The 1980s

1981 45 years ago

Robert Moses, American urban planner, designed the Northern State Parkway and Southern State Parkway (born 1888)

Robert Moses was an American urban planner and public official who worked in the New York metropolitan area during the early to mid-20th century. Moses is regarded as one of the mo…

Robert Moses, American urban planner, designed the Northern State Parkway and Southern State Parkway (born 1888)

1981 45 years ago

Sydney Kyte, British bandleader (born 1896)

Sydney Bernard Kyte was a British dance band leader and violinist who became known in the 1930s, when he led the resident band at The Piccadilly Hotel in London's West End. Kyte ma…

Sydney Kyte, British bandleader (born 1896)

1981 45 years ago

After a 66-day hunger strike, Irish republican Bobby Sands died of starvation in HM Prison Maze

A five-year protest during the Troubles by Irish republican prisoners in Northern Ireland culminated in a hunger strike in 1981. The protest began as the blanket protest in 1976 wh…

After a 66-day hunger strike, Irish republican Bobby Sands died of starvation in HM Prison Maze

1981 45 years ago

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats (performers pictured), opened at the New London Theatre

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and o…

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats (performers pictured), opened at the New London Theatre

1981 45 years ago

English teenager Marcus Sarjeant fired six blanks at Queen Elizabeth II as she rode down The Mall to the Trooping the Co

Marcus Simon Sarjeant is a British man who fired six blank shots near Queen Elizabeth II as she rode down The Mall to the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London in 1981.

English teenager Marcus Sarjeant fired six blanks at Queen Elizabeth II as she rode down The Mall to the Trooping the Co

1981 45 years ago

Nintendo released the arcade game Donkey Kong, which featured the debut of Mario, one of the most famous characters in…

Nintendo Co., Ltd. is a Japanese multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto. It develops, publishes, and manufactures both video games and video game consoles.

Nintendo released the arcade game Donkey Kong, which featured the debut of Mario, one of the most famous characters in…

1981 45 years ago

An organized mob of police and government-sponsored Sinhalese paramilitary forces began three days of attacks that led t

The Sinhalese people, also known as the Sinhalese or Sinhala people, are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the island of Sri Lanka. They are the largest ethnic group i…

An organized mob of police and government-sponsored Sinhalese paramilitary forces began three days of attacks that led t

1981 45 years ago

The first clinical cases of AIDS were published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficienc…

The first clinical cases of AIDS were published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1981 45 years ago

The Israeli Air Force attacked a nuclear reactor under the assumption that it was about to start producing plutonium to

The Israeli Air Force operates as the aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of I…

The Israeli Air Force attacked a nuclear reactor under the assumption that it was about to start producing plutonium to

1981 45 years ago

Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first film to star Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, was released

Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. S…

Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first film to star Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, was released

1981 45 years ago

An estimated worldwide television audience of 750 million watched the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer…

The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer took place on Wednesday, 29 July 1981, at St Paul's Cathedral in London, England. The groom was the heir apparent to the Britis…

An estimated worldwide television audience of 750 million watched the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer…

1981 45 years ago

Amid a widespread economic crisis and food shortages in Poland, up to 50,000 people, mostly women and children, took…

In mid-1981, amid a widespread economic crisis and food shortages in the Polish People's Republic, thousands of Poles, mainly women and their children, took part in several hunger …

Amid a widespread economic crisis and food shortages in Poland, up to 50,000 people, mostly women and children, took…

1980

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President

Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo River, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana t…

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President

1980

The town of Elmore City, Oklahoma holds its first dance in the town's history

Elmore City is a town in Garvin County, Oklahoma, United States. This town is 58 miles south of Oklahoma City. The population was 738 at the time of the 2020 census, up from 697 at…

The town of Elmore City, Oklahoma holds its first dance in the town's history

1980

Eight U

Operation Eagle Claw was a failed United States Department of Defense attempt to rescue 53 embassy staff held captive by Revolutionary Iran on 24 April 1980. It was ordered by U.S.…

Eight U

1980

One hundred forty-six people are killed when Dan-Air Flight 1008 crashes near Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, Canary Isl

Dan-Air Flight 1008 was a fatal accident involving a Boeing 727-46 jet aircraft operated by Dan Air Services Limited on an chartered international passenger service from Manchester…

One hundred forty-six people are killed when Dan-Air Flight 1008 crashes near Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, Canary Isl

1980

Beatrix is inaugurated as Queen of the Netherlands following the abdication of Juliana

Beatrix is a member of the Dutch royal house who reigned as Queen of the Netherlands from 30 April 1980 until her abdication in 2013.

Beatrix is inaugurated as Queen of the Netherlands following the abdication of Juliana

1980

The Iranian Embassy siege begins in London

The Iranian Embassy siege took place from 30 April to 5 May 1980, after a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian embassy on Prince's Gate in South Kensington, London.

The Iranian Embassy siege begins in London

1980

Operation Nimrod: The British Special Air Service storms the Iranian embassy in London after a six-day siege

The Iranian Embassy siege took place from 30 April to 5 May 1980, after a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian embassy on Prince's Gate in South Kensington, London.

Operation Nimrod: The British Special Air Service storms the Iranian embassy in London after a six-day siege

1980

In a referendum in Quebec, the population rejects, with 60% of the vote, a government proposal to move towards independe

The 1980 Quebec independence referendum was the first referendum in Quebec on the place of Quebec within Canada and whether Quebec should pursue a path toward sovereignty. The refe…

In a referendum in Quebec, the population rejects, with 60% of the vote, a government proposal to move towards independe

1980

Cable News Network (CNN) begins broadcasting

Cable News Network, Inc. (CNN) is an American multinational news media company and the flagship namesake property of CNN Worldwide, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Foun…

Cable News Network (CNN) begins broadcasting

1980

The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of smallpox

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is head…

The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of smallpox

1980

In Florida, United States, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay,

Florida is a state in the Southeastern and South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia to the north, t…

In Florida, United States, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay,

1980

In Norco, California, United States, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out

Norco is a city in northwestern Riverside County, California, United States. Located roughly 40 miles (64 km) inland from the Pacific Ocean, Norco is known as "Horsetown, USA" and …

In Norco, California, United States, five masked gunmen hold up a Security Pacific bank, leading to a violent shoot-out