Today in 80s history! What happened on July 21st 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
Taco ("Puttin' On the Ritz") - 71
July 21, 1955
Jon Lovitz (Saturday Night Live) - 69
July 21, 1957
Lance Guest (The Last Starfighter, Jaws: The Revenge) - 66
July 21, 1960
REMEMBERING
Robin Williams (Mork & Mindy, Good Morning Vietnam)
July 21, 1951 - August 11, 2014 (Age 63)
Don Knotts (Mr. Furley on Three's Company)
July 21, 1924 - February 24, 2006 (Age 81)
Dave Henderson (Hero of the 1986 ALCS, 1989 World Series Champion)
July 21, 1958 - December 27, 2015 (Age 57)
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
80s Music Released on July 21st
Appetite for Destruction
Guns N' Roses
Debut Studio Album
Release Date: July 21, 1987
Chart Info: Debuted at #182 and took over a year to reach #1 on the Billboard 200, then became the best-selling debut album in U.S. history with over 30 million copies sold worldwide
Featuring: "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City"
Who's That Girl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Madonna
Soundtrack Album
Release Date: July 21, 1987
Featuring: The title track "Who's That Girl," which became Madonna's sixth #1 single
Note: Two future juggernauts of late-80s music hit record store shelves on the same day.
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On July 21st
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Release Date: July 21, 1989 (wide release)
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby
Note: After a limited debut the week before, Rob Reiner's romantic comedy went nationwide and grossed $8.8 million in its first wide weekend. The Katz's Deli scene became instantly immortal. I'll have what she's having.
UHF (1989)
Release Date: July 21, 1989
Director: Jay Levey
Starring: "Weird Al" Yankovic, Michael Richards, Fran Drescher and Victoria Jackson
Note: Weird Al's one and only starring vehicle flopped in a crowded summer, then became one of the most quoted cult comedies of the era.
Shag (1989)
Release Date: July 21, 1989
Director: Zelda Barron
Starring: Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda and Annabeth Gish
Note: A sweet 1963-set girls' road trip to Myrtle Beach, released at the very end of the decade.
TODAY IN 80S TV
1981 - Final Episode of Flo
Event: Series Finale
Network: CBS
Final Episode Date: July 21, 1981
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 29
Note: Polly Holliday's spinoff from Alice ended its run despite solid ratings. Kiss my grits!
TODAY IN 80S SPORTS
1985 - Sandy Lyle Won the Open Championship
Event: The Open Championship, Royal St George's
Team: Sandy Lyle
Opponent: Payne Stewart
Result: Lyle won by one stroke
Details: Lyle became the first British winner of The Open in 16 years, holding off Payne Stewart at Royal St George's for the first of his two major titles.
TODAY IN OTHER 80S NEWS
1983 - The Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth
Details: Vostok Station in Antarctica recorded a temperature of minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 89.2 Celsius), still the coldest natural temperature ever measured on the planet.
