14 Things From the ’80s Few Floridians Remember Anymore

Ah, the 1980s—a decade that gave us big hair, bigger shoulder pads, and some of the catchiest jingles ever created. It was a time when the mall was the place to be, and Saturday morning cartoons were non-negotiable.

But for all the things we still celebrate from that neon-soaked era, there’s a whole world of ’80s oddities many Floridians have completely forgotten.

So, let’s hop in our DeLorean and take a nostalgia-fueled ride through the forgotten corners of the 1980s.

Scratch-And-Sniff Stickers (And Sticker Albums)

Once a prized possession in every elementary schooler’s desk, scratch-and-sniff stickers were both a currency and a collectible.

Smelly pizza? Check.

Root beer? Absolutely.

Bubblegum, popcorn, and even skunk—yes, really—rounded out sticker books that told their own weird story.

These weren’t just about fun; they were social status. Kids would trade them like precious gems. You knew who had the best sticker album in your class, and if they let you scratch one?

That was friendship-level unlocked.

Companies like Trend and Lisa Frank made them bright, bold, and oh-so-smelly. And unlike digital emojis, these had texture and scent—an actual sensory experience.

You can still find them online today, but the ritual of scratching one in the back of a math workbook during class?

That’s a relic of the past.

McDLT: The Burger That Needed Two Compartments

Before there were McGriddles or plant-based patties, there was the McDLT—a burger that kept the hot side hot and the cool side cool… in a special double-sided container.

It sounded genius. It looked ridiculous. And it quietly disappeared faster than you could say “styrofoam problem.”

The McDLT came in a bulky polystyrene container that separated the warm burger patty and bottom bun from the lettuce, tomato, and top bun. You assembled it yourself, like a DIY fast food experiment.

It was marketed with flair—even a young Jason Alexander sang its praises in a commercial. But the packaging quickly became controversial due to environmental concerns.

Styrofoam waste was getting a bad reputation, and by the early ’90s, the McDLT was history.

Clackers, Koosh Balls, And Weird Toy Fads

The ’80s were a playground for bizarre toy experiments. Some stuck around. Others—like clackers that could crack your knuckles or Koosh balls that collected all the dust in your house—faded fast.

Clackers were two acrylic balls on a string that you tried to smack together in a rhythmic motion. Parents hated them. Schools banned them. Kids loved them.

Koosh balls, on the other hand, were soft, rubbery orbs that felt oddly satisfying to squish and toss. You never quite knew what to do with them, but you had to have one.

Don’t forget other one-hit wonders like Wacky Wall Walkers or the sticky hands you’d slap against every surface until they were covered in crumbs.

Toys didn’t need logic in the ’80s. Just colors, sound, and lots of questionable materials.

TV Guides On Coffee Tables

Before streaming menus and remote controls that tell you what’s trending, we had a humble little book called TV Guide.

You circled your shows, planned your week, and mourned when your favorite sitcom moved time slots. It was the original “What’s on tonight?” tool.

TV Guide wasn’t just informative—it was a household staple. It came in the mail or sat next to the remote. Everyone consulted it. Parents, kids, grandparents—you name it.

The listings were dense, the descriptions were short, and the cover usually featured whoever was hot on TV that week. If you missed your show?

Too bad. No replays. No DVR. You waited for reruns… or hoped your friend taped it.

Typing Class With Actual Typewriters

Long before Chromebooks and tablets entered classrooms, kids were learning to type on honest-to-goodness typewriters.

The sound of that ding at the end of the line?

Iconic. Also very loud.

Typing class was a rite of passage. You sat at a desk with a clunky machine, a cover sheet, and fingers hovering over home row. There was no backspace key, just correction tape or white-out.

And when you got to electric typewriters?

That was high-tech. If you could bang out 40 words per minute without errors, you were basically a genius.

Now, typewriters are vintage decorations. But back then, they were your future résumé’s best friend.

Movie Rental Cards (And Late Fees)

Before streaming wars among families in living rooms, there were VHS battles—and they were fought in strip malls across America. Video rental stores were sacred. Having your own rental card felt like a rite of passage.

