“An online survey of 1,000 adults by Kelton Research for National Geographic Channel found that Back to the Future was the ’80s’ defining film.”

Beyond the Marquee received a fun email this morning from our good friend Bob Gale (co-creator, co-writer, co-producer) of the Back to the Future films. In it, Bob directed us to a link of an online USA Today article discussing the results of a new survey.

According to the poll taken, three-quarters of Americans believe the country was better off in the ’80s than now, though they hope shoulder pads, parachute pants, fanny packs and neon clothing never make a comeback. Bob Gale’s excitement about the article is of course understood, given that it reports that the online survey found that Back to the Future was the ’80s’ defining film! Apparently, everyone loves the ’80s — even those who didn’t live through it. Click ahead to read some of the results from the survey…

(courtesy Natalie DiBlasio, USA TODAY)

From the bad hair and loud clothing to the politicians and leaders — a new survey shows that three-quarters of Americans believe the country was better off in the ’80s than now.

“The ’80s is the first time when we were exposed to the kind of mass media immersion that we now take for granted — we were a blank slate,” said David Sirota, author of Back to Our Future. “The ’80s is the first time cultural messages were able to be sent in ubiquitous and powerful ways and to be repeated over and over and over again.”

So what defined the beloved ’80s?

Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana, Cabbage Patch Kids, Rubik’s Cubes, Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., Reese’s Pieces and dance moves like the Robot and Moonwalk.

As for the decade’s most significant moment, about 37% of those surveyed listed the fall of the Berlin Wall, 24% said the identification of AIDS, and 17% said the Challenger explosion.

When asked if a presidential election were held today, 58% said they would vote for Reagan over Barack Obama.

The online survey of 1,000 adults by Kelton Research for National Geographic Channel also found that Back to the Future was the ’80s’ defining film.

“There is a natural inclination to idealize and love things that remind you of your childhood,” Sirota says. “People remember things fondly from their childhood because it was a simpler time, you weren’t filling out IRS forms.”

But it was more than major events and wacky outfits that defined the decade; technological developments made in the ’80s have undoubtedly shaped the world we live in today.

More than half of the nation thinks that the personal computer has had the biggest impact on American life today with the cellphone coming in at 27%. The microwave, Walkman and VCR all ranked around 5%.

“The ’80s: The Decade that Made Us” premieres this Sunday, April 14, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel.

Larry Kramer, President and Publisher of USA TODAY, explains how USA TODAY was perceived when it debuted.

Thanks again to Bob Gale for the tip about the article…

Bob Gale (Photo Credit: Kevin Abato, GrenexMedia © 2008)

…and for your official source for all things past, present and future pertaining to Back to the Future, head over to www.BTTF.com

http://bttf.com/