December 28th in 80s History

Other Notable Dates

(On December 28th)

1902 - The Syracuse Athletic Club Beat the New York Philadelphians 5 - 0 in the First Indoor Professional Football Game
* Held at Madison Square Garden

1912 - San Francisco's First Municipal Street Cars Hit the Road

1918 - Constance Markievicz Became the First Woman to be Elected a Member of Parliament
* Elected While Detained in a Holloway Prison

1944 - Maurice Richard Became the First Player to Score 8 Points in an NHL Game
* Played All 19 Seasons With the Montreal Canadiens
Elected to the Pro Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961

1958 - The Baltimore Colts, Behind Hall of Fame Quarterback Johnny Unitas Beat the New York Giants 23 - 17 (Overtime) in the NFL Championship Game

* The First Sudden Death Overtime Game in NFL History
Location: New York's Yankee Stadium
Considered the “Greatest Game Ever Played”
Spread
Colts -3 1/2
O/U N/A
Attendance: 64,185

1967 - Muriel Siebert (American Business Woman) Became the First Woman to Own a Seat on the New York Stock Exchange

1973 - The United States Endangered Species Act Was Signed by President Richard Nixon

Headlines

(December 28th)

1981 - Pat Sajak Made His Debut on Wheel of Fortune

* Replaced Chuck Woolery

Chuck Wollery Hosted His Last Episode on December 25th Due to a Contract Dispute

Fun Fact!

Wheel of Fortune Made Its Debut on NBC on January 6, 1975

__________________________

Happy 80s Birthdays

1953 - Martha Wash (Singer) Two Tons O’ Fun
Birthplace: San Francisco, California
1954 - Gayle King (Journalist)
Birthplace: Chevy Chase, Maryland
1954 - Denzel Washington (Actor) Glory, St. Elsewhere
Birthplace: Mount Vernon, New York
1955 - Stephen Frost (English Comedian)
Birthplace: Redruth, Cornwall, England
1959 - Ana Torroja (Spanish Singer)
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
1981 - Elizabeth Jordan Carr
Birthplace: Norfolk, Virginia

Fun Fact!
Denzel Washington Played Basketball (Guard) at Fordham University

_______________________________

Other Notable Birthdays

Woodrow Wilson (Former U.S. President)
December 28, 1856 - February 3, 1924
Birthplace: Staunton, Virginia

Passed Away at Age 67 From Declining Health
The 28th President of the United States From 1913 to 1921

Party: Democratic

The President of the United States During World War I

Stan Lee (Comic Book Writer)
December 28, 1922 - November 12, 2018

Birthplace: Staunton, Virginia

Passed Away at Age 95 From Congestive Heart Failure

Started Marvel Comics

Nichelle Nichols (Actor)

December 28, 1932 – July 30, 2022

Birthplace: Robbins, Illinois

Passed Away at Age 89 From Heart Failure

Played Nyota Uhura on Star Trek

* Nichols' Portrayal of Uhura Was Groundbreaking For African American Actresses on American Television

_______________________________

Passed Away
(On This Day)

Dennis Wilson (Singer)
December 4, 1944 - December 28, 1983
Birthplace: Inglewood, California

Drowned in Marina Del Rey at Age 39 After Drinking All Day
Member of The Beach Boys

Debbie Reynolds (Actress)
April 1, 1932 - December 28, 2016
Birthplace: El Paso, Texas

Passed Away at Age 84 From a Severe Stroke
* Some Say it Was a Broken Heart After Her Daughter Carrie Fisher Died the Day Before

Best Known For Playing Kathy Selden in the 1952 Film Singin' in the Rain

_______________________________

80s Movies
(Released On This Day)

1988 - The Boost (Limited Theaters)
* January 4, 1989 (Worldwide Release)
Director: Harold Becker
Starring: James Woods, Sean Young, John Kapelos, Steven Hill, June Chandler and Amanda Blake
Budget: $8 Million
Box Office: $784,000

_______________________________

80s Television
(On This Day)

1981 - Pat Sajak Made His Debut as the Host of Wheel of Fortune

1984 - Final Episode of The Edge of Night
Seasons: 28
Episodes: 7,420
Network: CBS 1956-1975
ABC: 1975-1984

1986 - Outlaws Premiered on CBS
Seasons: 1

Episodes: 12

Starring Richard Roundtree

1988 - Annie McGuire Premiered on CBS
Seasons: 1

Episodes: 11
Starring Mary Tyler Moore

_______________________________

80s Music

(Albums Released On This Day)

No 80s Albums Released On This Day

Fun Fact!

The Soundtrack to West Side Story Was the Top Selling Album in 1961 & 62

* The Film Won Best Picture

Singles Released

1988 - "Father Figure"

George Michael

#1 Song in America from February 27 - March 11

_______________________________

80s Sports

(On This Day)

1985 - The New England Patriots Beat the New York Jets 26 - 14 in the AFC Wild Card Game
Location: Giants Stadium in New York

* Patriots Defense 5 Sacks 4 Turnovers
Spread

Jets -3

O/U N/A

1986 - The Washington Redskins Beat the Los Angeles Rams 19 - 7 in the NFC Wild Card Game
Location: RFK Stadium

* Redskins Defense Forced 6 Turnovers
Spread

Redskins -4.5

O/U 40.0

1986 - The New York Jets Beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35 - 15 in the AFC Wild Card Game
Location: Giants Stadium in New York

* Freeman McNeil (Jets) 135 Yards Rushing (1 TD)
Spread

Jets -3

O/U 39.0

_______________________________

<- December 27th December 29th ->

Back To The 80s Home Page

_______________________________

1981 - Elizabeth Jordan Carr Became the First Baby Born in the United States From In-Vitro Fertilization
* 15th in the World
The First In-Vitro Baby in the World Was Louise Brown From Manchester, England in 1978

On December 28, 1988 Johnny Carson Did His Hilarious Fruitcake Segment