1987 - The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) Beat The British Bulldogs For the WWF Tag Team Championship

#1 Songs in America

(January 26th)


1980 - "Rock With You"
Michael Jackson
1/19 - 2/15

1981 - "(Just Like) Starting Over"
John Lennon
12/27 - 1/30

1982 - "Physical"
Olivia Newton-John
11/21 - 1/29

1983 - "Down Under"
Men at Work
1/15 - 2/4

1984 - "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
Yes
1/21 - 2/3

1985 - "Like a Virgin"
Madonna
12/22 - 2/1

1986 - "That's What Friends Are For"
Dionne & Friends
1/18 - 2/14

1987 - "At This Moment"
Bill Vera and the Beaters
1/24 - 2/6

1988 - "The Way You Make Me Feel"
Michael Jackson

1/23 - 1/29
1989 - "Two Hearts"
Phil Collins
1/21 - 2/3


Click Here For More 80s Music Fun Facts and Awards

​​​​​​​​​January 26th in 80s History

1986 - The Chicago Bears Beat the New England Patriots 46 - 10 in Super Bowl XX

* The Bears Made a Music Video Called the "Super Bowl Shuffle"

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Other Notable Birthdays


Bessie Coleman (Pilot)
January 26, 1892 - April 30, 1926
Passed Away at Age 34 in a Plane Accident

First African-American Woman to Receive a Pilot-License

Paul Newman (Actor)
January 26, 1925 - September 26, 2008
Passed Away at Age 83 from Lung Cancer

Won an Academy Awards For Best Actor For His Role as "Fast Eddie" in the 1986 Film, The Color of Money

* A 10x Academy Awards Nominee

Gene Siskel (Film Critic)
January 26, 1946 - February 20, 1999
Passed Away at Age 53 During Surgery to Remove a Cancerous Brain Tumor

Best Known For Siskel & Ebert

Eddie Van Halen (Guitarist)
January 26, 1955 - October 6, 2020
Passed Away at Age 65 from a Stroke

Considered One of the Greatest Guitarists in Rock History

* Founded Van Halen With Brother Alex

“Hawk” (Wrestler)
January 26, 1957 - October 19, 2003
Passed Away at Age 46 from a Sudden Heart Attack

Member of the Road Warriors


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Passed Away
(On This Day)


Bear Bryant (Football Coach)
Passed Away on January 26, 1983 at Age 69 from a Massive Heart Attack

Coached Alabama From 1958 to 1982

* Won 6 National Championships

Abe Vigoda (Actor)
Passed Away in His Sleep on January 26, 2016 at Age 94
Played Tessio in the Godfather


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80s Movies

(Released On This Day)


​​No 80s Movies Released On This Day

Fun Fact
Red Dawn (1984) Was the First PG-13 Movie


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80s Television

(On This Day)


1980 - The 37th Golden Globe Awards Aired
Best Picture:  Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Actor:  Dustin Hoffman (Kramer vs. Kramer)
Best Actress:  Sally Field (Norma Rae)


​1985 - Otherworld Premiered on CBS
Seasons:  1
Episodes:  8


1986 - The Last Precinct Premiered on NBC
Seasons:  1
Episodes:  8

Starring Adam West

1987 - Square One TV (Mathematics Show) Premiered on PBS
Seasons:  6
Episodes:  230


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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)

1987 - Control:  The Remixes
Janet Jackson
*Reached #20 in the UK

Only Released in Europe and Japan

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80s Sports
(On This Day)​

1980 - New York Islanders Beat the Hartford Whalers 3 - 2 in a Penalty Free Game

1986 - The Chicago Bears Beat the New England Patriots 46 -10 to Win Super Bowl XX
Location:  Louisiana Superdome

MVP:  Richard Dent (DE)
Head Coach:  Mike Ditka
Spread

Bears  -10
O/U  37.5
Other Notable Super Bowl XX Notes

National Anthem:  Wynton Marsalis

Coin Toss:  Bart Starr
Halftime Show:  "Beat of the Future" Presented by Up With People

Network:  NBC

Announcers:  Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen and Bob Griese

30-Second Commercial:  $550,000

Attendance:  73,818

​1987 - The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart) Beat The British Bulldogs for the WWF Tag Team Championship
Location:  Tampa, FL


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<- January 25th            January 27th ->


Back To The 80s Home Page


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On January 26, 1984 Andy Kaufman Made His Final TV Appearance When He Hosted The Top
* Passed Away on May 16, 1984 at Age 35 From a Large-Cell Carcinoma of the Lungs​​

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1984 - Tom Hanks Made His First Appearance as “Drunk” Uncle Ned on Family Ties

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On January 26, 1984 Israel and Egypt Established Diplomatic Relations

On January 26, 1987 The Mathematics TV Show Square One Premiered on PBS

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Other Notable Dates

​(January 26th)


1837 - Michigan Became the 26th US State
* Population was 190,000 (Now Over 10 Million)

1905 - The Largest Diamond Ever (The Cullinan Diamond) Was Found in South Africa
* 3,106.75 Carats (0.621350 kg)

1915 - The Rocky Mountain National Park Was Established
* 55 Miles from Denver

1934 - The Apollo Theater Reopened in Harlem, New York

1979 - The Dukes of Hazzard Premiered on CBS
* Ran 7 Seasons with 145 Episodes


2009 - Nadya Suleman Became the First Woman to Give Birth to Surviving Octuplets

2020 - Kobe Bryant and Daughter Gianna Were Killed in a Helicopter Accident
* 7 Others Killed on Board

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Headlines

(January 26th)


1983 - Former Alabama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant Died at Age 69 From a Massive Heart Attack

_________________________​​​​​​​

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Egypt & Israel

_________________________​​​​​​​

The Chicago Bears Won The Super Bowl

Andy Kaufman

Square One

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Happy 80s Birthdays


1934 - Bob Uecker (Baseball Announcer)
1941 - Scott Glenn (Actor) 
Urban Cowboy (Wes)
1949 - David Strathairn (Actor) 
Eight Men Out
1949 - Derek Holt (Musician) 
Climax Blues Band
1958 - Anita Baker (Singer)
1958 - Ellen DeGeneres (Comedian)
1961 - Wayne Gretzky (Hockey)
1961 - Tom Keifer (Musician) 
Cinderella
1963 - Andrew Ridgeley (Singer) 
Wham!
1964 - Wendy Melvoin (Musician) 
The Revolution

Fun Fact!

In 1984 Ellen DeGeneres Was Named Showtime’s Funniest Person in America​