The Soviet 80s were actually pretty interesting time. They even had the official name "The Era of the Developed Socialism". The World Revolution had been postponed for the indefinite time in the future and Soviet people simply desired to live peacefully and prosperous enjoying some small little things in life (until everything went downhill in 1989 or so). So I ve decided to describe some of the things that were popular among people in that decade and in particular those that probably will be surprisingly familiar to Western readers (hint: We were not that different in those times).
1. The Soviet Western.
I really hope that not many foreigners believe that the Soviet cinematography happen to be only about some heroic deeds in the Class Struggle. In fact Soviet movies ranged from great comedies to sci-fi dramas. And in 1987 the most popular movie in theaters of the USSR was the comedy western (yea like the real one with cowboys, Indians, guns and horsies). The film is called "A Man from the Boulevard des Capucines" ("Человек с бульвара Капуцинов"). It had been directed by Alla Surikova and has the cast of almost all the famous Soviet actors (the main hero is played by no one else than Andrei Mironov).
The movie is fantastically entertaining and funny. Btw you can watch it for free with English subtitles on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/4JZzsIncaVo
2. The Soviet TV game show.
Premiered in 1975 (the same year the first Wheel of Fortune was shown in the US) this is the intellectual TV-game that can be described as something like the peculiar mix of team Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? with the already mentioned Wheel of Fortune. It is called in Russian "Что? Где? Когда?" ("What? Where? When?").
The show has been so popular that it’s being aired till the present day (celebrating its 45 year anniversary), produced series of offshots in different countries as well as has become a staple of intellectual games during different corporate, school and college events. And the most renowned participants of that show are popular in Russia (and were in the USSR) no less than famous athletes or soccer players.
3. The Soviet Cola.
Before PepsiCo made its way to the USSR in the early 80s the Soviet leadership decided that the country needs its own Cola. So a special Government Research Institute was tasked with that mission. And the dark-brown beverage called Baikal has appeared. It was quite popular in the Soviet times and is sold now too not only in the former USSR countries but in some Western European ones as well. It has a very unique herbal taste that I can best describe as Coca-Cola meets non-alcohol Jagermeister. Pretty cool thing.
The original Soviet time bottle.
Baikal (drink) - Wikipedia
4. The Soviet electronic games.
The most desired toys of Soviet kids in the 80s. A number of different ones was produced since 1984 (I think there were like a dozen varieties). But the most popular is called "Ну, погоди!" ("I'll get you!") and features the famous Soviet cartoon hero catching eggs from several hens. One LCD-game cost 25 rub in those times which used to be pretty steep for a child toy but still they were widely present.
Btw my personal favorite used to be that one (The Secrets of the Ocean):
Well that was the small glimpse to the late Soviet Union as I remember it growning up in Leningrad in those times. No bread lines, gulags and everpresent KGB, sorry.