On this day May 12, 1982, security guards in Portugal successfully prevented an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II during a religious procession outside the Shrine of the Virgin Mary in Fátima. The attacker, Juan María Fernández y Krohn, a defrocked Spanish priest, tried
On this day May 11, 1981, the world lost a musical legend when Bob Marley passed away at the age of 36 from complications related to skin cancer. As the voice of reggae, Marley brought Jamaican music and Rastafarian culture to a global stage, spreading
On May 11, 1985, tragedy struck during a match between Bradford City and Lincoln City when a fire broke out at Valley Parade Stadium in Bradford, England. What began as a small flame under the wooden stands quickly turned into a massive blaze, engulfing the
On this day May 10, 1986, actress Heather Locklear married Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in a high profile ceremony that brought Hollywood and rock and roll together. At the time, Locklear was a TV star on shows like Dynasty and T.J. Hooker, while Lee
On this day May 9, 1980, five heavily armed gunmen held up a Security Pacific Bank in Norco, California, triggering one of the most violent police shootouts and car chases in California history. Armed with assault rifles, homemade explosives, and military gear, the robbers engaged
On this day May 9, 1980, a tragic event unfolded in Tampa, Florida, when the cargo freighter MV Summit Venture collided with a support column of the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge during a violent thunderstorm. The impact caused a 1,400 foot section of the southbound
On this day May 9, 1988, the New Parliament House in Canberra was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. The event marked a major moment in Australian history, celebrating the bicentenary of European settlement and symbolizing a modern era of governance. The building replaced the
On this day May 8, 1980, the World Health Organization officially declared that smallpox had been eradicated, marking one of the greatest achievements in medical history. Once one of the deadliest diseases known to humanity, smallpox killed millions over centuries and left survivors with permanent
On this day May 8, 1985, actor Dolph Sweet passed away at the age of 64 from stomach cancer. He was best known to 80s TV audiences for his role as Police Chief Carl Kanisky, the father on the sitcom Gimme a Break! where he
On this day May 8, 1984, the Soviet Union announced it would boycott the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, citing security concerns and claiming the United States was using the event for political purposes. In reality, the move was widely seen as retaliation for