Today in 80s history! What happened on March 12th 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
Frank Welker (Voice Actor, Scooby-Doo – Fred Jones) — 80
March 12, 1946
Fun Facts
He is best known as the voice of Fred Jones in Scooby-Doo, a role he began in 1969 and continued performing throughout the 70s and 80s.
After longtime Scooby-Doo voice actor Don Messick passed away in 1997, Welker took over the role of Scooby-Doo himself, making him the only actor to have voiced both Fred and Scooby in the franchise.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Welker voiced many iconic cartoon characters, including Dynomutt (Dynomutt, Dog Wonder), Jabberjaw, Hefty Smurf (The Smurfs), Megatron and Soundwave (The Transformers), and Cobra characters like Wild Weasel and Torch (G.I. Joe). He also voiced numerous villains and creatures on Super Friends and The Real Ghostbusters.
Welker became especially famous for his ability to create animal and creature sounds, making him one of the most widely used voice actors during the 70s and 80s animation boom.
Liza Minnelli (Actress, Arthur) — 80
March 12, 1946
James Taylor (Singer-Songwriter) — 78
March 12, 1948
Steve Harris (Bassist, Iron Maiden) — 70
March 12, 1956
Dale Murphy (Baseball Player) — 70
March 12, 1956
Jerry Levine (Actor, Teen Wolf – Stiles) — 69
March 12, 1957
Marlon Jackson (Singer, Jackson 5) — 69
March 12, 1957
Courtney B. Vance (Actor, Hamburger Hill) — 66
March 12, 1960
Darryl Strawberry (Baseball Player) — 64
March 12, 1962
Steve Finley (Baseball Player) — 61
March 12, 1965
Jason Lively (Actor, European Vacation – Russ) — 58
March 12, 1968
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
80s Music Released on March 12th
Glass Houses
Billy Joel
7th Album
Release Date: March 12, 1980
Billboard 200: #1
The Gift
The Jam
6th Album
Release Date: March 12, 1982
Billboard 200: #82
UK Albums Chart: #1
Love Life
Berlin
3rd Album
Release Date: March 12, 1984
Billboard 200: #28
Featuring: “No More Words”
Fugazi
Marillion
2nd Album
Release Date: March 12, 1984
UK Albums Chart: #5
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
Dwight Yoakam
Debut Album
Release Date: March 12, 1986
Billboard 200: #61
Country Albums Chart: #1
Twitch
Ministry
2nd Album
Release Date: March 12, 1986
Billboard 200: #194
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On March 12th
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
Release Date: March 12, 1982
Director: Joe Layton
Starring: Richard Pryor
Budget: $4.5 Million
Box Office: $36.3 Million
A Small Circle of Friends (1980)
Release Date: March 12, 1980
Director: Rob Cohen
Starring: Brad Davis, Karen Allen and Jameson Parker
Budget: $5–6 Million
Box Office: $766,740
TODAY IN 80S TV
Saturday Night Live
Event: Bruce Dern Hosts
Network: NBC
Date: March 12, 1983
Musical Guest: Leon Redbone
People’s Choice Awards
Event: 11th People’s Choice Awards
Network: CBS
Date: March 12, 1985
Host: John Forsythe
Favorite All-Around Male Entertainer: Eddie Murphy and Tom Selleck
Favorite All-Around Female Entertainer: Barbara Mandrell
The Wizard
Event: Series Finale
Network: CBS
First Episode Date: September 9, 1986
Last Episode Date: March 12, 1987
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 19
TODAY IN 80S SPORTS
1983 – Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood Win the NWA World Tag Team Championship
Event: NWA World Tag Team Championship
Champions: Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
Defeated: Don Kernodle and Sgt. Slaughter
Details:
Steamboat and Youngblood won the titles inside a steel cage in Greensboro.
1985 – Larry Bird Scores 60 Points Against the Atlanta Hawks
Event: NBA Regular Season
Location: Lakefront Arena, New Orleans
Attendance: 10,079
Details:
Bird scored a career-high 60 points as Boston beat Atlanta 126–115.
1987 – David Robinson Scores 50 Points in NCAA Tournament Loss
Event: NCAA Tournament First Round
Team: Navy
Opponent: Michigan
Result: Michigan 97, Navy 82
Details:
David Robinson scored 50 points in the final college game of his career.
1987 – Brian Orser Wins the World Figure Skating Championship
Event: World Figure Skating Championships
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Champion: Brian Orser
Runner-Up: Brian Boitano
Details:
Orser captured the men’s world title in Cincinnati.
TODAY IN 80S POP CULTURE
1987 – Les Misérables Opens on Broadway
Type: Broadway Musical Opening
Details:
The original Broadway production of Les Misérables opened in New York City.
1988 – Saturday Night’s Main Event Airs on NBC
Type: Wrestling Television Special
Details:
NBC aired a new episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event, featuring Hulk Hogan vs. Harley Race and Ted DiBiase vs. Randy Savage.
