1993 History, Facts and Trivia

Quick Facts from 1993:

• World-Changing Event: Intel introduced the Pentium family of 32-bit microprocessors.
• The biggest song was Dreamlover by Mariah Carey
• The Movies to Watch include Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Sleepless in Seattle, and Free Willy.
• The Most Famous People in America were probably Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts.
• Notable books include The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield and The Shipping News by E. Annie Prouls.
• Sony (radio) Walkman: $29.98
  Price of Domino’s large pizza, two toppings in 1993: $9.99
• The Funny Guy was: Jeff Foxworthy
  The Other Funny Guy was: Bill Hicks
  The Funny Late Night Host: Jay Leno
• The Conversation: Ted Danson wore blackface and used the n-word at his girlfriend Whoopi Goldberg’s roast at The Friar’s Club.

Significant news events that occurred in 1993:

• January: Bill Clinton was inaugurated as the 42nd President of the United States.
• February: 1993 World Trade Center bombing: In New York City, a van bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing six and injuring over 1,000.
• March: Rodney King testified at the federal trial of four Los Angeles, California police officers accused of violating his civil rights when they beat him during an arrest.
• April: the Waco siege ended in a fire at the Branch Davidian compound in Texas, resulting in the deaths of 76 people.
• May: the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals that expert testimony must be based on the scientific knowledge established through the scientific method.
• June: the Signing of the Oslo Accords marked the beginning of the peace process between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
• July: the Great Flood of 1993 began in the Mississippi and Missouri River basins, resulting in widespread damage and dozens of deaths.
• August: the Chemical Weapons Convention, which banned the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, came into force.
• September: 47 people were killed in the Big Bayou Canot Rail Accident: An Amtrak Sunset Limited derails on a bridge that a barge had damaged near Mobile, Alabama. It is the deadliest train wreck in Amtrak’s history.
• October: Actor River Phoenix died of drug-induced heart failure on the sidewalk outside the West Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room.
• November: The Maastricht Treaty, which established the European Union, came into effect.
• December: STS-61: NASA launched the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a mission to repair an optical flaw in the Hubble Space Telescope.

“Got Milk?”
– California Milk Processor Board

“The Truth is out there”
– X-Files

A writer by the name of “Lisa Holst” created an article in 1993 that “around 8 spiders crawl into your mouth every year whilst you sleep”, but that “fact” was entirely made up. (snopes.com)

WWF boss Vince McMahon was charged with steroid distribution

Women were forbidden to wear pants on the floor of Congress until 1993.

The first time a state was represented in the U.S. Senate by two women was in 1993, with California’s Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. Since then, women have only represented the state in the Senate.

June 30, 1993, Gohan saved the world after defeating Cell in Dragonball Z episode 191: The Battle is Over… Thank You, Son Goku.

Dark Horse Comics released a one-shot comic where NBA player Charles Barkley fought against Godzilla.

Reggae singer Snow’s single Informer hit No.1 on the Billboard charts in 1993 while in jail. He only learned from a fellow inmate who got out, heard the song, and called Snow in jail.

Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s 1993 album Facing Future is the best-selling album of all time by a Hawaiian artist. His version of Over the Rainbow has been licensed for many films, TV shows, and commercials. The album reached platinum status in 2005.

Hocus Pocus was released in July 1993 instead of October because Disney did not want it to compete against their other Halloween-themed film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, which was due for release in October by Touchstone Pictures.

Ted Turner, media mogul and founder of CNN, had a cameo in the 1993 movie Gettysburg, which Turner Pictures helped produce. He appeared briefly as Confederate Col. Waller T. Patton and is shot during the Pickett’s Charge scene. He also reprised his role in the prequel Gods and Generals.

While filming Mrs. Doubtfire, Robin Williams improvised so much that there were PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17 edits of the film.

Sharon Stone played the same character from 1992’s Basic Instinct in the 1993 Schwarzenegger action movie Last Action Hero.

The European release of the futuristic film Demolition Man replaces Taco Bell references with Pizza Hut.

Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, dropped out of high school to work full-time and did not graduate until 1993, when he obtained a GED.

The McDonald’s Super Size option started as a cross-promotion for the 1993 Jurassic Park movie. It was called ‘Dino Size’ and was so successful that after the movie left theaters the option remained under its new name ‘Super Size’.

Despite the title of the 1990 novel and 1993 movie Jurassic Park, most of the dinosaurs depicted in these sources were from the Cretaceous period, not the Jurassic.

Steven Spielberg received a bachelor’s degree for completing a course on film and electronic arts at university. He submitted his own Schindler’s List to pass the advanced filmmaking class exam.

