TheaterFire

Summer of ‘86 at Six Flags

Posted by inspector_ninety_9@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 143 comments

Summer of ‘86 at Six Flags
Striped socks: check. VH shirt: check. Tongues hanging out out shoes: check. Ready to rock and roll all day and SixFlags: CHECK!!! 🤘

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143 Comments

Signal_Contract_3592@reddit

No metal detectors, security checks, no shootings.
View on Reddit #82230987

lumberjackname@reddit

I see you too have been to Six Flags Magic Mountain. It was already getting rough when I lady visited in 1993.
View on Reddit #82232081

KISSALIVE1975@reddit

It’s Just Magic Mountain
View on Reddit #82237453

AbjectHyena1465@reddit

Was it a REAL concert if there was no mosh pit at VH though?
View on Reddit #82233376

Minzplaying@reddit

Just some major cup fights! Went to more than a few and to this day still have issues from heat exhaustion. Loved my Dallas days back then!
View on Reddit #82232054

GenX-ModTeam@reddit

Moratorium - Some posts may be removed due to temporary moratoriums on its content. Currently, photos of Redditors are not permitted until everyone recovers from the great "Then and Now Trend" of 2025. There is a whole megathread for personal photos. Also, Spotify Wrapped posts are prohibited. No one cares about your playlist, please don't post it.
View on Reddit #82237445

Flashy-Head-2298@reddit

June 1986 day after prom, we went to Six Flags in LA on acid and blow. The 80s were wild
View on Reddit #82237424

Open_Mortgage_4645@reddit

Colors were so awful back in the 80s. All the film sucked.
View on Reddit #82236717

inspector_ninety_9@reddit (OP)

I love it and don’t like modern photos.
View on Reddit #82236805

Open_Mortgage_4645@reddit

All the 80s pics are brown. When I scanned all my old pics, I had to enhance the shit out of them just to make them look good. What the hell were we thinking? Kodak had us all thinking we were getting state-of-the-art, bright colors, and instead everything looks like it's sprayed with a coat of brown.
View on Reddit #82237346

Heretogetthingsdone@reddit

SFOT 1986 was my third and last year working there. A few hundred kids, with paychecks, and cars, getting off at 11:00 PM Saturday night......
View on Reddit #82234470

KISSALIVE1975@reddit

SFOT???
View on Reddit #82237327

SunMyungMoonMoon@reddit

I had that exact same shirt. That Texxas Jam was my first rock concert. I got there late so I only saw Dio and Van Halen, but it was freaking awesome and I was hooked.
View on Reddit #82237244

birdynumnum69@reddit

Even for the 80s, you guys were a bit much. 🤣
View on Reddit #82235383

Healthy-Theme8261@reddit

The guy on our left was the weed dealer
View on Reddit #82235500

Healthy-Theme8261@reddit

I mean our right maybe I should lay off weed
View on Reddit #82235542

Weak_Lettuce_9053@reddit

I knew who you meant when you said it.
View on Reddit #82235838

birdynumnum69@reddit

Guy on the right definitely got some vagina. No doubt.
View on Reddit #82237185

Ottomatica@reddit

r/blunderyears
View on Reddit #82237165

Ckc1972@reddit

"We wear short shorts..."
View on Reddit #82236169

cartooncande@reddit

Who wears short shorts?
View on Reddit #82236879

woohan-kung-flu2@reddit

Swagger.
View on Reddit #82235883

MrTacocaT12345@reddit

https://preview.redd.it/dw2p5hf7uosg1.jpeg?width=665&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=94ea27f4028f16deaabefe4a71330ee04d1ea128
View on Reddit #82235876

Flashy-Safe8254@reddit

Dude with the tube Socks about 6 years past its expiration
View on Reddit #82235815

NaturalSpecialist5@reddit

Totally looks like my brother did back then on the far left. Except he looked better lol
View on Reddit #82235791

andyraylan@reddit

Amazing. I just finished watching the presidential address. I needed this, thank you.
View on Reddit #82234971

Natasha5145@reddit

Bless your heart. I couldn’t put myself through it . Watched old West Wing episodes instead.
View on Reddit #82235422

Saint909@reddit

Artemis launch over here. 🚀
View on Reddit #82235592

Natasha5145@reddit

H has that covered 🙂
View on Reddit #82235637

zackks@reddit

Did the two on the left at least get any scraps from my man on the right, Poon-Slayer 9000?
View on Reddit #82235595

