Category Archives: 1980s

‘Caveman’ comedy film starring ex-Beatle Ringo Starr opens in New York City 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1981)

1980s, Movies 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'Caveman' trailer

(Friday, April 17, 1981, scheduled to open at noon EST) — Caveman, an American slapstick comedy film about a prehistoric, social outcast (played by former Beatle Ringo Starr) who, along with other misfits, forms his own tribe and finds various comic adventures, opened today at Bay Cinema in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan, New York City.
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NASA’s first space shuttle rockets into orbit with two astronauts aboard 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1981)

1980s, space exploration


Video: 'NBC News Coverage of STS-1 The 1st Space Shuttle Mission' (25 videos; launch is on video #6 at 3:07)

(Sunday, April 12, 1981, 7:00:03 a.m. EST) — The world’s first reusable spacecraft, the space shuttle Columbia, with two crew members, astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen, lifted off this morning from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, at the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida.
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‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’ by The Police peaks at #10 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 11, 1981) — “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police peaked today at #10 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks. Continue reading ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’ by The Police peaks at #10 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981) →

‘Kiss on My List’ by Hall & Oates peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 11, 1981) — “Kiss on My List” by Daryl Hall and John Oates was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the first of three consecutive weeks (April 11/18/25, 1981).
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‘Walking on Thin Ice’ by Yoko Ono peaks at #58 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, The Beatles 1980s

(Saturday, April 4, 1981) — “Walking on Thin Ice” by Yoko Ono peaked today at #58 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
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President Ronald Reagan shot and seriously injured outside Washington hotel 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1981)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ronald Reagan Shot Raw Tape'

(Monday, March 30, 1981, 2:27 p.m. EST; during the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded by a lone gunman today as he was returning to his limousine after a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.
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‘Rapture’ by Blondie peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 28 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, March 28, 1981) — “Rapture” by Blondie peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (Mar. 28, Apr. 4, 1981).
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‘Watching the Wheels’ by John Lennon debuts at #77 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 28 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'WATCHING THE WHEELS. (Ultimate Mix, 2020) - John Lennon (official music video HD)'

(Saturday, March 28, 1981) — “Watching the Wheels,” by former Beatle John Lennon debuted at #77 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
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11 killed, 27 injured in Harbor Cay Condominium collapse 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 27 1981)

1980s


Video: 'Cocoa Beach condo collapse'

(Friday, March 27, 1981, 3:10 p.m. EST) — Eleven workers were killed and 27 injured this afternoon when the Harbor Cay Condominium, a five-story flat plate residential development project in Cocoa Beach, Florida, collapsed as workmen were pouring concrete on the unfinished roof.
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Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, Barbara Bach tape joint interview for ‘The Phil Donahue Show’ 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 23 1981)

1980s, Movies 1980s, Popular Music 1980s, Television 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'WGN Channel 9 - Donahue - "Ringo Starr & Barbara Bach" (Open & Break, 1981)'

(Monday, March 23, 1981) — Former Beatle Ringo Starr and his fiancée, actress Barbara Bach, taped an appearance on the The Phil Donahue Show syndicated TV talk show today in Chicago to promote their film Caveman, which would open in New York on Apr. 17, 1981.
Continue reading Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, Barbara Bach tape joint interview for ‘The Phil Donahue Show’ 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 23 1981) →