Paul II shortly after being shot in St. Peter’s Square.
18.
“[On] 12 April 1981, the first orbital flight of space shuttle Columbia lifted off from LC-39A, beginning the path for 134 future launches.”
19.
King Charles — then Prince Charles —and his first wife, Princess Diana, on their wedding day in July 1981.
20.
A still from MTV’s first broadcast, August 1981.
21.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor during her swearing in, September 1981.
22.
“Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner two weeks before her death, 1981.”
23.
Roger and Judith Carr seen shortly after welcoming their daughter, Elizabeth, in December 1981. Dubbed the “test tube baby,” Elizabeth was the first child in the U.S. to be born from in vitro fertilization.
24.
“Grace Jones, 1981.”
25.
“My 2nd grade class photo from 1981.”
26.
“Bard Pitt's Senior Prom Photo at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, 1981.”
27.
"The 1 train in NYC, summer of 1981."
28.
“Willem Dafoe age 26 in 1981.”
29.
“Paul Freeman, Harrison Ford, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey and Pat Roach at the UK Premiere of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ 1981.”
30.
“Kurt Russell on set of Escape from New York (1981).”
31.
“US Secret Service Agent packing an Uzi in 1981.”
32.
“My dad circa 1981.”
33.
“Me with my new 1981 Turbo Trans Am, June 1981.”
34.
“Mom and dad get married in January 1981.”
35.
“My mom getting her Airborne pin, 1981.”
36.
“My mom had a nanny that was a Mrs. Doubtfire lookalike, c. 1981.”
37.
“The city of Philadelphia in 1981.”
38.
“Motörhead in New York, 1981.”
39.
“1981.”
40.
“20-year-old Barack Obama in New York City, 1981.”
41.
“The cover from the May issue of TV Guide (1981).”
42.
“Jeff Goldblum, 1981.”
43.
“Depeche Mode, Amsterdam, 1981.”
44.
“Parents in 1981. Pawned their camera and the shop owner took their picture to make sure the camera worked.”
45.
“Lady Diana for New York magazine (1981).”
46.
“My birthday, 1981.”
47.
“Mom and Dad, Christmas birthday, 1981.”
48.
“A young Jessica Lange (1981).” 
49.
“Aftermath of the 1981 Louisville Sewer Explosions, an industrial accident that destroyed several blocks of city streets and 13 miles of sewer pipelines.”
50.
“Wake of INLA member Patsy O'Hara, who died on hunger strike after 61 days. May, 1981.”
51.
“Children in Newcastle upon Tyne’s West End gather and play on piled-up mattresses, England 1981.”
52.
“ISRO Scientists carrying India's first Communication satellite ‘APPLE’ on Bullock cart. 1981.”
53.
“A father and son on the picket line during the 1981 air traffic controllers strike, which became one of the most important events in U.S. labor history after President Ronald Reagan fired all 11,345 striking workers, dissolved their union, and banned them from federal service for life.”
54.
“Prom 1981.”
55.
“Pablo Escobar and family at Disney World, (1981).”
56.
“Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and his father Rocky Johnson. [1981].”
57.
“Workplace gymnastics, Ulyanovsk, USSR, 1981.”
58.
“Guardian Angels on an NYC Subway, 1981.”
59.
“Garbage spills into the streets of Manhattan during the 1981 sanitation workers' strike, which lasted from Dec. 1 to Dec. 17.”

