On This Day April 19th in 80s History

Happy 80s Birthdays

1937 - Elinor Donahue (Actress) Days of Our Lives
1946 - Tim Curry (Actor) Annie
1953 - Rod Morgenstein (Drummer) Dixie Dregs
1954 - Bob Rock (Record Producer) Metallica
1958 - Steve Antin (Actor) The Goonies
1958 - Stevie B (Singer)
1960 - Frank Viola (Baseball)
1961 - Spike Owen (Baseball)
1962 - Al Unser Jr. (Race Car Driver)
1962 - Dorian Yates (Bodybuilder)
1965 - Suge Knight (Record Producer) Death Row Records

Fun Facts!

Frank Viola (Minnesota Twins) Won the 1988 AL Cy Young Award

* Also Won the 1987 World Series MVP

"Call Me" by Blondie Hit #1 on the US Billboard Charts

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April 19th in 80s History

1989 - A Gun Turret Exploded on the USS Iowa
* Killed 47 Sailors

1987 - The Simpsons Premiered as a Short on The Tracey Ullman Show

* Still on the Air

The Simpsons is the Longest Running Sitcom in American History

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Headlines

(April 19th)

1980 - "Call Me" by Blondie Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from April 19 - May 30

Also Hit #1 in the UK and Canada

Made Popular From the 1980 Film American Gigolo Starring Richard Gere

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1986 - Michael Spinks Beat Larry Holmes in a 15 Round Decision to Retain the Heavyweight Championship

* Lost the Title to Mike Tyson on June 27, 1987 in His Last Professional Boxing Match

Spinks Finished His Career 31 - 1

Other Notable Birthdays

Dudley Moore (Actor)
April 19, 1935 - March 27, 2002
Passed Away at Age 62 From Pneumonia

Nominated For an Academy Award For His Role as Arthur (1981)

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Passed Away

(On This Day)

Walter Mondale (Former U.S. Vice President)

January 5, 1928 - April 19, 2021
Passed Away on April 19, 2021 at Age 93 (Natural Causes)
42nd Vice President (1977 - 1981)
* To President Jimmy Carter

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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)

No 80s Movies Released On This Day

Fun Fact!

Red Dawn (1984) Was the First PG-13 Movie

Click Here For More 80s Movie Fact and Awards

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80s Television
(On This Day)

1985 - The Best Times Premiered on CBS
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6

1985 - Final Episode of Off the Rack
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 7
Network: ABC

1986 - Tony Danza Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Laurie Anderson

1986 - Final Episode of Benson
Seasons: 7
Episodes: 158
Network: ABC

Fun Fact!

In 1985 Robert Guillaume Won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for His Role as Benson

* Guillaume Served in the US Army Before Pursuing Acting

Did You Know?

Benson Was a Spinoff From Soap

1986 - Final Episode of The Red Foxx Show
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 13
Network: ABC

1987 - The Simpsons Premiered as a Cartoon Short on The Tracey Ullman Show

1987 - Duet Premiered on Fox
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 54

1987 - Bionic Six (Animation) Premiered in Syndication
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 65

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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day )

1982 - Big Science
Laurie Anderson (Debut Album)
Billboard Charts: #24

1989 - Good to be Back
Natalie Cole (11th Album)
Billboard Charts: #59

1989 - Buzz Factory
Screaming Trees (4th Album)

In Other 80s Music News

1980 - Brian Johnson Joined AC/DC as Their New Frontman
* Former Frontman Bon Scott Passed Away from Alcohol Poisoning

1980 - "Call Me" by Blondie Hit #1 on the US Billboard Charts
#1 Song in America from April 19 - May 30
* Also Hit #1 in the UK and Canada

Fun Fact!
“Call Me” was Made Popular from the 1980 Film American Gigolo

* The Song Hit #1 on Two Separate Occasions

1986 - "Kiss" by Prince Hit #1 on the US Billboard Charts
#1 Song in America from April 19 - May 2
* Also Hit #1 in the UK

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80s Sports
(On This Day)

1981 - Oakland A's Won Their 11th Game in a Row to Start the Season
* The A’s Lost to the Mariners the Next Game of the Doubleheader
Started the Season 17 - 1

1982 - The 76th Boston Marathon

First Place: Alberto Salazar (USA) 2:08:52

Female: Charlotte Teske (West Germany)

1982 - Runner, Rosie Ruiz Was Arrested For Cocaine

* Best Known For Cheating Marathons

1986 - Michael Spinks Beat Larry Holmes For the Heavyweight Championship
* 15 Round Split Decision
Location: Las Vegas Hilton

1987 - Milwaukee Brewers Scored 5 Runs in 9th Inning Against the Texas Rangers to Win Their 12th Straight Game to Start the Season
* Dale Sveum Hit a Walk Off 2-Run Homer

1989 - New York Mets, Kevin Elster Set a Shortstop Record With 73 Straight Games Without an Error

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In Other 80s News

(On This Day)

1982 - The Arcade Game Dig Dug Was Released in Japan

1984 - The "Advance Australia Fair" Was Proclaimed as Australia's National Anthem

* Green and Gold Were Voted the National Colors

1985 - White Supremacist Survivalist Group The Covenant, The Sword and the Arm of the Lord Were Surrounded by 200 Agents in Arkansas
* They Surrendered 2 Days Later

English Bodybuilder Dorian Yates Won 6 Consecutive Mr. Olympia's From 1992 to 1997

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