Today in 80s history! What happened on August 24th in the 80s? Find out what happened today in 80s Movies, 80s Music, 80s TV Shows, and 80s Sports! Also find out about celebrity birthdays for the legends, icons and characters we grew up with in the 80s!
TODAY'S 80S BIRTHDAYS
Cal Ripken Jr. (Baltimore Orioles) - 66
August 24, 1960
Steve Guttenberg (Mahoney in Police Academy, Cocoon, Three Men and a Baby) - 68
August 24, 1958
Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God) - 61
August 24, 1965
Vince McMahon (WWF) - 81
August 24, 1945
Reggie Miller (Indiana Pacers) - 61
August 24, 1965
Barret Oliver (Bastian in The NeverEnding Story) - 53
August 24, 1973
Gerry Cooney (Boxing) - 70
August 24, 1956
REMEMBERING
Charlie Watts (The Rolling Stones)
June 2, 1941 - August 24, 2021 (Age 80)
Robin Leach (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous)
August 29, 1941 - August 24, 2018 (Age 76)
Rocky Johnson (First Black WWF Tag Team Champion, father of Dwayne Johnson)
August 24, 1944 - January 15, 2020 (Age 75)
Jay Thomas (Eddie LeBec on Cheers, Remo on Mork & Mindy)
July 12, 1948 - August 24, 2017 (Age 69)
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
80s Music Released on August 24th
1985 - "Part-Time Lover" (Single)
Artist: Stevie Wonder
Billboard Charts: #1
Note: The first single ever to top the Hot 100, R&B, dance and adult contemporary charts all at once. It remains Stevie Wonder's last American #1.
1981 - Tattoo You
Artist: The Rolling Stones (18th US Album)
Billboard Charts: #1
Note: Assembled almost entirely from outtakes going back a decade, because Mick and Keith weren't speaking well enough to write new material. It went to #1, sold four million in America, and gave them "Start Me Up." Charlie Watts died forty years later to the day.
1985 - "The Power of Love" Was #1 in America
Artist: Huey Lewis and the News
Note: Two weeks at the top for the Back to the Future theme, and Huey Lewis's first #1 — after he'd already turned up in the film as the teacher who rejects Marty's audition. Fore! followed on August 20 the next year.
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On August 24th
Oxford Blues (1984)
Release Date: August 24, 1984
Director: Robert Boris
Starring: Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Amanda Pays and Julian Sands
Budget: $1.8 Million
Box Office: $8.7 Million
Note: Rob Lowe and Ally Sheedy between The Outsiders and St. Elmo's Fire, in a Brat Pack rowing movie shot at Oxford. Exactly as slight as it sounds and completely watchable.
TODAY IN 80S TV
1979 - The Facts of Life Premiered
Event: Series Premiere
Network: NBC
Seasons: 9
Episodes: 209
Note: A Diff'rent Strokes spinoff that sent Mrs. Garrett to a girls' boarding school in Peekskill. It nearly died in season one, got retooled down to Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie, and became NBC's highest-rated comedy. The theme was co-written by Alan Thicke, four years before Growing Pains.
1989 - The Final Episode of The Equalizer Aired
Event: Series Finale
Network: CBS
Seasons: 4
Episodes: 88
Note: Edward Woodward as a retired intelligence officer taking out classified ads to help strangers, over a theme composed by Stewart Copeland of The Police. Denzel Washington took the part to the movies twenty-five years later.
TODAY IN 80S SPORTS
1989 - Pete Rose Was Banned from Baseball for Life
Event: MLB
Details: Commissioner Bart Giamatti announced the permanent ban for betting on games, including his own team's. Rose had 4,256 hits, more than anyone who ever played. Giamatti died of a heart attack eight days later.
1985 - Miss Elizabeth Made Her WWF Debut
Event: Pro Wrestling
Details: She arrived as Randy "Macho Man" Savage's manager, and the pairing became the most-watched storyline in wrestling for the next five years, all the way to their on-screen wedding at SummerSlam 1991.
1983 - Pete Rose's 745-Game Playing Streak Ended
Event: MLB
Details: Benched by the Phillies after 745 consecutive games. Six years later to the week, the same man was out of the game entirely.
TODAY IN OTHER 80S NEWS
No other news in the 80s today!