1.
"Roller skaters, Central Park, NYC, July 1981 ."
2.
":A 13 year old Tony Hawk styling a frontside air at Pomona Pipe & Pool, 1981."
3.
4.
5.
Dolly Parton performs her #1 hit, “9 to 5” at the 1981 Academy Awards.
6.
A 1981 Chevrolet Camaro as seen in 2023.
7.
A McDonald’s location in the early 1980s.
8.
A still from the first episode of “Dynasty.” “Oil - Part 1" premiered in January 1981.
9.
“January 20, 1981 - President Reagan waves from his limo during inauguration parade.”
10.
Peter Sutcliffe — a.k.a. The Yorkshire Ripper — shortly after his arrest in January 1981. After sparking one of the most elaborate manhunts in the history, Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder 7 more. He died in prison in 2020 at the age of 74.
11.
David Roeder, who was held hostage in Iran for 444 days, smiles upon landing on the United States’ Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Frankfurt, Germany, January, 1981.
12.
An ad for Philippine Airlines, 1981.
13.
A still from longtime “CBS Evening News Anchor” Walter Cronkite’s final broadcast, March 1981.
14.
MTV’s original VJs.
15.
The motherboard for “Donkey Kong,” which was released in 1981.
16.
An ad for Totino’s pizza products, 1981.
17.
Pope John Paul II shortly after being shot in St. Peter’s Square.
18.
“[On] 12 April 1981, the first orbital flight of space shuttle Columbia lifted off from LC-39A, beginning the path for 134 future launches.”
19.
King Charles — then Prince Charles —and his first wife, Princess Diana, on their wedding day in July 1981.
20.
A still from MTV’s first broadcast, August 1981.
21.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor during her swearing in, September 1981.
22.
“Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner two weeks before her death, 1981.”
23.
Roger and Judith Carr seen shortly after welcoming their daughter, Elizabeth, in December 1981. Dubbed the “test tube baby,” Elizabeth was the first child in the U.S. to be born from in vitro fertilization.
24.
“Grace Jones, 1981.”
25.
“My 2nd grade class photo from 1981.”
26.
“Bard Pitt's Senior Prom Photo at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, 1981.”
27.
"The 1 train in NYC, summer of 1981."
28.
“Willem Dafoe age 26 in 1981.”
29.
“Paul Freeman, Harrison Ford, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey and Pat Roach at the UK Premiere of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ 1981.”
30.
“Kurt Russell on set of Escape from New York (1981).”
31.
“US Secret Service Agent packing an Uzi in 1981.”
32.
“My dad circa 1981.”
33.
“Me with my new 1981 Turbo Trans Am, June 1981.”
34.
“Mom and dad get married in January 1981.”
35.
“My mom getting her Airborne pin, 1981.”
36.
“My mom had a nanny that was a Mrs. Doubtfire lookalike, c. 1981.”
37.
“The city of Philadelphia in 1981.”
38.
“Motörhead in New York, 1981.”
39.
“1981.”
40.
“20-year-old Barack Obama in New York City, 1981.”
41.
“The cover from the May issue of TV Guide (1981).”
42.
“Jeff Goldblum, 1981.”
43.
“Depeche Mode, Amsterdam, 1981.”
44.
“Parents in 1981. Pawned their camera and the shop owner took their picture to make sure the camera worked.”
45.
“Lady Diana for New York magazine (1981).”
46.
“My birthday, 1981.”
47.
“Mom and Dad, Christmas birthday, 1981.”
48.
“A young Jessica Lange (1981).” 
49.
“Aftermath of the 1981 Louisville Sewer Explosions, an industrial accident that destroyed several blocks of city streets and 13 miles of sewer pipelines.”
50.
“Wake of INLA member Patsy O'Hara, who died on hunger strike after 61 days. May, 1981.”
51.
“Children in Newcastle upon Tyne’s West End gather and play on piled-up mattresses, England 1981.”
52.
“ISRO Scientists carrying India's first Communication satellite ‘APPLE’ on Bullock cart. 1981.”
53.
“A father and son on the picket line during the 1981 air traffic controllers strike, which became one of the most important events in U.S. labor history after President Ronald Reagan fired all 11,345 striking workers, dissolved their union, and banned them from federal service for life.”
54.
“Prom 1981.”
55.
“Pablo Escobar and family at Disney World, (1981).”
56.
“Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and his father Rocky Johnson. [1981].”
57.
“Workplace gymnastics, Ulyanovsk, USSR, 1981.”
58.
“Guardian Angels on an NYC Subway, 1981.”
59.
“Garbage spills into the streets of Manhattan during the 1981 sanitation workers' strike, which lasted from Dec. 1 to Dec. 17.”

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1. "Roller skaters, Central Park, NYC, July 1981 ."

2. ":A 13 year old Tony Hawk styling a frontside air at Pomona Pipe & Pool, 1981."

3.

4.

5. Dolly Parton performs her #1 hit, “9 to 5” at the 1981 Academy Awards.

6. A 1981 Chevrolet Camaro as seen in 2023.

7. A McDonald’s location in the early 1980s.

8. A still from the first episode of “Dynasty.” “Oil - Part 1" premiered in January 1981.

9. “January 20, 1981 - President Reagan waves from his limo during inauguration parade.”

