1985 History, Facts and Trivia

Quick Facts from 1985:

• World Changing Event: Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet Premier, beginning the era of “Glasnost” – openness and transparency.
• Microsoft Windows 1.0 was released.
• The Top Song was Careless Whisper by George Micheal and Wham!
• The Movies to Watch include Back to the Future, The Color Purple, Cocoon, Witness, The Breakfast Club, Desperately Seeking Susan, and Prizzi’s Honor
• The Most Famous Person in America was probably Phil Collins
• Notable books include A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice, and The Ciderhouse Rules by John Irving
• “Don’t Mess with Texas” began as an anti-littering campaign in 1985.
• Price of a Swatch Watch: $29.99
  The price of a postage stamp in 1985 was 22 cents
  Swiss Miss Cocoa: 99 cents/9 pack
• 1 ounce of gold value: $327.00
• The Funny Guy was: Steven Wright
  The Funny Late Night Host: Johnny Carson
  The Funny Later Night Host: David Letterman
• Pop Culture Censorship: The Chinese government banned Back to the Future because of its use of time travel and it was a “disrespectful portrayal of history.”

Top Ten Baby Names of 1985:

Jessica, Ashley, Jennifer, Amanda, Sarah, Michael, Chris, Topher, Matthew, Joshua, Daniel

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:

Catherine Bach, Kim Basinger, Jennifer Beals, Joan Collins, Lydia Cornell, E.G. Daily, Elvira, Morgan Fairchild, Melanie Griffith, Daryl Hannah, Kathy Ireland, Heather Langenkamp, Kelly LeBrock, Heather Locklear, Madonna, Kelli Maroney, Dolly Parton, Tatjana Patitz, Paulina Porizkova, Victoria Principal, Linnea Quigley, Tanya Roberts, Jewel Shepard, Helen Slater, Suzanne Somers, Brinke Stevens, Heather Thomas

Leading Men and Hollywood Heartthrobs:

Harrison Ford, Mick Jagger, John Travolta, Robert Redford

“The Quotes:”

“Courage”
– Dan Rather, a new ending for his daily news broadcast.

“Thank you for your support.”
– Bartles & Jaymes

“You Look Mah Va Lous”
-Billy Crystal as Fernando Lamsa

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:

Deng Xiaoping

Miss America:

Sharlene Wells (Salt Lake City, UT)

Miss USA:

Laura Martinez-Herring (Texas)

Celebrity RIP:

Airplane Celebrity Death: Ricky Nelson

Yul Brynner died of lung cancer in 1985. After his death, he had a commercial aired: ‘Now that I’m gone, I tell you: ‘Don’t smoke, whatever you do, just don’t smoke.’

The Scandals:

“Project Kansas” secretly tested a new formula for Coca-Cola that became “New Coke.” Old Coke was gone, and New Coke sold poorly for three months. ABC’s Peter Jennings interrupted General Hospital to announce the return of “Coke Classic.” New Coke was available until 1992.

American Jonathon Pollard was captured spying on the U.S. for the State of Israel.

In 1985, the mayors of Carthage and Rome formally met to end the 3rd Punic War after 2,131 years.

Space Shuttle Challenger on the mission STS-61-A in 1985 carried eight people into space from launch to landing, making it the record for the largest crew flown on a single mission.

The US Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that Long Island is legally not an island. Despite the legal decision, the United States Board on Geographic Names still considers it an island, as it is surrounded by water.

1942-1985 quick fact: Dentists used uranium in dental porcelains because it helped give them a natural color.

World News:

Space Shuttle Challenger on the mission STS-61-A in 1985 carried 8 people into space from launch to landing, making it the record for the largest crew flown on a single mission.

Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) was discovered in 1793 by the English scientist Joseph Priestley, who also discovered oxygen. For the first 40 years, it was used for recreational enjoyment and public shows. Until 1985, scientists had no idea how the gas actually worked.

Germany passed legislation in 1985 that made it illegal to deny the existence of the Holocaust.

The McRib is sold year-round at McDonald’s in Germany and has been a permanent menu item since 1985.

The US Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that Long Island is legally not an island. Despite the legal decision, the United States Board on Geographic Names still considers it an island, as it is surrounded by water.

US Politics:

January 21, 1985 (Monday): Second inauguration of Ronald Reagan

Pop Culture Facts & History:

The plastic table thingy that saves hot pizza from the top of the box was invented by Carmela Vitale (patent #4,498,586). It’s called a ”package saver.”  Some people call it a “pressure guard.”

Tommy Hilfiger started selling his menswear clothing line.

The Titanic was found 370 miles from Newfoundland.

The largest diamond in the world weighed 755.5 carats before it was cut down to 545.67 carats, and it was found in South Africa in 1985.

Queen’s 1985 Live Aid performance (seen at the end of the Bohemian Rhapsody movie) was voted the greatest live performance in rock history. Jimi Hendrix’s appearance at Woodstock in August 1969 came second, followed by the Sex Pistols in 1976, according to the BBC’s World’s Greatest Gigs.

Ferris Bueller’s actual “day off” was June 5, 1985, pinpointed by the data from the Braves vs. Cubs game he attended.

The film Mask is based on the true story of Roy Lee “Rocky” Dennis, an American boy with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, an extremely rare sclerotic bone disorder.

The Abraham Lincoln family line has been extinct since December 24, 1985, when its last undisputed descendant, Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, died without any children.

In 1985, the most powerful supercomputer on Earth had 1.9 GFLOPS of processing power. Today, one Nintendo GameCube has 9.4. The world’s fastest supercomputer was a Cray-2. A modern iPad2 has as much computing power as the Cray-2 system.

Robert Downey Jr. was on Saturday Night Live as a full-time cast member for one season in 1985.

Madison was not a name for girls until 1985. Its rise in popularity (eventually peaking at #2 in 2001) is probably because of the 1984 movie Splash, a rom-com directed by Ron Howard.

The 12-year-old girl in the photo on the June 1985 cover of National Geographic is Sharbat Gula during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Coke was the first soft drink consumed in Space when astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger tested the “Coca-Cola Space Can” on July 12, 1985.

1985’s We Built This City by Starship was named the worst song of all time by Blender, Gentlemen’s Quarterly, Rolling Stone magazines, and VHS’s special episode “The 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs… Ever.“

The movie Clue in 1985 had three different endings randomly distributed to theaters.

The 1985 film Young Sherlock Holmes was the first feature film to have a completely CGI character: the knight emerging from the stained glass window. The effect was created by Pixar’s John Lasseter, who worked at Lucasfilm then.

Disney’s The Black Cauldron (1985) did so poorly at the box office that it was released on VHS until 13 years later, and to this day, it has yet to make back even half of its $44 million budget.

Katrina and the Waves,  best known for the 1985 hit Walking on Sunshine, won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997.

In 1985, Aretha Franklin’s voice was legally declared as one of Michigan’s natural resources.

Sour Patch Kids were originally called Mars Men, but the name changed in 1985 to capitalize on the popularity of Cabbage Patch Kids.

Super Mario Brothers was so wildly popular the best-selling book in Japan in 1985 was a strategy guide for Super Mario Bros.

Phil Collins took a supersonic jet to perform for Live Aid 1985 at Wembley Stadium and JFK Stadium on the same day. On the Concorde flight, he ran into Cher, who had no idea about the concert. She attended the concert and can be seen performing as part of the concert’s We Are the World finale.

Dennis Farina was the only cast member of Law & Order who was a Cop. He served in the Burglary Division of the Chicago Police Department from 1967 – 1985.

Cloudbusting” was a term coined by psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich to describe the manipulation of “orgone energy” to change the weather through a specially designed machine. The term was later used as the subject and title of Katie Bush’s 1985 single, Cloudbusting.

