On December 12, 1986 1986 - James "Bone Crusher" Smith Knocked Out Tim Witherspoon in the 1st Round to Win the WBA Heavyweight Title
"Faith" Became the #1 Song in America
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1985 – Arrow Flight 1285 Crashed After Takeoff in Gander, Newfoundland
* Killed All 256 People on Board Including 236 Members of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division
1987 - “Faith” by George Michael Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from December 12 - January 8
Also Hit #1 in Canada, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand
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Headlines
(December 12th)
1980 - Stir Crazy Premiered in Theaters
* Starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor
Fun Fact!
Stir Crazy Was Richard Pryor's Most Successful Movie, Grossing Over $100 Million Dollars
Happy 80s Birthdays
1940 - Dionne Warwick (Singer)
Birthplace: East Orange, NJ
1947 - Wings Hauser (Actor) Character Actor
Birthplace: Hollywood, CA
1949 - Bill Nighy (Actor) The Phantom of the Opera
Birthplace: Caterham, Surrey, England
1950 - Gorman Thomas (Baseball)
Birthplace: Charleston, SC
1952 - Cathy Rigby (Gymnast and Actress)
Birthplace: Long Beach, CA
1953 - Bruce Kulick (Guitarist) KISS
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
1957 - Sheila E. (Singer) “The Glamorous Life”
Birthplace: Oakland, CA
1962 - Tracy Austin (Tennis)
Birthplace: Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
1962 - Mike Golic (Football)
Birthplace: Willowick, OH
1964 - Haywood Jeffries (Football)
Birthplace: Greensboro, NC
1970 - Jennifer Connelly (Actress) Labyrinth
Birthplace: Cairo, NY
1975 - Mayim Bialik (Actress) Beaches
Birthplace: San Diego, CA
Fun Fact!
Mayim Bialik Made Her Film Debut as Young CC in the 1988 Film, in Beaches
Bonecrusher Smith
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Other Notable Dates
(On December 12th)
1787 - Pennsylvania Became the 2nd U.S. State
* The Population Was 400,000
Now Over 13 Million
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On December 12, 1986 The Golden Child Starring Eddie Murphy Premiered in Theaters
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#1 Songs in America
(December 12th)
1980 - "Lady"
Kenny Rogers
11/15 - 12/26
1981 - "Physical"
Olivia Newton-John
11/21 - 1/29
1982 - "Mickey"
Toni Basil
12/11 - 12/17
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 - "The Next Time I Fall"
Peter Cetera and Amy Grant
12/6 - 12/12
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 Fun Facts and Awards
1792 - The First Bank in the United States, The United States Bank Opened in Philadelphia
Did You Know?
The First Bank in the World Was The Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena in Italy
* Formed in 1472
Other Notable Birthdays
Frank Sinatra (Singer)
December 12, 1915 - May 14, 1998
Birthplace: Hoboken, NJ
Passed Away at Age 82 From a Heart Attack
One of the Best Selling Artist of All-Time With Over 150 Million Albums Sold
* Won an Academy Award For Best Supporting Actor For His Role as Private Angelo Maggio in the 1953 Film, From Here to Eternity
Bob Barker (Game Show Host)
December 12, 1923 - August 26, 2023
Birthplace: Darrington, WA
Passed Away at Age 99 After Years With Alzheimer's Disease
Hosted The Price is Right From 1972 to 2007
* Won 18 Daytime Emmy Awards
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Peter Boyle (Actor)
October 18, 1935 - December 12, 2006
Birthplace: Norristown, PA
Passed Away at Age 71 From Heart Disease
Best Known For Playing Raymond’s Dad On the Hit TV Series, Everybody Loves Raymond
Ike Turner (Guitarist)
November 5, 1931 - December 12, 2007
Birthplace: Clarksdale, MS
Passed Away at Age 76 From a Cocaine Overdose
Tina Turner's Ex-Husband
Pat DiNizio (Singer)
October 12, 1955 - December 12, 2017
Birthplace: Plainfield, NJ
Passed Away at Age 62 Following a Series of Health Problems
The Lead Singer of the Smithereens
Danny Aiolla (Actor)
June 20, 1933 - December 12, 2019
Birthplace: New York City
Passed Away at Age 86 Following a Brief Illness
Nominated For an Academy Award For Best Supporting Actor For His Role as Sal in Spike Lee's 1989 Film, Do the Right Thing
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1980 - Stir Crazy
Director: Sidney Poitier
Starring: Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson
Budget: $10 Million
Box Office: $101 Million
1986 - The Golden Child
Director: Michael Ritchie
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Charlotte Lewis, Charles Dance and J. L. Reate
Budget: $25 Million
Box Office: $79.8 Million
1986 - Three Amigos
Director: John Landis
Starring: Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $39.2 Million
1986 - Crimes of the Heart
Director: Bruce Beresford
Starring: Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek
Budget: $20 Million
Box Office: $22.9 Million
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1981 - Bill Murray Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guests: The Spinners and The Whiffenpoofs
1982 - Powerhouse Premiered on PBS
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 16
1987 - Final Episode of Popeye and Son (Animation)
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 13
Network: CBS
1987 - Angie Dickinson Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guests: Buster Poindexter and David Gilmour
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1980 - Sandinista!
The Clash (4th Album)
Billboard Charts: #24
* #3 in Canada
Fun Fact!
The Clash Released Their Debut Album in 1977 (The Clash)
Billboard Charts: #126
* #12 in the UK
1983 - Perverted by Language
The Fall (6th Album)
* Reached #1 in UK Indie Charts
1984 - Deep Breakfast
Ray Lynch (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #197
* #1 in New Age
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1983 - Mats Wilander Won His 2nd Consecutive Australian Open
Runner Up: Ivan Lendl
Match: 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
* Wilander Won Again in 1988
1986 - James "Bone Crusher" Knocked Out Tim Witherspoon in the First Round to Win the WBA Heavyweight Title
Location: Madison Square Garden
1987 - Oklahoma set a NCAA Basketball Record With 33 Steals in a Game vs Centenary
* Mookie Blaylock (Oklahoma)e Also Set an NCAA Record With 13 Steals in a Game
Blaylock Had 13 Steals Again a Week Later Against Loyola Marymount
1988 - Sandra Miller of Queens Sued Mike Tyson For $2.5 Million Dollars For Sexual Warassment
* Tyson Was Found Guilty and Ordered to Pay Miller $100
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<- December 11th December 13th ->
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December 12th in 80s History
The Three Amigos
On December 12, 1986 Three Amigos Starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short Premiered in Theaters
1988 - 3 Commuter Trains Crashed in the United Kingdom
* 35 Killed and Hundreds Injured
Known as The Clapham Junction Rail Crash
The Golden Child