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Happy 80s Birthdays
1946 - Cher (Singer and Actress)
Birthplace: El Centro, California
1949 - Dave Thomas (Actor) Strange Brew
Birthplace: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
1955 - Steve George (Keyboardist) Mr. Mister
Birthplace: Bloomington, Illinois
1958 - Jane Wiedlin (Singer) Go-Go’s
Birthplace: Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
1963 - David Wells (Baseball)
Birthplace: Torrance, California
Fun Fact!
David Wells (New York Yankees) Pitched a Perfect Game on May 17, 1998 Against the Minnesota Twins
Headlines
(May 20th)
1982 - The Final Episode of Barney Miller Aired
Seasons: 8
Episodes: 170
Network: ABC
Won an Emmy For Most Outstanding Drama in 1982
Nominations: 7
Fun Fact!
Fish Was a Spinoff From Barney Miller
* Starring Abe Vigodas Character Sgt. Fish
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'Forever Your Girl" Became the #1 Song in America
In Other News
(On May 20th)
1862 - President Lincoln Signed the Homestead Act Into Law
* Opened 84 Million Acres of Public Land to Settlers
1873 - Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis Received a Patent For Blue Jeans (Originally Designed For Miners)
* Popularized as Casual Wear by Marlon Brando and James Dean in the 50s Films (The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause)
Jeans Became a Symbol of Rebellion Among Teenagers Especially Greasers, Portrayed in Grease and The Outsiders
1891 - Thomas Edison's Displayed His Prototype of the Kinetoscope, the First Motion Picture Device
* Designed For Films to be Viewed by One Person at a Time Through a Peephole Viewer
1902 - Cuba Gained Independence From the United States
* Tomás Estrada Palma Became Cuba's First President
1932 - Amelia Earhart Took Off From Newfoundland to Begin the World's First Solo Nonstop Flight Across the Atlantic Ocean by a Female Pilot
* Landed in Ireland the Next Day
1969 - The Battle of Hamburger Hill Ended in Vietnam
* Considered a Wasted Battle
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#1 Songs in America
(May 21st)
1980 - "Call Me"
Blondie
4/19 - 5/30
1981 - "Bette Davis Eyes"
Kim Carnes
5/16 - 6/19
1982 - "Ebony and Ivory"
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
5/15 - 7/2
1983 - "Beat It"
Michael Jackson
4/30 - 5/20
1984 - "Hello"
Lionel Richie
5/12 - 5/25
1985 - "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
Simple Minds
5/18 - 5/24
1986 - "Greatest Love of All"
Whitney Houston
5/17 - 6/6
1987 - "With or Without You"
U2
5/16 - 6/5
1988 - "Anything For You"
Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
5/14 - 5/27
1989 - "Forever Your Girl"
Paula Abdul
5/20 - 6/2
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards
Fun Fact!
The Beatles Hold the Record For the Most #1 Songs in America (20)
#2 Mariah Carey (19)
#3 Rihanna (14)
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May 20th in 80s History
1989 - Actress and Comedian Gilda Radner Passed Away at Age 42 From Ovarian Cancer
* Diagnosed in 1986
Fun Fact!
Gilda Radner Was an Original Cast Member On Saturday Night Live
* Premiered On October 11, 1975
1989 - "Forever" Your Girl" by Paula Abdul Hit #1 On the US BillBoard Charts
* #1 Song in America from May 20 - June 2
Also Hit #1 in Canada
Fun Fact!
Paula Abdul Got Her Start as a Los Angeles Lakers Cheerleader
* Also Janet Jackson's Choreographer
1983 - The First AIDS Publications Was Published in the Journal Science
Reporter: Luc Montagnier
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Other Notable Birthdays
James Stewart (Actor)
May 20, 1908 - July 2, 1997
Birthplace: Indiana, Pennsylvania
Passed Away at Age 89 From a Heart Attack
* Caused by an Embolism
Considered One of the Greatest Actors of All-Time
Bud Grant (Football Coach)
May 20, 1927 - March 11, 2023
Birthplace: Superior, Wisconsin
Passed Away in His Bloomington, Minnesota Home at Age 95 From Unknown Causes
* The Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings From 1967 to 1983 and Again in 1985
Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1994
Fun Fact!
