Welcome to the Saydel High School Class Of 1982 web site

List of 1982 Major News Events in History

1. Ronald Regan was president and George H.W. Bush was Vice- President.
2. Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking album “Thriller” was released
3. The break-up of the AT&T monopoly was ordered
4. Argentina invades the Falkland Islands / Malvinas
5. The first episode of Late Night with David Letterman debuts on NBC.  Actor Bill Murray was Letterman's first guest.  
6. The popular science fiction film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” debuts during June
7. Disney Futuristic Park EPCOT ( Experimental Community Of Tomorrow )is opened
8. Tylenol capsules laced with potassium cyanide kill 7 in Chicago
9. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC is dedicated
10. The First Commercial use of Genetic Engineering is Launched when human insulin produced by bacteria is marketed
11. Princess Grace of Monaco dies when her car hurtles over a cliff.
12. John Belushi dies March 5 of cocaine and herion.
13. Prince William is born to Charles and Di.
14. The first artificial heart transplant takes place, the receipent lives 112 days.
15. Anheuser-Bush launched Bud light beer.
16. The companies and brands Adobe, Compaq, E-Trade, Great Clips, Jackson-Hewitt, Kenneth Cole, Newman's Own Food, and Vera Bradley were all founded.  
17. San Francisco 49ers were the Super Bowl champs, the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series and the New York Islanders clinched the Stanley Cup. 
18. Rose Bowl:  Washington over Iowa
19. On Golden Pond won three Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Henry Fonda) and Best Actress (Katherine Hepburn).  
20. At the 34th Primetime Emmy Awards, Barney Miller (ABC) won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and Hill Street Blues (NBC) won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Likewise, Alan Alda (M*A*S*H) won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and Carol Kane (Taxi) won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
21. The board game Trivial Pursuit was introduced.
22. On October 1, the Sony CDP-101—“the world's first commercially released compact disc player”—was introduced in Japan. Six months later, CD players went on sale in the U.S. for $1,000 apiece. The compact disc format changed the way we listened to music in the 1980s.   

Popular TV Shows:

1.  60 minutes (CBS) 2.  Dallas (CBS) 3.  M*A*S*H (CBS) 4.  Magnum, P.I. (CBS) 5.  Dynasty (ABC) 6. Three's Company (ABC) 7. Simon & Simon (CBS) 8. Falcon Crest (CBS) 9.  The Love Boat (ABC) 10. The A-Team (NBC)

Highest-Grossing Films:

1. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 2. Tootsie 3. An Officer and a Gentleman 4. Rocky III 5. Porky's 6, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn 7. 48 HRS 8. Potergeist 9. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas 10. Annie

Biggest Pop Music Artists:

1.  Air Supply  2. Daryl Hall & John Oates 3. Donna Summer 4. Evelyn "Champagne" King 5. J. Geils Band 6. Juice Newton 7. Lionel Richie 8. Men at Work 9. Michael Jackson 10. Neil Diamond

Top 10 Songs of the Year:

1. Physical:  Oliva Newton- John 2. Eye of the Tiger:  Survivor 3. I Love Rock 'N Roll: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts 4. Ebony & Ivory: Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder 5. Centerfold: The J. Geils Band 6. Don't You Want Me: The Human League 7. Jack & Diane: John Cougar 8. Hurts So Good: John Cougar 9. Abracadabra: Steve Miller Band 10. Hard to Say I'm Sorry: Chicago

Cost of Living 1982 - How Much things cost

Yearly Inflation Rate USA 6.16 % down from 10.32% in 1981

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “The economy entered 1982 in a severe recession and labor market conditions deteriorated throughout the year. The unemployment rate, already high by historical standards at the onset of the recession in mid-1981, reached 10.8 percent at the end of 1982, higher than at any time in post-World War II history.”

Median household income in the U.S. was $23,430, an increase of 4.7% over 1981.

Federal minimum wage - $3.35

Year End Close Dow Jones 1046

Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 11.50%

Average cost of new house $82,200

Average Income per year $21,050

Average Monthly Rent $320

Gallon of Gas $0.91

Price of a movie ticket $3.00

Sony Walkman $129

New Car Average price $9370

US Postage Stamp $0.20

Bag Cheese Puffs $0.89

Loaf White Sliced bread $0.69

Gallon of milk $2.24

One-pound package of bacon $1.79

Eggs $0.79 per dozen

Comodore Vic 20 $299.95

Satellite Receiver $245.95

GMC 1500 Pickup $5,400

Sony 19 inch Color TV $499

Outdoor Gas Grill $199.95

Food and beverage trends:

1.  Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers 2.  Kiwi 3.  Reese's Pieces 4.  Totino's Pizza Rolls

Miscellaneous Fun Facts:

1. In 1982, popular baby names were Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Jason, Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda, and Sarah.
2. The average life expectancy at birth was 70.8 years for men and 78.1 years for women.
3. The cost of a Super Bowl ad was $324,000.
4. Favorite holiday gifts were BMX bikes, the Arcadia 2001 Game Console, Smurfs, the Atari 5200 Super System, Trivial Pursuit, and Strawberry Shortcake.
5. Fashion trends for the younger crowd included: bright-colored sunglasses and bangles, teased hair, loud makeup, and neon were all the rage. For those who were not part of the younger group, skin-tight cotton stirrup pants, giant turtleneck sweaters, parachute pants, and high-waist belts were supercool.
6. Fashion icons for the year included Kim Alexis, Carol Alt, Loni Anderson, Kim Basinger, Christie Brinkley, Joan Collins, Morgan Fairchild, Farrah Fawcett, Jane Fonda, Shelley Hack, Goldie Hawn, Lauren Hutton, Kathy Ireland, Jessica Lange, Olivia Newton-John, Dolly Parton, Princess Diana, Victoria Principal, Brooke Shields, Suzanne Somers, Heather Thomas, and Cheryl Tiegs.