1982: Top Songs, Movies, TV Shows, Sporting Events, World Events And More
Well, we made it! Through the 60’s, the 70’s and now it’s time to party! The decade started out with the U.S. defeating the Russians in hockey for the first time ever for Gold at the Olympics in Lake Placid NY. It was the decade that this thing called a ‘computer’ would begin to find its way into homes, music television would show you the music, cable and satellite TV would begin to find their way into people’s homes. Video games would become more or a regular thing in our homes, cell phones as big as bricks entered our lives, wireless telephones would find their way into our lives and push-button phones began to replace the rotary phone. The space shuttle program implemented by former President Richard Nixon became a reality, the 1985 Super Bowl champs, the Chicago Bears were the most interesting sports characters of the decade and had their own video to prove it. It was a decade of celebs coming together for good causes with U.S.A For Africa’s “We Are The World”, Band-Aid’s “Do They Know Its Christmas”, Farm-Aid and more.
Check out everything that was from this decade, year by year – from the sporting events to world events, the top TV shows, songs, movies and more.
As you’re going back in time, think about some of the things in our lives today that you don’t see appearing here because…. they didn’t exist yet. Things like the top selling computers, tablets, laptops, microwaves, cable provider, wireless company and more.
Let us know some of the things that come to mind below.
For more great memories from any of the years The Beat’s music focuses on, click a year below and we’ll transport you back in time to see everything you may remember or have forgotten.
TOP SONGS
1. Physical » Olivia Newton-John
2. Eye Of The Tiger » Survivor
3. I Love Rock N’ Roll » Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
4. Ebony And Ivory » Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
5. Centerfold » J. Geils Band
6. Don’t You Want Me » Human League
7. Jack And Diane » John Cougar
8. Hurts So Good » John Cougar
9. Abracadabra » Steve Miller Band
10. Hard To Say I’m Sorry » Chicago
GRAMMY WINNERS
Album of the Year: Toto IV, Toto
Best New Artist: Men at Work
Best Pop Duo or Group: “Up Where We Belong,” Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
Best Pop Female Vocal: “You Should Hear How She Talks About You,” Melissa Manchester
Best Pop Male Vocal: “Truly,” Lionel Richie
Best Rock Duo or Group: “Eye of the Tiger,” Survivor
Best Rock Female Vocal: “Shadows of the Night,” Pat Benatar
Best Rock Male Vocal: “Hurts So Good,” John Cougar
Record of the Year: “Rosanna,” Toto
Song of the Year: “Always on My Mind”
TOP MOVIES
1 E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Uni. $359,197,037
2 Tootsie Col. $177,200,000 1,222 $5,540,470
3 An Officer and a Gentleman Par. $129,795,554
4 Rocky III UA $124,146,897 1,317 $12,431,486
5 Porky’s Fox $105,492,483 1,605 $7,623,988
6 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Par. $78,912,963
7 48 HRS. Par. $78,868,508 1,050 $4,369,868
8 Poltergeist MGM $76,606,280
9 The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Uni. $69,701,637
10 Annie Col. $57,059,003
OTHER RELEASES
First Blood / The Dark Crystal / Conan The Barbarian / The Sword & The Sorcerer / Best Friends
Richard Pryor: Live On The Sunset Strip / Friday The 13th III / Tron / Blade Runner
Young Doctors In Love / Victor/Victoria / Airplane II: The Sequel / Fast Times & Ridgemont High
My Favorite Year / Death Wish II / The Road Warrior / Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid
ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS
Winners in CAPS
Best Picture:
“GANDHI”, “E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial”, “Missing”, “Tootsie”, “The Verdict”
Actor:
BEN KINGSLEY in “Gandhi”, Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie”, Jack Lemmon in “Missing”, Paul Newman in “The Verdict”, Peter O’Toole in “My Favorite Year”
Actress:
MERYL STREEP in “Sophie’s Choice”, Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria”, Jessica Lange in “Frances”, Sissy Spacek in “Missing”, Debra Winger in “An Officer and a Gentleman”
Supporting Actor:
