History - Trivia - 1981:

 

The Champs:


World Series Champions: Los Angeles Dodgers

Superbowl XV Champions: Oakland Raiders


NBA Champions: Boston Celtics

Stanley Cup Champs: New York Islanders


U.S. Open Golf:
  David Graham

U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) John McEnroe/Tracy Austin

Wimbledon (Men/Women):  John McEnroe/Chris Evert

NCAA Football Champions: Clemson

NCAA Basketball Champions: Indiana

Kentucky Derby: Pleasant Colony

The Hotties:

Charlene Tilton, Suzanne Somers, Catherine Bach, Cheryl Tiegs, Iman, Christie Brinkley

 
"The Quote":

"You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jellybeans. " - President Ronald Reagan

 
Miss America:

Susan Powell (Elk City, OK)

 
Miss USA: Kim Seelbrede (Ohio)

 
The Scandals:

Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke cooked up a story about an 8-year-old herion addict named Jimmy. He didn't exist, but her pleas that he could have existed didn't stop her from getting in trouble.

 

Actor William Holden was drunk, fell and cut his head open. He didn't realize how injured he was, didn't call for help, and died from the what should have been a fairly easy stiching.

 

Pop Star Automobile Death:

Harry Chapin

 

Nerd News:

The Habit: Donkey Kong, Frogger (arcade), He-Man and the Masters of the Universe action figures


Television rankings for the 1980-81 season:

01.Dallas
02. 60 Minutes
03. The Dukes of Hazzard
04. Private Benjamin

05. M*A*S*H

06. The Love Boat

07. The NBC Tuesday Night Movie

08. House Calls

09. The Jeffersons (tie)

09. Little House On the Prarie (tie)

11. The Two of Us

12. Alice

13. Real People (tie)

13. Three's Company (tie)

15. NBC Movie of the Week (tie)

15. One Day at a Time (tie)

17. Too Close For Comfort (tie)

17. Magnum P.I. (tie)

19. Diff'rent Strokes (tie)

19. N.F.L. Monday Night Football (tie)

Source: Nielsen Media Research

 

 Best Film Oscar Winner:     Chariots of Fire

The Big Movies:

 

 

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark

2. On Golden Pond

3. Superman II

4. Arthur

5. Stripes

6. The Cannonball Run

7. Chariots Of Fire

8. For Your Eyes Only

9. The Four Seasons

10. Time Bandits

 

 

Number One Songs December 27, 1980 - January 30, 1981:

 

 

 

(Just Like) Starting Over John Lennon

January 31 - February 6:


 

The Tide Is High Blondie

February 7 - February 20:

 

Celebration Kool & The Gang

February 21 - March 6:

 

 

9 to 5 Dolly Parton

March 7 - March 20:

 

I Love A Rainy Night Eddie Rabbitt

March 21 - March 27:

 


Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon

March 28 - April 10:

 

Rapture - Blondie

April 11 - May 1:

 


Kiss On My List - Hall & Oates

May 2 - May 15:

 

Morning Train (Nine To Five) - Sheena Easton

May 16 - July 17:

 

Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes

July 18 - July 24:

 


Medley - Stars on 45

July 25 - July 31:

 

The One That You Love - Air Supply

August 1 - August 14:


 

Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield

August 15 - October 16:

 

Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

October 17 - November 6:

 


Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross

November 7 - November 20:

 


Private Eyes - Hall & Oates

November 21, 1981 - January 29, 1982:

 


Cost of Living 1981:

 

How Much things cost in 1981

Yearly Inflation Rate USA1 0.35%

Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 875

Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 15.75%

Average Cost of new house $78,200.00

Average Income per year $21,050.00

 

Average Monthly Rent $315.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas $1.25

Sinclair ZX80 $199.95

19 inch Color TV $399.95   


 

Technology:


Scientists identifyThe Aids Virus

 

First Flight of US Space Shuttle Columbia

 

The European Rocket "Ariane" is launched

 

IBM in US launches it's first PC which uses Microsoft Software MS DOS

 

The term INTERNET first mentioned

 

Post It Notes launched by 3M Corp

 

The Worlds Fastest Train The French TGV goes into service between Paris and Lyons

 

China Clones the first fish ( Golden Carp )

 

Artificially Produced Insulin becomes the worlds first genetically engineered protein to treat human disease Diabete

 

MS-DOS released by Microsoft

 

Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )

 

Space Shuttle USA Columbia was first reusable space vehicle

 

Scanning Tunnelling Microscope Switzerland