As a kid, we were taught to "Stop, Drop And Roll" in the event of a fire. Get down, watch out for hot door knobs and run to a neighbors to call 911. These were our very first lessons safety. It was drilled into our heads, rightfully so, of course. Does anyone remember this vintage fire safety video?
Like most kids in the 1980s, I loved video games. I started out with Atari, then moved on to computer games as I got a bit older. I remember some of my very early games came on big old black floppy disks. My dad, a teacher, would bring copies home his school. I would play the games every afternoon for hours and hours.
I found some of my old favorite Apple II games on YouTube. It's so crazy, the music and sound effects bring me right back to our basement computer area where I could hide and play games for hours while my mother thought I was studying on our computer. We obviously didn't have the Internet back then. Around 1985, I was completely addicted to the Summer Games - I especially loved the gymnastics, diving and pole vaulting. Watch a demo of the game here:
My other favorite game for the Apple II was Lemonade Stand. Lemonade Stand was basically a game that utilized simple math skills and strategy to earn money while advertising and dealing with the ups and downs of the market - in this case, rainy weather.
Lemonade Stand for Apple II
Watch the demo of Lemonade Stand for Apple II. I swear, the sounds will bring you right back.
Wendy's Garden Spot or salad bar was big in the 1980s
Wendy's - Three Fun 1980s Vintage Memories
Growing up, my parents were convinced that Wendy's was the healthier fast food choice. Mom took us there a few times a month, and trust me, we never complained. Her rule was that we not order fries, but opt for the broccoli and cheese baked potato. She also encouraged us to order the salad bar.
You'd think I'd be a health nut today. Too bad something went wrong there... ;-) Anyway, remember these three things about Wendy's fast food restaurants from back in the day? Note, I purposely left out, "Where's The Beef?" since it's an obvious '80s memory.
1. Wendy's Garden Spot
Known as Wendy's Garden Spot, the salad bar was where it was at if you were watching your figure. They even had commercials highlighting just the salad bar and how you could enjoy under 300 calories and look fabulous in a swim suit. Here are two vintage Wendy's Garden Spot commercials to refresh your memory.
2. Cool vintage or retro ads on Wendy's Tables
Remember the cool Wendy's tabletops? They featured old time ads and it gave you something to read and enjoy while your folks were waiting on line, placing your dinner order.
Wendy's old time tables - loved the cool, retro, vintage ads.
3. Breakfast!
In 1985, Wendy's made a huge announcement. They'd serve breakfast. And they did! However this actually lasted only for about 9 months. According to a 1986 LA Times article, the reason Wendy's originally failed at breakfast, was because they offered made-to-order omelets. Something impossible to keep up with as a fast food joint. I only recall French toast and egg platters - similar to McDonald's. Today select Wendy's restaurants are serving breakfast to keep up with the .
