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Period: to
1980s
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Winter Games Lake Placid
February 13, 1980 - The opening ceremonies of the 1980 Winter Olympics Games are held in Lake Placid, New York. One of the most thrilling moments include the "Miracle on Ice" when a team of U.S. amateur ice hockey players defeated the vaunted Soviet Union professional all-star team in the semi-final game. -
US Withdraws from Moscow Summer Games
April 12, 1980 - The United States Olympic Committee, responding to the request of President Jimmy Carter on March 21, votes to withdraw its athletes from participation in the Moscow Summer Olympic Games, due to the continued involvement of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan -
Pac Man Introduced
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CNN is Launched
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John Lennon was Shot
Dec 8, 1980- John Lennon is shot outside his New York apartment. -
Space Shttle Launched from Cape Canaveral
April 12, 1981 - The first launch of the Space Shuttle from Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center occurs as Columbia begins its STS-1 mission -
MTV (Music Television) is Launched
August 1, 1981- MTV (Music Television) is launched -
IBM Introduced the IMB-PC
August 12, 1981 - IBM introduced the IBM-PC personal computer, the IBM 5150. It was designed by twelve engineers and designers under Don Estridge of the IBM Entry Systems Division. It sold for $1,565 in 1981. -
Origins of the Smiley on the Internet
September 19, 1982- Origins of the Smiley on the Internet -
Cheers Premieres
September 30, 1982 Cheers Premieres. -
Thriller is Released
Nov, 30, 1982- Michael Jackson releases his second adult solo album, Thriller. -
Sally Ride Travels to Space
June 18, 1983 - Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman to travel into space. -
Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in LA
July 28, 1984 - The opening ceremony of the Los Angeles Olympic Games is held. -
The First CD is Pressed
September 1984- The first music CD is pressed in the US -
The Cosby Show Premieres
September 20, 1984 The Cosby Show Premieres -
Martin Luther King Day is Official
January 20, 1986 - Martin Luther King Day is officially observed for the first time as a federal holiday in the United States -
The Challenger Explodes
January 28, 1986 - The Challenger Space Shuttle explodes after lift off at Cape Canaveral, Florida, killing seven people, including Christa McAuliffe, a New Hampshire school teacher. -
The Simpsons
April 5, 1987- The Simpsons Is First Seen On Tracey Ullman Show -
Exxon Spill in Alaska
March 24, 1989 - The Exxon Valdez crashed into Bligh Reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound, causing the largest oil spill in American history, eleven million gallons, which extended forty-five miles. -
Motorola Cell Phone Introduced
April 25 – The world’s smallest mobile phone, the Motorola MicroTAC Personal Cellular Telephone, is introduced. -
Walt Disney World Opens
May 1 – Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World opens its doors to the public. -
Batman Hits Theaters
June 23 – The 1989 Batman film hits theaters and becomes the highest grossing film based on a DC comic book until 2008′s The Dark Knight. -
Seinfeld Premieres
July 5 – Seinfeld premieres. -
Nintendo Launches GameBoy in North America
July 31 – Nintendo launches GameBoy in North America.