In 1981, "Bette Davis Eyes" topped the charts, Raiders of the Lost Ark packed theaters, a stamp cost 18¢, the average home went for about $83,000.
🎵 Top songs of 1981
"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim Carnes
"Endless Love" — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
"Jessie's Girl" — Rick Springfield
🎬 In theaters
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Chariots of Fire
On Golden Pond
What things cost in 1981
$1.22
Gallon of gas
18¢
Postage stamp
$2.78
Movie ticket
$2.20
Gallon of milk
$83,000
Average home
$8,275
New car
$19,074
Household income
A $1.22 gallon of gas in 1981 has the buying power of roughly $4.05 in 2024 dollars. An 18¢ stamp is around 60¢ today, and a $2.78 movie ticket is about $9.25.
The biggest moments of 1981
MTV launched on August 1 with The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star."
President Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. on March 30 outside a Washington hotel; he survived.
IBM introduced the first IBM PC (Model 5150) on August 12.
MTV launched on cable on August 1; the first music video aired was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.
President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. on March 30 outside a Washington hotel; he survived after surgery.
The 52 American hostages held in Iran for 444 days were released on January 20 — Inauguration Day.
Toys, TV & trends of 1981
Charles and Diana's royal wedding on July 29 drew an estimated 750 million viewers worldwide.
Pac-Man fever peaked: the song "Pac-Man Fever" hit the Top 10 and the Saturday-morning cartoon launched.
The 52 American hostages held in Iran were released on January 20 — Inauguration Day — after 444 days.
Charles and Diana's royal wedding on July 29 drew an estimated 750 million viewers worldwide.
IBM introduced the first IBM PC (Model 5150) on August 12 — the device that defined personal computing.
"Pac-Man Fever" by Buckner & Garcia hit the Billboard Top 10 in 1981; the Saturday-morning cartoon launched the next year.
The music scene
1981 was the year MTV's August 1 launch began rewiring the music industry. Kim Carnes's "Bette Davis Eyes" spent nine weeks at #1. The Stray Cats and Squeeze brought rockabilly back, while Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, and Pat Benatar dominated rock radio.
At the movies
Chariots of Fire won the Best Picture Oscar. Raiders of the Lost Ark was the year's box-office champion, launching the Indiana Jones franchise. On Golden Pond paired Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn for the last time on screen.
Cartoons kids loved
The Smurfs (debuted September)
Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo
The Pink Panther Show
The Smurfs debuted on NBC on September 12 and instantly became the dominant Saturday-morning cartoon. Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo continued, while Heathcliff and Marmaduke had brief runs. Cartoons tied to toy lines were becoming the rising business model.
The world in 1981
World population: about 4.5 billion
U.S. President: Ronald Reagan (inaugurated January 20)
Space Shuttle Columbia made its first orbital flight on April 12
MTV launched on cable on August 1, transforming the music industry.
Space Shuttle Columbia made its first orbital flight on April 12 — the start of the Space Shuttle era.
Sandra Day O'Connor was sworn in as the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice on September 25.
1981 birthday questions
How old is someone born in 1981?
Someone born in 1981 turns 45 in 2026 (44 if their birthday has not come round yet).
What was the number one song in 1981?
"Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes was among the biggest hits of 1981.
What movie came out in 1981?
Raiders of the Lost Ark was one of the films packing theaters in 1981.
How much did gas cost in 1981?
A gallon of gas ran about $1.22 in 1981, and a postage stamp cost 18¢.
How much did a house cost in 1981?
The average home went for roughly $83,000 in 1981, against a typical household income of about $19,074.