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December 20th in 80s History
#1 Songs in America
(December 20th)
1980 - "Lady"
Kenny Rogers
11/15 - 12/26
1981 - "Physical"
Olivia Newton-John
11/21 - 1/29
1982 - "Maneater"
Daryl Hall and John Oates
12/18 - 1/14
1983 - "Say Say Say"
Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson
12/10 - 1/20
1984 - "Out of Touch"
Daryl Hall and John Oates
12/8 - 12/21
1985 - "Broken Wings"
Mister Mister
12/7 - 12/20
1986 - "Walk Like an Egyptian"
The Bangles
12/20 - 1/16
1987 - "Faith"
George Michael
12/12 - 1/8
1988 - "Look Away"
Chicago
12/10 - 12/23
1989 - "We Didn't Start the Fire"
Bill Joel
12/9 - 12/22
Click Here For More Music Facts and Awards
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The Invasion of Panama
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On December 20, 1985 World Youth Day Was Established by Pope John Paul II
Headlines
(December 20th)
1980 - NBC Aired the Game Between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins Without Announcers
* NBC Reported That 60% of the Viewers Supported the Decision To Go Without Announcers
Other Notable Birthdays
Harvey F. Firestone (American Businessman)
December 20, 1868 - February 7, 1938
Birthplace: Columbiana, Ohio
Passed Away at Age 69 From Coronary Thrombosis
* A Blood Clot Inside a Blood Vessel of the Heart
Founded the Firestone Tire Company in Akron, Ohio in 1900
George Roy Hill (Director)
December 20, 1921 - December 27, 2002
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Passed Away at Age 81 From Parkinson’s Disease
* Directed the Films Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Sting (1973) Starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford
Won an Academy Award For Best Director For The Sting and Nominated For Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
David Breashers (Mountaineer)
December 20, 1955 - March 14, 2024
Birthplace: Fort Benning, Georgia
Passed Away in HIs Marblehead Home at Age 68
* Unknown Cause of Death
The First American to Reach the Summit of Mt. Everest Twice
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Brittany Murphy (Actress)
November 10, 1977 - December 20, 2009
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
Passed Away at Age 32 From Pneumonia
* Also Had Severe Iron-Deficiency Anemia and a Range of Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medications in Her System
Best Known For Playing Tai in the 1995 Film Clueless
Franco Harris (Football)
March 7, 1950 - December 20, 2022
Birthplace: Fort Dix, New Jersey
Passed Away in His Sleep at His Sewickley, Pennsylvania Home at Age 72 From Unknown Causes
NFL Seasons: 13
Position: Running Back
Pro Bowl: 9
First Team All-Pro: 1977
Super Bowl Champion: 4 (IX, X, XIII, XIV) Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl MVP: IX
Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 (First Ballot)
Fun Fact!
