One of the most famous catch phrases from all the '80s action movies would have to come from 1987's Robocop.
Any former teenage boy from that era will usually whisper out the phrase under their breath "I'd buy that for a dollar!" as a snide comment to his buddy as an attractive female passes them in the mall.
And while catchy phrases from '80s movies is a worthy topic, this blog is going to feature all of my favorite things one could and or still can buy for a buck - give or take a some spare change.
A dollar used to buy so much. Back in my day (insert the old man nasal wheezing here) when Robocop was in the theaters a buck would buy you a movie ticket into see it. That is of course, if you didn't mind waiting a month or two for it to go to the old Northglenn dollar movie theater - and if you could stomach watching it with all those teenage ruffians - what with their long hair and Iron Maiden t-shirts.
Thank goodness today we only have to worry about crazy - gun touting teens and gang members.
Fortunately, some things are still the same as they where in those glory days of yesteryear. For instance, just like in 1987 a delicious box of Little Debbie Cakes still comes in at just over a dollar.
As the motto goes - "Little Debbie has a snack for you!" And indeed she does!
My favorite has always been the Snack Cakes. What with their outside layer of chocolate frosting, yellow cake, and rich chocolate cream center. Needless to say the Snack Cake at a mere $1.19 a box kicks a Hostees Cupcake in the balls!
Of course Little Debbie also makes the stellar Star Crunch as well as the - oh so whole- some yet satisfying Oatmeal Cakes.
Mmmmmm! Getting hungry yet?
What better then to wash down those Debbies than a .49 cent 32 oz fountain drink from Phillips 66?
Okay so the .49 cent part has gone the way of the dollar theater - but that doesn't mean you still can't buy a Super-Mega Bucket of soda from any convenience store for still just under a $1.99.
Oh, I can't tell you how much those .49 cent pops conjure up memories of being 14 years old and riding mountain bikes with my buddies all while wearing our killer jean jackets.
In between games of Double Dragon and
Mike Tyson's Punch-out on our Nintendo Entertainment Systems we used to roll up to the Phillips 66 to air up our bike tires with get this - free air! Then I would partake in a tasty 32 oz soda, a Snickers bar and still have a nickel and some pennies left from that wadded up dollar I just broke.
Yep, there is nothing better than being young, drinking a giant soda-pop, picking caramel out of my braces, all while sitting on a curb outside of a gas station. And while we had already discovered girls we were still too naïve to realize how stupid we must have looked to them.
Yes, life is full of great things that you could and still can get for a buck. Just ask anyone who frequents McDonald's. Target offers a whole section of trashy trinkets for a dollar that draws my wife to it like some hypnotic beacon. And while the days of the old .59, .69, .79, .99 menu at Taco Bell has gone the way of the Super Bar at Wendy's -I still can't help but feel a little nostalgic when I find a crumpled up old one still crammed into the pocket of my jean jacket a long with a faded movie stub to Robocop.
Oh, and guys - next time you walk in on your wife changing -sneak up behind her and enthusiastically proclaim - "I'd buy that for a dollar!" - Followed by a slap on her bare butt.
Oh yeah, that'll make her hot.