10. Peter Sutcliffe — a.k.a. The Yorkshire Ripper — shortly after his arrest in January 1981. After sparking one of the most elaborate manhunts in the history, Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder 7 more. He died in prison in 2020 at the age of 74.

11. David Roeder, who was held hostage in Iran for 444 days, smiles upon landing on the United States’ Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Frankfurt, Germany, January, 1981.

12. An ad for Philippine Airlines, 1981.

13. A still from longtime “CBS Evening News Anchor” Walter Cronkite’s final broadcast, March 1981.

14. MTV’s original VJs.

15. The motherboard for “Donkey Kong,” which was released in 1981.

16. An ad for Totino’s pizza products, 1981.

17. Pope John Paul II shortly after being shot in St. Peter’s Square.

18. “[On] 12 April 1981, the first orbital flight of space shuttle Columbia lifted off from LC-39A, beginning the path for 134 future launches.”

19. King Charles — then Prince Charles —and his first wife, Princess Diana, on their wedding day in July 1981.

20. A still from MTV’s first broadcast, August 1981.

21. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor during her swearing in, September 1981.

22. “Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner two weeks before her death, 1981.”

23. Roger and Judith Carr seen shortly after welcoming their daughter, Elizabeth, in December 1981. Dubbed the “test tube baby,” Elizabeth was the first child in the U.S. to be born from in vitro fertilization.

24. “Grace Jones, 1981.”

25. “My 2nd grade class photo from 1981.”

26. “Bard Pitt's Senior Prom Photo at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, 1981.”

27. "The 1 train in NYC, summer of 1981."

28. “Willem Dafoe age 26 in 1981.”

29. “Paul Freeman, Harrison Ford, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey and Pat Roach at the UK Premiere of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ 1981.”

30. “Kurt Russell on set of Escape from New York (1981).”

31. “US Secret Service Agent packing an Uzi in 1981.”

32. “My dad circa 1981.”

33. “Me with my new 1981 Turbo Trans Am, June 1981.”

34. “Mom and dad get married in January 1981.”

35. “My mom getting her Airborne pin, 1981.”

36. “My mom had a nanny that was a Mrs. Doubtfire lookalike, c. 1981.”

37. “The city of Philadelphia in 1981.”

38. “Motörhead in New York, 1981.”

39. “1981.”

40. “20-year-old Barack Obama in New York City, 1981.”

41. “The cover from the May issue of TV Guide (1981).”

42. “Jeff Goldblum, 1981.”

43. “Depeche Mode, Amsterdam, 1981.”

44. “Parents in 1981. Pawned their camera and the shop owner took their picture to make sure the camera worked.”

45. “Lady Diana for New York magazine (1981).”

46. “My birthday, 1981.”

47. “Mom and Dad, Christmas birthday, 1981.”

48. “A young Jessica Lange (1981).”

49. “Aftermath of the 1981 Louisville Sewer Explosions, an industrial accident that destroyed several blocks of city streets and 13 miles of sewer pipelines.”

50. “Wake of INLA member Patsy O'Hara, who died on hunger strike after 61 days. May, 1981.”

51. “Children in Newcastle upon Tyne’s West End gather and play on piled-up mattresses, England 1981.”

52. “ISRO Scientists carrying India's first Communication satellite ‘APPLE’ on Bullock cart. 1981.”

53. “A father and son on the picket line during the 1981 air traffic controllers strike, which became one of the most important events in U.S. labor history after President Ronald Reagan fired all 11,345 striking workers, dissolved their union, and banned them from federal service for life.”

54. “Prom 1981.”

55. “Pablo Escobar and family at Disney World, (1981).”

56. “Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and his father Rocky Johnson. [1981].”

57. “Workplace gymnastics, Ulyanovsk, USSR, 1981.”

58. “Guardian Angels on an NYC Subway, 1981.”

59. “Garbage spills into the streets of Manhattan during the 1981 sanitation workers' strike, which lasted from Dec. 1 to Dec. 17.”

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

1.
"Roller skaters, Central Park, NYC, July 1981 ."

2.
":A 13 year old Tony Hawk styling a frontside air at Pomona Pipe & Pool, 1981."