After Steven Spielberg screened Schindler’s List for John Williams to compose the score, Williams was so moved he had to walk outside for several minutes. Upon returning, Williams said that the movie needed a better composer than him to which Spielberg replied “I know, but they’re all dead.”

Cosmonaut Aleksandr Serebrov was the first person to play a videogame in space, Tetris, on his Game Boy, while orbiting Earth on the MIR Space Station in 1993

On Frazier, the character of Roz Doyle (played by Peri Gilpin) is named in tribute to a producer of the television series Wings (which has the same creators as Frasier), who died from breast cancer in 1991.

Wheel of Fortune’s Vanna White sued Samsung Electronics in 1993 over its use of a humorous ad featuring a robot turning letters on a game show, alleging a violation of her personality rights. White was awarded $403,000 in damages.

Elvis Presley’s 1961 song Can’t Help Falling in Love With You peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1993, the UB40 version spent 7 weeks in the #1 spot.

At the 1993 Lollapalooza show, Rage Against the Machine stood on stage naked with duct-taped mouths for 14 minutes in protest against the Parents Music Resource Council. The only sound was feedback from the guitars.

Vijay Singh played the lowest PGA score of 63.

Only two players in MLB history have hit a game-winning, bottom-of-the-ninth home run to win the World Series; Bill Mazeroski for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, and Joe Carter for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993.

The NFL’s’ New England Patriots had the worst record in the NFL from 1989-1993. They went 19-61 during that span.

The 1988 Jamaican Bobsled Team were the underdogs representing the tropical nation in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, and were mortalized in the 1993 film Cool Runnings.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1993: $850,000

1993 Billboard Number One Songs:
November 29, 1992 – March 5, 1993:
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

March 6 – March 12:
A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) – Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle

March 13 – April 30:
Informer – Snow

May 1 – May 14:
Freak Me – Silk

May 15 – July 9:
That’s The Way Love Goes – Janet Jackson

July 10 – July 23:
Weak – SWV (Sisters With Voices)

July 24 – September 11:
I Can’t Help Falling In Love – UB40

September 11 – November 5:
Dreamlover – Mariah Carey

November 6 – December 10:
I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) – Meat Loaf

December 11 – December 24:
Again – Janet Jackson

December 25, 1993 – January 21, 1994:
Hero – Mariah Carey

1992 Trivia, History and Fun Facts

Quick Facts from 1992:

• The New Word: A Japanese word, “Bushusuru,” was coined after George H.W. Bush publicly vomited on the Prime Minister of Japan during a formal state dinner. The word means “to do the ‘Bush’ thing” or to “vomit in public.”
• The Top Song was I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
• The Movies to Watch include A League of Their Own, Sister Act, The Bodyguard, Unforgiven, and A Few Good Men.
• The Most Famous Person in America was probably Kevin Costner.
• Notable books include The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Walker and Dr. Atkins’s New Diet Revolution by Robert Atkins.
• Price of CD (Compact Disk) in 1992: $11.98
  Cost of a daily newspaper: 25 cents
  Skippy peanut butter, 64 oz: $5.99
• The Funny Late Night Host: Johnny Carson
• Acting Awards: Jack Nicholson was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor and a Razzie for Worst Actor for his role in 1992’s Hoffa.

The Year of The Monkey

The year of the monkey is one of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle.
The monkey is the ninth animal in the cycle. The years of the monkey include 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040, 2052, and 2064.
The Year of the Monkey is associated with intelligence, curiosity, and versatility. People born in the year of the monkey are said to be quick-witted, curious, and have a good sense of humor. They are also said to be adaptable and able to think independently. They are known to be very good problem solvers and can often devise creative solutions to difficult problems. They are considered quite independent and don’t like to be told what to do. They are also known to be quite mischievous and can be quite impulsive. They are also said to be quite successful in their careers and can often achieve great things.

Top Ten Baby Names of 1992:

Ashley, Jessica, Amanda, Brittany, Sarah, Michael, Chris, Topher, Matthew, Joshua, Andrew

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:

Elle Macpherson

The Heartthrobs:

Antonio Sabàto, Jr., ‘Marky’ Mark Wahlberg, Fabio

“The 1992 Quotes”

“You can’t handle the truth!”
– Jack Nicholson, in A Few Good Men

“There’s no crying in baseball!”
– Tom Hanks, in A League of Their Own

“Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”
– U.S. Dept. of Transportation

“It’s the economy, stupid.”
“I didn’t inhale.”
– Candidate for President Bill Clinton

“Giant sucking sound”
– Candidate for President Ross Perot

“Made from the best stuff on Earth.”
-Snapple ad

“Can we all just get along?”
-Beating victim (from the LAPD) Rodney King to help quell the riots taking place in his name.

