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.
389 On This Day Articles
On This Day August 29 1982 – Ingrid Bergman Passed Away at Age 67
On this day August 29 1982, legendary actress Ingrid Bergman passed away at the age of 67 after a battle with breast cancer. Her death came on her birthday, marking both the celebration of a life and the end of an era in classic Hollywood
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On This Day August 28 1982 – The Junkman Premiered in Theaters
On this day August 28 1982, The Junkman premiered in theaters. Billed as a sequel to Gone in 60 Seconds, the film was written, produced, directed by, and starred H B Halicki. Known for his love of high speed car stunts, Halicki delivered another action
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On This Day August 25 1982 – What Time Is It? by The Time Was Released
On this day August 25 1982, What Time Is It? by The Time was released. As their second studio album, it solidified the group’s signature blend of funk, R and B, and Minneapolis sound that had been cultivated under the mentorship and production of Prince.
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On This Day August 25 1982 – Zipper Catches Skin by Alice Cooper Was Released
On this day August 25 1982, Zipper Catches Skin by Alice Cooper was released. This marked his seventh solo studio album and one of the more unusual entries in his extensive discography. Known for theatrical rock and horror-inspired anthems, Cooper took a sharp left turn
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On This Day August 21 1981 – An American Werewolf in London Premiered in Theaters
On this day August 21 1981, An American Werewolf in London premiered in theaters and shocked audiences with its mix of horror, suspense, and dark humor. The film quickly stood out for its groundbreaking practical effects, especially the now legendary transformation scene that raised the
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On This Day August 21 1981 – First Monday in October Premiered in Theaters
On this day August 21 1981, First Monday in October premiered in theaters, bringing political drama and timely commentary to the big screen. The film imagined a historic moment in American history when the first woman is appointed to the United States Supreme Court, sparking
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On This Day August 21 1981 – Prince of the City Premiered in Theaters
On this day August 21 1981, Prince of the City premiered in theaters, delivering a gripping and complex look at police corruption and the cost of loyalty. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the film was based on true events and followed New York narcotics officer Daniel
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On This Day August 21 1981 – Sleep No More by The Comsat Angels Released
On this day August 21 1981, Sleep No More by The Comsat Angels was released, marking a major step forward in the band’s sound and vision. As their second album, it moved beyond their debut with a deeper, darker atmosphere built around layered guitars, urgent
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On This Day August 18 1981 – Dark Continent by Wall of Voodoo Released
On this day August 18 1981, Wall of Voodoo released their debut album Dark Continent . Emerging from the Los Angeles new wave scene, the band blended western noir atmospheres with quirky electronics for a sound that felt both cinematic and strangely futuristic. Songs like
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On This Day August 15 1981 – Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie Became the Number 1 Song in America
On this day August 15 1981, Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie reached the number 1 spot on the US Billboard charts. The duet, recorded for the film of the same name, blended Ross’s graceful vocals with Richie’s smooth delivery, creating one of
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On This Day August 15 1981 – Give the People What They Want by The Kinks Was Released
On this day August 15 1981, Give the People What They Want hit record stores, marking the nineteenth studio album from British rock legends The Kinks. By the early 80s, the band had already established themselves as one of the most important groups in rock
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On This Day August 14 1981 – Deadly Blessing Premiered in Theaters
On this day August 14 1981, Deadly Blessing premiered in theaters. This horror mystery thriller featured a reclusive religious community dealing with unexplained deaths and sinister secrets. When a young woman moves into the community with her friend, they encounter strange phenomena, escalating fear, and
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On This Day August 14 1981 – An Eye for an Eye Premiered in Theaters
On this day August 14 1981, An Eye for an Eye premiered in theaters. This crime drama featured Chuck Norris as a tough lawman determined to enforce justice outside the system after police corruption thwarts legal channels. When his partner is murdered and the court
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On This Day August 14 1981 – They All Laughed Premiered in Theaters
On this day August 14 1981, They All Laughed premiered in theaters. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, this romantic comedy brought together an ensemble cast including Audrey Hepburn, Ben Gazzara, Dorothy Stratten, and John Ritter in a story set in New York focused on private detectives
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On This Day August 14 1981 – Arthurs Theme Christopher Cross Single Released
On this day August 14 1981, Arthurs Theme by Christopher Cross was released as a single. The song was written for the film Arthur and instantly became a massive hit thanks to its elegant melody and timeless feel. It combined soft rock sensibility with lyrical
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On This Day August 12 1981 – Bob Dylan Released His Album Shot of Love
On this day August 12 1981, Bob Dylan released his twentieth studio album, Shot of Love . This record marked the final chapter of his Christian-themed trilogy, following Slow Train Coming and Saved, and signaled a gradual return to a more secular lyrical approach. Shot
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On This Day August 12 1981 – The IBM Personal Computer Went on Sale in the United States
On this day August 12 1981, the IBM Personal Computer officially went on sale in the United States, marking a major turning point in the history of computing. Known as the IBM 5150, the machine was introduced to the public as a serious, accessible computer
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On This Day August 12 1981 – Never Too Much by Luther Vandross Released in the United States
On this day August 12 1981, Never Too Much by Luther Vandross was released in the United States. This debut solo album marked the beginning of an extraordinary career for one of the most recognizable voices in rhythm and blues. With smooth vocals, heartfelt lyrics,
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On This Day August 10 1981 – Adam Walsh Was Found Dead After His Abduction
On this day August 10 1981, the body of six-year-old Adam Walsh was found, two weeks after his abduction from a Sears department store in Hollywood, Florida. The tragedy shocked the nation and changed the landscape of child safety laws in the United States. Adam
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On This Day August 10 1981 – Friday Night in San Francisco Live Album Released
On this day August 10 1981, the groundbreaking live album Friday Night in San Francisco was released, showcasing the extraordinary talents of Paco de Lucía, Al Di Meola, and John McLaughlin. Recorded live at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on December 5 1980, the
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On This Day August 8 1981 – Hell Night Premiered In Theaters
On this day August 8 1981, Hell Night premiered in theaters, delivering a chilling blend of gothic horror and early 80s slasher suspense. Starring Linda Blair, the film quickly became a cult favorite among horror fans and offered a unique twist on the haunted house
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On This Day August 7 1981 – The Washington Star Ceased Publication After 128 Years
On this day August 7 1981, The Washington Star ceased publication after 128 years, ending one of the most historic runs in American newspaper history. Founded in 1852, the Star had long been a respected voice in the nation’s capital, known for its political reporting,
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On This Day August 7 1981 – Heavy Metal Premiered In Theaters
On this day August 7 1981, Heavy Metal premiered in theaters, unleashing a bold animated anthology that blended science fiction, fantasy, and hard rock in a way audiences had never seen before. Based on the adult illustrated magazine of the same name, the film featured
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On This Day August 7 1981 – Student Bodies Premiered In Theaters
On this day August 7 1981, Student Bodies premiered in theaters, bringing a new kind of horror spoof to the big screen. Billed as the first slasher comedy, the film poked fun at the tropes of late 70s and early 80s horror movies, particularly the
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