An ’80s Mega-Collector Lets Us Peek Into His Treasures (And Yes, He Has Mr. T Cereal)

Karen Ruud July 15, 2025

Who doesn’t love the ’80s? The brightly colored clothes, the toys that you had to have, the best sitcoms TV could offer … it was incredibly fun to live through, and is still incredibly fun to remember. Especially when collectibles are involved! The decade’s toys, snacks, and more have become beloved collector’s items, with some dedicated collector’s turning their homes into thrilling shrines to the era of day-glo and Mr. T.

We were able to talk to Kerry, who runs the social media account Recaptured80s about some of the interesting items that he collects, including his most prized ’80s possession. Whether you’re interested in jump-starting your own collection, or just want to check out some photos of all those E.T. toys your mom wouldn’t let you buy, read on.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you started collecting.

My name is Kerry and I began collecting in 1983 when I was 12. I loved the cartoon The Flintstones and wanted to be a cartoonist, so I started searching antique stores with a friend for Flintstones toys. I continued collecting and my interests spread to things related to the ’70s and ’80s, including vintage food packaging, lunchboxes, toys, VHS tapes, electronics, records, tapes and TV sets! Hunting for the perfect item is fun!

Courtesy of Recaptured 80s

How big would you estimate your collection to be, in size and in value?

There are thousands of pieces in my 40 years of collecting — many are in boxes in my garage. The value to me is priceless because of my nostalgic connection to it, but moneywise, it’s in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range, with an example: a 1982 pack of Bubble Yum gum that I sold recently for $700.00!

What is your most prized possession?

My most prized possession is my 1981 Flintstones Lucky Egg Machine. One was in my local pizza place when I was a kid and I hoped to own one. Found one in 2001, and then slowly searched out, bought one by one and filled the machine with the original cartoon eggs.

Courtesy Recaptured 80s

Is it hard to find food collectibles — and is the food still in them?

It’s super hard to find vintage food packaging, because it was really intended to be trash! Many of my dry food items, like cereal from the ’80s, are still sealed with the cereal and the prize inside. So many people tell me to open them and I just can’t do it.

What is your bucket list item?

I have been looking for decades for a Hostess brand Chocodiles snack cakes box from the early ’80s. So hard to find … but I will keep looking until I find one!

Courtesy of Recaptured 80s

Where do you look for items?

I look at estate sales, garage sales, antique stores, thrift stores and on eBay. I’m always hunting!

What is the most you have spent on something?

I’m always looking for a bargain. Prices have swelled in recent years due to the ’80s craze, but I’d say the most expensive thing I bought was a Dig Dug full-size arcade game, purchased for $800 from the original owner.

Any advice to other collectors?

Collect what makes you happy, even if it seems weird to others. Nostalgia is a priceless feeling. Share your collection for others to see.

If you could go back to the ‘80s for one day, what would you do?

I would go back to 1984 and ride my bike to the arcade and pizza place with my friends. Such a carefree feeling of freedom!

Check out more of his collection below and be sure to follow him on his socials (Facebook, Instagram or TikTok) for more retro ’80s fun!

Courtesy of Recaptured80s

An ’80s Mega-Collector Lets Us Peek Into His Treasures (And Yes, He Has Mr. T Cereal)

The Collectibles Issue

August 2019