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:

Bill Clinton

Miss America:

Carolyn Sapp (Honolulu, HI)

Miss USA:

Shannon Marketic (California)

The Scandals:

Woody Allen (age 56) left his long-term partner, Mia Farrow after she discovered his secret affair with her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn (age 21).

Long Island Lolita Amy Fisher shot the wife of her lover, Joey Buttafuoco (pronounced Butt-a-foo-co), Mary Jo Buttafuoco, in the face. Mary Jo survived and later divorced her husband.

Booty-shaking dancing entered the mainstream with Sir Mixx-a-Lot’s Baby Got Back.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles separated and later divorced shortly after his affair with his long-time love Camilla Parker Bowels was revealed.

Comedian Automobile Death:

Sam Kinison (drunk driver hit his car)

Pop Culture Facts & History:

Energy Star is a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy since 1992 that promotes energy efficiency.

Since 1992, the US Military has collected and stored a DNA record on every service member.

There are no longer any battleships in the United States Navy; the last one, USS Missouri, was retired in 1992.

Taco Bell first tried to enter the Mexican market in 1992, but the restaurants closed within two years.

In 1992, 28800 rubber duckys fell off a cargo ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Paul Lynch (Great Britain) did 124 push-ups with one finger.

Home Alone (1990) is the highest-grossing Christmas film of all time in the US Box Office, having a gross of $285.76 million. It was followed by How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), The Grinch (2018), Polar Express (2004), and Home Alone 2 (1992) respectively.

Disney’s Aladdin was originally to be set in Baghdad, but the studio was forced to change it due to the outbreak of the Gulf War. They scrambled the letters in Baghdad to create the fictional city of Agrabah.

The opening scene in Robert Altman’s The Player is a continuous tracking shot lasting over eight minutes.

Sharon Stone played the same character from 1992’s Basic Instinct in the 1993 Schwarzenegger action movie Last Action Hero.

A 28-pound meteor hit 18-year-old Michelle Knapp’s 1980 Chevy Malibu on October 9, 1992.

The first SMS text message ever sent was on December 3, 1992. It was sent by a 22-year-old test engineer from his computer to a phone. The message read, “Merry Christmas”.

Sega orchestrated the world’s first global video game launch, Sonic the Hedgehog 2. They chose a Tuesday and dubbed the event “Sonic 2sday”. At the time, new games would be released at different stores on different days. Thanks to Sega, Tuesday is now the industry standard.

A Calvin and Hobbes comic in 1992 referred to the start of the universe as the Horrendous Space Kablooie, saying that “The Big Bang” was too boring. The term Horrendous Space Kablooie (or HSK) has since become popular among scientists and has been used in books and university courses.

The hippest company founded in 1992 was probably Tony Hawk and Per Welinder’s Birdhouse Skateboards.

Rock band Weezer got its name because frontman Rivers Cuomo had the nickname due to his asthma, and the band thought it would make a great name when they formed in 1992.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have never had a number 1 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. Under the Bridge peaked at number 2 in 1992.

MTV introduced The Real World reality TV show. Before this, the network was known for running music videos 24 hours a day, believe it or not.

National Public Radio (NPR) ran a spot with former President Richard Nixon saying he was running for president again. It was an actor, not Nixon, and the segment was an April Fools’ prank.

Toronto Blue Jays baseball player Joe Carter pulled an amazing prank on teammate Derek Bell by pretending to raffle off his car mid-game. He rode onto the field in it, and the announcer read off a fake winning ticket. #pranks

Famous boxing announcer Michael Buffer got his catchphrase “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” trademarked in 1992. He has earned hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties.

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Lithuania could not afford to send its men’s basketball team to the 1992 Olympics, so the Grateful Dead sent the team colorful, free-flowing tie-dye warm-up jerseys. The team took the bronze medal.

Nike made a Super Bowl commercial where an animated Bugs Bunny played basketball with a real-life Michael Jordan. The commercial was so successful that Warner Brothers decided to turn it into a whole movie, Space Jam.

The Walt Disney Company founded the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and the team name was inspired by the 1992 Disney film The Mighty Ducks.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1992: $850,000

The Basketball Dream Team

The 1992 Dream Team consisted of the best basketball players in the world. The team played against all comers at the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona and won by an average of 44 points. An initial 10-player roster was announced on September 21, 1991, with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as co-captains. They were joined by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing.

The final 12-player roster was announced in May 1992. The Dream Team dominated its opponents, winning the gold medal against Croatia with a score of 117-85.

Some players who did not make the initial cut but were eventually added to the team included Clyde Drexler, Christian Laettner and Magic Johnson. Magic Johnson said, “I look to my right, there’s Michael Jordan… I look to my left; there’s Charles Barkley or Larry Bird… I didn’t know who to throw the ball to!”