SciFiJim@reddit

Memorial Day 1986. My wife and I had our first date at Six Flags.
View on Reddit #82235495

wyohman@reddit

Even better. Van Halen at Texas Jam!
View on Reddit #82232915

No_Caterpillar_8573@reddit

Texxas
View on Reddit #82233073

wyohman@reddit

It must be the Mandela effect. I grew up in the DFW area, I went to the Texxas Jam but I have no memory of there being two Xs
View on Reddit #82234120

Lightningstruckagain@reddit

Q102 is very dissapointed
View on Reddit #82234612

wyohman@reddit

But KZEW and Zoo World were ok with it!
View on Reddit #82234691

Lightningstruckagain@reddit

The Zoo was 98.something, right? The 97.1 The Eagle and Kzep kicked ass, too. Don’t think any are still Rockin
View on Reddit #82234854

wyohman@reddit

Zoo was 98.7. I vaguely remember KZEP. I joined the Air Force and left the DFW area in 1984. Ironically my daughter lives in Saginaw just a couple miles from where I was born at Carswell AFB.
View on Reddit #82235257

No_Caterpillar_8573@reddit

I know what you mean. I grew up there but never had the privilege of going to the concerts. For the longest time I remembered as Texas Jamm, putting the double letters in the wrong place.
View on Reddit #82234618

wyohman@reddit

Very funny!
View on Reddit #82234818

plasteroid@reddit

Am I in this picture??
View on Reddit #82235135

inspector_ninety_9@reddit (OP)

Are you!?!
View on Reddit #82235210

Flat-Ad6208@reddit

Same....Zoinks
View on Reddit #82235192

ComfortableBedroom76@reddit

Hey, I was there too
View on Reddit #82235197

TankApprehensive3053@reddit

I spent many summer days at Six Flags. Short OP shorts were the trend at the time. I think I had three different colors at one point.
View on Reddit #82234891

GrilledCheeseTn@reddit

![gif](giphy|GP8mUjmrAMY9zEaZV6)
View on Reddit #82234828

Jogger_Dodger@reddit

Killin' the 1980's, fellas!!
View on Reddit #82234796

NC_RockFan@reddit

Tall socks and one nut shorts.....those were the days.
View on Reddit #82234610

Lightningstruckagain@reddit

Great memory!The 88 Texas Jam w Van Hales was better, IMO. Scorps, Dokken, Metallica, and Kingdom Come also on the bill. Did y’all ride the Judge Roy Screams a million times?
View on Reddit #82234575

LinuxNoob@reddit

Did you ride “the edge”?
View on Reddit #82234445

Not_High_Maintenance@reddit

Looks like freshman year alright! 👍🏼
View on Reddit #82234344

chillen67@reddit

Tube socks lmao. What were we thinking?
View on Reddit #82233601

damion789@reddit

What about the short shorts?
View on Reddit #82233769

Express_Area_8359@reddit

They liked short shorts!
View on Reddit #82234062

chillen67@reddit

I run so short shorts aren’t as big of a WTF, but you, I get you.
View on Reddit #82233813

MediumAd3331@reddit

Six Flags was for boys. We tried to die like men at Action Park
View on Reddit #82234026

Practically_Hip@reddit

In 1986 I also looked like anybody could have kicked my ass. Congrats to you for surviving.
View on Reddit #82233875

AnastasiaNo70@reddit

I had a season pass to Six Flags that summer (the one in Arlington). I probably saw y’all at some point. This is what Iooked like in about 85. https://preview.redd.it/p9htgsh8mosg1.png?width=786&format=png&auto=webp&s=c36500786819ba644f91a1d8d31e2c30e6eae4df
View on Reddit #82233865

Nick_Fotiu_Is_God@reddit

This actually gives me 1982 vibes.
View on Reddit #82232282

inspector_ninety_9@reddit (OP)

We were from the country and spending the day in the big city. The style for country folk was always a little behind. But that VH shirt was on point with the times!
View on Reddit #82232354

Nick_Fotiu_Is_God@reddit

Nice. I looked like all of you combined back in those days - especially the lad on the right.
View on Reddit #82233846

endosurgery@reddit

5150 baby!
View on Reddit #82232443

inspector_ninety_9@reddit (OP)

Always and forever!
View on Reddit #82232502

endosurgery@reddit

That was a great show that summer
View on Reddit #82232966

bblhead@reddit

The Texas Jam was fucking awesome!
View on Reddit #82233795

narosis@reddit

In the parts of NJ I grew up in we called it "GA or Great Adventure", it was always the out of state relatives that called it Six Flags...
View on Reddit #82232901

Normal_Cockroach_697@reddit

I think only locals called it GA. You must be pretty local?
View on Reddit #82233669

6SpeedsGood@reddit

Great Adventure was amazing. But being from Jersey, I sure hope you got to Action Park too!
View on Reddit #82232992