Hulk Hogan and Mr. T were guests on Richard Belzer’s talk show Hot Properties. Belzer asked Hogan to put him in a wrestling move. Pressured by the audience, Hogan put Belzer in a front chin lock, and Belzer passed out and hit his head on the floor, resulting in 9 stitches.

The song 1985 by Bowling For Soup is a cover song, the original being released a year earlier by SR-71.

Heart’s 1985 hit What About Love is a cover song, too, originally written and performed by the Canadian band Toronto.

There is an official Goonies Day every year on June 7 in Astoria, Oregon. The majority of the film Goonies was filmed in Astoria, and June 7th is the day the movie was released in 1985.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1985: $525,000

 1985 Oops!

Roberto P. Hernandez was jailed for a robbery he did not commit. The authorities confused him with another man because they had the same name, birthday, weight, height, brown hair and eyes, and tattoos on their left arms. Their Social Security Numbers differed by only one digit. #oops

The Habits:

Wondering whether David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepard) would get together on TV’s Moonlighting. They did in season 3.

Watching one of the most innovative music videos of all time – Take on Me by A-ha!

1st Appearances & 1985’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:

Wearing Swatch Watches. Playing with Super Mario Brothers, She-Ra Princess of Power action figures, Care Bears, Teddy Ruxpin, My Buddy dolls, Pound Puppies, Wheel of Fortune Game

David Letterman’s First Top Ten List Appeared…

Top 10 Words That Almost Rhyme With “Peas”
10. Heats
9. Rice
8. Moss
7. ties
6. Needs
5. Lens
4. Ice
3. Nurse
2. Leaks
1. Meats

Popular and Best-selling Books From 1985:

A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Baby’s First Words by Lars Wik
Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert
The Ciderhouse Rules by John Irving
The Class by Erich Segal
Contact by Carl Sagan
Family Album by Danielle Steel
Hold The Dream by Barbara Taylor Bradford
If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond
Jubal Sackett by Louis L’Amour
Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Lucky by Jackie Collins
The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Secrets by Danielle Steel
Self-Help by Lorrie Moore
The Sicilian by Mario Puzo
Skeleton Crew by Stephen King
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub
Texas by James A. Michener
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
White Noise by Don DeLillo

East End Shows:

Me and My Girl (Musical) Opened on February 12, 1985, and closed on January 16, 1993 (revival of the 1937 musical)
Les Miserables (Musical) Opened on October 8, 1985

Broadway Show:

Big River (Musical) Opened on April 25, 1985, and closed on September 20, 1987

Best Film Oscar Winner:

Amadeus (presented in 1985)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)

1. Back To The Future
2. Rambo: First Blood Part II
3. Rocky IV
4. The Color Purple
5. Out Of Africa
6. Cocoon
7. The Jewel of the Nile
8. Witness
9. The Goonies
10. Spies Like Us

1985 Most Popular TV Shows:

1. The Cosby Show (NBC)
2. Family Ties (NBC)
3. Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
4. 60 Minutes (CBS)
5. Cheers (NBC)
6. Dallas (CBS)
7. Dynasty (ABC)
8. The Golden Girls (NBC)
9. Miami Vice (NBC)
10. Who’s the Boss? (ABC)

1985 Billboard Number One Songs:

December 22, 1984 – February 1, 1985:
Like a Virgin– Madonna

February 2 – February 15:
I Want to Know What Love Is – Foreigner

February 16 – March 8:
Careless Whisper – Wham! Featuring George Michael

March 9 – March 29:
Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon

March 30 – April 12:
One More Night – Phil Collins

April 13 – May 10:
We Are The World – USA For Africa

May 11 – May 17:
Crazy for You – Madonna

May 18 – May 24:
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds

May 25 – June 7:
Everything She Wants – Wham!

June 8 – June 21:
Everybody Wants To Rule The World – Tears For Fears

June 22 – July 5:
Heaven – Bryan Adams

July 6 – July 12:
Sussudio – Phil Collins

July 13 – July 26:
A View to a Kill – Duran Duran

July 27 – August 2:
Everytime You Go Away – Paul Young

August 3 – August 23:
Shout – Tears For Fears

August 24 – September 6:
The Power of Love – Huey Lewis & The News

September 7 – September 20:
St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) – John Parr

September 21 – October 11:
Money For Nothing – Dire Straits

October 12 – October 18:
Oh Sheila – Ready For the World

October 19 – October 25:
Take On Me – A-ha

October 26 – November 1:
Saving All My Love For You – Whitney Houston

November 2 – November 8:
Part-Time Lover – Stevie Wonder

November 9 – November 15:
Miami Vice Theme – Jan Hammer

November 16 – November 29:
We Built This City – Starship

November 30 – December 6:
Separate Lives – Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin

December 7 – December 20:
Broken Wings – Mr. Mister

December 21, 1985 – January 17, 1986:
Say You, Say Me – Lionel Richie

Sports:

World Series Champions: Kansas City Royals
Super Bowl XIX Champions: San Francisco 49ers
NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
Stanley Cup Champs: Edmonton Oilers
U.S. Open Golf Andy North
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Ivan Lendl/Hana Mandlikova
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Boris Becker/Martina Navratilova
NCAA Football Champions: Oklahoma
NCAA Basketball Champions: Villanova
Kentucky Derby: Spend A Buck

More 1985 Facts and History Resources:

Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
Broadway Shows that Opened in 1985X
1985 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
Everything 80s Podcast 1985
Fact Monster
1980s, Infoplease.com World History
Live Aid
1985 in Movies (according to IMDB)
1985 Top Movies (according to BoxOfficeMojo)
New Coke
Retrowaste Vintage Culture
The 80s(History.com)
80s and 90s Classic NES Games (1985-1994)
1980s Slang
Wikipedia 1985

1984 Trivia, History and Fun Facts

Quick Facts from 1984:

• World Changing Event: Apple Computer Inc. unveiled the Macintosh personal computer for $1,995, selling almost 250,000 in 1984.
• The Top Song was Like A Virgin by Madonna
• Influential Songs include: White Horse by Laid Back, Better Be Good to Me by Tina Turner, Jam on It by Newcleus and Thriller by Michael Jackson
• The Movies to Watch include Gremlins, Karate Kid, Ghostbusters, 16 Candles, Footloose, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai, Red Dawn, The Natural, Purple Rain, This is Spinal Tap, The Gods Must Be Crazy and Amadeus
• The Most Famous Person in The World was probably Bob Geldof
• US Life Expectancy: Males: 71.1 years, Females: 78.2 years
• Notable books include You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay and What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Arlene Eisenberg & Heidi Murkoff
• Price of a Panasonic VCR in 1984: $419 to 499.00
  120-minute JVC videotape: $9.99
  Health Club membership: $99.00/year
• The Funny Band was Spinal Tap
  The Funny Musician was: Weird Al Yankovic
  The Funny Lady was Joan Rivers
• The Question: “Where’s The Beef?” – Clara Peller, in a Wendy’s advertisement.
• The Conversation/Mystery: Did performance artist/comedian Andy Kaufman die at age 34?

