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April 14, 2026
  • 1986 – 40 years ago in Britain
  • Iran on the eve of the 1979 revolution
  • 1976 – 50 years ago in Britain
  • School summer holidays in the 1970s

The 70s 80s 90s Blog

Three Decades of History with TV historian Tony McMahon

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  • 1986 Britain

    1986 – 40 years ago in Britain

    3 months ago3 months ago
  • shah of iran

    Iran on the eve of the 1979 revolution

    3 months ago3 months ago
  • Drought 1976

    1976 – 50 years ago in Britain

    3 months ago3 months ago
  • 1975 summer holiday

    School summer holidays in the 1970s

    4 months ago3 months ago
  • Zoomer Boomer office culture

    Zoomers challenge Boomer office culture

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  • hijacker

    Plane hijacked by samurai wielding terrorists

    6 months ago3 months ago
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2020

1981 riots
  • 1981 riots

Comparing the riots of 1981, 2001 and 2011

The 70s 80s 90s Blog5 years ago5 years ago015 mins

2021 will be the fourtieth anniversary of the 1981 riots and the tenth anniverary of the 2011 riots so what lessons have been learned?

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  • 1980s
  • Culture

Mary Whitehouse versus Rambo hunks

The 70s 80s 90s Blog6 years ago3 years ago04 mins

Here is Mary Whitehouse in 1985 arguing against the movie director Michael Winner and a group of hunks dressed as the cinematic hero Rambo

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Southall 1981 riot
  • 1981 riots

4-Skins gig in Southall ends in 1981 riot

The 70s 80s 90s Blog6 years ago4 years ago76 mins

The 1981 Southall riot saw a clash between the Oi! skinhead subculture and local Asian youth in a district of London that was part of a summer of riots

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town gown
  • crime

Town v Gown – students versus locals

The 70s 80s 90s Blog6 years ago6 years ago14 mins

Local youth and university students often connected badly in the 1980s with acts of violence not being uncommon as students were viewed as privileged

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Dave Wakeling
  • 1980s
  • Music

Dave Wakeling of The Beat draws himself

The 70s 80s 90s Blog6 years ago3 years ago02 mins

Dave Wakeling was the front man of the British ska combo The Beat and here is a self-portrait he penned when the band was at the height of its fame

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inflation unemployment
  • economics

Inflation and unemployment under Thatcher

The 70s 80s 90s Blog6 years ago6 years ago26 mins

Both unemployment and inflation soared in the first two years of the Thatcher government though the Tories were open to a rise in the jobless figures

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LGBT 1980s
  • Politics

LGBT woes in the early 1980s

The 70s 80s 90s Blog6 years ago6 years ago02 mins

LGBT people faced discrimination, the AIDS virus and homophobic legislation from the Thatcher government in the 1980s as Tony McMahon reports

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Buy Original Rude Boy – biography of Neville Staple, The Specials

Boxing and racism in the 80s

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Tony McMahon – your blogger – circa 1982

TV historian Tony McMahon journeys through the politics, culture, and history of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s

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