1983 - The First AIDS Publications Were Published
* The Journal Science by Luc Montagnier
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 of
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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Other Notable Dates
(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
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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
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May 20th in 80s History
1989 - Saturday Night Live Star, Gilda Radner Passed Away at Age 42 From Ovarian Cancer
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
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1927 - Bud Grant (Football)
1936 - Anthony Zerbe (Actor) License to Kill
1946 - Cher (Singer and Actress)
1949 - Dave Thomas (Actor) Strange Brew
1955 - Steve George (Keyboardist) Mr. Mister
1958 - Jane Wiedlin (Singer) Go-Go’s
1963 - David Wells (Baseball)
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
Ran 8 Seasons with 170 Episodes
Won an Emmy For Most Outstanding Drama in 1982
* Nominated 7 Times
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'Forever Your Girl" Became the #1 Song in America
Other Notable Birthdays
Joe Cocker (Singer)
May 20, 1944 - December 22, 2014
Passed Away at Age 70 from Lung Cancer
Sang the Them Song For The Wonder Years
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Gilda Radner (Comedian)
Passed Away on May 20, 1989 at Age 42 from Ovarian Cancer
Randy “Macho Man” Savage (Wrestler)
Passed Away on May 20, 2011 at Age 58 from a Car Accident (After Suffering a Heart Attack While Driving)
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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
1989 - The Chinese Authorities Declared Martial Law Setting the Scene For the Tiananmen Square Massacre