Worship Anew was reincorporated in Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1980. We celebrate 45 years of Lutheran Ministries Media this year. Here are some fun memories from 1980. What’s your favorite memory from back then?

By Sheila Banks
Communications Specialist

CULTURAL HAPPENINGS:

The Rubik’s Cube is introduced.
The video game “Pac-Man” is released.
Fans of the popular TV show “Dallas” were asking “Who shot J.R.?”
“Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back” is in theaters.
Top TV shows: “Dallas,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “60 Minutes,” “M*A*S*H,” “The Love Boat.”
U.S. population: 226 million
World population: 4.44 billion

SPORTS:

Pittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl.
Philadelphia Phillies win World Series.
Los Angeles Lakers are NBA champs.
New York Islanders win NHL Stanley Cup.

NEWSWORTHY EVENTS:

Ronald Reagan wins presidential race, beating out incumbent Jimmy Carter.

Mount St. Helens volcano in Washington state erupts.

The U.S. men’s hockey team won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.,
despite low expectations. The winning game became known as “The Miracle on Ice.”

The U.S. boycotts the Summer Olympics in Moscow in protest of the USSR invading
Afghanistan. Numerous other countries follow suit.

The Cold War persists between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

COST OF LIVING:

Average income per year: $21,020
Cost of a house: $64,600
Cost of a new car: $6,735
Gallon of gas: $1.19
Gallon of milk: $1.29
Dozen eggs: $0.83
Loaf of Bread: $0.51
First-class stamp: $0.15