Top Ten Baby Names of 1984:

Jennifer, Jessica, Ashley, Amanda, Sarah, Michael, Chris, Topher, Matthew, Joshua, David

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:

Loni Anderson, Catherine Bach, Kim Basinger, Jacqueline Bisset, Linda Blair, Christie Brinkley, Phoebe Cates, Joan Collins, Lydia Cornell, Sybil Danning, Bo Derek, Farrah Fawcett, Melanie Griffith, Daryl Hannah, Kathy Ireland, Grace Jones, Nastassja Kinski, Jessica Lange, Heather Langenkamp, Kelly LeBrock, Heather Locklear, Madonna, Kelli Maroney, Dolly Parton, Paulina Porizkova, Victoria Principal, Helen Slater, Suzanne Somers, Brinke Stevens, Catherine Mary Stewart, Heather Thomas, Mary Woronov

Leading Men and Hollywood Heartthrobs:

Mel Gibson, Michael Hutchence, Christopher Reeve, Patrick Swayze, Robert Redford

“The Quotes”

“Where’s the Beef?”
– Clara Peller, Wendy’s commercial

“I’ll be back.”
– Arnold Schwarzenegger, in The Terminator

At the height of the Cold War in 1984, President Reagan was about to appear on a radio interview and, as a soundcheck, said, “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:

Peter Ueberroth

Miss America:

Vanessa Williams (9/17/83-7/23/84) (Millwood, NJ)
Suzette Charles (7/23/84-9/15/84) (Mays Landing, NJ)

Miss USA:

Mai Shanley (New Mexico)

The Scandals:

On December 3rd, a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, began leaking 27 tons of the deadly gas methyl isocyanate. The poisonous gas leak was found at 11:45 pm, immediately before the Bhopal disaster that killed thousands; a decision was made to do something about it after the 12:15 am tea break. 20,000 people were killed, and an additional 120,000 suffered ailments from this disaster later. 

Fantasy Records sued John Fogarty for copyright infringement because his 1984 hit The Old Man Down The Road sounded too much like CCR’s 1970 hit Run Through The Jungle, a song that Fogarty wrote and produced.

Vanessa Williams, the first black Miss America, lost her crown because some ‘artsy’ nude photos taken several years earlier were published in Penthouse magazine… It was also the first time a male (George Burns) appeared on the cover. Since an underage Traci Lords was the centerfold, no one is allowed to own this particular issue either. Vanessa went on to become one of the most successful Miss Americas ever.

Singer Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was shot and killed by his father on the day before his 45th birthday.

Pop Culture Facts & History:

In Minnesota, Ronald Reagan was 3,761 votes shy of winning every state in the 1984 Presidential Election. He won 49 states and 525 electoral votes in the 1984 presidential election, the most in history.

In July 1984, President Ronald Reagan called ice cream “a nutritious and wholesome food” and established National Ice Cream Month.

In 1984, a young boy named Andy Smith wrote a letter to Ronald Reagan asking for federal funds to clean his bedroom after his mother called it a “disaster area.”

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, of the National Party, got drunk and decided to call a general election, which he lost spontaneously.

The US Federal law enacted in July 1984, which established the national minimum drinking age as 21 years old, allowed the government to withhold Federal aid to highways from States that did not quickly adapt.

The United States severed direct diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1867 in the wake of rumors of Catholic implications in the Lincoln assassination. Direct relations were reestablished in 1984.

Bruce McCandless floated in space utterly unattached to anything, 320 feet away from the space shuttle with only a nitrogen jetpack back in 1984.

Apple’s infamous “1984” ad for the Macintosh computer was secretly aired once on local television in Twin Falls, Idaho, in December 1983, a month before its national premier during Super Bowl XVIII. This allowed it to qualify for the 1984 Clio Advertising Awards.

The famous “Keyboard Cat” video was originally filmed in 1984, and its star, Fatso, died in 1987, twenty years before it was posted on YouTube.

SEGA was founded as an American company in 1953 as Service Games, and it wasn’t until 1984 that it became a Japanese company through a corporate buyout.

It took 12 years before Alexy Pajitnov, creator of Tetris in 1984, received any royalties because the rights to the game were the property of his Soviet government.

English grandmother Jane Snowball ordered groceries with her TV remote, sending them to her local store through her phone line. She was the first person ever to shop online.

Michael Dell started selling Dell Computers, targeting small businesses and households instead of high-end consumers like his competitors (IBM, Apple, Compaq).

Molecular biologist Alec Jeffreys developed DNA testing.

John Wayne Gacy’s former attorney, Sam Amirante, who heard Gacy’s original confession to over 30 murders, later went on to author the Missing Child Recovery Act of 1984, which removed the 72-hour waiting period to begin the search for a missing child.

The Boston Beer Company, makers of Samuel Adams Beer, was founded.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream was invented by ‘Ben and Jerry’s’ in 1984 after a fan anonymously listed it as an idea on their ‘flavor board.’

The ‘EGOT’ – an acronym used to designate people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony – was coined in 1984 by newly-famous Miami Vice actor Philip Michael Thomas, who stated a desire to achieve EGOT status within five years. He has never been nominated for any of the EGOT awards.

In 1984, the U.S. Army gave Donald Duck an honorable discharge in honor of his military service for appearances in Disney WWII cartoons and WWII mascots embodied in combat units of various U.S. military branches.

Bill Murray coined the modern use of the phrase “you’re toast” by ad-libbing a line in Ghostbusters.

When Dune (1984) was originally released in theaters, some locations gave out “cheat sheets” for people confused with the terminology of the Dune universe.

“Madison” was nearly unheard of as a girl’s name until 1984. In the film Splash, Daryl Hannah’s character names herself Madison after reading a street sign. Tom Hanks’ character tells her that Madison isn’t a real name.

The first movie rated PG-13 was 1984’s Red Dawn, starring Patrick Swayze.

Marvel Comics G.I. Joe #21 (1984) was a completely silent issue. Writer/Artist Larry Hama told a complete story: beginning, middle, end, conflict, characterization, action, and solid resolution, without word balloons, captions, or sound effects.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first appeared in comic books. In 1987, the first TMNT cartoons appeared.

Only eight actors voiced all 66 characters with speaking roles in the 1984 cartoon series ThunderCats.

Ringo Starr was the narrator for Thomas the Tank Engine from 1984 to 1990.

British comedian Tommy Cooper had a heart attack and died on live television. The audience assumed it was part of his act and laughed/applauded during his final moments.

Weird Al Yankovic’s single “Eat It” reached number 1 in Australia. It outranked the song that it was making a parody of, Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” which only reached number 3.

Freddie Mercury took a nasty fall and severely hurt his leg midway through a show. He and the band decided it wouldn’t be fair to fans to end it, so he performed Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You & We Are the Champions, seated at his piano.

In 1984, the band Yes created 18 different versions of the music video for their song Leave It, which was played in a marathon on MTV.

American Kim Coberly Hula-Hooped for 72 hours in October 2004.

The 1984 World Chess Championship was abandoned with no winner after 48 games over five months, with 40 of the games ending in draws.

Gary Player played the lowest PGA score of 63.

Uday Hussein, son of Saddam Hussein, was named Chairman of the Iraqi Olympic Committee in 1984. Athletes who disappointed him were subject to torture and imprisonment.

Mcdonald’s introduced the McDLT, which sold in a specially designed two-sided container that kept the hamburger “hot” while keeping the lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, and sauces “cool.” It was discontinued in the early 90s as McDonald’s removed polystyrene packaging.

During the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Mcdonalds ran a nationwide promotion offering free products every time a US athlete won a medal. It turned into their most costly promotion ever when the Soviet Union, the powerhouse team of the time, boycotted the event, letting the USA win many more medals than expected.

Javelin thrower Uwe Hohn threw a distance of 104.8m and became the first and only athlete in history to break the 100m barrier. Shortly afterwards some changes in the design of javelins were implemented and the records had to be restarted, turning his mark into an “eternal world record”.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1984: $368,000

Doomsday Clock:

3 minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
1984: “U.S.-Soviet relations reach their iciest point in decades. Dialogue between the two superpowers virtually stops. “Every channel of communications has been constricted or shut down; every form of contact has been attenuated or cut off. And arms control negotiations have been reduced to a species of propaganda,” a concerned Bulletin informs readers. The United States seems to flout the few arms control agreements in place by seeking an expansive, space-based anti-ballistic missile capability, raising worries that a new arms race will begin.”