Franco Harris is Best Known For The Immaculate Reception in the 1972 AFC
Championship Game Against the Oakland Raiders
Steelers 13 Raiders 7
Rickey Henderson (Baseball)
December 25, 1958 - December 20, 2024
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Passed Away at Age 65 From Pneumonia
MLB Seasons: 25
Position: Left Field
Career Hits: 3,0055
Stolen Bases: 1,406 (MLB Record)
Runs: 2,295 (MLB Record)
All Star: 10
American League MVP: (1990)
World Series Champion: 2 (1989, 1993)
Elected to the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009 (First Ballot)
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1989 - Born on the 4th of July
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kyra Sedgwick, Raymond J. Barry, Jerry Levine, Frank Whaley and Willem Dafoe
Budget: $17.8 Million
Box Office: $161 Million
Academy Awards
Best Director: Oliver Stone Won
Best Film Editing: David Brenner and Joe Hutshing
1989 - Roger & Me
Director: Michael Moore
Starring: Michael Moore
Budget: $140,000
Box Office: $7 Million
Michael Moore’s Directorial Debut
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1980 - David Carradine Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Linda Ronstadt and Cast of The Pirates of Penzance
1986 - William Shatner Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Lone Justice
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
No 80s Albums Released On This Day
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - New York Jets and Miami Dolphins Played a Game Without Announcers
* The Jets Beat the Dolphins 24 - 17 at the Orange Bowl in Miami on a Saturday Afternoon
Spread
Dolphins -6
O/U 40.0
1982 - The San Diego Chargers and the Cincinnati Bengals Combined For 1,102 Yards of Offense on Monday Night Football
* The Chargers Beat the Bengals 50 - 34 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego
Spread
Chargers -3
O/U 50.0
1982 Offensive Leaders
Passing Yards: Dan Fouts (Chargers) 435
Passing Yards: Ken Anderson (Bengals). 416
Receiving Yards: Wes Chandler (Chargers) 260
1983 - Guy Lafleur Scored His 500th Career NHL Goal
1985 - Howard Cosell Retired From Television
1986 - Seattle Seahawks Running Back, Curt Warner Rushed For 192 Yards With 3 Touchdowns Against the Denver Broncos
* The Seahawks Beat the Broncos 41 - 16 at the Kingdome in Seattle on a Saturday Evening
Spread
Seahawks -3.5
O/U 44.0
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Other Notable Dates
(On December 20th)
1803 - The Louisiana Purchase was Completed at a Ceremony Held in New Orleans
* The United States Purchased the Louisiana Territory From France For $15 Million Dollars ($18 per Square Mile)
1860 - South Carolina Became the First State that Attempted to Secede From the United States
1946 - It’s a Wonderful Life Premiered in New York City
* Starring James Stewart
Considered One of the Greatest Films of All-Time
1968 - The Zodiac Killer Killed David Faraday (17) and Betty Lou Jenson (16) in Vallejo, California
* Known to be His First Victims
1971 - Doctors Without Borders was Founded by Bernard Kouchner in Paris, France
1974 - The Godfather Part II Premiered in Theaters
Academy Awards
Best Picture
Best Director: Francis Ford Copolla
Best Supporting Actor: Robert DeNiro
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<- December 19th December 21st ->
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1986 - “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles Hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard Charts
* #1 Song in America from December 20 - January 16
Also Hit #1 in Canada, Spain, West Germany, Netherlands and Australia
Fun Fact!
The Bangles Were Formed in Los Angeles in 1981
World Youth Day
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1984 - A Freight Train Carrying Over 1 Million Liters of Gasoline Derailed in Todmorden, England
* Known as The Summit Tunnel Fire
The Largest Transportation Tunnel Fires in History
1984 - 12-Year Old Girl Jonelle Matthews From Greeley, Colorado All of a Sudden Disappeared
* Her Remains Were Discovered in 2019 Nearly 15 Miles From Her Home
The Cause of Death Was a Gunshot Wound to the Head
The Killer Steven Pankey Was Sentenced to Life in Prison After His Arrest in 2020
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1945 - Peter Criss (Drummer) KISS
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
1946 - Dick Wolf (TV Producer) Miami Vice
Birthplace: New York City
1949 - Cecil Cooper (Baseball)
Birthplace: Brenham, Texas
1954 - Michael Badalucco (Actor) Raging Bull, Desperately Seeking Susan
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York
1956 - Blanche Baker (Actress) Sixteen Candles (Ginny Baker)
Birthplace: New York City
1956 - Anita Ward (Singer)
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee
1957 - Joyce Hyser (Actress) Just One of the Guys
Birthplace: New York City
1965 - Rich Gannon (Football)
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1966 - Chris Robinson (Singer) The Black Crowes
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia
Fun Fact!
Cecil Cooper Was a 5x All-Star (1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985) With the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB Seasons: 17
Position: First Base
All-Star: 5
AL RBI Leader: 2 (1980, 1983)
"Walk Like an Egyptian" Became the #1 Song in America
On December 20, 1989 the United States Invaded Panama