THE 1980 Living Ideas Exhibition, staged at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, had lots of novel attractions, including an ice-rink made of plastic, and promotions that covered everything from nuclear power to potato peelers.

One of the stars of the show, however, was a robot named Alpha, built especially for the occasion by the South of Scotland Electricity Board. It was “manned” by actors with Dalek-like voices.

When the show’s organisers staged a preview, the Glasgow Herald was on hand as Jane Orme, who worked in sales with an electrical firm, put some tricky questions about electrical appliances to Alpha, but quickly concluded that, despite his impressive array of flashing lights, he was no micro-chip marvel.

The exhibition was a 1980s version of the then 50-year-old Modern Homes Exhibition; the new name was intended to reflect home improvement, furnishing, and energy-saving ideas, which had been developed in recent years. Goods on show ranged from authentic little Eskimo dolls and soapstone carvings, imported by an American company. There were decorative products from Greece, and trendy furniture from Scandinavia. Pine was big that year, and you could buy, at the show, a pine-framed three-piece suite for £99.

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Visitors whose homes had generous space at ceiling height were drawn to a stand offering a DIY false ceiling which could be illuminated by strip lights above. The lights, wrote a Herald journalist who attended the preview, could “even produce rainbow effects for those who are prepared to admit a psychedelic effect into their homes.”

The exhibition was opened by Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Dr Michael Kelly.