On This Day During the 80s
Travel back through the 1980s and discover what happened on this day in music, movies, television, pop culture and more.
450 On This Day Articles
On This Day March 2 1984 – This is Spinal Tap Soundtrack Was Released
On this day March 2 1984 the This is Spinal Tap soundtrack was released alongside the mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap. The album featured music from the fictional rock band Spinal Tap blending satire with authentic sounding heavy metal and hard rock. The soundtrack
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On This Day March 1 1984 – Sting Played His Last Concert With The Police
On this day March 1 1984 Sting played his last concert with The Police before embarking on a solo career. The band performed their final show together at the end of their Synchronicity Tour which had been their most successful tour to date. The Police
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On This Day March 31 1983 – Sam and Diane Finally Kissed on the Season 1 Finale of Cheers
On this day March 31 1983 one of television’s most iconic couples shared their first kiss. In the season 1 finale of Cheers Sam Malone and Diane Chambers finally gave in to the tension that had been building all season and locked lips in the
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On This Day March 28 1983 – Baby Snakes Soundtrack by Frank Zappa Was Released
On this day March 28 1983 Frank Zappa released his thirty sixth album Baby Snakes the official soundtrack to his 1979 concert film of the same name. The album captured Zappa’s signature mix of experimental rock virtuoso musicianship and surreal humor all performed with his
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On This Day March 28 1983 – The Man From Utopia by Frank Zappa Was Released
On this day March 28 1983 Frank Zappa released his thirty seventh album The Man From Utopia. Known for blending complex arrangements with biting satire and wild storytelling Zappa once again delivered a mix of live and studio material that pushed musical boundaries and defied
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On This Day March 28 1983 – Jarreau by Al Jarreau Was Released
On this day March 28 1983 Al Jarreau released his sixth studio album Jarreau. Known for his smooth voice and genre-blending style the album continued to show his range across jazz R&B and pop. Jarreau reached number 13 on the US Billboard charts and climbed
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On This Day March 25 1983 – Bad Boys Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 25 1983 the crime drama Bad Boys premiered in theaters. Directed by Rick Rosenthal the gritty film starred Sean Penn in one of his earliest leading roles alongside Esai Morales Ally Sheedy Eric Gurry Alan Ruck and Clancy Brown. The story
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On This Day March 25 1983 – Max Dugan Returns Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 25 1983 Max Dugan Returns premiered in theaters. Directed by Herbert Ross and written by Neil Simon the heartfelt comedy starred Marsha Mason Jason Robards Donald Sutherland and featured Matthew Broderick in his film debut. The story followed Nora McPhee a
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On This Day March 25 1983 – The Black Stallion Returns Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 25 1983 The Black Stallion Returns premiered in theaters. Directed by Robert Dalva the family adventure film starred Kelly Reno reprising his role as Alec Ramsay alongside Vincent Spano and Teri Garr. The sequel picked up after the events of the
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On This Day March 25 1983 – Spring Break Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 25 1983 the teen comedy Spring Break premiered in theaters. Directed by Sean S. Cunningham best known for Friday the 13th the film starred David Knell and Perry Lang as two college buddies heading to Fort Lauderdale for a wild and
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On This Day March 23 1983 – President Reagan Introduced Star Wars Missile Defense System
On this day March 23 1983 President Ronald Reagan introduced the Strategic Defense Initiative to the American people. The plan aimed to develop a space-based missile defense system to protect the United States from nuclear attacks. The media quickly dubbed it Star Wars due to
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On This Day March 23 1983 – Eddie Macon’s Run Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 23 1983 Eddie Macon’s Run premiered in theaters. Directed by Jeff Kanew the action thriller starred Kirk Douglas John Schneider Lee Purcell and featured John Goodman in his film debut. The movie followed Eddie Macon a prison escapee desperately trying to
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On This Day March 23 1983 – Eliminator by ZZ Top Was Released
On this day March 23 1983 ZZ Top released their eighth studio album Eliminator. The album marked a major turning point for the band blending their signature blues-rock sound with synthesizers and a more polished production. This shift helped them reach a wider audience and
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On This Day March 21 1983 – The Final Episode of Little House on the Prairie Aired
On this day March 21 1983 the beloved television series Little House on the Prairie aired its final episode after nine seasons and 204 episodes on NBC. Based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder the show followed the Ingalls family as they built their
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On This Day March 21 1983 – Pink Floyd Released Their Album The Final Cut
On this day March 21 1983 Pink Floyd released their 12th studio album The Final Cut. The album reached number six on the Billboard 200 and topped the charts in the UK France Germany Norway Sweden and New Zealand. Often considered more of a Roger
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On This Day March 19 1983 – First Lady Nancy Reagan Appeared on Diff’rent Strokes to Promote the Just Say No Campaign
On this day March 19 1983 First Lady Nancy Reagan made a special guest appearance on an episode of Diff’rent Strokes as part of her nationwide Just Say No campaign against drug use. The episode titled The Reporter was the 22nd episode of season five
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On This Day March 18 1983 – High Road to China Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 18 1983 the adventure film High Road to China premiered in theaters. Directed by Brian G Hutton the film starred Tom Selleck and Bess Armstrong in a thrilling journey across the world. Set in the 1920s the story followed a spoiled
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On This Day March 15 1983 – Ace Crawford Private Eye Premiered on CBS
On this day March 15 1983 the comedy series Ace Crawford Private Eye premiered on CBS. Starring Tim Conway the show was a parody of classic detective stories featuring a bumbling private investigator who somehow always managed to solve cases despite his clumsiness. Ace Crawford
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On This Day March 11 1983 – Metal Health by Quiet Riot Was Released
On this day March 11 1983 Quiet Riot released their third studio album Metal Health which became a defining record in 80s heavy metal. The album made history by becoming the first heavy metal album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 selling over
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On This Day March 11 1983 – Trenchcoat Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 11 1983 the comedy mystery film Trenchcoat premiered in theaters. Directed by Michael Turner the movie starred Margot Kidder and Robert Hays in a lighthearted adventure filled with espionage mistaken identities and international intrigue. The film followed an aspiring mystery writer
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On This Day March 11 1983 – 10 to Midnight Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 11 1983 the crime thriller 10 to Midnight premiered in theaters. Directed by J. Lee Thompson the film starred Charles Bronson as a tough veteran detective on the trail of a psychopathic serial killer who targets young women. 10 to Midnight
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On This Day March 11 1983 – No Rest for the Wicked by Helix Was Released
On this day March 11 1983 Canadian hard rock band Helix released their third studio album No Rest for the Wicked. The album marked a turning point for the band as they embraced a heavier sound and gained more mainstream attention. While it peaked at
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On This Day March 11 1983 – Bob Hawke Was Appointed Prime Minister of Australia
On this day March 11 1983 Bob Hawke was officially appointed as the Prime Minister of Australia after leading the Australian Labor Party to victory in the federal election. His leadership marked the beginning of a transformative period in Australian politics with major economic and
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On This Day March 10 1983 – MTV Played Michael Jacksons Billie Jean Making Him the First Black Artist to Get Airplay on MTV
On this day March 10 1983 MTV aired Michael Jacksons Billie Jean marking the first time a Black artist received significant airplay on the network. Despite launching in 1981 MTV had initially focused on rock artists largely ignoring R&B and Black performers. Billie Jean changed
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