Friday nights were a ritual. You walked the aisles, judged covers, and argued with siblings about what to watch.

New releases had long waitlists. The horror section smelled like popcorn and fear.

And oh, the late fees.

Forget to rewind your tape? That’s a charge. Return it two days late? That’s another.

Still, people loved it. There was something magical about physically picking a movie and taking it home in a chunky plastic case.

Rolodexes On Every Office Desk

Today’s contacts are stored in the cloud. In the ’80s, they were stored on spinning wheels of index cards.

Rolodexes were the social networks of their time, complete with messy handwriting and coffee stains.

Every businessperson had one. It held phone numbers, addresses, and sometimes little doodles in the corners. You flipped through to find your contact, dialed the number by memory, and hoped someone picked up.

Rolodexes weren’t just tools—they were professional weapons.

You knew someone meant business if they flipped through one during a meeting.

Radio Dedications And Mixtapes

Creating the perfect mixtape took patience, skill, and serious finger reflexes. And if someone called in a song dedication just for you?

That was basically a love letter on FM radio.

You sat by the stereo with a blank cassette, waiting for your song to come on. Then—bam!—you hit record, hoping the DJ wouldn’t talk over the intro.

Mixtapes were handmade playlists before playlists existed. They had emotion, personality, and handwritten tracklists.

If someone made you one, it was a big deal. If you made one for yourself?

Therapeutic.

Public Payphones Everywhere

In the ’80s people used to plan their day around finding a payphone. They memorized phone numbers. They carried quarters.

And, yes, some payphones really did smell weird.

There was always a little thrill when one rang unexpectedly. Would you answer? Was it for you? (It never was.)

Payphones were essential. Road trips, emergencies, calling mom to pick you up—they had your back.

Now?

Most kids wouldn’t know what to do if one rang. Or even recognize it.

Garbage Pail Kids Cards

Equal parts hilarious and horrifying, these trading cards spoofed Cabbage Patch Kids and gave parents nightmares.

Garbage Pail Kids cards were banned from schools, hoarded by kids, and now live on eBay at shocking prices.

Each card featured a grotesque yet funny character with pun-filled names like “Adam Bomb” or “Barfin’ Barbara.” The artwork was intentionally gross.

They weren’t just cards. They were rebellion in your backpack.

And collecting a full set? That was social currency on the playground.

Trapper Keepers With Velcro

Organization never looked so loud as in the ’80s. The rainbow-colored, Velcro-sealed Trapper Keeper folders were part notebook, part fashion statement.

If yours had a unicorn or a jet fighter on the front, you were basically royalty.

Trapper Keepers kept your homework safe, your notes color-coded, and your self-expression in full display. That “rip” of the Velcro opening was a sound you never forgot.

They faded away in the 2000s, but they’ve made small comebacks.

Still, nothing beats the original ones—with neon, triangles, and way too many pockets.

Chain Letters (The Original Spam)

Before email inboxes were overrun with scams, chain letters did the job. Get this in the mail and don’t break the chain—or else!

Some were harmless fun. Others came with curses. All were weirdly thrilling.

You copied them by hand (or typed them, if you were fancy) and mailed them to your friends. If you broke the chain, you were “guaranteed” seven years of bad luck or a life without true love.

High stakes for a 12-year-old.

Today, we ignore digital spam. Back then? We kind of believed it.

Commercials With Jingles That Got Stuck In Your Head

From “Where’s the beef?” to “I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us kid,” ’80s ads were catchy, corny, and burned into your brain forever.

Ad companies knew exactly what they were doing. They made jingles you’d sing in the car, on the playground, or while brushing your teeth.

And somehow, they worked.

These jingles were the TikTok sounds of their time—repeated endlessly, sometimes annoyingly, but always effective.

Phone Books You Actually Used

Once upon a time, every household had a thick yellow book by the phone—the phone book. White pages for people, yellow pages for businesses. Looking up a number meant flipping through hundreds of pages.