Disastrous-Style-461@reddit

Astroworld. I’d give anything to go to Astroworld this Saturday!!
View on Reddit #82233646

Buttchugger-2020@reddit

My god does this photo speak to me. I turned 14 the summer of 86. Graduated 8th grade.
View on Reddit #82233489

CelticGardenGirl@reddit

These guys didn’t skip leg day. 🦵
View on Reddit #82233383

Bosswashington@reddit

Which six flags?
View on Reddit #82230729

inspector_ninety_9@reddit (OP)

Arlington, TX
View on Reddit #82232169

ScottRiqui@reddit

I was working there that summer! I was in the Games department, at the "three balls for a dollar" type games back by the carousel. Later that summer, I met my wife at a Starship concert at the park. Can't believe that it will have been 40 years in August!
View on Reddit #82233331

bm1949@reddit

No kidding. Gurnee, IL, checking in.
View on Reddit #82231784

fyodor_mikhailovich@reddit

the one in arlington near Dallas was the original one and was only called Six Flags.
View on Reddit #82231022

vmflair@reddit

Omg these look like photos from my HS yearbook in ‘82. Did any of you wear terry cloth shirts and OP shorts? I remember going to the arcade at the Jersey shore, smoking cigarettes and playing pool with my little brother. We thought we were the shit lol.
View on Reddit #82231790

AbjectHyena1465@reddit

OP t-shirts… those were the summer time staple!
View on Reddit #82233305

greek-lit@reddit

cool dudes
View on Reddit #82233296

Fuzzteam7@reddit

A season pass was pure gold 😁
View on Reddit #82233276

jakexcited45@reddit

Those boys are on the prowl.
View on Reddit #82232539

AbjectHyena1465@reddit

And probaly the ride seats were way too big on them. Today? No way they’re fitting in them now!
View on Reddit #82233251

Mers2000@reddit

I sooo remember that look!!! Such fun we had back them!
View on Reddit #82233246

coci222@reddit

Which Six Flags?
View on Reddit #82232107

No_Caterpillar_8573@reddit

Arlington, Texas I believe.
View on Reddit #82233165

CartoonistAvailable4@reddit

I am also wondering this since I grew up right near one!
View on Reddit #82232547

justjules_lp@reddit

I was wondering which one too.
View on Reddit #82232506

misterpickles69@reddit

![gif](giphy|3o7abwwXjpaWDBRu9i|downsized)
View on Reddit #82233112

Flaky-Debate-833@reddit

Tremendous. I hoped you dudes left some women for the rest of the guys at the park that day.
View on Reddit #82233056

Jimchee71@reddit

Are you about 54 now? That was a great summer; I was at a Six Flags as well, Mike and the Mechanics on stage in Jackson, NJ location, outside Philly
View on Reddit #82232971

Dillenger69@reddit

Six Flags near where I grew up was just called [Great America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Flags_Great_America) back then. I had lots of good times there
View on Reddit #82232905

xeno_dorph@reddit

Marriott’s!
View on Reddit #82232965

harbengerprime@reddit

86? Shit I might have seen you there
View on Reddit #82232695

Impressive_Crazy_223@reddit

I saw all y'all there. Definitely.
View on Reddit #82232959

applyheat@reddit

I was at Six Flags over Georgia that summer.
View on Reddit #82232725

No_Caterpillar_8573@reddit

Oh wow! I haven’t seen or heard reference to the Texxas Jam in a looong time! Those people look kinda familiar to me… Maybe we went to the same school…
View on Reddit #82232581

wyohman@reddit

One X
View on Reddit #82232933

LagerthaFreya@reddit

Rocking the knee socks!
View on Reddit #82232896

vitoforever99@reddit

All the shoes are like 😝😝😝
View on Reddit #82232890

AbsolutesDealer@reddit

Six Flags Great Adventure was the shiiiiiiiit.
View on Reddit #82231767

cmore_1967@reddit

Was it Arlington, Texas?
View on Reddit #82232715

AbsolutesDealer@reddit

That’s Six Flags Over Texas. Great Adventure is in NJ.
View on Reddit #82232847

21stCenturyJanes@reddit

I was gonna say - wasn’t it called Great Adventure back then?
View on Reddit #82232316

AbsolutesDealer@reddit

I think Six Flags had different names for each of their locations. Great Adventure was the NJ location. The Great American Scream Machine… so good.
View on Reddit #82232711