Michael Jordan said that the biggest benefit for him was that he learned more about his teammates’ weaknesses.

Shocking News:

A North Dakotan teen, John Thompson, was home alone when he had both of his arms chopped off by a tractor in a freak farming accident. However, he still managed to get up, go inside, and dial for help by holding a pencil in his mouth. He survived.

There were 2,641 bank robberies in Los Angeles in 1992 – averaging one every 45 minutes.

Singer Sinéad O’Connor tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II during a performance on Saturday Night Live to protest the abuse of children within the Catholic Church.

Ryugyong Hotel is an unopened 105-story hotel in North Korea. Despite being erected in 1992, it is still unfinished and known as the “hotel of doom.”

George H.W. Bush attended a banquet hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, which Bush vomited on his lap and fainted.

China did not establish relations with South Korea until 1992. Throughout the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, China recognized only North Korea.

Chewing gum has been banned in Singapore since 1992. Exceptions have been made since 2004 for chewing for medical or therapeutic reasons.

The 27th amendment, which forbids Congress from raising their pay during their term, was proposed by James Madison in 1789 and wasn’t ratified until 1992.

Marlon Wayans was cast as Robin in the 1992 film “Batman Returns” and still receives income despite his character getting cut from the film.

Antarctica is the only continent on Earth where dogs are banned. They were used as sled dogs for exploration until 1992 when they were banned from Antarctica over concerns that the dogs might transfer diseases to the seal population.

Burmese pythons have overrun the Florida Everglades partly because Hurricane Andrew destroyed a breeding facility in 1992, which released hundreds of snakes.

The Habit:

Reading The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

1st Appearances & 1992’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:

Trolls dolls, Super Soaker 100

Popular and Best-selling Books From 1992:

All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark
The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Walker
Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King
Dr. Atkins’s New Diet Revolution by Robert Atkins
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
Gerald’s Game by Stephen King
Hideaway by Dean Koontz
Jewels by Danielle Steel
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus by John Gray
Mexico by James A. Michener
Mixed Blessings by Danielle Steel
Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Rising Sun by Michael Crichton
Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
The Stars Shine Down by Sidney Sheldon
The Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice
The Volcano Lover by Susan Sontag
Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan
The Way Things Ought To Be by Rush Limbaugh
Where is Joe Merchant? by Jimmy Buffet

Best Film Oscar Winner:

The Silence of the Lambs (presented in 1992)

1992 Entries to The National Film Registry:

Adam’s Rib (released in 1949)
Annie Hall (released in 1977)
The Bank Dick (released in 1940)
Big Business (released in 1929)
The Big Parade (released in 1925)
The Birth of a Nation (released in 1915)
Bonnie and Clyde (released in 1967)
Carmen Jones (released in 1954)
Castro Street (The Coming of Consciousness) (released in 1966)
Detour (released in 1945)
Dog Star Man (released in 1964)
Double Indemnity (released in 1944)
Footlight Parade (released in 1933)
The Gold Rush (released in 1925)
Letter from an Unknown Woman (released in 1948)
Morocco (released in 1930)
Nashville (released in 1975)
The Night of the Hunter (released in 1955)
Paths of Glory (released in 1957)
Psycho (released in 1960)
Ride the High Country (released in 1962)
Salesman (released in 1968)
Salt of the Earth (released in 1954)
What’s Opera, Doc? (released in 1957)
Within Our Gates (released in 1920)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)

1. Aladdin
2. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York
3. Batman Returns
4. Lethal Weapon 3
5. A Few Good Men
6. Sister Act
7. The Bodyguard
8. Wayne’s World
9. Basic Instinct
10. A League Of Their Own

1992 Most Popular TV Shows:

1. 60 Minutes (CBS)
2. Roseanne (ABC)
3. Home Improvement (ABC)
4. Murphy Brown (CBS)
5. Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
6. Coach (ABC)
7. Cheers (NBC)
8. Full House (ABC)
9. Northern Exposure (CBS)
10. Rescue 911 (CBS)

1992 Billboard Number One Songs:

December 7, 1991- January 24, 1992:
Black Or White – Michael Jackson

January 25 – January 31:
All 4 Love – Color Me Badd

February 1 – February 7:
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me – George Michael/Elton John

February 8 – February 28:
I’m Too Sexy – Right Said Fred

February 29 – March 20:
To Be With You – Mr. Big

March 21 – April 24:
Save the Best For Last – Vanessa Williams

April 25 – June 19:
Jump – Kris Kross

June 20 -July 3:
I’ll Be There – Mariah Carey

July 4 – August 7:
Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-A-Lot

August 8 – August 14:
This Used To Be My Playground – Madonna

August 15 – November 13:
End of the Road – Boyz II Men

November 14 – November 28:
How Do You Talk To An Angel – The Heights

November 29, 1992 – March 5, 1993:
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

