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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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Roger & Me
The Invasion of Panama
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On December 20, 1985 World Youth Day Was Established by Pope John Paul II
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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
1948 - Alan Parsons (Songwriter)
Birthplace: London, England
1949 - Cecil Cooper (Baseball)
Birthplace: Brenham, Texas
1952 - Jenny Agutter (Actress) An American Werewolf in London
Birthplace: Taunton, Somerset, England
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
RBI Leader (1980, 1983)
* Played His First 6 Seasons With the Boston Red Sox
"Walk Like an Egyptian" Became the #1 Song in America
On December 20, 1989 the United States Invaded Panama
Other Notable Dates
(On This Day)
1803 - The Louisiana Purchase was Completed at a Ceremony Held in New Orleans
* The US 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) and 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
Won Best Picture
Best Director: Francis Ford Copolla
Best Supporting Actor: Robert DeNiro
Godfather I Also Won Best Picture
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On December 20, 1989 Roger & Me Directed by Roger Moore Premiered in Theaters
* Directorial Debut
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
1986 - “Walk Like an Egyptian” by The Bangles Hit #1 on the US Billboard Charts
* #1 Song in America from December 20 - January 16
Also Hit #1 in Canada, Spain, West Germany, Netherlands and Australia
Born of the 4th of July
World Youth Day
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1984 - Jonelle Matthews, a 12-Year Old Girl 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
Her Killer Steven Pankey Was Sentenced to Life in Prison After His Arrest in 2020
Other Notable Birthdays
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)
* Both Films Starred Paul Newman and Robert Redford
David Breashers (Mountaineer)
December 20, 1955 - March 14, 2024
Birthplace: Fort Benning Georgia
Passed Away in HIs Marblehead Home at Age 68
* Unknown Cause
The First American to Reach the Summit of Mt. Everest Twice
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Dawn Steel (Studio Executive)
August 19, 1946 - December 20, 1997
Birthplace: New York City
Passed Away at Age 51 From Brain Cancer
In 1987 Became the First Woman to Run a Major Hollywood Studio
* Columbia Pictures
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
* Unknown Cause
Best Known For The Immaculate Reception
Pro Bowls: 9
Won 4 Super Bowls With the Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl IX MVP
Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 (First Ballot)
Rickey Henderson (Baseball)
December 25, 1958 - December 20, 2024
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Passed Away at Age 65 From Pneumonia
All Star: 10
American League MVP (1990)
Holds the Major League Record With 1,406 Career Stolen Bases
* Also Holds the Record For Most Runs Scored (2,295)
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
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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<- December 19th December 21st ->
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On December 20, 1989 Born on the 4th of July Starring Tom Cruise Premiered in Theaters
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