Virtual_Mechanic2936@reddit

Texxas jam! 😁
View on Reddit #82232708

Eastnasty@reddit

Good year, boys. Good year. ❤️
View on Reddit #82232619

MineAllMineNow@reddit

It may have been '86, but those socks say 1978 to me .... https://preview.redd.it/a0udqpu7hosg1.png?width=500&format=png&auto=webp&s=0010edba52c7bf5e677e5cabc36abe704725ed80
View on Reddit #82232589

House_Junkie@reddit

Am I the only one who thought this guys leg looked obscenely long before realizing it was the kids arm? https://preview.redd.it/qp343ty6hosg1.jpeg?width=1206&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fbd09fdc0ad4a862a0ad96c1d92feaf73c9fea7f
View on Reddit #82232579

TallEnoughJones@reddit

That's equivalent to 47 flags in 2026 flags.
View on Reddit #82232533

heldaway@reddit

![gif](giphy|AQbqF8cms75oBUF1Z3|downsized)
View on Reddit #82232398

Affectionate-Cow3737@reddit

You look bitchin
View on Reddit #82232257

Julian_Thorne@reddit

3 different takes on socks
View on Reddit #82232256

donut-is-appalled@reddit

Those tube socks! Those shorty shorts!
View on Reddit #82232006

samizdat5@reddit

Vital that the stripes on the socks match the shorts.
View on Reddit #82232049

donut-is-appalled@reddit

That’s just science
View on Reddit #82232220

Alternative_Gur8306@reddit

Sorry,those aren’t clothes from the late 80s
View on Reddit #82231211

No_Rain_1543@reddit

1986 is "mid" 80s
View on Reddit #82232212

inspector_ninety_9@reddit (OP)

Actually they are. VH rocked the Texxas Jam summer of 86 on the 5150 tour, hence the t-shirt.
View on Reddit #82232153

northshorehermit@reddit

Oh yeah, they are
View on Reddit #82232116

DawnInDesMoines@reddit

The guy on the right is giving me Squints from the Sandlot
View on Reddit #82231830

No_Rain_1543@reddit

![gif](giphy|F3NLGwbgAUj6) Yes
View on Reddit #82232165

og_speedfreeq@reddit

Haha i might be one of those people in the background! Good times at six flags!
View on Reddit #82230905

Minzplaying@reddit

Me too! We always had season passes back then.
View on Reddit #82232088

MargnWalkr@reddit

Toob socks
View on Reddit #82231484

WIlf_Brim@reddit

Did anybody NOT have a pair like that at some point?
View on Reddit #82231947

umeboshiplumpaste@reddit

I hope one of you has a comb in your back pocket. Are those Pony high-tops?
View on Reddit #82230389

Shorty-71@reddit

I’m guessing Jaclar. That brand only existed for a few years in the late 80’s.
View on Reddit #82231816

DrKeepitreal@reddit

Your friends still alive?
View on Reddit #82231770

earinsound@reddit

OP cord shorts, fake varnets, NO socks, checkered Vans would’ve been me if it was 1983.
View on Reddit #82231228

Shorty-71@reddit

Haven’t thought about Vuarnet (sunglasses) since 86. Thanks for that.
View on Reddit #82231759

Proof_Dragonfruit795@reddit

I loved Six Flags, what a treat finding out you were headed there. Not anymore, it attracts a rough crowd now.
View on Reddit #82231578

Diligent_Actuator950@reddit

dont forget short shorts.
View on Reddit #82231493

Skatchbro@reddit

For those of us unfamiliar with Texxas Jam. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texxas_Jam#:~:text=Texxas%20Jam%20was%20the%20informal,the%20campus%20of%20Rice%20University.
View on Reddit #82231159

Tough_Arm_2454@reddit

What's it say on the shirt on the dude in the middle?
View on Reddit #82230502

Mistervimes65@reddit

texxas jam. It’s a Van Halen shirt https://preview.redd.it/k7gvelumbosg1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3cbd3395a298ba8b13d74de7b35b5fe9ca3d633d
View on Reddit #82231013

Bladley@reddit

Apparently it’s Van Halen related but I can’t make heads or tails of it.
View on Reddit #82230895

marcduberge@reddit

Reebok
View on Reddit #82230891

JerrysKidsOnLot@reddit

TEXAS JAM !!!
View on Reddit #82230878

Antelope-Subject@reddit

Texas Jam that shirt would be worth a couple hundred today.
View on Reddit #82230873

Mistervimes65@reddit

Which park?
View on Reddit #82230803

sal_inc@reddit

Did on right is selling used cars now
View on Reddit #82230648

mrplow999@reddit

You guys look fun, wanna ride bikes?
View on Reddit #82230578

Otherwise-Mango2732@reddit

I've got a nearly identical picture with my brother at Kings Island around the same time. Really short shorts as well.
View on Reddit #82230577