Sports:

World Series Champions: Toronto Blue Jays
Super Bowl XXVI Champions: Washington Redskins
NBA Champions: Chicago Bulls
Stanley Cup Champs: Pittsburgh Penguins
U.S. Open Golf Tom Kite
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Stefan Edberg/Monica Seles
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Andre Agassi/Steffi Graf
NCAA Football Champions: Alabama
NCAA Basketball Champions: Duke
Kentucky Derby: Lil E Tee

More 1992 Facts and History Resources:

Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
Broadway Shows that Opened in 1992X
1992 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
1992 Facts For Kids
Fact Monster
Hurricane Andrew
1990s, Infoplease.com World History
Millennial Generation (1981-1996)
1992 in Movies (according to IMDB)
1992 Top Movies (according to BoxOfficeMojo)
The People’s History
1992 Presidential Election
Retrowaste Vintage Culture
80s and 90s Classic NES Games (1985-1994)
Wikipedia 1992
Breakup of Yugoslavia 1990-1992

1990 History, Facts and Trivia

Quick Facts from 1990:

• World-Changing Event: Solitaire was originally included in early computer programs to help users strengthen their clicking and dragging skills.
• The Top Song was Because I Love You (The Postman Song) by Stevie B
• The Movies to Watch include Home Alone, Ghost, Edward Scissorhands, Dick Tracy, and Dances with Wolves
• The Most Famous Person in America was probably Madonna
• The Bestselling books: The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel, Four Past Midnight by Stephen King, The Burden of Proof by Scott Turow, Memories of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon, Message from Nam by Danielle Steel, It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It by Robert Fulghum, and Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
• Minimum Wage in 1990: $3.80 per hour
  Tandy Computer 1000RL & color monitor: $799.00
  Nintendo Game Boy: $89.97
• The Funny Guy was: Billy Crystal
  The Funny Lady: Paula Poundstone
• The Long Break Up: When Simon and Garfunkel were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Art Garfunkel thanked Paul Simon for enriching his life, and Paul said, “Arthur and I agree about almost nothing. But it’s true; I have enriched his life quite a bit.” They sang three songs together and left the stage.

1990 History Rundown:

• January 3 – Manuel Noriega Surrendered to U.S. Forces: After seeking refuge in the Vatican Embassy in Panama City, Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega surrendered to U.S. military forces, facing charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.
• February 11 – Nelson Mandela Released from Prison: After 27 years of imprisonment, anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison in South Africa, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s move toward ending apartheid.
• March 11 – Lithuania Declared Independence from the Soviet Union: The Lithuanian SSR declared independence, becoming the first Soviet republic to do so, challenging the unity of the USSR.
• March 18 – Art Heist at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: In Boston, two thieves disguised as police officers stole 13 pieces valued at approximately $500 million in the largest art theft in U.S. history.
• April 24 – Hubble Space Telescope Launched: NASA deployed the Hubble Space Telescope into low Earth orbit, providing unprecedented views of the universe and revolutionizing astronomy.
• May 22 – Yemen Unified: North and South Yemen merged to form the Republic of Yemen, ending decades of separation and conflict between the two regions.
• June 1 – Bush and Gorbachev Signed Chemical Weapons Accord: U.S. President George H. W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev signed an agreement to end the production of chemical weapons and begin the destruction of existing stockpiles.
• June 13 – Destruction of the Berlin Wall Officially Began: East Germany officially started dismantling the Berlin Wall, symbolizing the end of the Cold War division between East and West Germany.
• July 2 – Stampede at Hajj Pilgrimage: A tragic stampede during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca resulted in the deaths of 1,426 pilgrims, marking one of the deadliest incidents in Hajj history.
• August 2 – Iraq Invaded Kuwait: Iraqi forces, under the command of President Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait, leading to international condemnation and the onset of the Gulf War.
• August 7 – Operation Desert Shield Initiated: In response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, U.S. and coalition forces began deploying to Saudi Arabia to deter further Iraqi aggression, marking the start of Operation Desert Shield.
• September 12 – Treaty on the Final Settlement to Germany Signed: Also known as the Two Plus Four Agreement, this treaty paved the way for German reunification by resolving post-World War II issues and restoring full sovereignty to Germany.
• October 3 – German Reunification Achieved: East and West Germany officially reunified into a single nation, ending 45 years of division following World War II.
• October 15 – Mikhail Gorbachev Awarded Nobel Peace Prize: Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev received the Nobel Peace Prize for his pivotal role in easing East-West tensions and implementing significant reforms in the USSR.
• November 12 – Tim Berners-Lee Proposed the World Wide Web: At CERN, computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee submitted a formal proposal for the World Wide Web, laying the foundation for the modern Internet.
• November 22 – Margaret Thatcher Resigned as UK Prime Minister: After over 11 years in office, Margaret Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following challenges to her leadership within the Conservative Party.
• December 1 – Channel Tunnel Workers Met Beneath the English Channel: British and French construction workers drilling the Channel Tunnel met beneath the English Channel, linking the two nations for the first time since the Ice Age.
• December 9 – Lech Wałęsa Elected President of Poland: Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa won Poland’s first direct presidential election, marking a significant step in the nation’s transition from communism to democracy.
• December 20 – First Website Went Live: Tim Berners-Lee launched the world’s first website, info.cern.ch, marking the beginning of the World Wide Web’s public availability.
• December 22 – Lech Wałęsa Sworn in as President of Poland: Following his election victory, Lech Wałęsa was inaugurated as Poland’s first popularly elected president, symbolizing the nation’s democratic transformation.