LOUIS GOSSETT, JR. in “An Officer and a Gentleman”, Charles Durning in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, John Lithgow in “The World According to Garp”, James Mason in “The Verdict”, Robert Preston in “Victor/Victoria”
Supporting Actress:
JESSICA LANGE in “Tootsie”, Glenn Close in “The World According to Garp”, Teri Garr in “Tootsie”, Kim Stanley in “Frances”, Lesley Ann Warren in “Victor/Victoria”
Director:
RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH for “Gandhi”, Sidney Lumet for “The Verdict”, Wolfgang Petersen for “Das Boot”, Sydney Pollack for “Tootsie”, Steven Spielberg for “E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial”
TV SHOWS
60 Minutes / Dallas / M*A*S*H / Magnum P.I. / Dynasty / Three’s Company
Simon & Simon / Falcon Crest / The Dukes of Hazzard / The Love Boat
One Day at a Time / Newhart / The Jeffersons / The A Team / Hill Street Blues
The Fall Guy / The ABC Monday Night Movie / Cheers / Too Close for Comfort
Alice / St. Elsewhere / Cagney & Lacey
EMMY AWARD WINNERS:
Best Drama – Hill Street Blues
Best Actor – Ed Flanders, St. Elsewhere
Best Actress – Tyne Daly, Cagney and Lacey
Supporting Actor – James Coco, St. Elsewhere: “Cora and Arnie”
Supporting Actress – Doris Roberts, St. Elsewhere: “Cora and Arnie”
Best Comedy – Cheers
Best Actor – Judd Hirsch, Taxi
Best Actress – Shelley Long, Cheers
Supporting Actor – Christopher Lloyd, Taxi
Supporting Actress – Carol Kane, Taxi
Best Variety – Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
SPORTS:
Kentucky Derby Winner: Gato Del Sol – Trainer: E. Gregson – Jockey: E. Delahoussaye
Football:
Superbowl XVII: Washington 27 – Miami 17
Pro MVP: Mark Moseley, Washington, PK; Joe Theismann, Washington, QB & Dan Fouts, San Diego, QB
College Football: #1 Penn St.
Heisman Trophy: Herschel Walker, Georgia, RB
Rose Bowl: UCLA 24, Michigan 14
Orange Bowl: Nebraska 21, LSU 20
Cotton Bowl: SMU 7, Pittsburgh 3
Sugar Bowl: Penn St. 27, Georgia 23
Baskteball:
NBA Championship: L.A. Lakers Vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Winner: L.A.in 6
L.A.Coach: Pat Riley
Philadelphia Coach: BillY Cunningham
MVP: Moses Malone, Houston, C Average Points Per Game: 31.1
NCAA National Champions: North Carolina: 32W – 2L / Coach: Dean Smith
World Series
St. Louis Cardinals Vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Winner: St. Louis in 6
St. Louis Coach: Whitey Herzog
Milwaukee Coach: Harvey Kuenn
National League
MVP: Dale Murphy, Atl (OF)
Rookie of the Year: Steve Sax L.A. (P)
American League
MVP: Robin Yount, Mil. (SS)
Rookie of the Year: Cal Ripken Jr., Bal (SS & 3B)
TOP NEWS STORIES
The Movie “Bad Boys” Starring Sean Penn, Ally Sheedy, Esai Morales and our very own Sal Amato begins Filming In Chicago
Kidnapped US General Dozier Is Rescued From Italian Red Bergade Terrorists
The Weather Channels debuts on May 2, 1982
Argentina Invades Falkland Islands, Britain Sends Fleet And Troops
Israel Returns Sinai To Egypt
Exocet Missile Sinks HMS “Sheffield”, 30 Die
Spain Joins NATO
John Hinkley Found Not Guilty on Insanity Plea, Is Sent To Mental Hospital
Poland Outlaws “Solidarity”
7 Die From Poisoned Tylenol In Chicago
Iran captures 30,000 Iraqis in war
British recapture Falklands, 255 British, 1,000 Argentines Die
Multinational Peace Keeping forces including US Marines arrive in Beirut
Princess Grace of Monaco dies in auto crash
First artificial heart is implanted in Barney Clark, 61
Died, Ingrid Bergman, Henry Fonda, “Satchel” Page, Jack Webb
“Cats” opens on Broadway
A mysterious disease is reported that kills 40% of it’s victims, AIDS
Fads, Smurf and ET stuff, Valspeak and Valley Girls (“grody to the Max”)
Epcot opens
Boeing 747 introduced
President: Ronald W. Reagan
Vice President: George Bush
Population: 231,664,458
Life expectancy: 74.5 years
Dow-Jones
High: 1,070
Low: 776
Federal spending: $745.76 billion
Federal debt: $1137.3 billion
Inflation: 6%
Consumer Price Index: 96.5
Unemployment: 7.6%
Cost of a new home: $83,900.00
Cost of a new car: $
Median Household Income: $20,171.00
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.20
Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $1.30
Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.84
Cost of a gallon of Milk: $2.24