1980s Facts

In the 1980s, an IBM computer wasn't considered 100 percent compatible unless it could run Microsoft Flight Simulator.

If you opened up the case of the original Macintosh, you will find 47 signatures. One for each member of Apple's Macintosh divison as of 1982.

In 1986, federal prisoner Ronald J. McIntosh escaped during an unsupervised prisoner transfer. Eight days later, he returned in a stolen helicopter and broke out his girlfriend, bank robber Samantha Lopez, from federal prison in a daring daylight rescue.

John Hughes filmed The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off just eight months apart at the same high school in Illinois. He reused many of the same crew members and locations, and eagle-eyed viewers can spot identical hallways, lockers, and even some of the same posters on the walls.

Coca-Cola changed its 99-year-old formula in April 1985 and called the new version, predictably, New Coke. The hotline lit up with 1,500 angry calls a day. A protest group - the Old Cola Drinkers of America - signed up 100,000 members. After 79 days of public fury, Coca-Cola brought the original back as Coca-Cola Classic. New Coke quietly vanished.

At Live Aid in 1985, Bono spotted a 15-year-old girl being crushed at the front of 72,000 people. Security wouldn't help. He jumped off the stage mid-song, lifted Kal Khalique over the barrier himself - and missed the entire final song of their set. His bandmates were livid. They thought he'd blown their biggest chance. They had no idea he'd just made them the biggest band on earth.

"Roar" (1981) is the most dangerous movie ever made. The cast spent 11 years living with 150 untrained big cats - no cages, no tranquilizers. Melanie Griffith needed facial reconstructive surgery. The cinematographer was scalped by a lion (220 stitches). At least 70 crew were injured. No animals were harmed.

Harley-Davidson was bought in 1969 by AMF - a company best known for bowling equipment. They nearly quintupled output. Oil leaks, bad welds, and faulty electrics became routine. Riders called them "Hardly Ableson." Harley's market share fell from 80% to under 20%. In 1981, 13 executives led an $81.5 million buyout - and rode their Harleys to Milwaukee to celebrate. They rebuilt the American icon.