Happy 80s Birthdays
1957 - Carney Lansford (Baseball)
1958 - Terry Marsh (Boxer)
1960 - Robert Smigel (Writer) SNL
1960 - James Spader (Actor) Pretty in Pink
1962 - Garth Brooks (Singer)
1962 - David Bryan (Keyboardist) Bon Jovi
1965 - Chris Rock (Actor and Comedian) Beverly Hills Cop II
1965 - Jason Gedrick (Actor) Iron Eagle
1972 - Robyn Lively (Actress) Karate Kid Part III
Fun Fact!
Both of James Spader's Parents Were Teachers
* James Dropped Out of High School to Pursue Acting
1987 - "Open Your Heart" by Madonna Became the #1 Song in America
#1 Song in America from February 7 - 13
Love Song Where Madonna Expresses Her Sexual Desires
Other Notable Dates
(On February 7th)
1795 - The Eleventh Amendment (Amendment XI) to the United States Constitution was Ratified
* Restricts Individuals in Bringing a Lawsuit Against States in Federal Court
1940 - Pinocchio Premiered in Theaters
* Disney’s 2nd Full-Length Animated Film
1962 - The United States Banned all Cuban Imports
* Due to Their Communism
1979 - Pluto Officially Moved into Neptune’s Orbit
* Now Considered a Dwarf Planet
2013 - Mississippi Officially Certified the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution to Abolish Slavery
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On February 7, 1984 Michael Jackson Threw a "Thriller" Party at the Museum of Natural History in New York City
1987 - The Final Episode of Too Close For Comfort Aired
* Ran 6 Seasons with 129 Episodes
America's Most Wanted Premiered
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On February 7, 1984 Bruce McCandless II and Robert L. Stewart Made the First Untethered Space Walk (Not Connected to the Ship)
* Used the MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit)
On February 7, 1986 Hannah and Her Sisters Starring Woody Alan, Michael Caine, Mia Farrow and Barbara Hershey Premiered in Theaters
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Hannah and Her Sisters
Kathy Ireland
"Thriller" Party
February 7th in 80s History
First Untethered Space Walk
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Other Notable Birthdays
Dan Quisenberry (Baseball)
February 7, 1953 - September 30, 1998
Passed Away at Age 45 from Brain Cancer
* 3x All-Star
5x Saves Leader
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
John Deere (Blacksmith)
February 7, 1804 - May 17, 1886
Passed Away at Age 82 in His Home (Unknown Cause)
Founded Deere & Company
Charles Dickens (Novelist)
February 7 1812 - June 8, 1870
Passed Away at Age 58 from a Stroke
His Last Words Were “On the Ground” In Response to His Sister-in-Law (Georgina) Request that He Lie Down
Nap Lajoie (Baseball)
Passed Away on February 7, 1959 at Age 84 from Pneumonia
Triple Crown Winner (1901)
5x Batting Champion
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937
Richard Hatch (Actor)
Passed Away on February 7, 2017 at Age 71 from Pancreatic Cancer
Played Captain Apollo in Battlestar Galactica
Frank Robinson (Baseball)
Passed Away on February 7, 2018 at Age 83 from Bone Cancer
* 14x All-Star
The Only Player to Win MVP in Both Leagues
1961 AL MVP
1966 NL MVP
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982
Fun Fact!
In 1976 Frank Robinson Became the First Black Manager in Major League Baseball (Cleveland Indians)
Albert Finney (Actor)
Passed Away on February 7, 2019 at Age 82 from a Chest Infection
Played Daddy Warbucks in Annie (1982)
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1986 - Hannah and Her Sisters
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Woody Allen, Michael Caine, Mia Farrow, Dianne Wiest, Barbara Hershey, Daniel Stern, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss and Carrie Fisher
Budget: $6.4 Million
Box Office: $40.1 Million
Academy Awards
Best Original Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor: Michael Caine
Best Supporting Actress: Dianne Wiest
* Nominated for 7 Academy Awards
1986 - F/X
Director: Robert Mandel
Starring: Bryan Brown, Brian Dennehy, Diane Venora, and Angela Bassett
Budget: $10 Million
Box Office: $20.6 Million
Angela Bassett’s Film Debut
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1981 - Sally Kellerman Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Jimmy Cliff
1987 - The Final Episode of Too Close For Comfort
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 129
1988 - America’s Most Wanted premiered on Fox
Seasons: 25
Episodes: 1,186
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1980 - Sugarhill Gang
Sugarhill Gang (Debut Album)
* Reached #32 in R&B
Featuring “Rappers Delight”
1983 - Michael W. Smith Project
Michael W. Smith (Debut Album)
* Reached #9 in Christian Albums
1984 - Ammonia Avenue
The Alan Parsons Project (7th Album)
Billboard Charts: #15
1989 - Don’t Tell a Soul
The Replacements (6th Album)
Billboard Charts: #57
1989 - As Nasty As They Wanna Be
2 Live Crew (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #29
* #3 in R&B
1989 - Blessing in Disguise
Metal Church (3rd Album)
In Other 80s Music News
1980 - Pink Floyd’s “The Wall Tour” Opened in Los Angeles
* Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1987 - Dennis Conner & the Stars & Stripes Won The America's Cup
1987 - Michael Jordan (Bulls) Won the NBA Slam Dunk Competition
1988 - Mike Tyson Married Robin Givens
1988 - The AFC Beat the NFC 15-6 in the NFL Pro Bowl
MVP: Bruce Smith (Bills)
AFC Coach: Marty Schottenheimer (Browns)
NFC Coach: Jerry Burns (Vikings)
Location: Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawaii
Attendance: 50,113
Payouts
Winning Team: $10,000
Losing Team Received $5,000
1988 - The East Beat the West 138-133 in the NBA All-Star Game
MVP: Michael Jordan (40 pts. 8 rebounds 4 steals 4 blocks)
East Coach: Mike Fratello (Hawks)
West Coach: Pat Riley (Lakers)
Location: Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois
Michael Jordan Was the Leading Vote Getter
1989 - Campbell Conference Beat the Wales Conference 9 - 5 in the NHL All-Star Game in Edmonton
MVP: Wayne Gretzky (Kings)
1989 - Tennis Great Bjorn Borg “Apparently” Attempted Suicide in Milan by Taking Sleeping Pills
* His Advisor Told a Radio Show the Pills Were Taken For a Painful Stomach Ache
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<- February 6th February 8th ->
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1988 - America’s Most Wanted Premiered on Fox
* Ran 25 Seasons with 1,186 Episodes
#1 Songs in America
(February 7th)
1980 - "Rock With You"
Michael Jackson
1/19 - 2/15
1981 - "Celebration"
Kool and the Gang
2/7 - 2/20
1982 - "Centerfold"
J. Geils Band
2/6 - 3/19
1983 - "Africa"
Toto
2/5 - 2/11
1984 - "Karma Chameleon"
Boy George
2/4 - 2/24
1985 - "I Want To Know What Love Is"
Foreigner
2/1 - 2/15
1986 - "That's What Friends Are For"
Dionne & Friends
1/18 - 2/14
1987 - "Open Your Heart"
Madonna
2/7 - 2/13
1988 - "Could've Been"
Tiffany
2/6 - 2/19
1989 - "When I'm With You"
Sheriff
2/3 - 2/10
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards
On February 7, 1989 Kathy Ireland Was On the Cover of the Sports Illustrated 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue
Headlines
(February 7th)
1981 - "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang Became the #1 Song in America
#1 Song in America from February 7 - 20
* Also Hit #1 in Canada and New Zealand
The Theme Song For the 1979 World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates