Today in 80s history! What happened on March 20th 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
Remembering Fred Rogers on his birthday
(March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003)
Fred Rogers created Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, a groundbreaking children’s television show that first aired in 1968 and ran for an incredible 33 years, with its final episode airing in 2001.
Over more than 900 episodes, Rogers used the show to speak directly to children about real-life emotions like fear, anger, and kindness, something that was almost unheard of in kids’ programming at the time.
Fun fact: The show’s simple, consistent format, from changing into his sweater to feeding the fish, was carefully designed to help children feel safe, secure, and understood.
Fun fact: McFeely was Mr. Rogers’ middle name, which is where the Neighborhood’s cheerful “Speedy Delivery” man - Mr. McFeely - got his name from!
More than just a TV host, Rogers was also an ordained Presbyterian minister who believed television could be used as a force for good.
Hal Linden (Actor, Barney Miller) - 95
March 20, 1931
Pat Riley (Basketball Coach) - 81
March 20, 1945
Bobby Orr (Hockey Player) - 78
March 20, 1948
Spike Lee (Director, Do the Right Thing) - 69
March 20, 1957
Holly Hunter (Actress, Raising Arizona) - 68
March 20, 1958
Rickey Jackson (Football Player) - 68
March 20, 1958
Sting (Wrestler) - 67
March 20, 1959
Kathy Ireland (Model and Actress) - 63
March 20, 1963
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
80s Music Released on March 20th
Time Tells No Lies
Praying Mantis
Debut Album
Release Date: 1981
UK Albums Chart: #60
Rapture
Anita Baker
2nd Album
Release Date: March 20, 1986
Billboard 200: #11
Top R&B Albums: #1
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On March 20th
The Final Conflict (1981)
Release Date: March 20, 1981
Director: Graham Baker
Starring: Sam Neill, Rossano Brazzi, Don Gordon, Lisa Harrow and Barnaby Holm
Budget: $5 Million
Box Office: $20.4 Million
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)
Release Date: March 20, 1981
Director: Bob Rafelson
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange, John Colicos, Michael Lerner and Anjelica Huston
Budget: $12 Million
Box Office: $10.6 Million
Amy (1981)
Release Date: March 20, 1981
Director: Vincent McEveety
Starring: Jenny Agutter, Barry Newman, Kathleen Nolan and Chris Robinson
Budget: N/A
Box Office: N/A
Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
Release Date: March 20, 1987
Director: Robert Townsend
Starring: Robert Townsend, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Anne-Marie Johnson and John Witherspoon
Budget: $100,000
Box Office: $5.2 Million
Burglar (1987)
Release Date: March 20, 1987
Director: Hugh Wilson
Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Bobcat Goldthwait, G. W. Bailey and Lesley Ann Warren
Budget: $12.5 Million
Box Office: $16.4 Million
Street Smart (1987)
Release Date: March 20, 1987
Director: Jerry Schatzberg
Starring: Christopher Reeve, Morgan Freeman, Kathy Baker and Mimi Rogers
Budget: $6 Million
Box Office: $1.1 Million
TODAY IN 80S TV
Saturday Night Live
Event: Robert Urich Hosts
Network: NBC
Date: March 20, 1982
Musical Guest: Mink De Ville
Shaping Up
Event: Series Premiere
Network: ABC
First Episode Date: March 20, 1984
Last Episode Date: April 17, 1984
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 5
Starring: Leslie Nielsen and Jennifer Tilly
All Is Forgiven
Event: Series Premiere
Network: NBC
First Episode Date: March 20, 1986
Last Episode Date: June 12, 1986
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 9
Starring: Bess Armstrong, Carol Kane and David Alan Grier
The Charmings
Event: Series Premiere
Network: ABC
First Episode Date: March 20, 1987
Last Episode Date: February 11, 1988
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 21
Starring: Christopher Rich, Judy Parfitt and Paul Winfield
Capitol
Event: Series Finale
Network: CBS
Final Episode Date: March 20, 1987
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 1,293
Heartland
Event: Series Premiere
Network: CBS
First Episode Date: March 20, 1989
Last Episode Date: June 12, 1989
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 10
Starring: Brian Keith
Live-In
Event: Series Premiere
Network: CBS
First Episode Date: March 20, 1989
Last Episode Date: May 22, 1989
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 9
TODAY IN 80S SPORTS
1983 - Martina Navratilova Defeats Chris Evert Lloyd in the Virginia Slims Championships Final
Event: WTA Tour Finals
Details: Navratilova beat Chris Evert Lloyd 6-2, 6-0 at Madison Square Garden to win the season-ending championships.
1985 - Libby Riddles Becomes the First Woman to Win the Iditarod
Event: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Details: Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the Iditarod, completing the race from Anchorage to Nome and making sports history in Alaska.
1986 - LSU Upsets Georgia Tech in the NCAA Tournament
Event: NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal
Details: No. 11 seed LSU defeated No. 2 seed Georgia Tech 70-64 in the Sweet 16 on its way to the Final Four.
1989 - Major League Baseball Announces Investigation of Pete Rose
Event: MLB Gambling Investigation
Details: The commissioner’s office announced it was investigating serious gambling allegations involving Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose.