The Habit:

Playing Trivial Pursuit, listening to a sex therapist and expert Dr. Ruth Westheimer (born June 4, 1928), and watching Robin Leach’s Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

1st Appearances & 1984’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:

Cabbage Patch Kids (again), Trivial Pursuit (specialty editions), Transformers

Do They Know It’s Christmas was released.

Written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, it was produced by Trevor Horn to help people in Ethiopia. The band was named “Band-Aid” and recorded the song and raw video footage within a day. The band included:

Adam Clayton (U2)
Phil Collins (Genesis)
Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats)
Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
Chris Cross (Ultravox)
John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Paul Young
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats)
Marilyn
Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Jody Watley (Shalamar)
Bono (U2)
Paul Weller (The Style Council)
James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & the Gang)
George Michael (Wham!)
Midge Ure (Ultravox)
Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
Sarah Dallin (Bananarama)
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats)
Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
Robert ‘Kool’ Bell (Kool & the Gang)
Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & the Gang)
Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
Jon Moss (Culture Club)
Sting (The Police)
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats)
David Bowie
Boy George (Culture Club)
Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
Paul McCartney
Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
Bruce Watson (Big Country)
Tony Butler (Big Country)
Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

**Wham! donated all the royalties from “Last Christmas”—released December 1984—to Ethiopia famine aid.**

Popular and Best-selling Books From 1984:

“…And Ladies of the Club” by Helen Hooven Santmyer
The Aquitaine Progression by Robert Ludlum
The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss
First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer
First Lady from Plains by Rosalynn Carter
The Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth
Full Circle by Danielle Steel
Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Iacocca: an Autobiography by Lee Iacocca with William Novak
In Search of Excellence by Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman Jr.
The Kennedys: an American Drama by Peter Collier and David Horowitz
The Life and Hard Times of Heidi Abromowitz by Joan Rivers
Lincoln by Gore Vidal
Love and War by John Jakes
Loving Each Other by Leo Buscaglia
Mayor by Edward I. Koch with William Rauch
Money by Martin Amis
Motherhood: the Second Oldest Profession by Erma Bombeck
Neuromancer by William Gibson
The Sicilian by Mario Puzo
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub
Thinner by Stephen King
The Wasp Family by Iain Banks
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundra
Who Killed the Robins Family? by Thomas Chastain

Best Film Oscar Winner:

Terms of Endearment (presented in 1984)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)

1. Beverly Hills Cop
2. Ghostbusters
3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
4. Gremlins
5. The Karate Kid
6. Police Academy
7. Footloose
8. Romancing The Stone
9. Star Trek III: The Search For Spock
10. Splash

1984 Most Popular TV Shows:

1. Dynasty (ABC)
2. Dallas (CBS)
3. The Cosby Show (NBC)
4. 60 Minutes (CBS)
5. Family Ties (NBC)
6. The A-Team (NBC)
7. Simon & Simon (CBS)
8. Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
9. Knots Landing (CBS)
10. Falcon Crest (CBS)

1984 Billboard Number One Songs

December 10, 1983 – January 20, 1984:
Say Say Say – Paul McCartney featuring Michael Jackson

January 21 – February 3:
Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes

February 4 – February 24:
Karma Chameleon – Culture Club

February 25 – March 20:
Jump – Van Halen

March 31 – April 20:
Footloose – Kenny Loggins

April 21 – May 11:
Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) – Phil Collins

May 12 – May 25:
Hello – Lionel Richie

May 26 – June 8:
Let’s Hear It For The Boy – Deniece Williams

June 9 – June 22:
Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper

June 23 – July 6:
The Reflex – Duran Duran

July 7 – August 10:
When Doves Cry – Prince

August 11 – August 31:
Ghostbusters – Ray Parker, Jr.

September 1 – September 21:
What’s Love Got to Do With It – Tina Turner

September 22 – September 28:
Missing You – John Waite

September 29 – October 12:
Let’s Go Crazy – Prince & The Revolution

October 13 – November 2:
I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder

November 3 – November 16:
Caribbean Queen (No More Love On the Run) – Billy Ocean

November 17 – December 7:
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!

December 8 – December 21:
Out of Touch – Hall & Oates

December 22, 1984 – February 1, 1985:
Like a Virgin – Madonna

Sports:

World Series Champions:     Detroit Tigers
Super Bowl XVIII Champions:     Los Angeles Raiders
NBA Champions:     Boston Celtics
Stanley Cup Champs:     Edmonton Oilers
U.S. Open Golf     Fuzzy Zoeller
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies)     John McEnroe/Martina Navratilova
Wimbledon (Men/Women):     John McEnroe/Martina Navratilova
NCAA Football Champions:     BYU
NCAA Basketball Champions:     Georgetown
Kentucky Derby:     Swale

More 1984 Facts and History Resources:

Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
Broadway Shows that Opened in 1984X
1984 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
Everything 80s Podcast 1984
Fact Monster
Back In Time 1980s Timeline Thoughtco.com
1980s, Infoplease.com World History
Millennial Generation (1981-1996)
1984 in Movies (according to IMDB)
1984 Top Movies (according to BoxOfficeMojo)
Retrowaste Vintage Culture
80s Facts About the 80s(Mental Floss)
1980s Slang
1984 Events BestlifeOnline
Wikipedia 1984

1983 History, Facts and Trivia

Quick Facts from 1983:

• World-Changing Event: President Reagan referred to the Soviet Union as an “Evil Empire” in a speech in Florida.
• The Top Song was Every Breath You Take by The Police
• Influential Songs include: Rockit by Herbie Hancock, Puttin’ On The Ritz – Taco, She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby, She Works Hard for the Money by Donna Summer and Flashdance (What A Feeling) by Irene Cara
• The Movies to Watch include WarGames, Yellowbeard, Zelig, Silkwood, The Outsiders, Yentl, The Big Chill, A Christmas Story, Vacation, and Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
• The Most Famous Person in America was probably Michael Jackson
• Notable books include Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins
• Programmer Jaron Lanier first coined the term “virtual reality.”
• The final TV episode of M*A*S*H aired on CBS, an estimated 125 million watched in the US.
• Price of 15 oz Arnold Stuffing mix in 1983: $1.35
  Swiss Cheese: $3.49/pound
• The Funny Guy was Eddie Murphy
  The Funny Duo was Cheech and Chong
• The Conversation: Mr. Rogers Neighborhood aired a 5 episode arc about nuclear war titled Conflict in November 1983. The episodes have not aired in reruns since.

Notable events that took place in 1983:

• The first edition of the mobile phone game Snake was released on the Nokia 6110.
• The United States invaded Grenada, a small island nation in the Caribbean.
• The United States and the Soviet Union signed a treaty to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles.
• The space shuttle Challenger was launched for the first time.
• The first edition of the Apple Macintosh computer went on sale.
• Sally Ride became the first American woman in space.
• The Soviet Union shot down a Korean Airlines passenger plane, killing all 269 people on board.

Top Ten Baby Names of 1983:

Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda, Ashley, Sarah, Michael, Chris, Topher, Matthew, David, Joshua

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:

Loni Anderson, Catherine Bach, Kim Basinger, Jennifer Beals, Jacqueline Bisset, Christie Brinkley, Anne Carlisle, Phoebe Cates, Joan Collins, Lydia Cornell, Linda Evans, Farrah Fawcett, Deborah Foreman, Daryl Hannah, Goldie Hawn, Grace Jones, Nastassja Kinski, Jessica Lange, Heather Locklear, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Victoria Principal, Betsy Russell, Brooke Shields, Suzanne Somers, Cheryl Tiegs, Heather Thomas, Mary Woronov, Sean Young

Hollywood Hunks and Leading Men:

Tom Cruise, Burt Reynolds, John Travolta, Richard Gere, Sean Connery

“The Quotes”

“Go ahead, make my day”
– Clint Eastwood in Sudden Impact

“Say hello to my little friend!”
– Tony Montana in Scarface

“Would you like to play a game?”
– NORAD W.O.P.R. in WarGames

Time Magazine’s Men of the Year:

Ronald Reagan and Yuri Andropov

Miss America:

Debra Maffett (Anaheim, CA)

Miss USA:

Julie Hayek (California)

The Good Stuff:

Jim Thorpe regained his 1912 decathlon and pentathlon Olympic Gold Medals 30 years after his death. They were originally taken from him because it was revealed that he played professional minor-league baseball for a season in 1908.