5.
Dolly Parton performs her #1 hit, “9 to 5” at the 1981 Academy Awards.

6.
A 1981 Chevrolet Camaro as seen in 2023.

7.
A McDonald’s location in the early 1980s.

8.
A still from the first episode of “Dynasty.” “Oil - Part 1" premiered in January 1981.

9.
“January 20, 1981 - President Reagan waves from his limo during inauguration parade.”

10.
Peter Sutcliffe — a.k.a. The Yorkshire Ripper — shortly after his arrest in January 1981. After sparking one of the most elaborate manhunts in the history, Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder 7 more. He died in prison in 2020 at the age of 74.

11.
David Roeder, who was held hostage in Iran for 444 days, smiles upon landing on the United States’ Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Frankfurt, Germany, January, 1981.

12.
An ad for Philippine Airlines, 1981.

13.
A still from longtime “CBS Evening News Anchor” Walter Cronkite’s final broadcast, March 1981.

14.
MTV’s original VJs.

15.
The motherboard for “Donkey Kong,” which was released in 1981.

16.
An ad for Totino’s pizza products, 1981.

17.
Pope John Paul II shortly after being shot in St. Peter’s Square.

18.
“[On] 12 April 1981, the first orbital flight of space shuttle Columbia lifted off from LC-39A, beginning the path for 134 future launches.”

19.
King Charles — then Prince Charles —and his first wife, Princess Diana, on their wedding day in July 1981.

20.
A still from MTV’s first broadcast, August 1981.

21.
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor during her swearing in, September 1981.

22.
“Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner two weeks before her death, 1981.”

23.
Roger and Judith Carr seen shortly after welcoming their daughter, Elizabeth, in December 1981. Dubbed the “test tube baby,” Elizabeth was the first child in the U.S. to be born from in vitro fertilization.

24.
“Grace Jones, 1981.”

25.
“My 2nd grade class photo from 1981.”

26.
“Bard Pitt's Senior Prom Photo at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, 1981.”

27.
"The 1 train in NYC, summer of 1981."

28.
“Willem Dafoe age 26 in 1981.”

29.
“Paul Freeman, Harrison Ford, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey and Pat Roach at the UK Premiere of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ 1981.”

30.
“Kurt Russell on set of Escape from New York (1981).”

31.
“US Secret Service Agent packing an Uzi in 1981.”

32.
“My dad circa 1981.”

33.
“Me with my new 1981 Turbo Trans Am, June 1981.”

34.
“Mom and dad get married in January 1981.”

35.
“My mom getting her Airborne pin, 1981.”

36.
“My mom had a nanny that was a Mrs. Doubtfire lookalike, c. 1981.”

37.
“The city of Philadelphia in 1981.”

38.
“Motörhead in New York, 1981.”

39.
“1981.”

40.
“20-year-old Barack Obama in New York City, 1981.”

41.
“The cover from the May issue of TV Guide (1981).”

42.
“Jeff Goldblum, 1981.”

43.
“Depeche Mode, Amsterdam, 1981.”

44.
“Parents in 1981. Pawned their camera and the shop owner took their picture to make sure the camera worked.”

45.
“Lady Diana for New York magazine (1981).”

46.
“My birthday, 1981.”

47.
“Mom and Dad, Christmas birthday, 1981.”

48.
“A young Jessica Lange (1981).” 

49.
“Aftermath of the 1981 Louisville Sewer Explosions, an industrial accident that destroyed several blocks of city streets and 13 miles of sewer pipelines.”

50.
“Wake of INLA member Patsy O'Hara, who died on hunger strike after 61 days. May, 1981.”

51.
“Children in Newcastle upon Tyne’s West End gather and play on piled-up mattresses, England 1981.”

52.
“ISRO Scientists carrying India's first Communication satellite ‘APPLE’ on Bullock cart. 1981.”

53.
“A father and son on the picket line during the 1981 air traffic controllers strike, which became one of the most important events in U.S. labor history after President Ronald Reagan fired all 11,345 striking workers, dissolved their union, and banned them from federal service for life.”

54.
“Prom 1981.”

55.
“Pablo Escobar and family at Disney World, (1981).”

56.
“Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and his father Rocky Johnson. [1981].”

57.
“Workplace gymnastics, Ulyanovsk, USSR, 1981.”

58.
“Guardian Angels on an NYC Subway, 1981.”

59.
“Garbage spills into the streets of Manhattan during the 1981 sanitation workers' strike, which lasted from Dec. 1 to Dec. 17.”