The Year of The Horse

The year of the horse is one of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle. The horse is the seventh animal in the cycle.
The years of the horse include 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038, 2050, and 2062,
The Year of the Horse is associated with energy, enthusiasm, and freedom. People born in the year of the horse are considered independent, intelligent, and have a good sense of humor. They are also said to be active, energetic, and love to be around people. They are also known to be very popular and have many friends. They are also said to be successful in their careers and have a good sense of self-worth. They are also known to be quite direct and can be impatient with those who are slower than them. They are also known to be quite impulsive and can sometimes be reckless.

Top Ten Baby Names of 1990:

Jessica, Ashley, Brittany, Amanda, Samantha, Sarah, Stephanie, Jennifer, Elizabeth
Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, Daniel, David, Andrew, James, Justin

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols:

Elle Macpherson

Hollywood Hunks and Leading Men:

Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, Richard Gere, Michael Hutchence, Patrick Swayze, Sean Connery

“The Quotes”

“I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up.”
– Mrs. Fletcher in a Lifecall commercial

“I do not like broccoli. I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I’m the President of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli.”
-George H.W. Bush

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:

George H. W. Bush

Miss America:

Debbye Tucker (Columbia, MO)

Miss USA:

Carole Gist (Michigan)

The Scandals:

Rocker Chuck Berry was accused and sued by several women who claimed he had installed a video camera in the ladies’ bathrooms at two of his St. Louis restaurants.

Rob and Fabrice, better known as Milli Vanilli, must return their “Best New Artist” Grammy because they didn’t sing on their hit album.

Airplane Celebrity Death:

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Pneumonia Celebrity Death:

Jim Henson

The End of the Cold War

Nelson Mandela Released From A South African Prison

In the 1980s, the international community, including the United Nations, called for his release. Finally, on February 11, 1990, President F.W. de Klerk announced that Mandela would be released from prison. This event was met with widespread celebration in South Africa and worldwide. Mandela’s release began a new era in South Africa as he became the country’s first democratically elected President in 1994. His Presidency focused on reconciliation and nation-building, which helped heal the country’s deep racial divisions. His leadership and commitment to peace and equality made him iconic worldwide.

The Persian Gulf War

The war ended after a hundred hours of ground operations, with Iraq’s military being quickly defeated. Kuwait was liberated, and the coalition declared a ceasefire. The war had a significant impact on the Middle East and the world. Iraq’s military was severely damaged, leaving the country in a state of economic and political turmoil.

The coalition’s victory also established the United States as the dominant military power in the region, leading to a change in the balance of power. It also highlighted the importance of oil in the global economy, as it was a major factor in the conflict. The war had many casualties, both military and civilian, and it also caused significant environmental damage.

World News:

North and South Yemen, also known as the Yemen Arab Republic and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, unified as the Republic of Yemen.

A Community Charge (poll tax) takes effect in England and Wales amid widespread protests. Shortly after Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher resigned, the abolition of the poll tax was announced on 21 March 1991.

In Iran, the Manji-Rudbar Earthquake struck with a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, Killing between 35 and 50,000 people.

On May 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from its list of diseases.

Iraq invaded Kuwait, eventually leading to the Gulf War. Operation Desert Shield began as the United States and the United Kingdom sent troops into Kuwait.

US President George H.W. Bush and Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed a treaty (Agreement on Destruction and Non-production of Chemical Weapons and on Measures to Facilitate the Multilateral Convention on Banning Chemical Weapons) to end chemical weapon production and begin destroying their respective stocks.

Lech Walesa became president of Poland and withdrew from the Warsaw Pact.

In December, Helmut Kohl, who became Chancellor of Germany, won the German federal election (the first election held since German reunification).

Nelson Mandela was released from prison in South Africa after 27 years.

