These Quirky Vintage Ads Offer a Glimpse Into 1980s Pop Culture

Written by Erin Kuschner on updated
Left side: A group of excited tourists with cameras and binoculars. Seiko ad text below. Right side: A steaming steak with peas, potato, and frothy beer. Steak & Ale ad text above.
WealthGang / u/bil_sabab via Reddit.com / u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com

Advertisements from the 1980s featured over-the-top headlines, dramatic language, and bold logos. In short: If you saw an ad in the ’80s for a toy, restaurant, or other product, chances are you’d be throughly persuaded to spend your money on it. From Dungeons & Dragons games to Keebler cookies, here are over a dozen 1980s ads that grabbed our attention.

1. Holiday Inn (1980)

A man smiles contentedly in bed holding a pillow with a telephone nearby. Text reads: "Treat Yourself To An Extra 40 Winks." Promotes Holiday Inn hotels as conveniently located for business. Holiday Inn logo included.
RetroMan70s / Reddit.com
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com

2. Dungeons & Dragons (1980)

A vintage illustration showing people at a party, with a figure in medieval armor holding a sword to cut a cake. A banner reads "The Dungeons & Dragons player... always ahead of the game." Text below promotes Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Games.
Lycanthropope / Reddit.com
u/Lycanthropope via Reddit.com

3. LEGO (1981)

A young child with red hair, wearing jeans and a striped shirt, stands smiling and holding a colorful LEGO creation. LEGO bricks are scattered at their feet. Text on the image promotes LEGO Universal Building Sets.
superdankm8 / Reddit.com

4. Steak & Ale (1981)

A vintage advertisement featuring a frothy mug of beer, a plate with a cooked steak topped with mushrooms and chopped chives, a baked potato, and an American Express card. The text reads "Unmistakably Steak & Ale," promoting a restaurant experience.
RetroMan70s / Reddit.com
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com

5. Hawaiian Shark Stick (1982)

A vintage advertisement for a "Hawaiian Shark Stick" priced at $2.29. It shows sharks and instructions for using the stick to protect against attacks by inserting it into an animal's mouth. Includes a store address and emphasizes protection.
CelebManips / Reddit.com
u/CelebManips via Reddit.com

6. Burger King (1983)

A hand holds a Burger King Whopper in a paper tray. The text reads “The Burger King Conversion Kit” at the top, with “WHOPPER” and “It’s all you need to switch!” at the bottom next to the Burger King logo.
UserDeleted/Reddit.com

7. Casio Watches (1984)

An advertisement showing two wristwatches on men's wrists. One is a digital Casio with a metal band, and the other is an analog watch with a gold band. The text at the bottom contrasts high-tech with high fashion. Casio logo is displayed.
bil_sabab / Reddit.com
u/bil_sabab via Reddit.com

8. Panasonic Cassette Recorder (1985)

A vintage Panasonic advertisement features a large boombox on the beach with a black and white image of a couple kissing. The text promotes the auto-reverse feature for continuous music playback.
bil_sabab / Reddit.com
u/bil_sabab via Reddit.com

9. Seiko Pocket Television (1985)

A person sits on a beach chair using a small portable TV. Surrounding them are people reacting excitedly, a lifeguard, and a beachgoer with a popcorn stand. The ad promotes Seiko's portable television. Text at the bottom reads, "Anywhere you go, Seiko.
bil_sabab / Reddit.com
u/bil_sabab via Reddit.com

10. Hondo Guitars (1985)

A person wearing a leather outfit plays a zebra-striped electric guitar. The background features a desert with a leopard and illustrations of various guitars. The text reads "Hondo Heavy Metal Zoo" and "Hondo... King of the Jungle!
StephenMcGannon / Reddit.com
u/StephenMcGannon via Reddit.com

11. The Addis Wedding Set (1985)

A vintage advertisement for "The Addis Wedding Set" featuring a bride and groom at the top. Below them are various blue cleaning products including brushes, a dustpan, and a laundry basket. Text highlights the pricing and delivery options.
Ebonystealth / Reddit.com
u/Ebonystealth via Reddit.com

12. Drakkar Noir Sweepstakes (1986)

Vintage advertisement featuring a hand holding a JVC camcorder, promoting a contest to win JVC audio-visual systems from Drakkar Noir. Includes images of a sound system, camcorder, and Drakkar Noir products on a gray background.
Tony_Tanna78 / Reddit.com
u/Tony_Tanna78 via Reddit.com

13. Golden Book Videos (1986)

A child watches television, sitting cross-legged on a blue cushion with a nearby teddy bear. Animated characters, including a lion and bear, appear next to the TV. Text about "Golden Book Videos" and product details is visible on the bottom half.
Djf47021 / Reddit.com
u/Djf47021 via Reddit.com

14. Keebler O’Boisies Potato Chips (1988)

A bag of Keebler O'Boisies Original Potato Snack Chips is surrounded by animated elves holding chips and tools. Text above reads, "Bubbly. Crackly. O’Boisterous!" Below, "So full of Idaho potato taste... O'Boisies are O'Boisterous!" is written.
Djf47021 / Redit.com
u/Djf47021 via Redit.com

15. Keebler Rainbow Chips Deluxe Cookies (1989)

Advertisement featuring Keebler's Rainbow Chips Deluxe cookies. The image shows elves beside a large box of cookies with a rainbow and text promoting the product. Cookies with colored candy-coated chocolate pieces are scattered around.
Djf47021 / Reddit.com
u/Djf47021 via Reddit.com

More vintage ads:

A young girl joyfully sprays a large amount of whipped cream from a Lucky Whip can onto a bowl of dessert, with text below advertising Lucky Whip as the topping that transforms any dessert into a work of art.
morganmonroe81 / Reddit.com