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.
3,607 On This Day Articles
On This Day August 28 1989 – Still Cruisin by The Beach Boys Was Released
On this day August 28 1989, Still Cruisin by The Beach Boys was released. As their twenty sixth studio album, it blended new material with older classics and was timed to capitalize on the renewed interest sparked by the success of their single Kokomo from
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On This Day August 27 1989 – Open House Premiered on Fox
On this day August 27 1989, Open House premiered on the Fox network. A spin off of the short lived series Duet, the show followed the quirky lives of real estate agents at the Juan Verde Real Estate office in Los Angeles. Led by Alison
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On This Day August 25 1989 – The Voyager 2 Spacecraft Made Its Closest Approach to Neptune
On this day August 25 1989, NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft completed its grand tour of the outer planets by making its closest approach to Neptune. After a journey of more than a decade, it passed just 3 thousand miles above the blue planet’s north pole,
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On This Day August 25 1989 – The Adventures of Milo and Otis Premiered in Theaters
On this day August 25 1989, The Adventures of Milo and Otis premiered in theaters in the United States. Originally released in Japan in 1986 under the title Koneko Monogatari, the film was re-edited and narrated in English by actor Dudley Moore for American audiences.
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On This Day August 25 1989 – The Package Premiered in Theaters
On this day August 25 1989, The Package premiered in theaters. This tense political thriller starred Gene Hackman and Tommy Lee Jones in a story that pulled viewers deep into a Cold War conspiracy. Hackman played Johnny Gallagher, a military sergeant tasked with escorting a
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On This Day August 24 1989 – Final Episode of The Equalizer Aired
On this day August 24 1989, the final episode of The Equalizer aired, bringing an end to one of the most intense and sophisticated dramas of the decade. Edward Woodward starred as Robert McCall, a former covert operative who offered his services to people in
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On This Day August 24 1989 – The Man Is Back by Barry White Released
On this day August 24 1989, The Man Is Back by Barry White was released and marked a triumphant return for the legendary soul singer. As his seventeenth studio album it reaffirmed his signature smooth baritone and romantic style, carrying forward a legacy that had
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On This Day March 26 1989 – The Soviet Union Held Its First Partially Free Elections
On this day March 26 1989 the Soviet Union conducted its first partially free nationwide elections for the Congress of People's Deputies. This historic event marked a significant shift in Soviet politics allowing for a degree of electoral competition previously unseen in the country's history.
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On This Day March 24 1989 – Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Occurred in Alaska
On this day March 24 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck a reef in Prince William Sound Alaska and spilled an estimated 240000 barrels of crude oil into the ocean. The spill quickly became one of the worst environmental disasters in US history contaminating
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On This Day March 20 1989 – Heartland Premiered on CBS
On this day March 20 1989 the drama series Heartland premiered on CBS. The show starred Brian Keith as a gruff but caring grandfather who takes in his son’s family after a financial setback forcing multiple generations to live under one roof. Despite its heartfelt
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On This Day March 6 1989 – When Dream and Day Unite by Dream Theater Was Released
On this day March 6 1989 Dream Theater released their debut album When Dream and Day Unite. The album introduced the band’s progressive metal sound blending complex compositions with technical musicianship. Featuring Charlie Dominici on vocals this was the only Dream Theater album recorded before
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On This Day March 4 1989 – Lost in Your Eyes by Debbie Gibson Became the Number One Song in America
On this day March 4 1989 Lost in Your Eyes by Debbie Gibson reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song remained at the top spot from March 4 to March 24 and also hit number one in Canada. Lost in Your Eyes
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On This Day March 3 1989 – Skin Deep Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 3 1989 the romantic comedy Skin Deep premiered in theaters. Directed by Blake Edwards the film starred John Ritter as a womanizing writer whose reckless lifestyle leads him to a midlife crisis filled with comedic misadventures. The cast also included Vincent
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On This Day March 3 1989 – Scandal Premiered in Theaters
On this day March 3 1989 the historical drama Scandal premiered in theaters. Directed by Michael Caton Jones the film starred John Hurt Joanne Whalley Kilmer Ian McKellen and Bridget Fonda. The movie was based on the real life Profumo Affair a political scandal that
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On This Day February 26 1989 – Hairspray Premiered in Theaters
On this day February 26 1989 Hairspray premiered in theaters bringing director John Waters’ unique vision to a wider audience. Unlike his earlier underground cult films Hairspray was more accessible but still retained his signature offbeat humor and social commentary. The film starred Ricki Lake
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On This Day February 20 1989 – Paula Abdul Released Forever Your Girl
On February 20, 1989, Paula Abdul released Forever Your Girl, a song that would become one of her biggest hits and solidify her status as a pop sensation. Originally released as the fourth single from her debut album of the same name, the track slowly
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On This Day August 23 1988 – Dangerous Age by Bad Company Released
On this day August 23 1988, Dangerous Age by Bad Company was released, marking a dynamic shift for the band as they embraced a more aggressive and modern rock edge. This album emerged after a period of changes in the lineup, introducing a refreshed sound
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On This Day August 23 1988 – Nothings Shocking by Janes Addiction Released
On this day August 23 1988, Nothings Shocking by Janes Addiction was released, ushering in a bold and daring brand of alternative rock that broke free from the mainstream. With its raw sonic palette, haunting vocals, and a fearless embrace of the unconventional, the album
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On This Day August 23 1988 – Two Nuns and a Pack Mule by Rapeman Released
On this day August 23 1988, Two Nuns and a Pack Mule by Rapeman was released as the band’s debut full length album. Led by Steve Albini, the record delivered a loud unfiltered blast of noise rock that was confrontational abrasive and deliberately provocative from
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On This Day August 22 1988 – A Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins Released
On this day August 22 1988, A Groovy Kind of Love by Phil Collins was released as a single from the soundtrack to the film Buster. His version of the 1960s classic brought a gentle and emotional tone to late 80s pop radio with soft
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On This Day August 21 1988 – Final Episode of Werewolf Aired
On this day August 21 1988, the final episode of Werewolf aired, closing the book on one of the boldest and most atmospheric horror shows of the 1980s. The series premiered on the newly launched Fox network in 1987 and followed college student Eric Cord
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On This Day August 20 1988 – The Biggest Fire in Yellowstone National Park History Began
On this day August 20 1988, the biggest fire in Yellowstone National Park history began, marking the start of a disaster that would ultimately burn nearly 800,000 acres of land. Fueled by drought conditions and strong winds, the fire became a defining moment in the
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On This Day August 20 1988 – Iran and Iraq Called a Truce After 8 Years of War
On this day August 20 1988, Iran and Iraq officially agreed to a ceasefire after eight years of brutal conflict, bringing an end to one of the longest and deadliest wars of the 20th century. The Iran-Iraq War, which began in 1980, left over a
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On This Day August 20 1988 – 8 British Soldiers Were Killed and 28 Wounded in an IRA Roadside Bombing in Ballygawley Ireland
On this day August 20 1988, tragedy struck in Ballygawley, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, when an IRA (Irish Republican Army) roadside bomb destroyed a military bus. The attack killed 8 British soldiers and left 28 others wounded. The bombing occurred as the soldiers were returning
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