Paleontologist Sue Hendrickson found one of the largest and most well-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex fossilized skeletons near Faith, South Dakota in August. They named the T-Rex “Sue.”

West Germany won the FIFA World Cup Final (Association football): West Germany defeated Argentina 1–0, in Italy.

The Channel Tunnel workers from the United Kingdom and France met beneath the English Channel seabed, making the first ground connection between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe since the last ice age, 8,000 years ago.

The CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Ban on the Trade of Ivory went into effect.

The first McDonald’s in Moscow, Russia, opened eight months after construction began on May 3, 1989. On September 10, the first Pizza Hut opened up in the Soviet Union. On September 11, the first Pizza Hut opened in the People’s Republic of China.
On October 8, the first McDonald’s restaurant is opened in Mainland China in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong.

The removal of the wall began in June of 1990, and by October, the reunification of West and East Germany was completed. Demolition on the wall was finished in 1992.

Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Douglas Wilder became the first elected African American governor in Virginia.

Pop Culture Facts & History:

Art thieves stole 12 paintings of art and a Shang dynasty vase worth $500 million – the greatest known property theft in history, from the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston. They were never recovered.

On September 29, Washington, D.C.’s National Cathedral was finished. Construction began on September 29, 1907.

Smoking was banned on all cross-country flights in the United States. The first ban on smoking in bars in the US was passed in San Luis Obispo, California.

The first self-wringing mop (The Miracle Mop) was invented in 1990 by Joy Mangano.

On July 30, 1990, the first Saturn (“A new kind of car company”) was built, a red 1991 model-year Saturn SL2.

According to the 1990 United States Census, there were 248,709,873 residents in the U.S.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed for repairs over 11 years due to safety concerns of it falling over.

On June 7, 1990, Nickelodeon Studios and Universal Studios Orlando opened in Florida.

On June 8, the 1990 FIFA World Cup began in Italy. It was the first broadcast of digital HDTV in history.

Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the Internet, published his formal proposal – World Wide Web/Internet protocol (HTTP) and WWW language (HTML) – for the World Wide Web in November 1990.

Russian Garry Kasparov holds his title by winning the World Chess Championship match against his countryman Anatoly Karpov.

President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson was sexually harassed by multiple New England Patriots players while trying to conduct a locker room interview.

Carried on the Space Shuttle Discovery, NASA’s STS-31 mission deployed the Hubble Space Telescope.

In a joint effort between the ESA and NASA, the Ulysses spacecraft was launched in 1990. The probe’s mission was to study the Sun and the solar system’s magnetic field, also known as the heliosphere.

Launched in 1972, 18 years after its launch, the US Space Probe Pioneer reached 46.5 billion miles beyond all planetary orbits.

President George H. W. Bush posthumously awarded Jesse Owens the Congressional Gold Medal.

Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh was sold for a (then) record $82.5 million.

The 1990 England World Cup song, World in Motion by New Order, was originally called ‘E for England’, but was vetoed by the FA because of the rampant Ecstasy Drug Culture in England at the time.

Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1990: $700,000

Doomsday Clock:

10 minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
1990: “As one Eastern European country after another (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania) frees itself from Soviet control, Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev refuses to intervene, halting the ideological battle for Europe and significantly diminishing the risk of all-out nuclear war. In late 1989, the Berlin Wall falls, symbolically ending the Cold War. “Forty-four years after Winston Churchill’s ‘Iron Curtain’ speech, the myth of monolithic communism has been shattered for all to see.”

The Habits:

The “cool” people were watching Twin Peaks on ABC; everybody was watching Macauley Culkin in Home Alone.
The cool people were wearing parachute pants, just like M.C. Hammer. Can’t touch that.

1st Appearances & 1990’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents:

Batman action figures, Bob Mackie Barbie, Madeline Ragdoll, Tribond Game, Power Drencher water gun, Taboo

Popular and Best-selling Books From 1990:

The Bad Place by Dean Koontz
The Black Book by Orhan Pamuk
The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum
The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi
The Burden of Proof by Scott Turow
Daddy by Daniel Steel
The Dark Place by Stephen King
Devices and Desires by P.D. James
Four Past Midnight by Stephen King
L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy
Memories of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon
Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel
September by Rosamunde Pilcher
The Stand by Stephen King
Thanos Quest by Jim Starlin and Ron Lim
The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
The Wheels on the Bus by Paul O. Zelinsky

Best Film Oscar Winner:

Driving Miss Daisy (presented in 1990)