Captain Bob Pearson landed Flight 143, piloting an Air Canada Boeing 767, at the RCAF Station Gimli, a closed air force base, with several mechanical failures and NO FUEL.

The Scandals:

Germany’s Der Stern magazine obtained Adolf Hitler’s secret diaries. After announcing them and showing them to the world, it was discovered that they were fake.

Korean Air flight 007 was shot down over Soviet airspace without warning.

Pop Star Death:

Karen Carpenter (eating disorder) The word ‘anorexia’ entered the American vocabulary.

Pop Culture Facts & History:

Scarface (1983), starring Al Pacino, is a remake of the 1932 original film about Italian immigrant Antonio “Tony” Camonte, a Chicago gangster, both based on a 1929 novel of the same name by Armitage Trai, based on Al Capone.

Actor Kevin Costner was ‘the dead guy in the opening of the film The Big Chill, but we never saw his face.

In 1983’s Return of the Jedi, Garrett Brown walked through the forest shooting at less than one frame per second for the speeder chase. By walking at about 5 mph and projecting the footage at 24 frame/s, the motion seen in the film appeared as if it were moving at around 120 mph.

In their 1983 film Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, the Pythons defined the meaning of life as “Try to be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”

In a 1983 court case, the New York Times conceded that their ‘Bestseller List’ is not “objective factual content” or a comprehensive list of the country’s best-selling books but admitted it was ‘editorial content.’

Austria does not usually allow dual citizenship, but they made a special exception for Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1983 when he became a US citizen.

In 1983, Russian Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Petrov heroically prevented a full retaliatory nuclear attack against the United States and NATO allies when his Oko nuclear early warning system detected 6 missiles coming from the US and immediately declared it a false alarm.

Peter Reyn-Bardt confessed to the murder and dismemberment of his wife in 1983 after a corpse was discovered in the town peat bog. The body was then dated to 1740 AD, and Reyn-Bardt tried to retract his confession but was still convicted.

Donna Griffiths started sneezing on January 13th,1981, and didn’t stop until September 16th, 1983(997th day). It’s estimated she sneezed 1 million times in the first 365 days.

The 1983 United States Invasion of Grenada was planned using a tourist map and a copy of The Economist.

Earth’s lowest reliably measured temperature was −128.6 °F, recorded in Antarctica in 1983.

The modern computer mouse was invented.

The first video game console with the ability to install video games over the internet was the Atari 2600 in 1983.

Purina’s Chuck Wagon dog food was given a promotional video game for the Atari 2600 called “Chase the Chuck Wagon”. It could only be received by proof of purchase labels and now a very collectible Atari 2600 video game.

Video game revenues peaked at around $3.2 billion in 1983, then fell to around $100 million by 1985 (a drop of almost 97 percent). The crash abruptly ended what is retrospectively considered the second generation of console video gaming in North America.

As a consequence of the Video game crash 1983, Atari discreetly buried much of its excess stock and unsold stock of earlier games in a landfill near Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Redondo Beach, CA, adopted the Goodyear Blimp as the city’s official bird in 1983.

Lake Mead, the reservoir behind Hoover Dam in Nevada/Arizona, hasn’t been at total capacity since 1983.

In 1966 Dick Shulze founded his stereo store, “The Sound of Music.” In 1983, he renamed it “Best Buy” and started the current chain of home electronics stores.

NBC’s 1983 fall shows were canceled by the end of their first season. This is the first and only time this has happened in television history.

Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was the best-selling album in the U.S. for two years straight, sold 32 million copies worldwide by 1983, and was certified 34x Platinum by the RIAA in 2021, making it one of only two albums ever to get more than 3x Diamond certified. The Eagles Greatest Hits (1971–1975) is number one.

Sally Ride became the first American woman in Space. At the time, reporters asked her questions like “Do you cry when things go wrong on the job?” and “Will the flight affect your reproductive organs?”

J. Crew began selling through a mail-order catalog.

The oldest continuous trophy in sports is America’s Cup. It started in 1851, with Americans winning for 132 consecutive years until Australia took the Cup in 1983.

The 1983 Dodge Caravan was the first car with built-in cup holders.

In 1983, Redondo Beach, California, adopted the Goodyear Blimp as the official city bird.

Walter Johnson’s record of 3508 career strikeouts stood for nearly 50 years before 3 different pitchers (Ryan, Carlton, & Perry) each broke the record in the 1983 season.

Troy Aikman was Oklahoma’s 1983 high school typing champion.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1983: $400,000

The Habits:

Showing off your Swatch Watches, showing off your Break Dancing moves, Wacky Wallwalkers were octo-shaped sticky toys that could be tossed against a wall, then slowly ‘slime’ their way down.

1st Appearances & 1983’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:

The must-have Christmas toys are Nintendo Entertainment System, My Little Pony, Care Bears, WereBears stuffed bears, and Cabbage Patch Kids.

Popular and Best-selling Books From 1983:

Cathedral by Raymond Carver
Changes by Danielle Steel
Christine by Stephen King
Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins
The Little Drummer Girl by John le Carré
The Lonesome Gods by Louis L’Amour
The Loser by Thomas Bernhard
Mistral’s Daughter by Judith Krantz
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Peek-a-Boo, I See You by Joan Phillips
Poland by James A. Michener
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
Poland by James Michener
Return of the Jedi by James Kahn
Space by James Michener
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi by Joan D. Vinge
White Gold Wielder by Stephen R. Donaldson
Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin

Broadway Show

La Cage aux Folles (Musical) Opened on August 21, 1983, and closed on November 15, 1987

Best Film Oscar Winner:

Gandhi (presented in 1983)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)

1. Return Of The Jedi
2. Terms of Endearment
3. Flashdance
4. Trading Places
5. WarGames
6. Octopussy
7. Sudden Impact
8. Staying Alive
9. Mr. Mom
10. Risky Business

1983 Most Popular TV Shows:

1. Dallas (CBS)
2. 60 Minutes (CBS)
3. Dynasty (ABC)
4. The A-Team (NBC)
5. Simon & Simon (CBS)
6. Magnum, P.I. (CBS)
7. Falcon Crest (CBS)
8. Kate & Allie (CBS)
9. Hotel (ABC)
10. Cagney & Lacey (CBS)

1983 Billboard Number One Songs:

December 18, 1982 – January 14, 1983:
Maneater – Hall & Oates

January 15 – February 11:
Down Under – Men at Work

February 12 – February 18:
Africa – Toto

February 19 – March 4:
Baby, Come To Me – Patti Austin featuring James Ingram

March 5 – April 22:
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson

April 23 – April 29:
Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners

April 30 – May 20:
Beat It – Michael Jackson

May 21 – May 27:
Let’s Dance – David Bowie

May 28 – July 8:
Flashdance… What A Feeling – Irene Cara

July 9 – September 2:
Every Breath You Take – The Police

September 3 – September 9:
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics

September 10 – September 23:
Maniac – Michael Sembello

September 24 – September 30:
Tell Her About It – Billy Joel

October 1 – October 28:
Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler

October 29 – November 11:
Islands In the Stream – Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton

November 12 – December 9:
All Night Long (All Night) – Lionel Richie

December 10, 1983 – January 20, 1984:
Say Say Say – Paul McCartney featuring Michael Jackson

Sports:

World Series Champions: Baltimore Orioles
Super Bowl XVII Champions: Washington Redskins
NBA Champions: Philadelphia 76ers
Stanley Cup Champs: New York Islanders
U.S. Open Golf Larry Nelson
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Jimmy Connors/Martina Navratilova
Wimbledon (Men/Women): John McEnroe/Martina Navratilova
NCAA Football Champions: Miami
NCAA Basketball Champions: North Carolina State
Kentucky Derby: Sunny’s Halo

More 1983 Facts and History Resources:

Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
Beirut Barracks Bombings
Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
Broadway Shows that Opened in 1983X
1983 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
Everything 80s Podcast 1983
Fact Monster
1980s, Infoplease.com World History
Lech Walesa Nobel Peace Prize
1983 in Movies (according to IMDB)
1983 Top Movies (according to BoxOfficeMojo)
Retrowaste Vintage Culture
The 80s(History.com)
1980s Slang
1980s Timeline (Security and Exchange Commission)
Wikipedia 1983

1981 History, Facts and Trivia

Quick Facts from 1981:

• World-Changing Event: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was recognized in 1981, and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was identified in 1984.
• The Top Song was Physical by Olivia Newton-John
• The Movies to Watch include Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Superman II, The Cannonball Run, Time Bandits, Arthur, An American Werewolf in London and Clash of the Titans
• The Most Famous Person in America was probably Diana, Princess of Wales
• Notable books include The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving and When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner
• Price of a Rubick’s Cube: $3.99
  Sharp VHS Videocassette recorder: $599 to $950
  Minimum Wage in 1981: $3.35 per hour
• The Funny Guy was Rodney Dangerfield
  The Funny Duo was: Cheech and Chong
• The Conversation: What happened to cause the death of actress Natalie Wood while on a boating trip with then-husband Robert Wagner, actor Christopher Walken, and captain Dennis Davern?

Top Ten Baby Names of 1981:

Jennifer, Jessica, Amanda, Sarah, Melissa, Michael, Chris, Topher, Matthew, Jason, David

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:

Loni Anderson, Barbara Bach, Catherine Bach, Kim Basinger, Valerie Bertinelli, Jacqueline Bisset, Christie Brinkley, Charo, Joan Collins, Lydia Cornell, Bo Derek, Linda Evans, Morgan Fairchild, Farrah Fawcett, Jane Fonda, Erin Gray, Debbie Harry, Goldie Hawn, Marilu Henner, Lauren Hutton, Grace Jones, Nastassja Kinski, Jessica Lange, Olivia Newton-John, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Victoria Principal, Tanya Roberts, Diana Ross, Brooke Shields, Jacquelyn Smith, Suzanne Somers, Donna Summer, Heather Thomas, Cheryl Tiegs, Charlene Tilton, Mary Woronov

Leading Men and Hollywood Heartthrobs:

Harrison Ford, Mickey Rourke, Warren Beatty, Burt Reynolds, John Travolta

“The Quotes”

“You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans. “
– President Ronald Reagan

“Betcha can’t eat just one”
-Lay’s Potato Chips

“No wire hangers, ever!”
– Faye Dunaway, in ‘Mommie Dearest’

“Listen to me, mister. You’re my knight in shining armor. Don’t you forget it. You’re going to get back on that horse, and I’m going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we’re gonna go, go, go!”
– Katharine Hepburn, in ‘On Golden Pond’

“We bring good things to life”
-General Electric (GE)

“Be all that you can be”
– United States Army ad

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:

Lech Walesa

Miss America:

Susan Powell (Elk City, OK)

Miss USA:

Kim Seelbrede (Ohio)

The Scandals:

Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke cooked up a story about an 8-year-old heroin addict named Jimmy. He didn’t exist, but her pleas that he could have existed didn’t stop her from getting in trouble.

Jack Henry Abbott was a felon/murderer/bank robber who wrote In the Belly of the Beast while in prison. Norman Mailer and others vouched for him… he was released and soon stabbed an employee at a restaurant who told him he could not use the employee’s restroom. Back in prison, he killed himself in 2002.

Actress Drowning Death:

Actress Natalie Wood died, apparently falling overboard after a day/night sailing with hubby Robert Wagner and mutual friend Christopher Walken.

Actor Injury Death:

William Holden was drunk, fell and cut his head open. He didn’t realize how injured he was, didn’t call for help, and died from what should have been fairly easy stitching. He was also probably the actor Suzanne Vega “never heard of” mentioned in her hit Tom’s Diner.

Pop Star Automobile Death:

Harry Chapin

US Politics:

January 20, 1981 (Tuesday): First inauguration of Ronald Reagan

Pop Culture Facts & History:

MTV began on August 1st. The first video, all vidNerds know was ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ by the Buggles. The second was Pat Benatar’s ‘You Better Run.’

Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

“Bulimia” was the new word du jour.

The Smurfs, created in 1958, the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series brought them into American pop culture. Though many fans think Smurfette was the only female Smurf, there were actually two more – Nanny Smurf and Sassette Smurf. There was no Smurfina.

Prince Charles married Lady Diana on July 29, 1981. It was on TV and in all the newspapers.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1981: $275,000

Doomsday Clock:

4 minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
1981: “The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan hardens the U.S. nuclear posture. Before he leaves office, President Jimmy Carter pulls the United States from the Olympic Games in Moscow and considers ways in which the United States could win a nuclear war. The rhetoric only intensifies with the election of Ronald Reagan as president. Reagan scraps any talk of arms control and proposes that the best way to end the Cold War is for the United States to win it.”

The Habits:

Working on the Rubik’s Cube, Donkey Kong, Frogger (arcade), playing with He-Man and the Masters of the Universe action figures.

Popular and Best-selling Books From 1981:

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
An Indecent Obsession by Colleen McCullough
The Covenant by James Michener
Cujo by Stephen King
The Glitter Dome by Joseph Wambaugh
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
Goodbye, Janette by Harold Robbins
Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith
The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
Lanark by Alasdair Gray
Masquerade by Kit Williams
Noble House by James Clavell
Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak
Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme
The Third Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders
No Time for Tears by Cynthia Freeman
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver
When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner

East End Show – Cats (Musical) Opened on May 11, 1981 and closed on May 11, 2002

Broadway Show – Dreamgirls (Musical) Opened on December 20, 1981 and closed on August 11, 1985

Best Film Oscar Winner:

Ordinary People (presented in 1981)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
2. On Golden Pond
3. Superman II
4. Arthur
5. Stripes
6. The Cannonball Run
7. Chariots Of Fire
8. For Your Eyes Only
9. The Four Seasons
10. Time Bandits

1981 Most Popular TV Shows:

1. Dallas (CBS)
2. 60 Minutes (CBS)
3. The Jeffersons (CBS)
4. Three’s Company (ABC)
5. Alice (CBS)
6. The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS)
7. Too Close For Comfort (ABC)
8. ABC Monday Night Movie (ABC)
9. M*A*S*H (CBS)
10. One Day at a Time (CBS)

1981 Billboard Number One Songs:

December 27, 1980 – January 30, 1981:
(Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon

January 31 – February 6:
The Tide Is High – Blondie

February 7 – February 20:
Celebration Kool & The Gang

February 21 – March 6:
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton

March 7 – March 20:
I Love A Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt

March 21 – March 27:
Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon

March 28 – April 10:
Rapture – Blondie

April 11 – May 1:
Kiss On My List – Hall & Oates

May 2 – May 15:
Morning Train (Nine To Five) – Sheena Easton

May 16 – July 17:
Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes

July 18 – July 24:
Medley – Stars on 45

July 25 – July 31:
The One That You Love – Air Supply

August 1 – August 14:
Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield

August 15 – October 16:
Endless Love – Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

October 17 – November 6:
Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Christopher Cross

November 7 – November 20:
Private Eyes – Hall & Oates

November 21, 1981 – January 29, 1982:
Physical – Olivia Newton-John

Sports:

World Series Champions: Los Angeles Dodgers
Super Bowl XV Champions: Oakland Raiders
NBA Champions: Boston Celtics
Stanley Cup Champs: New York Islanders
U.S. Open Golf David Graham
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) John McEnroe/Tracy Austin
Wimbledon (Men/Women): John McEnroe/Chris Evert
NCAA Football Champions: Clemson
NCAA Basketball Champions: Indiana
Kentucky Derby: Pleasant Colony

More 1981 Facts and History Resources:

Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
Broadway Shows that Opened in 1981X
1981 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
Everything 80s Podcast 1981
Fact Monster
Back In Time 1980s Timeline Thoughtco.com
1980s, Infoplease.com World History
Millennial Generation (1981-1996)
1981 in Movies (according to IMDB)
1981 Top Movies (according to BoxOfficeMojo)
Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ Wedding
Retrowaste Vintage Culture
President Ronald Reagan
The 80s(History.com)
1980s Slang
1980 US Census Fast Facts
Wikipedia 1981

1980 Fun Facts, Trivia and History

Quick Facts from 1980:

• The Miracle On Ice: At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, the US men’s hockey team amazed the world (and themselves) by beating the Soviet Union.
• The Top Song was Lady by Kenny Rogers
• The Movies to Watch include Airplane!, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Flash Gordon, The Elephant Man, The Blues Brothers, The Shining and The Empire Strikes Back
• The Most Famous Person in America was probably John Lennon
• Notable books include Cosmos by Carl Sagan and The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
• Price of a loaf of bread in 1980: 50 cents
  Price of a gallon of gas in 1980: $1.22
  Etch-A-Sketch: $4.97
  Rubick’s Cube: $9.99
• The Comeback Funny Guy was: Redd Foxx
  The Funny Late Night Host: Johnny Carson
  The Funny Duo was: Cheech and Chong
• The Conversation: Who Shot J.R on CBS-TV’s Dallas?

1980 History Rundown:

• January 4 – U.S. Imposed Grain Embargo on USSR: President Jimmy Carter announced a grain embargo against the Soviet Union in response to its invasion of Afghanistan.
• January 6 – Global Positioning System (GPS) Time Epoch Began: The GPS time system was initiated, providing a new standard for precise timekeeping.
• February 13 – Opening of the 1980 Winter Olympics: The Winter Olympics commenced in Lake Placid, New York, featuring the “Miracle on Ice” hockey game.
• March 21 – U.S. Announced Boycott of Moscow Olympics: The United States declared it would boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
• April 17 – Zimbabwe Gained Independence: Zimbabwe became an independent nation, with Robert Mugabe as its first Prime Minister.
• May 4 – Death of Yugoslav Leader Josip Broz Tito: President Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia passed away at the age of 87, leading to a state funeral attended by numerous world leaders.
• May 8 – WHO Declared Eradication of Smallpox: The World Health Organization announced the global eradication of smallpox, marking a significant victory in public health.
• May 18 – Eruption of Mount St. Helens: Mount St. Helens in Washington state erupted, causing significant destruction and loss of life.
• July 19 – Opening of the 1980 Summer Olympics: The Summer Olympics began in Moscow, marked by a significant boycott led by the United States.
• August 31 – Gdańsk Agreement Signed in Poland: The Polish government signed the Gdańsk Agreement with striking workers, creating the Solidarity movement.
• September 22 – Outbreak of Iran-Iraq War: Iraq invaded Iran, initiating a protracted and devastating conflict between the two nations.
• October 10 – Earthquake in Algeria: A powerful earthquake struck Algeria, resulting in significant casualties and damage.
• November 4 – Ronald Reagan Elected U.S. President: Ronald Reagan won the U.S. presidential election, defeating incumbent Jimmy Carter.
• December 8 – Assassination of John Lennon: Former Beatle John Lennon was shot and killed outside his New York City apartment by Mark David Chapman.
• December 12 – Daegu Subway Fire in South Korea: A tragic fire occurred in the Daegu subway, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries.
• December 24 – Release of the First Personal Computer: The first personal computer, the IBM PC, was released, revolutionizing the computing industry.
• December 31 – Adoption of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act: The U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, imposing sanctions on South Africa to protest its apartheid policies.
• Continuation of the Cold War: The Cold War persisted, with tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union influencing global politics.
•  Advancements in Space Exploration: Significant progress was made in space exploration, including missions by NASA and the Soviet space program.
• Rise of the Personal Computer Industry: The personal computer industry experienced significant growth, with companies like Apple and IBM introducing new models.

Top Ten Baby Names of 1980:

Jennifer, Amanda, Jessica, Melissa, Sarah, Heather, Nicole, Amy, Elizabeth, Michelle
Michael, Christopher, Jason, David, James, Matthew, Joshua, John, Robert, Joseph

The Hotties, Sex Symbols, and Fashion Icons:

Loni Anderson, Susan Anton, Barbara Bach, Catherine Bach, Kim Basinger, Valerie Bertinelli, Jacqueline Bisset, Christie Brinkley, Lynda Carter, Charo, Lydia Cornell, Sybil Danning, Bo Derek, Morgan Fairchild, Farrah Fawcett, Jane Fonda, Erin Gray, Shelly Hack, Debbie Harry, Goldie Hawn, Marilu Henner, Lauren Hutton, Cheryl Ladd, Olivia Newton-John, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Bernadette Peters, Victoria Principal, Tanya Roberts, Diana Ross, Jane Seymour, Brooke Shields, Jacquelyn Smith, Suzanne Somers, Donna Summer, Cheryl Tiegs, Charlene Tilton, Mary Woronov

Hollywood Hunks and Leading Men:

Richard Gere, Christopher Reeve, Burt Reynolds, John Travolta

“The Quotes”

“Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon? “
-Grey Poupon

“Who Shot JR?”
– Fans of CBS’s Dallas television series

“Here’s Johnny!”
– Jack Nicholson, in The Shining

“You dipstick”
– Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on The Dukes of Hazzard

Striker: “Surely you can’t be serious?!”
Rumack: “I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.”
– Robert Hays and Leslie Nielsen, in Airplane!

“No, I am your father” (NOT Luke, I am your father)
-Darth Vader, to a surprised Luke Skywalker

“Do you believe in miracles? YES!”
– Sportscaster Al Michaels, after The Miracle On Ice

“Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a miracle…It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole!”
– Bill Murray, in ‘Caddyshack’

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:

Ronald Reagan

Miss America:

Cheryl Prewitt (Ackerman, MS)

Miss USA:

Shawn Weatherly (South Carolina) /Jineane Ford (Arizona)

1980 Deaths:

On May 18, Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington, killing 57 people.

Mark David Chapman shot and killed former Beatles member John Lennon outside Lennon’s residence at the Dakota, in NYC.

Ian Curtis, singer-songwriter of acclaimed English post-punk band Joy Division, hanged himself in his kitchen. His bandmates later formed the band New Order.

AC/DC frontman Bon Scott died after a night of heavy drinking in London.

Dorothy Stratten, the 1980 Playboy Playmate of the Year, was murdered by estranged husband Paul Leslie Snider, who then committed suicide.

The Pennsylvania Lottery was rigged by six men, including the live TV drawing host, Nick Perry.

The Killer Clown (John Wayne Gacy Jr.) was sentenced to death for the murder of 33 boys and young men between 1972 and 1978.

Philadelphia Crime Boss Angelo Bruno was shot and killed while in his car in front of his home at the intersection of 10th Street and Snyder Avenue in South Philadelphia.

