Category Archives: Television 1980s

‘Captain Midnight’ interrupts HBO satellite feed 40 years ago this hour (Apr 27 1986)


Video: 'Captain Midnight, HBO, 1986'

(Sunday, April 27, 1986, 12:32 a.m. EST) — John R. MacDougall of Florida, a video pirate calling himself “Captain Midnight,” interrupted a movie this morning on the premium cable and satellite television network HBO (Home Box Office) with a printed onscreen message protesting home satellite de-scrambling fees.

Vault linked to Al Capone opened in Chicago during a live TV special 40 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1986)


Video: 'Al Capone's Vault'

(Monday, April 21, 1986, 8:00-10:00 p.m. EST) — Geraldo Rivera opened gangster Al Capone’s secret vault in Chicago’s Lexington Hotel tonight on The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults, a live syndicated TV special, discovering only a bottle of moonshine.

George Harrison interviewed for NBC’s ‘Today’ 40 years ago this hour (Apr 17 1986)


Video: 'George Harrison at the Today Show 1/2'

(Thursday, April 17, 1986, 7:38 a.m. EST) — In his first major television interview in years, former Beatle George Harrison appeared this morning in the third of a three-part feature on NBC’s Today, recorded at his Henley-on-Thames estate in England in early April 1986.

George Harrison interviewed for NBC’s ‘Today’ 40 years ago this morning (Apr 16 1986)


Video: 'George Harrison on Today Show April 16, 1986'

(Wednesday, April 16, 1986) — In his first major television interview in years, former Beatle George Harrison appeared this morning in the second of a three-part feature on NBC’s Today, recorded at his Henley-on-Thames estate in England in early April 1986.

George Harrison interviewed for NBC’s ‘Today’ 40 years ago this hour (Apr 14 1986)


Video: 'George Harrison on The Today Show - April 15, 1986' (Apr. 14, 1986)

(Monday, April 14, 1986, 7:50 a.m. EST) — In his first major television interview in years, former Beatle George Harrison appeared this morning in the first of a four-part feature on NBC’s Today, recorded at his Henley-on-Thames estate in England in early April 1986.

‘Time Heals’ episode airs on ‘St. Elsewhere’ 40 years ago this hour (Feb 19 1986)

Video: 'St. Elsewhere S4e017 Time Heals Part 1'

(Wednesday, February 19, 1986, 10:00 p.m. EST) — St. Eligius’ 50th anniversary spurs memories, including its opening in 1935 under the leadership of Father Joseph McCabe, on part one of a two-part episode of the NBC-TV medical drama series St. Elsewhere. Continue reading ‘Time Heals’ episode airs on ‘St. Elsewhere’ 40 years ago this hour (Feb 19 1986)

Reagan postpones State of the Union to address Challenger disaster 40 years ago this hour (Jan 28 1986)


Video: 'Challenger: President Reagan's Challenger Disaster Speech - 1/28/86'

(Tuesday, January 28, 1986, 5:00 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan, saying “today is a day for mourning and remembering,” postponed the State of the Union speech he had planned for tonight because of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Continue reading Reagan postpones State of the Union to address Challenger disaster 40 years ago this hour (Jan 28 1986)

Paul McCartney receives a special Award Of Merit on American Music Awards 40 years ago this hour (Jan 27 1986)


Video: 'Paul McCartney wins the American Music Award of Merit- AMA 1986'

(Monday, January 27, 1986, broadcast scheduled at 5:00-8:00 p.m. PST) — In a pre-recorded segment from the Hippodrome nightclub in London, former Beatle Paul McCartney received a special Award Of Merit from Phil Collins tonight as part of the 13th annual American Music Awards (AMAs) before a television audience of 50 million.

Actress Donna Reed, 64, dies in Beverly Hills 40 years ago this hour (Jan 14 1986)


Video: 'Donna Reed Bio'

(Tuesday, January 14, 1986, 9:15 a.m. PST)Donna Reed (born Donna Belle Mullenger on January 27, 1921, in Denison, Iowa), the Academy Award-winning actress who starred in more than 40 movies and portrayed the quintessential mother and wife of middle America on television’s Donna Reed Show, died of pancreatic cancer today, at age 64, at her home in Beverly Hills, California. Continue reading Actress Donna Reed, 64, dies in Beverly Hills 40 years ago this hour (Jan 14 1986)

‘Take My Shirt … Please?’ episode of ‘Cheers’ filmed 40 years ago tonight (Dec 20 1985)


Video: 'Cheers | S04E13 cold open | "What kind of greeting is that?'"'

(Friday, December 20, 1985, evening PST) — Sam donates his Boston Red Sox baseball jersey for a television charity auction on “Take My Shirt … Please?,” an episode of of the TV sitcom series Cheers filmed tonight “before a live studio audience” on Paramount Stage 25 in Hollywood for airing on NBC Jan. 9, 1986. Continue reading ‘Take My Shirt … Please?’ episode of ‘Cheers’ filmed 40 years ago tonight (Dec 20 1985)