1990 Entries to The National Film Registry:

All About Eve (released in 1950)
All Quiet on the Western Front (released in 1930)
Bringing Up Baby (released in 1938)
Dodsworth (released in 1936)
Duck Soup (released in 1933)
Fantasia (released in 1940)
The Freshman (released in 1925)
The Godfather (released in 1972)
The Great Train Robbery (released in 1903)
Harlan County, U.S.A. (released in 1976)
How Green Was My Valley (released in 1941)
It’s a Wonderful Life (released in 1946)
Killer of Sheep (released in 1977)
Love Me Tonight (released in 1932)
Meshes of the Afternoon (released in 1943)
Ninotchka (released in 1939)
Primary (released in 1960)
Raging Bull (released in 1980)
Rebel Without a Cause (released in 1955)
Red River (released in 1948)
The River (released in 1938)
Sullivan’s Travels (released in 1941)
Top Hat (released in 1935)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (released in 1948)
A Woman Under the Influence (released in 1974)

The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)

1. Home Alone
2. Ghost
3. Dances With Wolves
4. Pretty Woman
5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
6. The Hunt For Red October
7. Total Recall
8. Die Hard 2: Die Harder
9. Dick Tracy
10. Kindergarten Cop

1990 Most Popular TV Shows:

1. Cheers (NBC)
2. 60 Minutes (CBS)
3. Roseanne (ABC)
4. A Different World (NBC)
5. The Cosby Show (NBC)
6. Murphy Brown (CBS)
7. Empty Nest (NBC)
8. America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC)
9. The Golden Girls (NBC)
10. Designing Women (CBS)

1990 Billboard Number One Songs:

December 23, 1989 – January 13, 1990:
Another Day In Paradise – Phil Collins

January 20 – February 9:
How Am I Supposed To Live Without You – Michael Bolton

February 10 – March 2:
Opposites Attract – Paula Abdul with The Wild Pair

March 3 – March 23:
Escapade – Janet Jackson

March 24 – April 6:
Black Velvet – Alannah Myles

April 7 – April 13:
Love Will Lead You Back – Taylor Dayne

April 14 – April 20:
I’ll Be Your Everything – Tommy Page

April 21 – May 18:
Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor

May 19 – June 8:
Vogue – Madonna

June 9 – June 15:
Hold On – Wilson Phillips

June 16 – June 29:
It Must Have Been Love – Roxette

June 30 – July 21:
Step by Step – New Kids on the Block

July 21 – August 3:
She Ain’t Worth It – Glenn Medeiros featuring Bobby Brown

August 4 – August 31:
Vision of Love – Mariah Carey

September 1 – September 7:
If Wishes Came True – Sweet Sensation

September 8 – September 14:
Blaze of Glory – Jon Bon Jovi

September 15 – September 29:
Release Me – Wilson Phillips

September 29 – October 5:
(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love & Affection – Nelson

October 6 – October 12:
Close to You – Maxi Priest

October 13 – October 19:
Praying For Time – George Michael

October 20 – October 26:
I Don’t Have the Heart – James Ingram

October 27 – November 2:
Black Cat – Janet Jackson

November 3 – November 9:
Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice

November 10 – November 30:
Love Takes Time – Mariah Carey

December 1 – December 7:
I’m Your Baby Tonight – Whitney Houston

December 8, 1990 – January 4, 1991:
Because I Love You (The Postman Song) – Stevie B

1990 United States Census:

Total US Population: 248,709,873
1. New York, New York – 7,322,564
2. Los Angeles, California – 3,485,398
3. Chicago, Illinois – 2,783,726
4. Houston, Texas – 1,630,553
5. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 1,585,577
6. San Diego, California – 1,110,549
7. Detroit, Michigan – 1,027,974
8. Dallas, Texas – 1,006,877
9. Phoenix, Arizona – 983,403
10. San Antonio, Texas – 935,933

Sports:

World Series Champions: Cincinnati Reds
Super Bowl XXIV Champions: San Francisco 49ers
NBA Champions: Detroit Pistons
Stanley Cup Champs: Edmonton Oilers
U.S. Open Golf Hale Irwin
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Pete Sampras/Gabriela Sabatini
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Stefan Edberg/Martina Navratilova
NCAA Football Champions: Colorado & Georgia Tech
NCAA Basketball Champions: UNLV
Kentucky Derby: Unbridled
World Cup (Soccer): West Germany

More 1990 Facts and History Resources:

Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
Broadway Shows that Opened in 1990X
1990 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
1990 Facts For Kids
Fact Monster
The Gulf War 1990s, Infoplease.com World History
Millennial Generation (1981-1996)
1990 in Movies (according to IMDB)
1990 Top Movies (according to BoxOfficeMojo)
The People’s History
Retrowaste Vintage Culture
80s and 90s Classic NES Games (1985-1994)
1990 US Census Fast Facts
Wikipedia 1990
Breakup of Yugoslavia 1990-1992