80s Kid Tapestries
Description: Popples were plush toys manufactured between 1986 and 1988. Each toy had a pouch on the back that could be inverted, so the character rolled into the pouch and resembled a brightly colored ball. Popples resembled colorful animals with long, pompom-tipped tails. The name "Popple" is a reference to the popping sound they make when unfolding themselves from such a ball, or pulling objects from their pouches. In the cartoon series of the same name, Popples commonly pulled large items from their pouches that could not possibly fit inside. In the "Popples Alley" episode, one of the Popples' human friends looks inside one of their pouches and sees numerous objects floating in a large void.
Description: The Great Space Coaster was a live action children's television show that was broadcast in first-run syndication from 1981 to 1986. The show was about three young singers who are brought to a habitable asteroid in space called Coasterville by a clown named Baxter who pilots the "space coaster," a roller coaster-like spaceship. The asteroid is populated by strange-looking, wise-cracking puppet characters such as Goriddle Gorilla, Knock Knock the Woodpecker, Edison the Elephant, and Gary Gnu (host of "The Gary Gnu Show"). Baxter is forever on the run from M.T. Promises, a nefarious ringmaster who plans to re-capture Baxter and return him to the circus he worked at before he escaped. Each episode ended with a different life lesson.
Description: Jolt Cola was a carbonated soft drink originally made by The Jolt Company of Rochester, New York. From the outset, Jolt’s marketing strategy centered on the caffeine content, billing the drink as a means to promote wakefulness, including a slogan of “All the sugar and twice the caffeine.” The highly caffeinated beverage was targeted towards students and young professionals, stressing its use as a stimulant in a similar manner as energy drinks. Jolt Cola is featured in the 1995 movie ‘Hackers’ as the hosts of a pirate television broadcast claim to be sponsored by the beverage and advertise Jolt Cola as “the soft drink of the elite hacker.”
Description: Herself the Elf was an early '80s line of mother nature themed dolls that included not only Herself the Elf, but also Snowdrop, Meadow Morn, Willow Song, and Wood Pink. They all had their own magical powers and magic wands with which to use their powers, which were unique to each respective elf. In addition to the dolls and their three playsets (a house, a shower, and a vanity), a number of books, records, and even a cartoon was developed. The backstory was as follows: "Herself the Elf lives in a magical land tucked in a forest where tall trees stand. It's where birds and bees live happy as can be, with all kinds of animals great and small... 'cause Herself the Elf takes care of them all."
Description: Jolt Cola was a carbonated beverage initially produced by The Jolt Company, based in Rochester, New York. From its inception, the marketing approach for Jolt emphasized its high caffeine content, promoting the drink as a means to enhance alertness, encapsulated in the slogan “All the sugar and twice the caffeine.” This highly caffeinated drink was aimed at students and young professionals, highlighting its role as a stimulant akin to energy drinks. Jolt Cola made an appearance in the 1995 film ‘Hackers,’ where the hosts of a pirate television broadcast claimed sponsorship by the drink, promoting it as “the soft drink of the elite hacker.”
Description: Five Alive was a line of fruit juice blends created in the late '70s, so if you're an '80s kid, you undoubtedly consumed some at one point. Both the name and the five colors of the logo referred to the five fruit juices each variety contains. Marketing for Five Alive featured the slant rhyme catchphrase “get a taste for life”. Starting in 1981, Five Alive was released in traditional juice box cartons alongside the 12 and 16 oz. cans of frozen concentrate. By the '90s, Five Alive was no longer available in the U.S. market and not long after that it had disappeared from international markets as well.
Description: The Great Space Coaster was a live action children's television show that was broadcast in first-run syndication from 1981 to 1986. The show was about three young singers who are brought to a habitable asteroid in space called Coasterville by a clown named Baxter who pilots the "space coaster," a roller coaster-like spaceship. The asteroid is populated by strange-looking, wise-cracking puppet characters such as Goriddle Gorilla, Knock Knock the Woodpecker, Edison the Elephant, and Gary Gnu (host of "The Gary Gnu Show"). Baxter is forever on the run from M.T. Promises, a nefarious ringmaster who plans to re-capture Baxter and return him to the circus he worked at before he escaped. Each episode ended with a different life lesson.
Description: Challenge of the GoBots* is a classic 1984 animated series that brought the popular GoBots toy line to life. The show follows a race of intelligent robots who secretly live on Earth, disguising themselves as ordinary vehicles. These robots are divided into two factions: the heroic *Guardians* and the villainous *Renegades*. Across its two-season run, *Challenge of the GoBots* delivered thrilling adventures as the Renegades relentlessly attempted to conquer Earth and the galaxy, while the Guardians fought valiantly to protect peace and justice. Each episode packed action, intrigue, and the timeless battle between good and evil, making it a must-watch for fans of 80s cartoons and robot-themed storytelling.
