12 Astonishing Fun Facts About 1984 That Will Blow Your Mind!

1. The Birth of the Macintosh

Back in the oh-so-radical year when big hair and shoulder pads reigned supreme, a little apple dropped from the tree and changed the world: The Macintosh, launched in 1984, initially enjoyed marketing success but struggled with its high price and limited capabilities, yet still managed to transform computing and pave the way for future innovation and technology, with Steve Jobs at the helm alongside Jef Raskin's original concept and name.
Source => appleinsider.com

2. Orwell's Classy Detour

Before Orwell leapt into the world of Big Brother, he took a binge-worthy detour through Parisian dive bars and the gritty jobs of England's unemployed as a prelude to penning bestselling novels: Born in India, George Orwell attended prestigious Eton on a scholarship but skipped college to join the Indian Imperial Police, serving in Burma for five years. Riddled with class guilt, he opted not to return, instead immersing himself in the urban poor's life, working menial jobs in Paris and the British working class. These experiences inspired his first novel, "Burmese Days," published in 1934.
Source => history.com

Did you know about the elusive tale of Shakespeare's alleged deer poaching escapades? Uncover the truth behind this bardly mystery and the journey that transformed him into a renowned playwright! 🦌🎭

=> Fun Facts about Shakespeare

3. A Ghostly Hit: "Ghostbusters"

Who you gonna call when you need a hit song to rake in millions and climb the charts? Ray Parker Jr., of course! It's no paranormal phenomenon that the artist's "Ghostbusters" became a pop culture poltergeist back in 1984: The catchy tune not only topped the US charts, but also haunted the UK Singles Chart at #2 for three weeks, contributing to the film's box office success of $20 million. And if that wasn't enough spectral delight, the music video – directed by the film's own phantom wrangler, Ivan Reitman – featured spooky cameos from celebrities like Chevy Chase, Danny DeVito, and Carly Simon.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Air Jordan Takes Flight

Michael Jordan's shoe game 'took flight' long before his iconic dunks: clad in futuristic footwear, his Airness graced the court like a basketball Cinderella, complete with his magical, not-yet-released Nike Air Jordan kicks. The real slam dunk: though Jordan first wore the legendary sneakers in a 1984 game against the Philadelphia 76ers, he returned to his old Nike Air Ships before reuniting with the Air Jordan 1's that finally hit store shelves in spring 1985, forever changing the basketball shoe game.
Source => sneakerhistory.com

5. Prince's Purple Reign

In 1984, Prince reigned supreme in a purple downpour of chart-topping glory, leaving fans drenched with irresistible tunes and controversial lyrics: His "Purple Rain" album not only marked his first time reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart, but stayed atop for an astonishing 24 consecutive weeks and a total of 122 weeks on the chart, spawning smash hits like "When Doves Cry," "Let's Go Crazy," and "I Would Die 4 U" – ultimately selling 25 million copies worldwide and solidifying its place as one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Redford's Ball Game in Buffalo

Before Robert Redford took a swing at Hollywood stardom, he had a ball in Buffalo: The 1984 film "The Natural," starring Redford, was mostly filmed at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New York, which was built in 1937 and demolished in 1988, with Buffalo's All-High Stadium stepping up to the plate as Chicago's Wrigley Field. The movie, also featuring Glenn Close and Robert Duvall, was directed by Barry Levinson and based on Bernard Malamud's 1952 novel, earning four Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Close and Best Cinematography.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Tetris' Tragic Delay

Dost thou desire a block-based tragedy? Gather 'round and hear the tale of a Soviet programmer who couldn't cash in on his creation for over a decade: In 1985, Alexey Pajitnov created Tetris at the Dorodnitsyn Computing Centre under the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, but he didn't receive royalties until 1996 when he co-founded The Tetris Company with Henk Rogers.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Sony's Musical Kangaroo

Before smartphones made us feel like tech-savvy kangaroos with a music library in our pouches, Sony was busy giving people the power of portable tunes with their revolutionary Discman, making mixtapes feel as obsolete as a T-Rex in a tutu: In 1984, Sony introduced the first "CD Compact Player," D-50/D-5, later rebranded as the Discman, which sparked a major interest in CDs, significantly increased the number of CD titles available, and played a crucial role in the growth of the CD industry.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. The DNA Detective: Alec Jeffreys

Who's your daddy, Watson and Crick? Alec Jeffreys, that's who! Back in the '80s, before catching criminals was as simple as swiping right on their DNA profile, this genetic genius was laying down some serious science: In 1984, Alec Jeffreys discovered the groundbreaking technique of genetic fingerprinting at the University of Leicester's Department of Genetics, revolutionizing areas such as criminal investigations and paternity testing.
Source => le.ac.uk

10. Trebek's Game Show Buffet

Before he found his calling as the ultimate trivia master, Alex Trebek went on a game show hosting spree that must have felt like taking a spin on the "Wheel of Fortune"–but with a twist of "Battleship" and a sprinkle of "The Price is Right": In 1984, before becoming the iconic host of "Jeopardy!", Trebek had already hosted a smorgasbord of game shows including "The Wizard of Odds," "Double Dare," "High Rollers," "Battlestars," and "Classic Concentration."
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. TMNT's Tax Refund Origins

When life gives you tax refunds, make Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: In 1984, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird used a $500 tax refund and a $700 loan from Eastman's uncle to self-publish the first issue of the iconic comic series, with a limited initial print run of just 3,000 copies in an oversized 7 3/8” x 10 7/8” format. Now highly collectible, a 9.6 graded copy recently sold for $6,600, but beware of forgeries and grading errors, as mislabeled later printings and counterfeit copies lurk in the shadows!
Source => tmntcomics.wordpress.com

12. Robin Chase: Speeding Through MIT

Before she shifted gears into the world of car clutches and honking horns, Robin Chase was cruising through the fast lanes of education: In 1984, this future Zipcar co-founder was zooming past milestones with degrees in management and transportation from MIT - setting the stage for a brilliant race towards revolutionizing the sharing economy in 2000.
Source => inc.com