Bud Grant Led the Minnesota Vikings to 4 Super Bowls
* Lost All 4
Joe Cocker (English Singer)
May 20, 1944 - December 22, 2014
Birthplace: Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Passed Away at Age 70 From Lung Cancer
* Smoked 2 Pack of Cigarettes a Day
Sang the Theme Song For the 1982 Film An Officer and a Gentleman “Up Where We Belong”
Fun Fact!
Joe Cocker Sang the Theme Song For The Wonder Years
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Gilda Radner (Actress and Comedian)
June 28, 1946 - May 20, 1989
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan
Passed Away at Age 42 From Ovarian Cancer
* Diagnosed in 1986
An Original Saturday Night Live Cast Member
Randy “Macho Man” Savage (Wrestler)
November 15, 1952 - May 20, 2011
Birthplace: Columbus, OH
Passed Away at Age 58 in a Car Accident After Having a Heart Attack While Driving
WWE Heavyweight Champion: 2
WCW Heavyweight Champion: 4
Elected to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1983 - Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone
Director: Lamont Johnson
Starring: Peter Strauss, Molly Ringwald, Ernie Hudson and Michael Ironside
Budget: $14.4 Million
Box Office: $16.5 Million
1983 - Tough Enough
Director: Richard Fleischer
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Pam Grier, Warren Oates and Stan Shaw
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $2.4 Million
1987 - Beverly Hills Cop II
Director: Tony Scott
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Astin and Ronny Cox
Budget: $20 Million
Box Office: $300 Million
1988 - Call Me
Director: Sollace Mitchell
Starring: Patricia Charbonneau, Stephen McHattie, Boyd Gaines, Sam Freed and Steve Buscemi
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $251,000
1988 - Willow
Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis
Budget: $35 Million
Box Office: $57.3 Million
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1982 - Final Episode of Barney Miller
Seasons: 8
Episodes: 170
1989 - Final Episode of Small Wonder
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 96
1989 - Steve Martin Hosted the Season 14 Finale of Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
“New Coneheads” debut
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1980 - Unmasked
Kiss (8th Album)
Billboard Charts: #35
* Hit #1 in Norway
1981 - The Fox
Elton John (15th Album)
Billboard Charts: #21
1985 - Shaken ‘n’ Stirred
Robert Plant (3rd Solon Album)
Billboard Charts: #20
1985 - Seven Wishes
Night Ranger (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #10
1985 - Power of the Night
Savatage (2nd Album)
1987 - Beverly Hills Cop II (Soundtrack)
Various Artists
Billboard Charts: #8
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1983 - Larry Holmes Beat Tim Witherspoon in a Split Decision to Retain the WBC Heavyweight Championship
Record: 43 - 0
1983 - Michael Dokes Beat Mike Weaver to Retain the WBA Heavyweight Championship
Rounds: 15
Record: 26- 0- 2
Dokes Lost the Belt in His Next Fight to Gerrie Coetzee
1984 - Boston Red Sox Pitcher, Roger Clemens Recorded His First Major League Victory
* The Red Sox Beat the Twins 5 - 4 at the Metrodome in Minnesota on a Sunday Afternoon
Attendance: 26,731
Clemens 7 IP 4 ER 7 SO
1985 - Larry Holmes Beat Carl Williams in a Unanimous Decision to Retain the IBF Heavyweight Championship and Linear Championships
Record: 48 - 0
Holmes Lost the Belt in His Next Fight to Michael Spinks
1986 - The Boston Red Sox Scored 17 Runs (20 Hits) Without Hitting a Home Run Against the Minnesota Twins
* The Red Sox Beat the Twins 17 - 7 at Fenway Park in Boston on a Tuesday Night
Attendance: 20,880
1986 - Fernando Valenzuela (Los Angeles Dodgers) Pitched a Complete Game Shutout Against the Montreal Expos
* The Dodgers Beat the Expos 4 - 0 in Los Angeles on a Tuesday Night
Attendance: 38,845
1986 - Mike Tyson Beat Mitch Green in a 10 Round Unanimous Decision
Record: 21 - 0
1989 - Pat Valenzuela Won the Preakness Stakes Aboard Sunday Silence
Trainer: Charles Whittingham
Owner: E. Gaillard/A. Hancock/C. Whittingham
Sunday Silence Won the Kentucky Derby
* Finished 2nd at Belmont
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In Other 80s News
(On This Day)
1989 - The Chinese Authorities Declared Martial Law Setting the Scene For the Tiananmen Square Massacre