Today in 80s history! What happened on July 23rd 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
Woody Harrelson (Woody on Cheers) - 65
July 23, 1961
Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) - 65
July 23, 1961
Eriq La Salle (Coming to America) - 64
July 23, 1962
Ronny Cox (Beverly Hills Cop, RoboCop) - 88
July 23, 1938
Edie McClurg (Grace in Ferris Bueller's Day Off) - 81
July 23, 1945
Slash (Guns N' Roses) - 61
July 23, 1965
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
80s Music Released on July 23rd
Emotions in Motion
Billy Squier
Third Studio Album
Release Date: July 23, 1982
Chart Info: Reached #5 on the Billboard 200
Featuring: "Everybody Wants You," which spent six weeks at #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart
Note: Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor of Queen sing backing vocals on the title track, and the cover art is by Andy Warhol.
1988 - Richard Marx Hit #1 with "Hold On to the Nights"
Event: Billboard Hot 100 Milestone
Details: The power ballad from Richard Marx's debut album reached #1 on the chart dated July 23, 1988, his first career chart-topper. It famously held off Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" from the top spot.
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On July 23rd
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)
Release Date: July 23, 1982
Director: Colin Higgins
Starring: Burt Reynolds, Dolly Parton, Dom DeLuise, Charles Durning and Jim Nabors
Budget: $27 Million
Box Office: $69.7 Million
Note: Dolly and Burt opened at #1, knocking E.T. off the top of the box office after six straight weeks. The film gave Dolly's "I Will Always Love You" its second trip to #1 on the country chart.
The World According to Garp (1982)
Release Date: July 23, 1982
Director: George Roy Hill
Starring: Robin Williams, Mary Beth Hurt, Glenn Close and John Lithgow
Note: Robin Williams' first major dramatic role, and the film debut of Glenn Close. Both Close and John Lithgow earned Oscar nominations. A fitting release date, two days after Robin's birthday.
TODAY IN 80S TV
1984 - MTV Aired the Live WWF Event "The Brawl to End It All"
Event: Live Broadcast
Network: MTV
Location: Madison Square Garden
Note: Wendi Richter, with Cyndi Lauper in her corner, beat The Fabulous Moolah for the WWF Women's Championship in the only match MTV aired live. It scored a 9.0 rating, then the most-watched program in MTV history, and kicked off the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection that led to the first WrestleMania.
1988 - Final Episode of Solid Gold
Event: Series Finale
Network: Syndication
Final Episode Date: July 23, 1988
Seasons: 8
Episodes: 332
Note: The Solid Gold Dancers hung up their spandex after eight seasons of counting down the hits, with Marilyn McCoo and a pre-late-night Arsenio Hall among the final hosts.
TODAY IN 80S SPORTS
1989 - Greg LeMond Won the Tour de France by 8 Seconds
Event: Tour de France Final Stage
Team: Greg LeMond
Opponent: Laurent Fignon
Result: LeMond won by 8 seconds, the closest Tour ever
Details: Trailing by 50 seconds entering the final time trial into Paris, LeMond used aero bars and a teardrop helmet to pull off the greatest comeback in cycling history, just two years after nearly dying in a hunting accident. The 8-second margin is still the smallest in Tour history.
1989 - Mark Calcavecchia Won the Open Championship in a Playoff
Event: The Open Championship, Royal Troon
Team: Mark Calcavecchia
Opponent: Greg Norman and Wayne Grady
Result: Calcavecchia won the first-ever four-hole playoff
Details: On the same day LeMond was winning in Paris, Calcavecchia beat Greg Norman and Wayne Grady in the Open's first four-hole aggregate playoff for his only major title. A brutal beat for Norman, who had opened the playoff with two birdies.