The Washington Post published Janet Cooke’s story of Jimmy, an 8-year-old heroin addict, later proven to be fabricated. She won a Pulitzer Prize for the story.

World News

The Iran-Iraq war began in September when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered his forces to invade Western Iran. Over 1,000,000 people were killed by the time a cease-fire was agreed in 1988.

Robert Mugabe was elected Prime Minister of Zimbabwe.

On January 6, The Global Positioning System time epoch began at 00:00 UTC. It is one of the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that provides geolocation and time information to a GPS receiver anywhere on or near the Earth.

On May 8, the global eradication of smallpox was certified by the World Health Organization.

Miracle On Ice: The United States Olympic ice hockey team amazed the world at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics on February 22nd, when they beat the Soviet national team. In 1999, Sports Illustrated named the “Miracle on Ice” the top sports moment of the 20th century.

President Jimmy Carter signed Proclamation 4771, which required 18- to 25-year-old American males to register for a peacetime military draft.

A severe summer heatwave in the Southern US Caused over 1,100 deaths.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) superfund law was passed by the US Congress.

30% of United States car sales were imported.

Tim Berners-Lee began his work on ENQUIRE, the system that would eventually lead to his creation of the World Wide Web in 1990.

Abscam: FBI personnel target members of the Congress of the United States in a sting operation. 7 members of the US House of Representatives and 4 Philadelphia area politicians were convicted of bribery.

Pop Culture Facts & History

A computer modem was invented.

The album Back in Black, one of the Top 10 best-selling albums of all time, was released by the Australian band AC/DC.

Video Games became popular with Pac-Man, Battlezone, Missile Command, Space Panic, Zork I, and Olympic Decathlon. Electronic Games hosted the first Arcade Awards and video game awards ceremony, with Space Invaders winning the Game of the Year Award.

Erno Rubik patented his “Magic Cube” in Hungary in 1975. Debuting at The British Toy and Hobby Fair in January, by May 1980, it became a worldwide sensation.

There has been some debate about 3M’s Post-it notes. The product was used in a test marketing campaign in 1978 as ‘Post N Peel’, and sold nationally in 1980 as ‘Post-it Notes.’ New products are in ‘test mode’ all the time. Created in 1975 by Spencer Silver and Art Fry, we say they went on sale in 1980.

Whole Foods was founded in Austin, Texas.

CNN began broadcasting from Atlanta, Georgia.

Launched in 1977, The Voyager 1 probe confirmed the existence of Janus, a moon of Saturn.

The United States led a boycott of the Moscow Summer Olympics to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 82 countries boycotted the Games, and athletes from 16 of them participated under a neutral flag.

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Kansas City Royals, 4–1, in Game Six of the World Series to win the World Series Championship.

According to the 1980 United States Census, 226,545,805 United States residents are there.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1980: $222,000

Doomsday Clock: 

7 minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
1980: Thirty-five years after the start of the nuclear age and after some promising disarmament gains, the United States and the Soviet Union still view nuclear weapons as an integral component of their national security. This stalled progress discourages the Bulletin: “[The Soviet Union and United States have] been behaving like what may best be described as ‘nucleoholics’–drunks who continue to insist that the drink being consumed is positively ‘the last one,’ but who can always find a good excuse for ‘just one more round.’”

The Habits:

Playing Rubik’s Cube, Pac-Man, Centipede (arcade), Reading The Official Preppy Handbook
Guessing ‘Who shot J.R.?’ (it was Kristin Shepard, played by Mary Crosby)

1st Appearances & 1980’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:

Rubik’s Cube, Magna doodle

Popular and Best-selling Books From 1980

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
Cosmos by Carl Sagan
The Covenant by James A. Michener
The Devil’s Alternative by Frederick Forsyth
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
The Fifth Horseman by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre
Firestarter by Stephen King
God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert
Jailbird – Kuty Vonnegut
The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett
Midnight’s Children by Salmon Rushdie
Princess Daisy by Judith Krantz
Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon
Random Winds by Belva Plain
Smiley’s People by John le Carre
The Spike by Arnaud de Borchgrave and Robert Moss

Broadway Shows:

42nd Street (Musical) Opened on August 25, 1980, and closed on January 8, 1989
 Amadeus (Play) Opened on December 17, 1980, and closed on October 16, 1983

Best Film Oscar Winner:

Kramer vs. Kramer (presented in 1980)

The Bomb (Movie):

Heaven’s Gate starring Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, Jeff Bridges, John Hurt, Sam Waterston, Joseph Cotten, Mickey Rourke, and Willem Dafoe

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo

1. The Empire Strikes Back
2. 9 to 5
3. Stir Crazy
4. Airplane!
5. Any Which Way You Can
6. Private Benjamin
7. Coal Miner’s Daughter
8. Smokey and the Bandit II
9. The Blue Lagoon
10. The Blues Brothers

1980 Most Popular TV Shows:

1. Dallas (CBS)
2. The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS)
3. 60 Minutes (CBS)
4. M*A*S*H (CBS)
5. The Love Boat (ABC)
6. The Jeffersons (CBS)
7. Alice (CBS)
8. House Calls (CBS)
9. Three’s Company (ABC)
10. Little House on the Prairie (NBC)

1980 Billboard Number One Songs

December 22, 1979 – January 4, 1980:
Escape (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes

January 5 – January 18:
Please Don’t Go – KC and the Sunshine Band

January 19 – February 15:
Rock With You – Michael Jackson

February 16 – February 22:
Do That To Me One More Time – Captain & Tennille

February 23 – March 21:
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

March 22 – April 18:
Another Brick in the Wall (Part II) – Pink Floyd

April 19 – May 30:
Call Me – Blondie

May 31 – June 27:
Funkytown – Lipps Inc.

June 28 – July 18:
Coming Up (Live At Glasgow) – Paul McCartney & Wings

July 19 – August 1:
It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me – Billy Joel

August 2 – August 29:
Magic – Olivia Newton-John

August 30 – September 5:
Sailing – Christopher Cross

September 6 – October 3:
Upside Down – Diana Ross

October 4 – October 24:
Another One Bites the Dust – Queen

October 25 – November 14:
Woman in Love – Barbra Streisand

November 15 – December 26:
Lady – Kenny Rogers

December 27, 1980 – January 30, 1981:
(Just Like) Starting Over – John Lennon

1980 United States Census:

Total US Population: 226,542,199
1. New York, New York – 7,071,639
2. Chicago, Illinois – 3,005,072
3. Los Angeles, California – 2,966,850
4. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 1,688,210
5. Houston, Texas – 1,595,138
6. Detroit, Michigan – 1,203,339
7. Dallas, Texas – 904,078
8. San Diego, California – 875,538
9. Phoenix, Arizona – 789,704
10. Baltimore, Maryland – 786,775

Sports:

World Series Champions: Philadelphia Phillies
Super Bowl XIV Champions: Pittsburgh Steelers
NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
Stanley Cup Champs: New York Islanders
U.S. Open Golf Jack Nicklaus
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) John McEnroe/Chris Evert Lloyd
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Bjorn Borg/Evonne Cawley
NCAA Football Champions: Georgia
NCAA Basketball Champions: Louiseville
Kentucky Derby: Genuine Risk

More 1980 Facts and History Resources:

Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
Broadway Shows that Opened in 1980X
1980 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
Everything 80s Podcast 1980
Fact Monster
1980s, Infoplease.com World History
Mount St. Helens Eruption
1980 in Movies (according to IMDB)
1980 Top Movies (according to BoxOfficeMojo)
Retrowaste Vintage Culture
80s Facts About the 80s(Mental Floss)
1980s Slang
1980s Timeline (Security and Exchange Commission)
1980 US Census Fast Facts
Wikipedia 1980