#1 Songs in America
(March 31st)
1980 - "Another Brick in the Wall Part II"
Pink Floyd
3/22 - 4/18
1981 - "Rapture"
Blondie
3/28 - 4/10
1982 - "I Love Rock 'n' Roll
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
3/20 - 5/7
1983 - "Billie Jean"
Michael Jackson
3/5 - 4/22
1984 - "Footloose"
Kenny Loggins
3/31 - 4/20
1985 - "One More Night"
Phil Collins
3/30 - 4/12
1986 - "Rock Me Amadeus"
Falco
3/29 - 4/18
1987 - "Lean on Me"
Club Nouveau
3/21 - 4/3
1988 - "Man in the Mirror"
Michael Jackson
3/26 - 4/8
1989 - "The Living Years"
Mike + The Mechanics
3/25 - 3/31
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards
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Other Notable Dates
(On March 31st)
1899 - The Eiffel Tower Officially Opened in Paris, France
On March 31, 1989 Heathers Starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder Premiered in Theaters
Did You Know?
Donald Sutherland Didn't Get an Oscar Nomination For Ordinary People and Entertainment Weekly Said it Was One of the Worst Acting Snubs in the History of the Academy Awards
Headlines
(March 31st)
1981 - Ordinary People Won Best Picture at the 53rd Annual Academy Awards
Location: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles
Host: Johnny Carson
Network: ABC
Best Director: Robert Redford (Ordinary People)
Best Actor: Robert De Niro (Raging Bull)
Best Actress: Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter)
Ordinary People Had the Most Awards With 4
* The Elephant Man and Raging Bull Had the Most Nominations (8)
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1984 - "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from March 31 - April 20
Also Hit #1 in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
Heathers
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1918 - Daylight Savings and Time Zones Went Into Effect For the First Time in the United States
Other Notable Birthdays
Gordie Howe (Hockey)
March 31, 1928 - June 10, 2016
Passed Away at Age 88 From Dementia
* A Record 23-Time NHL All-Star
NHL Hall of Famer
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Selena (Singer)
April 16, 1971 - March 31, 1995
Shot and killed by Her Manager Loretta on March 31, 1995 at Age 23
Known as the "Queen of Tejano Music"
Bill Keightley (Equipment Manager)
December 17, 1926 - March 31, 2008
Passed Away on March 31, 2008 at Age 81 From Internal Bleeding After Falling Off a Bus On His Way to the Cincinnati Reds Season Opener
Equipment Manager For the Kentucky Wildcats For 48 Years
* Known as "Mr. Wildcat"
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1989 - Heathers
Director: Michale Lehman
Starring: Christian Slater and Winona Ryder
Budget: $3 Million
Box Office: $1.1 Million
In Other 80s Movie News
1981 - 1st Golden Raspberry Awards
Location: John Wilson’s living room
Worst Picture: “Can’t Stop the Music”
Worst Actor: Neil Diamond - The Jazz Singer
Worst Actress: Brooke Shields - The Blue Lagoon
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1981 - 53rd Academy Awards Aired on ABC
1983 - Sam and Diane Finally Kissed on the Season 1 Finale of Cheers
1984 - Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Premiered in Syndication
Seasons: 12
1987 - Max Headroom Premiered on ABC
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 14
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1981 - Animal Magnetism
The Scorpions (7th Album)
Billboard Charts: #52
1986 - Parade
Prince and The Revolution (8th Album)
Billboard Charts: #3
* 4th and Final Wlbum with The Revolution
1987 - Sign o’ Times
Prince (9th Album)
Billboard Charts: #6
* Hit #1 in Switzerland
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - Larry Holmes TKO’d Leroy Jones in the 12th Round to Retain the WBC Heavyweight Championship
* Improved HIs Record to 34 - 0
1980 - Mike Weaver Defeated John Tate With a 15th Round KO to Win the WBA Heavyweight Championship
1982 - NBA and Players Association Reached a 4-Year Agreement With a 53% Revenue Sharing Plan in Return For Minimum & Maximum Payrolls
* First of Its Kind in Any Sports
1984 - The Final 4 Began at the Kingdome in Seattle
#2 Seed Houston Beat #7 Seed Virginia 49 - 47 (OT)
#1 Seed Georgetown Beat #1 Seed Kentucky 53 - 40
1984 - Mike Bossy Became the First Player in NHL History to Record 7 Straight 50 Goal Seasons
1985 - Old Dominion Beat the Georgia 70 - 65 to Win the Women’s NCAA Basketball Championship
1985 - WrestleMania I Aired Live on Pay-Per- View
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York
The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff Bear Barry Wyndham and Mike Rotundo (The U.S. Express to Win the WWF Tag Championship
1985 - Calvin Peete Won the Tournament Players Championship
* Beat D.A. Weibring by 3 Strokes
1986 - Louisville Beat Duke 72 - 69 to Win the Men’s NCAA National Championship
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In Other 80s News
(On This Day)
1980 - President Carter Deregulated the Banking Industry
Sam & Diane Kiss
The First WrestleMania
On March 31, 1983 Sam and Diane Finally Kissed on the Season 1 Finale of Cheers
1985 - The First Wrestlemania Took Place at Madison Square Garden in New York
* Hulk Hogan and Mr. T Beat "Rowdy Roddy Piper" and "Mr Wonderful" Paul Orndorff in the Main Event
Fun Fact!
The First Bank in America Opened on December 12, 1791 in Philadelphia
*.Called The Bank of the United States
The First Bank in the World Was The Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena in Italy Formed in 1472
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1927 - William Daniels (Actor) Her Alibi
1934 - Richard Chamberlain (Actor) King Solomon’s Mines
1934 - Shirley Jones (Actress)
1943 - Christopher Walken (Actor) A View to Kill
1948 - Rhea Perlman (Actress) Cheers (Carla)
1957 - Marc McClure (Actor) Back to the Future
1965 - William McNamara (Actor) Dream a Little Dream
1976 - Josh Saviano (Actor) Wonder Years
Fun Fact!
Rhea Perlman Was Married to Danny DeVito From 1982 to 2017
* 3 Children
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The Doobie Brothers
March 31st in 80s History
1986 - Louisville Beat Duke 72 - 69 to Win the NCAA National Championship
Head Coach: Denny Crum
Most Outstanding Player: Pervis Ellison (Louisville)
Top Scorer: Johnny Dawkins 153 (Duke)
On March 31, 1982 The Doobie Brothers Split Up
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